Originally Posted by The Wizard:
“I also think part of the problem is that these places are situated on old A roads on old holiday maker travelling routes which when first built relied on cars of families passing through on their way down to the caravan site, seaside or holiday camp. Most people don't holiday in Britain anymore and many travellodges/premiere inns now have Beefeater restaurants next to them which cater for families as well as business people.
Since Little Chef first sprang up a lot of trends have changed and so have people's eating habits. A lot of places have since opened up in similar locations like McDonalds, Burger King and pub restaurants like Harvester or Whacky Warehouse pubs where families can take kids. Also the increase in motorway traffic has taken people off the old 1950's A roads. Why stop at a grotty Little Chef and pay through the nose when a few miles down the road you can sit in brand new gastro pub or a McDonalds drive thru where I can get a coffee to go?
Little Chef has sat still and let time and everyone else pass them by. Out of the original 400 odd outlets they have just over 100 left which is set to shrink to a mere 96 in the next couple of years.
I can't help but think that throwing more money at this brand is like keeping a dying person on life support. It's only a matter of time before it's gone forever. Why try to prolong it any further with these pointless rebranding exercises?”
“I also think part of the problem is that these places are situated on old A roads on old holiday maker travelling routes which when first built relied on cars of families passing through on their way down to the caravan site, seaside or holiday camp. Most people don't holiday in Britain anymore and many travellodges/premiere inns now have Beefeater restaurants next to them which cater for families as well as business people.
Since Little Chef first sprang up a lot of trends have changed and so have people's eating habits. A lot of places have since opened up in similar locations like McDonalds, Burger King and pub restaurants like Harvester or Whacky Warehouse pubs where families can take kids. Also the increase in motorway traffic has taken people off the old 1950's A roads. Why stop at a grotty Little Chef and pay through the nose when a few miles down the road you can sit in brand new gastro pub or a McDonalds drive thru where I can get a coffee to go?
Little Chef has sat still and let time and everyone else pass them by. Out of the original 400 odd outlets they have just over 100 left which is set to shrink to a mere 96 in the next couple of years.
I can't help but think that throwing more money at this brand is like keeping a dying person on life support. It's only a matter of time before it's gone forever. Why try to prolong it any further with these pointless rebranding exercises?”
Excellent points.
One must also remember that in the 1970s and 1980s a 50-mile trip was considered a long journey, which people needed to break, and have refreshments.
Attitudes have changed, as have transport and infrastructure.
People don't batt an eyelid at pelting 200 miles on the motorway these days.
