travelling FOH for Syd Lawrence Orchestra
The Watling Street Transport Cafe Truck Stop is located off the M1 (junction 9) A5 Intersection. Turn north on the A5 and about 100 yds or meters up the A5 you will see the Transport Cafe (Truck Stop) on the off side of the road.This Truck Stop was here in the 1950's, so its another of the few "GOLDEN OLDIES", judging by the number of HGV's at this transport cafe it must be very well liked.
You can even get your HGV washed and brushed up whilst you do the same in the Cafe. I remember trucks on a friday having the words "HAVE WIFE & KIDS MUST TRAVEL" written on the back of a box type.
HOURS OF BUSINESS
OPEN 6am until 10 pm mon thurs
OPEN 6am until 8.30 pm friday
OPEN 7am until 1 pm saturday
OPEN sundays only on request for motorbike meets or other,
Overnight Parking
Voucher system
Showers
Sat TV
Take away available
Address
Watling Street Filling Station
Flamstead
Post Code AL3 8HA
Diesel forecourt
OPEN mon fri 6am until 10pm
OPEN Saturday 7am until 2pm
24 hour petrovend self service, uk fuels, keyfuels, pcs/securior fuelserve cards
01582 840 215
Cafe phone 01582 840 270
Another phone is 01582 842 463
The on site Truck shop phone is 07836 255 762 Mr Chris Morris who may be able to help if the truck stop dont answer the phone,,,which does seem to happen,,, errr ,,, quite often!
The first Photo shows Mark, who was the manager,, (now moved on 2006) outside the Watling street Truck Stop. Mark has moved on now I understand.
Guy the Travelling FOH, mentioned below, speaks very well of this Transport Cafe and Truck Stop.
This Transport Cafe has been around at least since the 1950's, it has a long history and is well known by drivers. I remember it when I called at The Crows Nest Transport Cafe about one mile further north on the A5,,, if you remember that one then please write to me using the webmaster link on this page.
Visitors comments below
I've been using this cafe on & off since I was a singer in rock bands in the '60's.It was a meeting place & watering hole for bands on their way north from London as were most of the cafes on the A.5.(I once had breakfast with The Who at the Watling St cafe & a couple of months later, had lunch with The Rolling Stones further up the A.5!) In 1974,after 10 years of touring, I Decided it was time to settle down (not an easy decision, I can tell you) So, I Became an H.G.V driver, still away overnight but only 3 or 4 times a week, not 17 nights on the trot, as the music business dictated! The cafe is still a good one & I think some of the original signs & adverts are still lurking about the place(e.g. beds for7/6d a night! I still use the cafe when I’m going north out of London, it’s well worth the small detour off the M.1& I can sit there eating a good breakfast & reminisce about the wild old band days back in the '60's(Nostalgia is an age thing that gets us all eventually!) The Soundman
