I've listed some of the better caffs I've dined in over the years. Personally, I regard myself as a world authority on a full English breakfast, find out where the best is (and its not in England!). Caffs are listed for England, Wales and Scotland. I've listed independent caffs, not the major chains or motorway services as these are either crap, overpriced or more usually both. And while I'm moaning about our motorway services, wait till you try the ones in France, if you thought the food in ours was bad, just try the slop in the French ones.
England
Lands End. Try the aerodrome caff, better value than the caff in St Just. The old couple who run it are a good laugh. Opens at 10:30 on Sundays, otherwise 8:00. You can't miss it, head to Land's End aerodrome. Breakfasts are £3.60 (2003).
A30 Cornwall. Just off the west-bound A30, about 10 miles before Bodmin is Anthea's Country Cafe. Fast service, OK food, OK prices. Typical greasy spoon. I was gutted when Anthea Turner didn't bring my breakfast. August 2006 - CLOSED
M54. BP truckstop. On your way up to N Wales, stop off at the BP truckstop, its at J1, near where the M54 joins the M6. Its not signposted as services but follow the little truck sign. Its half a mile from the motorway heading S towards Wolverhampton. Traditional greasy spoon food in a modern setting, open 24/7. Although the food's cheap the fuel aint so fill up somewhere else.
Wales
Capil Curig. The best caff for breakfast is the Bryn Glo. As you approach Capil Curig from Betters, you go past the training camp and campsite on your left. Then there's a right hand bend with a big layby on the left. The caff is on the right. They do a normal and full monty breakfast. Don't go for the full monty if you want to walk in the next hour or so, but if you do go for it, you won't need lunch. The toast is superb, big door steps of fresh bread, lightly toasted and covered in melted butter. Yummy. This is the best breakfast anywhere.
Both the caff at the Esso petrol station and the Post Office are OK, but not a patch on the Bryn Glo.
Gower. You can get a decent breakfast at Mumbles near Swansea on Saturdays but not on Sundays. On Sunday we cruised round Swansea in vain and ended up in McDonalds. Yuk, but its better than going hungry (just).
LLanberis. What can you say, Pete's Eats. THE climber's caff. Breakfasts are OK, not brilliant. Otherwise the food is good, reasonably priced and lots of it. Try the chip butties, but not before you go climbing. Two slices of bread and butter with a chip pan full of chips slapped in between. The chips are just divine. The caff's recently been revamped and extended, there's now an upstairs lounge with internet access, guide books and maps of all over the world. Give it a couple of years and it'll match the guides office in Chamonix.
Tremadog. There's only one choice really, Eric Jones'. The food is good and reasonably priced, the breakfasts cost £3.50/£4.50 plus 65p for tea (2005) and with regard to quantity and quality sit slap bang in the middle of the average category, i.e OK. The carrot cake comes especially recommended. You can buy climbing gear and guide books as well and have a chat to Eric. Stunning photographs of Eric climbing and base jumping up on the walls of the cafe.
Capil Curig - dinner. Not a caff guide but a pub guide. Where to eat your evening meal in Capil Curig? The obvious options are the Bryn Tyrch, or the Tyn-y-Coed, you know, the one with the stage coach outside. Forget the Bryn Tyrch, its seriously over-priced and the menu's pretentious (2003-2004). The Tyn-y-Coed is OK if you can get in the place, its normally rather busy. A plus is if you're late, although they stop serving food at 9:30, you can still order a pudding later. A better option is Plas-y-Brenin. They don't advertise the fact but the bar is open to non-residents and they do cheap bar meals. The best bet however is to go down towards Betters, just before you come into Betws-y-Coed, the Miners Bridge Arms is on the right (now renamed the Oakfield Hotel but still just as good). Good basic food, cheap and lots of it. Its out of town so isn't that popular so you'll get a table no problem.
Pembroke. Caffs in this area means cream tea not greasy spoon. Browns in Pembroke high street does an edible fry up at reasonable cost. For after climbing cream teas go to The Olde Worlde Tea Shop in Bosherton. This is where you'll find a load of climbers as well as tourists. The cream teas are let down by the use of canned cream. £2.30 for a cream tea in 2003.
Scotland
Around the Glen Coe / Fort William area the best place to go for breakfast is Safeway in Fort William. Better value than Nevis Sport, but the queues can be long.
Tyndrum. Can't for the life of me remember the name of the place but its on the left as you come in to Tyndrum heading towards Glasgow. There's a petrol station and a horrible plasticky tourist shop there as well. The food's OK but heading towards the pricey end of the market. If you've got an all day drive to get to the South of England from Fort William, its the logical place to stop for breakfast.
Skye. The Sligachan Hotel does breakfast for non-residents, however, if they're busy then its best to book in the day before. Breakfast is only average and costs £7.50 (2004) which is appalling value for money. Evening meals in the huge bar are much better value and good. You can get knock a quid off the price by going to the Old Inn in Carbost. In Portree there's a very good Moroccan restaurant that does superb and cheap food (full breakfast for £4.75), highly recommended. There's also an Indian which also does good food but on the day we were there the service left a bit to be desired.
Aviemore. Cafe Mambo. Not really a breakfast place but after a long day on the hills this is the place to go. Don't go in if you want a light snack though, portions are large. Its also very reasonably priced.
Orkney. Julia's opposite the ferry terminal in Stromness. Can't fault it.
It goes without saying that owners and cooks change over time, and cooks have bad days just the same as you. What was good or bad then might not be the same next week.