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| News of Little Chef fate awaited | News of Little Chef fate awaited |
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| Roadside restaurant chain Little Chef is set to make an announcement about its future, BBC business editor Robert Peston says. | Roadside restaurant chain Little Chef is set to make an announcement about its future, BBC business editor Robert Peston says. |
| It was reported on Tuesday that the firm, said to be losing up to £3m a year, was involved in takeover talks. | It was reported on Tuesday that the firm, said to be losing up to £3m a year, was involved in takeover talks. |
| The Financial Times says Israeli property firm Arazim and private equity company RCapital will buy Little Chef and close 40 of its 234 restaurants. | The Financial Times says Israeli property firm Arazim and private equity company RCapital will buy Little Chef and close 40 of its 234 restaurants. |
| More than 20 million people visit Little Chef outlets every year. | More than 20 million people visit Little Chef outlets every year. |
| The Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times reported on Tuesday that the chain, set up in 1958, was in discussions with Arazim about its future. | The Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times reported on Tuesday that the chain, set up in 1958, was in discussions with Arazim about its future. |
| Fried breakfasts | Fried breakfasts |
| The business, which employs 4,000 staff, was bought last year for £52m by its chief executive Simon Heath and the People's Restaurant Group headed by catering magnate Lawrence Wosskow. | The business, which employs 4,000 staff, was bought last year for £52m by its chief executive Simon Heath and the People's Restaurant Group headed by catering magnate Lawrence Wosskow. |
| LITTLE CHEF HISTORY The first Little Chef restaurant opened in Reading in 1958It now has over 230 outlets, from Scotland to Cornwall, serving 10 million cups of tea a year | LITTLE CHEF HISTORY The first Little Chef restaurant opened in Reading in 1958It now has over 230 outlets, from Scotland to Cornwall, serving 10 million cups of tea a year |
| Little Chef is best known for its all-day fried breakfast, although the firm has attempted to broaden its menu in recent years, introducing salads and healthy options. | Little Chef is best known for its all-day fried breakfast, although the firm has attempted to broaden its menu in recent years, introducing salads and healthy options. |
| Since its foundation, the firm has had a rather convoluted history that has involved it being passed between a number of different parent companies. | Since its foundation, the firm has had a rather convoluted history that has involved it being passed between a number of different parent companies. |
| These have included such groups as Granada and Compass. | These have included such groups as Granada and Compass. |
| In 2002 Little Chef was bought from Compass for £712m by private equity business Permira, before passing on to its current owners last year. | In 2002 Little Chef was bought from Compass for £712m by private equity business Permira, before passing on to its current owners last year. |
| Your comments | Your comments |
| What other fast food outlet offers toasted teacakes? Alice Dryden, Bromley, UK Absolutely the best roadside option for grabbing something cheap, hot and fast - which as a frequently wet and cold biker I really appreciate. What other fast food outlet offers toasted teacakes?Alice Dryden, Bromley, UK | |
| It has always been hideously overpriced against a roadside transport cafe and we hot air balloonists would really only use it, if there really really is nothing else in area. Supermarket cafes are much better and cheaper. My lasting impression was asking for an omelette to be told that they' had none in the freezer' to which I turned all Lady Bracknell and said ' frozen omelette?????' Have you eggs? Have you a frying pan?? 'Yes to both, but unable to comply".Zoe Millman, Birmingham, England | |
| The appeal is to know that you are getting a standard - a warm, safe environment at any time, to take yourself or family, business or pleasure, for a pleasant break from travelling chaos.It scores well because it is offering personal service on most major roads.Yes - I would miss it. It does encourage to stop and get out of the car, drive throughs don't.Please upgrade, without losing basic values of tea 'n toast!Brian Sadler, Cwmbran, Torfaen, UK | |
| The worst shortcoming of the Little Chef chain is the fact that there is nothing else. Virtually all A-road roadside cafes were taken over and - like McDonald's - became reduced to a low common denominator with poor choice of foods and no variety. It is extremely hard to find a place to eat on a main road without travelling to an off road town unless you are prepared to eat fried food at a Little Chef. I did however call in at one on the A1 last year and was told a new menu was in place. Josey, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire | The worst shortcoming of the Little Chef chain is the fact that there is nothing else. Virtually all A-road roadside cafes were taken over and - like McDonald's - became reduced to a low common denominator with poor choice of foods and no variety. It is extremely hard to find a place to eat on a main road without travelling to an off road town unless you are prepared to eat fried food at a Little Chef. I did however call in at one on the A1 last year and was told a new menu was in place. Josey, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire |
| A good menu would bring the customers back Alastair Moody, Barnsley | |
| Little Chef used to be good but they have not progressed with the times. The menu is dated. The surroundings are dull. They should look to the continent to see what can be achieved in motorway services. A good menu would bring the customers back. It's not about price it's about quality. The marketing is wrong. It is not positive enough.Alastair Moody, Barnsley | |
| I will sorely miss Little Chef if they were not around. I always work my routes around the country according to where they are. They provide a lovely variety on their menu, you can even go in and have a cuppa, they don't hassle you to buy food when you don't need it. They always have a warm welcome for all who go through their doors. We must protect little restaurants like these.Karen, Maidenhead | I will sorely miss Little Chef if they were not around. I always work my routes around the country according to where they are. They provide a lovely variety on their menu, you can even go in and have a cuppa, they don't hassle you to buy food when you don't need it. They always have a warm welcome for all who go through their doors. We must protect little restaurants like these.Karen, Maidenhead |
| Little Chef are a joke. Probably the worse catering chain in the country although McDonalds come a very close second. The staff are frequently unwelcoming and sometimes rude, the quality of the food is usually poor, occasionally inedible. The only point in their favour is that they often offer the only toilet facilities for miles around. Any changes would be welcome.John Jennings, Wareham | |
| Little Chef is great. You know exactly what you are going to get and their design is unchanged in 20 years - very 70's. Their downfall is probably because you can't make a salad in the deep fat fryer like everything else.Tim Hussey, London | Little Chef is great. You know exactly what you are going to get and their design is unchanged in 20 years - very 70's. Their downfall is probably because you can't make a salad in the deep fat fryer like everything else.Tim Hussey, London |
| On long car journeys when my parents had 3 young children, Little Chef was a blessing - a chance for a break, a cup of tea, quick, hot, cheap meals and we regularly looked forward to these journeys knowing a Little Chef break was highly likely. Let us not forget the free lolly, but only if you ate all your food! The restaurants are no less dingy than most roadside "greasy spoons" and I still enjoy an "Olympic" breakfast on a Sunday morning. Sara, Norwich | On long car journeys when my parents had 3 young children, Little Chef was a blessing - a chance for a break, a cup of tea, quick, hot, cheap meals and we regularly looked forward to these journeys knowing a Little Chef break was highly likely. Let us not forget the free lolly, but only if you ate all your food! The restaurants are no less dingy than most roadside "greasy spoons" and I still enjoy an "Olympic" breakfast on a Sunday morning. Sara, Norwich |