Little Chef Popham is amongst the UK's top eateries

22 September 2010

We are celebrating the inclusion of our Popham restaurant in the prestigious Good Food Guide 2011 for the second year running.

 At the end of 2008 we worked with Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal to revamp Popham as part of the Channel Four series Big Chef Takes on Little Chef.

Popham has been a huge hit with loyal, existing and new Little Chef customers and, as a result, has been included in The Good Food Guide 2010 & 2011 (published September, 2009 and 2010).

Inspectors for the Guide were impressed this year by the cooking of dishes like braised ox cheeks and The Olympic Breakfast at the Popham eaterie. They also referenced the new Little Chef at York & Kettering West too.

Elizabeth Carter, editor of The Good Food Guide, said: “The minute I walked in I knew it belonged in The Guide – it was so welcoming, vibrant and had a real buzz. I’m confident other diners will think so too.”

Tracey Mulligan, Managing Director of Little Chef, said: “Once again we are thrilled at the inclusion of Little Chef in the Good Food Guide for a second year. It is truly ground-breaking for both Little Chef and for the sector in which we operate. Heston’s input and commitment to Little Chef has been invaluable and inclusion in the guide is testament to that. The delivery of his concept by our staff is truly amazing and they are to feel justly proud of themselves. I know Heston will feel the same, as his personal interaction with them was very influential.

“We are committed to ensuring that every customer, at every Little Chef restaurant, enjoys a quality experience at every level, from the food and service to value for money and will be continuing to develop at pace. Our entry now gives us even more to build on for the future.”

Heston Blumenthal said on our inclusion last year: “I am overjoyed with this news. Inclusion in The Good Food Guide is a great barometer of success and it’s fantastic news for Little Chef Popham to be recognised by such an established British food guide.”

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Little Chef Sets a Clear Course to a Low Carbon Future with Carbon Trust Standard

09 September 2010

Little Chef* has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard after taking action on climate change by measuring, managing and reducing its carbon emissions by over 12% from January 2007 until December 2009**.

Little Chef goes Contactless with Barclaycard

19 July 2010

Little Chef today announces that it will be helping customers to beat the rush hour by deploying a contactless payment system using Barclaycard technology across all 173 Little Chef roadside restaurants, including its Coffee Tempo brand and Burger King franchises.

The payments system will allow customers to purchase meals quicker and easier, letting them get straight back on the road for their onward journey after their meal.

Following successful rollouts of contactless by Barclays and Barclaycard in London across establishments such as EAT. and Subway, Little Chef’s adoption will see the technology implemented in all of its outlets. It is the first UK restaurant group to fully embrace contactless.

Little Chef is positive that contactless will improve the overall experience for its guests by making the payment process as efficient as possible. The contactless payments system is live now and will be promoted to customers with a full range of Point of Sale material in all restaurants. The restaurant chain has opted for Barclaycard’s own technology and had new machines installed to support this where required.

Tracey Mulligan, Managing Director, Little Chef said:

“We’re constantly working on improving our offer within Little Chef. As well as food and service, technology plays a big part in improving the customer experience and making our offer relevant to today’s busy traveller.  We believe that contactless is an important part of the future of payments and are committed to embracing it in its early stages.”

Stuart Neal, Head of UK Payment Acceptance, Barclaycard, commented:

“The rollout at Little Chef is a significant development in the progress of contactless. The technology fits just as well in a restaurant as it does in a coffee shop or retailer, and the nature of Little Chef’s business means that its customers are looking for a quick and convenient pit stop. It is also encouraging to see contactless being established outside of central London, meaning that our eight million contactless cardholders across the UK can make full use of the technology.”

Barclays and Barclaycard are the leading providers of contactless debit and credit cards and terminals in the UK. Since September 2007, they have issued over 26,000 contactless terminals, enabling retailers to manage transactions quicker and more easily.

Contactless allows customers to make purchases of £15 or less, without the need to enter a PIN or enter their card into a payment terminal. Once the card has been held over the contactless terminal, the transaction uses a secure network to automatically add the purchase to the customer’s credit card bill or debit it from their current account.

Big News for Little Chef

28 April 2010

Following delivery of the initial two year plan, CEO Ian Pegler has now left the business and Little Chef’s Executive Team, led by Tracey Mulligan, Interim MD, are currently working on the next exciting phase of the brand development strategy.

The last two years have been an exciting time for the iconic chain; working with Heston Blumenthal on the Channel 4 television series Big Chef takes on Little Chef, re-vamping an additional two restaurants based on the fantastic success of Popham and being featured in the prestigious Good Food Guide. Based on these valuable achievements and findings, the development programme continues with further changes planned for the brand.

Following extensive market research conducted this year, Little Chef launches its exciting new menu this month, with an emphasis on provenance, choice and quality ingredients, using suppliers introduced to us during the development of Heston’s concept. New dishes include; Roasted Onion and Red Pepper Tart, a Pesto & Mozzarella Burger, a truly British Afternoon Tea and a traditional Rice Pudding with a twist. The new menu is available in 170 Little Chef locations from 29/04/10. The full Heston-inspired menu remains in place at the new concept restaurants at Popham, York and Kettering West.

Cathy Stevenson, Marketing Director said: “This is a very exciting time for Little Chef and we have learnt a lot from our work with Heston Blumenthal and the extensive market research we have carried out this year. We are wholly committed to continuing the good work in reinventing this truly British iconic brand.”

Win Your Dream Christmas Winner

07 January 2010

Christmas Wishes Come True for Wigan Resident

For Wigan-based Barbara Mitchell, Christmas came a day early in 2009, when a knock on her door revealed that she was the winner of Little Chef’s ‘Win Your Dream Christmas’ competition.

Hand delivered on Christmas Eve, Mrs Mitchell from Shevington received the sack full of gifts worth over £7,000; including a family holiday to Orlando, Florida, a Sony Bravia 37” LCD TV, a luxury Christmas hamper, Nintendo Wii with sports pack and a Cannon Powershot S90 digital camera.

Retiree Barbara said: “I entered the competition whilst having breakfast in a Little Chef restaurant; we had been over there visiting family and ironically, dropping off their presents before Christmas.

“When I found out that I had won I couldn’t believe it!  I didn’t realise just how many prizes were included and was absolutely gobsmacked when I saw them all piled up in my living room.  It certainly made Christmas that extra bit special this year – especially for our children and grandchildren who were all treated to an extra gift.”

Claire Knox, marketing manager at Little Chef said: “We wanted to make one of our customers Christmas’s really special this year and what better way than to have an array of gifts delivered on Christmas Eve.  We are so pleased that Mrs Mitchell and her family have enjoyed their prizes and that it helped to make the festive season that extra bit enjoyable.”

Your Little Office at Little Chef

19 November 2009

Roadside restaurant now offers free WiFi for all customers

Little Chef restaurants around the country now offer free WiFi for customers who want to work, play and stay connected.With no log on charges, membership fees or hidden conditions, Little Chef free WiFi, in association with ‘the cloud’ means you can eat, drink and catch up on emails at no extra cost at our 174 restaurants across the UK*. Simply connect your Wi-Fi enabled laptop, pda or phone and start surfing.Marketing Director Cathy Stevenson said: “We are a very mobile society and there is an increased requirement for business people to be accessible even when they are on the go. It’s still important to take regular breaks so Little Chef has introduced free WiFi to make it easier for its customers to take a working lunch.”Free WiFi isn’t the only change at Little Chef – our new winter menu offers a range of delicious new dishes such as tempura battered prawns, coq au vin and traditional bites including bangers & mash and steak & ale pie to keep you motoring through the chilly months. If you fancy something lighter, there is also a selection of jacket potatoes and toasties to help fill the gap.To find your nearest Little Chef, visit www.littlechef.co.uk* Only a small number of restaurants may not be able to offer this service.

'Full English' Tops the Table for British Breakfast Favourites

03 November 2009

Brits favour bacon over sausages during National Sausage Week. Baked bean backlash - 67% of customers choose them over Heston’s thyme infused tomato. Research reveals the nation’s favourite five ingredients.

Despite it being ‘National Sausage Week’ (2nd – 8th November), it appears that if given the choice, Brits would opt for bacon as their favourite breakfast ingredient (1 in 3) with only 19 per cent of people preferring sausages. Northern Ireland was the only region to buck this trend choosing sausages over bacon.In a sizzling survey of 1,000 people produced on behalf of Little Chef, the Full English Breakfast was universally chosen as the nation’s favourite breakfast choice (53%) with four times more votes than second choice cereals (11%). Other choices which failed to make the mark included pastry, fresh fruit, waffles, pancakes, beans or egg on toast, porridge and kippers. Sunday, unsurprisingly, is the most popular day to indulge with nearly half of the vote (49%) but should people choose to tuck in midweek, Monday is the most likely day for a full English Breakfast.Kippers proved least popular with less than one per cent of the vote and it appears that the Welsh love porridge more than any other region with 15 per cent of respondents choosing it as their favourite, more than three times the national average.Black pudding appears to have won the nation’s hearts with 93 per cent of people opting to keep it as part of their Heston Blumenthal all new Olympic Breakfast. It is also the third most popular item to be added to an original Little Chef breakfast, after tomatoes and mushrooms.The research also revealed the nation’s top five English Breakfast ingredients as being:o Bacon 32%o Sausage 19%o Eggs 14%o Black Pudding 8%o Hash brown 8%Fried potatoes appeared bottom of the table, chosen by less than two per cent of people whereas the nation’s love for fried bread and hash browns lay firmly with women rather than men. When choosing bread, white proved a clear winner with more than half of the vote (54%) and when asked how they prefer their eggs, 58 per cent of people said fried, more than doubling that of scrambled, the second choice at 23 per cent.Tomato sauce proves to the condiment of choice overall although brown sauce is clear winner amongst men and respondents from Northern England. Surprisingly a quarter of Scots prefer to keep their breakfast pure with no sauces.Interestingly, price and the eating environment featured very low in terms of importance with more than two thirds of people citing the quality of ingredients as the most important factor when choosing a breakfast and only a quarter of people preferring a full plate.Cathy Stevenson, Marketing Director at Little Chef said: “Famous for our breakfasts, we poll consumers regularly to gauge changing trends and preferences. Whilst some of these results aren’t that surprising it’s pleasing to see that the ‘Full English’ remains the firm favourite as is witnessed in strong sales.“Our Olympic Breakfast and Early Starter are the best selling dishes across the 174 restaurants, outselling classics such as fish and chips, scampi and steak and ale pie. Despite the uproar when Heston decided to revamp the Olympic Breakfast, his all new version is the best selling dish on the menu at our York, Kettering and Popham restaurants, although over two thirds of people choose to put the beans back in!”

Did Heston Change Little Chef?

23 October 2009

Five new ‘Heston style’ restaurants planned for 2010. £2 million investment into restaurant chain. More than 100 jobs to be created.

On Wednesday 28th October TV viewers can see the impact of Heston Blumenthal’s makeover on Little Chef. Nearly 12 months since the Michelin-starred chef revamped the Popham restaurant, the programme shown at 9pm on Channel 4, follows the progress of the company and reveals its plans for the remaining 172 restaurants. Since Little Chef at Popham was revamped last year, the restaurant saw a 500 per cent increase in sales immediately after the programme and is now consistently up 150 per cent year on year. This summer saw two additional restaurants, York and Kettering West open in the Heston style. In the two months since launch, both restaurants are also seeing a dramatic increase in sales with customers eager to taste the new menu for themselves. The planned next phase of the Little Chef overhaul will see a £2million investment into giving another five restaurants the Heston treatment during the next 12 months, creating more than 100 jobs. The remaining restaurants are also seeing changes as the Autumn/Winter menu launches with additions including a range of pies from Heston’s preferred supplier, Dunkleys. Famous for its iconic Olympic Breakfast and Jubilee Pancakes, Little Chef tasked Heston with introducing a new flair to the roadside restaurant chain. Famous for unusual and innovative dishes such as snail porridge, the owner of the Fat Duck was given a budget of £350,000 and six months to create a new menu and interior. Building on existing menu changes such as free range eggs and fish from sustainable sources, Heston introduced dishes based on British classics such as bangers and mash and steak and ale pie, continuing the focus on high quality ingredients. He also added his unique twist, such as a spray of ‘smell of the chippy’ which comes with every portion of fish and chips. Little Chef chief executive Ian Pegler said: “We set Heston a real challenge and are delighted to say it has been a huge success for the chain. Our teams have worked incredibly hard to implement the new concept and as a result we are receiving fantastic feedback from customers, both on the quality of the food and our customer service. “We have big plans for the future of Little Chef and want to bring this offering to many more of our customers. The next 12 months will see the Heston menu rolled out even further with five planned new restaurants. We are also working hard on developing the rest of the Little Chef estate taking the experience of working with Heston to continue the improvements to our menu.”

Little Chef Breaks into The Good Food Guide

27 August 2009

Celebrations as Little Chef Popham is named among UK’s top eateries

Little Chef is celebrating the inclusion of its Popham restaurant in the prestigious Good Food Guide 2010.

Last year Little Chef worked with Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal to revamp Popham as part of the Channel Four series Big Chef Takes on Little Chef.

The restaurant has been a huge hit with loyal, existing and new Little Chef customers and, as a result, has been included in The Good Food Guide 2010 (published September 8th 2009).

Inspectors for the Guide were impressed by the cooking of dishes like braised ox cheeks and Hereford steak and Abbot ale pie at the Popham eaterie and awarded it a cooking score of two out of ten, comparable to a good quality gastropub.

Elizabeth Carter, editor of The Good Food Guide, said: “The minute I walked in I knew it belonged in The Guide – it was so welcoming, vibrant and had a real buzz. I’m confident other diners will think so too.”

Ian Pegler, Chief Executive of Little Chef, said: “The inclusion of Little Chef in the Good Food Guide is truly ground breaking for both Little Chef and for the sector in which we operate. Heston’s input and commitment to Little Chef has been invaluable, and inclusion in the guide is testament to that. The delivery of his concept by our staff is truly amazing and they are to feel justly proud of themselves. I know Heston will feel the same, as his personal interaction with them was very influential.

“We are committed to ensuring that every customer, at every Little Chef restaurant, enjoys a quality experience at every level, from the food and service to value for money and will be continuing to develop at pace. Our entry now gives us even more to build on for the future. We will be striving to see our York and Kettering restaurants joining Popham in the 2010 Good Food Guide.”

Heston Blumenthal said: “I am overjoyed with this news. Inclusion in The Good Food Guide is a great barometer of success and it’s fantastic news for Little Chef Popham to be recognised by such an established British food guide.”

Little Chef Reveals the UK's Top 51 Family Days Out

17 July 2009

Public nominations highlight some hidden treasures Summer of fun ahead for adventurous families

The Forbidden Corner, a labyrinth of tunnels, chambers and follies in the Yorkshire Dales, has beaten off stiff competition from the UK’s top visitor attractions to be crowned number one, in a brand new family days out guide created from public nominations.

When research earlier this year showed that British families were not spending enough quality time together, the iconic roadside restaurant chain Little Chef decided to do something about it and launched its Bring Back Family Days Out campaign. Public nominations flooded in, with families sharing their personal favourites, including both high profile attractions and places off the beaten track.

The final top 51 – chosen to celebrate 51 years of Little Chef restaurants - was based on the number of nominations, the accessibility, cost and appeal to a family group. The guide, available in all Little Chef restaurants and at www.littlechef.co.uk, includes something for everyone with excursions including well known destinations such as Alton Towers, Legoland and London Zoo,  plus hidden gems such as The Forbidden Corner, Ironbridge Gorge museum, Towneley Hall in Burnley and Alnwick Castle.

Tom Hutton, one of the authors of a Rough Guide to Britain, said:

“Ask the majority of adults to list the things they remember most about their childhood, and the odds are that days out with the family will be one of them.

“The final 51 is an eclectic mix of days out demonstrating the range of fascinating things to do and beautiful places to visit in the UK. It’s great that the public hasn’t overlooked the less obvious attractions either, a good example being Little Chef’s number one attraction; the Forbidden Corner in Leyburn, on the edge of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, which is designed to challenge as well as delight.”

Cathy Stevenson, Marketing Director at Little Chef, said:

“We’re really pleased with the response we have had to the Family Days Out campaign and hope that the guide will provide much needed inspiration to many families over the summer holidays and beyond.

“Many of the attractions are free or have low entry fees, making it really easy for families to spend time together. The Out and About map, available in restaurants, also has a number of discount vouchers to help a make things even easier.”

The 51 Days Out guide can be found online and on the Out and About map, which can be picked up free of charge in all Little Chef restaurants.

Little Chef announces first stage rollout of Heston Blumenthal project

06 July 2009

Restaurants in the North and Midlands to be revamped. Further episode of Channel 4 series Big Chef Takes on Little Chef in production.

Little Chef has revealed details of phase one of its roll out of the new style restaurant created by Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal.

After months of speculation, the iconic roadside restaurant chain has confirmed that a further two restaurants – in York and Kettering – are to be relaunched in the same style as the brand’s Popham restaurant, which Heston revamped for the Channel 4 series, Big Chef Takes on Little Chef.

The two new restaurants will also feature the same menu that Heston introduced at Popham.

Since the series aired in January this year there has been intense interest as to whether Little Chef would implement Heston’s changes across its entire 174-strong estate.

The refurbishment of the restaurants in York and Kettering, which will create a minimum of 35 new jobs locally, is now underway and will be filmed for a further episode of Big Chef Takes on Little Chef.

&Ian Pegler, Chief Executive of Little Chef, said: “Big Chef Takes on Little Chef was a huge hit and the fact that there has been so much interest in a further episode and what happens next is a great indication of how fondly the media and the public view Little Chef.

“Heston’s menu and the redesign of Popham have been very popular and, after very carefully analysing the results of the trial there we feel the time is right to enter the next stage of development. We are now ready to take the concept to restaurants in both the North and Midlands to see how they are received.

 “It’s great to be working with Heston again and we are delighted to have his continued support.”

 A follow-up of Big Chef Takes on Little Chef, produced by TwoFour Productions, will be broadcast on Channel 4 in the autumn.

Award Winning Eggs

28 May 2009

Little Chef Wins Good Egg Award

Little Chef’s on-going commitment to responsible farming has been recognised with a prestigious Good Egg Award from Compassion in World Farming.

The award, which recognises the commitment of companies using eggs from cage free hens, was presented to Little Chef at an influential and star-studded event in the House of Commons on 14 May 2009.

Little Chef, which switched to free range eggs two years ago, was one of 34 organisations to receive a Good Egg Award alongside the BBC, Starbucks and Debenhams.

Cathy Stevenson, Marketing Director of Little Chef, said: “We are proud to have been awarded a Good Egg award.  We use around 10 million eggs every year in Little Chef restaurants and are pleased that our efforts to ensure only free range eggs are used have been recognised.”

Compassion in World Farming's chief executive, Philip Lymbery said: “Our spread of winners this year really demonstrates that the European food industry is taking this issue seriously.'We've got companies from all sectors making a move to cage-free eggs, including the catering operations of public bodies, hospitals and universities. They are clearly responding to what they think consumers want and are doing what's best for the future of their business.'

Poll Reveals Demand for Extra Bank Holiday Dedicated to UK Families

08 May 2009

Little Chef lends support to National Family Week campaign

With new research revealing that 83% of the population think we deserve an extra bank holiday dedicated to UK families, Little Chef has leant its support to National Family Week and its campaign to get a new national holiday officially added to the calendar.

The move comes as the poll, produced on behalf of Little Chef, reveals that 42% of the population feel that they don’t spend enough time together as a family and 94% of people think that we should make more effort to go on family days out.

With the UK trailing well behind the rest of Europe with only eight bank holidays per year, compared to 11 in France and Italy and up to 15 in Spain, Little Chef is backing the campaign for the UK to be rewarded with an extra day dedicated to family time, as well as launching its own initiative to bring back the traditional family day out.

To encourage more people to spend family time together, the original British roadside restaurant, is asking people to nominate their favourite UK family activities – whether it’s a day by the seaside or an afternoon feeding the animals in an urban farm. The results will be used to compile a free guide to inspire people to get out and about more as a family.

Lindsay Howard, marketing director of Little Chef, said: “Spending quality time together as a family is extremely important, but more and more this is being neglected with time and money pressures getting in the way. We fully support National Family Week’s campaign for an additional bank holiday for UK families. After all, our poll clearly shows that the majority of the UK is very much behind the idea.”

Kevin Steele, co-founder of National Family Week, the largest ever coalition on family issues said: “Encouraging families to spend quality time together is one of the principal reasons behind National Family Week. Through our network of over 150 partners we have over a thousand events taking place for families - but, what we want to see is more time made for families. This is why we are calling for practical support from the government to introduce a new public holiday – a national Family Day – to give families more opportunities to get together.”

To find out more about National Family Week visit their website. To nominate your favourite UK family day out, email details about the day out, the destination and location, why you enjoyed it, plus your name, address and contact telephone number. Entries should be received by May 31st 2009.

A Day Can Make all the Difference To British Families

17 April 2009

Little Chef Launches Campaign to Bring Back Family Days Out.

• 42% of people think they don’t spend enough time with the family
• 94% think we should make more effort to go on family days out
• Expense is the biggest barrier to going out (49%)
• The seaside tops the table for favourite destinations (33%)

British families are not spending enough quality time together, according to new research released today.

In a poll produced on behalf of Little Chef, a massive 94% of people believe we should make more effort to go on family days out, with more than a third (37%) admitting they rarely or never pack up their bags and escape for a day with their loved ones.

And with almost half admitting that the current financial climate means the expense of a day out is a huge barrier for them, the pressure to find cost effective fun is immense.

In response, the nation’s favourite roadside restaurant has joined forces with Sue Atkins of Positive Parents in a bid to Bring Back Family Days Out – and search for the 51 best family days out in the UK.

“I remember great family days out myself as a child going to Camber Sands and being bought an ice cream. For me it’s all about spending time with your kids and having fun, it is not about the amount of money you spend. I’m a great advocate of families eating together and that need not be expensive. This campaign to Bring Back Family Days Out is a brilliant idea, especially in the build up to our first ever National Family Week, encouraging families to have fun together and create memories that will last a lifetime.”

Lindsay Howard, marketing director of Little Chef, said: “It seems the desire to spend quality time with our families is there but we are lacking a bit of inspiration.

“Almost half of the families we talked to said they were looking for a great activity or place to see on a day out but admitted that cost can be an issue for them. Little Chef has played a major part in family days out for 51 years and has always offered great value, with the majority of our menu under £10. We believe this campaign will help on both counts – and what better recommendation for a great day out can you get, than the favourite destinations of likeminded families?”

Families can now nominate their favourite days out via familydaysout@littlechef.co.uk The 51 most popular destinations will be compiled into a dedicated travel guide and published by Little Chef.

Lindsay Howard said: “We know everyone loves theme parks and the seaside but we’d also love to hear about some of the UK’s hidden gems – destinations that are a little off the beaten track or out of the ordinary and offer fantastic entertainment for all the family.”

The research into family fun also revealed:

• 33% of families love a day beside the seaside; 15% prefer theme parks
• 25% of respondents blame traffic jams and arguments for spoiling days out
• 50% say quality time is the best thing about days out
• Ideal travel time is between one and one and a half hours
• The majority think £25-£50 is a reasonable amount to spend

To nominate your favourite family day out, email details - including the name & location of the attraction/destination, any favourite features, costs or tips on how to get the most out of it – to familydaysout@littlechef.co.uk Don’t forget to include your name and contact details so we can get in touch. Nominations close on May 31st and the guide will be published at the beginning of July.

To coincide with this campaign Little Chef’s new summer menu, which launches at the end of May, has a bigger family focus than ever, with family sharing platters, meal deals and specially developed family games that can be played at the table - a perfect way to begin or end your family day out.

Big News at Little Chef

28 November 2008

New look for roadside icon revealed

Iconic roadside restaurant chain Little Chef has unveiled a new look and trial menu, which have been developed by Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal as a result of a Channel 4 documentary series made by TwoFour Broadcast, which will air in January 2009.  The new “Little Chef experience” is now available to the public at Little Chef’s Popham restaurant, which is situated on the A303 near Winchester.  The programme will follow Heston Blumenthal in his bid to breathe some fresh ideas and energy into the much-loved restaurant chain.

The Popham restaurant was chosen as the location for this trial for two reasons, the demographics of its catchment area, comprising true representation of Little Chef customers - business, families and tourists.  Secondly, for its convenient location to Blumenthal’s two restaurants in Bray, The Fat Duck and The Hinds Head allowing him to spend time at both locations. 

Blumenthal immediately began to work on a fresh creative concept - initially looking at the menu and quickly extending his influence to all elements of the dining experience.  This included the introduction of Ab Rogers, the award-winning designer, who gave the restaurant a fresh new look and up-to-date re-branding, with bright signage and an innovative interior – the famous Charlie logo still pride of place. The results of the Popham project are currently on trial with a view to a potential national roll out.

Commenting on his Little Chef experience, Heston Blumenthal says:
"I have such fond childhood memories of Little Chef and was really excited about the challenge to put them well and truly back on the map. Everyone has a story to tell about this much loved and truly iconic British brand.”

Favourite dishes have been revamped like The All New Olympic Breakfast - £6.95 and are joined by some new dishes including Hereford Steak and Abbott Ale Pie - £7.25, Braised Ox Cheeks £9.75 with desserts of Chocolate Truffle Slice £3.75 and Jubilee Pancakes £3.75.  Families remain a key focus for Little Chef and Blumenthal was eager to encourage a children’s menu where the dishes were a reflection of those served to the adults, encouraging families to eat a similar meal together.  The new Children’s menu comprises Organic British Hamburgers £3.45 and Scampi (from sustainable sources in Scottish Waters) £3.45, Children’s breakfast £3.25 and Vanilla ice cream served in a cone topped with a chocolate flake and sprinkled with popping candy £2.00 (or £1.00 if ordered with a main course).

Little Chef which is currently celebrating its 50th year, has been opening new branches and re-opening branches throughout the country.  Since its purchase by Private Equity firm R Capital in 2007 and under the management of new Chief Executive Ian Pegler, the brand has invested heavily in placing Little Chef firmly at the helm of British roadside restaurants.

Ian Pegler comments:
“The opening of the trial site at Popham is a really exciting time for us and the latest step in Little Chef’s extraordinary history.  2008 really has been the year of revitalisation for Little Chef and this project with Heston and Channel 4 has married perfectly with our continuing long-term strategy to bring the brand back into the hearts and minds of the British public.  For us, it is important to make the brand relevant for a new generation, and working with a chef as unique as Heston has been a fantastic experience and resulted in real learnings at Little Chef.  Indeed the menu focuses on all the key things that sum up what Little Chef wants to be – British, quality, value-for-money and relevant for all audiences from families to business customers.”

The layout and design of the new restaurant was also key to the dining experience and Heston Blumenthal worked closely with designer Ab Rogers who created a bright new look which focuses on the fun-factor, nostalgia and taps into the traditional look of the ‘diner’ to engage customers.  It also has three clear dining areas - booths for families and groups wanting a more intimate dining experience, a communal table for those dining alone or wishing to work on their laptops, and a ‘grab and stay’ more casual area for those seeking a quick coffee and a snack, such as a busy commuter.  Even the toilets have not escaped the Ab Rogers and Heston Blumenthal touch, where the ambient sounds of the kitchen are fed into the lobby with the aroma of coffee and finally in the toilets themselves an interactive extract sound appears all about food.

The results of the trial project will be carefully reviewed and assessed, taking into consideration all customer response to the concept.

Little Chef helps cook up a storm for Pudsey

11 November 2008

Pudsey looks set to get a helping hand from Sheffield-based roadside restaurant chain Little Chef as it raises funds for this year’s BBC Children in Need Appeal.

Pudsey looks set to get a helping hand from Sheffield-based roadside restaurant chain Little Chef as it raises funds for this year’s BBC Children in Need Appeal.

Whilst tucking into the nation’s favourite Little Chef dishes, diners will be invited to take part in various fundraising activities, such as face painting, sponsored bikes rides and pancake races.

Claire Wormley, marketing manager at Little Chef, is determined to make a significant contribution to this year’s fundraising total:

“We are really excited to be fundraising for Pudsey across our network of UK-wide restaurants, whilst raising awareness and money for disadvantaged kids. We’ve been celebrating our 50th birthday this year and we are hoping to end what has been a really successful year for Little Chef on a high.

“Little Chef is based in Sheffield and we are looking forward to getting involved in the Appeal night show at Meadowhall. Together with other local businesses, we hope to make sure that South Yorkshire fundraisers do themselves proud. I’m sure Charlie and Pudsey can make it happen!”

In 2007, BBC Children in Need raised £37 million, with £3,890,275 of this amount funding projects in North West England.

Cowell given 'Freedom of Little Chef'

07 November 2008

Roadside restaurant chain Little Chef has offered to make X Factor judge and pop music mogul Simon Cowell an honorary member of its team, following comments Cowell made about shunning French food in favour of Olympic Breakfasts and Jubilee Pancakes at the roadside icon.

Roadside restaurant chain Little Chef has offered to make X Factor judge and pop music mogul Simon Cowell an honorary member of its team, following comments Cowell made about shunning French food in favour of Olympic Breakfasts and Jubilee Pancakes at the roadside icon.

Little Chef, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has offered free meals for life to Cowell as a thank you for backing it in what is it’s ‘comeback’ year, with increased sales and new menus enticing a new generation of customers through its doors.

Ian Pegler, chief executive of Little Chef, comments: “Simon Cowell is the latest in a long list of high profile and celebrity fans, such as Prince Harry and Chris Moyles, so we don’t bestow the title of ‘honorary member’ of the team on just anyone. We have written to him to invite him to his local Little Chef for a celebratory meal and we would also happily welcome any of his X Factor finalists into our restaurants for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

“We know Simon appreciates a good comeback and, like Take That before us, Little Chef is very much ‘Back for Good’.”

Little Chef has over 170 restaurants across the UK.

Little Chef in Big Comeback

08 October 2008

Roadside restaurant chain Little Chef is celebrating the latest step on its climb back to glory by announcing the official re-openings of its first restaurants since the company went into administration in early 2007.

Roadside restaurant chain Little Chef is celebrating the latest step on its climb back to glory by announcing the official re-openings of its first restaurants since the company went into administration in early 2007. The Shiptonthorpe and Warwick North restaurants, which have gala opening parties on 8 October 2008, start a programme of many former sites to re-open due to increased demand.

The good news comes as Little Chef, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year, saw an increase of between five and 12 per cent in sales over the school summer holidays due to more people holidaying in the UK. The roadside chain has also recently re-launched its menu, bringing greater focus on healthy foods as well as keeping established favourites such as the Olympic Breakfast and Jubilee Pancakes.

Added to this, a renewed investment in marketing and a focus on rebuilding the brand has helped Little Chef to relaunch itself to the public.

Chief executive Ian Pegler, who rejoined Little Chef in March 2008, is upbeat about the future of the roadside icon:
“The reopening of the Shiptonthorpe and Warwick North restaurants is a momentous occasion, not only for the brand and its customers, but also for the staff, and signals how far Little Chef has come since it went into administration in 2007. They are both prime sites on good roads, and both have great potential for the future. There have been no new sites or re-openings for a number of years, so this really is the start of things to come. It is our intention to continue to grow the business, which means re-opening several former sites this year, to continue to respond to renewed demand. “2008 really has been the year of revitalisation for Little Chef and is the beginning of a long term strategy to bring the brand back into the hearts and minds of the British public. Our sales are up, our menu is now more focused on what people want – healthier options, snacks, and more choice - and we have invested heavily in a marketing and PR push which has re-engaged both the public and our staff with the business and what we want to achieve.”
Ian Pegler continues:
“There has been significant coverage of the issues that the brand has had in the past – these re-openings are the start of the good news story of Little Chef.”
Little Chef is holding gala openings for both restaurants, opened by Peter Ward, chairman of R Capital, on 8 October 2008.

Chilli-lollies to kiwi-lollies... Little Chef to launch lollipops for grown ups

01 October 2008

Roadside restaurant chain Little Chef is reviewing the flavours of its iconic range of after-dinner lollipops - and is considering launching a new range aimed specifically at adults. As part of its 'lollipop review', the chain is considering whether to add more 'adult' tastes to its existing range of flavours such as chilli, kiwi and mocha coffee to appeal to more sophisticated 'grown up' palates.

Roadside restaurant chain Little Chef is reviewing the flavours of its iconic range of after-dinner lollipops – and is considering launching a new range aimed specifically at adults. As part of its ‘lollipop review’, the chain is considering whether to add more ‘adult’ tastes to its existing range of flavours such as chilli, kiwi and mocha coffee to appeal to more sophisticated ‘grown up’ palates.

The restaurant chain, which is currently undergoing a revamp in its 50th year, including new healthy-eating additions to its menu, is looking at its famous lollipop range as the latest part of its business that needs refreshing. The lollipops have been the traditional after meal treat for kids who finish their dinner for 50 years, and are currently available in three flavours – the original orange, strawberry and lemon. While the company is considering trialling new flavours for adults, it also wants feedback from its customers on which flavours they would keep and new flavours to consider.

Ian Pegler, chief executive at Little Chef comments: “The lollipops we give out at the end of the meal are still really popular with children so we’re not going to scrap our current flavours. However, we know that many adults also want an after dinner treat but perhaps don’t want orange, strawberry or lemon as they see them as ‘for kids’. Working with Heston Blumenthal on our menu and overall offering has inspired us to consider other taste sensations and the differences between adult and child palates. This got us thinking about new lollipop flavours for grown ups – perhaps they remember Little Chef from when they were kids, but feel they have outgrown our current lollipop range.

“For example, would young professionals like refreshing kiwi? Does a busy mum want a calming camomile? Or does peppermint tickle the taste buds? There are endless possibilities!”

Anyone with a view on Little Chef’s lollipop flavours should email marketing@littlechef.co.uk.

Little Chef reaps rewards of British summer holiday boom

08 August 2008

Roadside restaurant chain Little Chef is reporting a significant increase in sales since mid-July compared to the same period last year, thanks to the increase in Brits holidaying in the UK this summer, and a major revamp of its menu.

Roadside restaurant chain Little Chef is reporting a significant increase in sales since mid-July compared to the same period last year, thanks to the increase in Brits holidaying in the UK this summer, and a major revamp of its menu.

Little Chef, which celebrated its 50th birthday earlier this year, has reported an average of an eight percent rise in sales since the start of the school summer holidays. The roadside stalwart is putting the increase down to a combination of more cars on the road this summer, an increase in the company’s profile since it launched a major new ‘Bring Back’ marketing drive earlier this year and announced its partnership with Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal as part of a Channel 4 documentary, and a new focus on healthier and lighter meals on its menu.

Ian Pegler, chief executive of Little Chef, comments: “2008 really is a key year for Little Chef. Not only is it our 50th birthday, it is the year we are making major investment in the brand to encourage new customers perhaps not familiar with Little Chef to stop and try us out. The increase in sales since the summer holiday period began is fantastic and shows that Little Chef is still synonymous with British summer holidays. We expect the numbers to continue to rise during the rest of the holiday period.

“For many, Little Chef holds fond memories of holidays gone by – the huge response we receive from our customers every day shows that the brand is still well-loved. However, we are not living in the past and know we have to make changes to stay relevant and attract new customers. That is why we have revamped our menu for the summer, invested heavily in marketing initiatives and are also working with Heston to help relaunch the look and feel of the restaurant later this year.”

Little Chef’s revamped summer menu has many new dishes, including new lighter choices such as pasta, salads, fish options as well as bringing back some traditional favourites such as scampi and chips and prawn cocktail to sit alongside the famous Olympic Breakfast and Jubilee Pancakes. The restaurant chain also uses only free range eggs, all pork used in its sausages are British Outdoor-reared and has recently moved to Fair Trade coffee.

Ian Pegler continues: “We are very proud of our new menu and believe it offers customers a real choice of meals at competitive prices. Little Chef is still a British institution and we are confident that the changes we will be making over the next two years will restore the brand to its former glory so we can celebrate another 50 years of serving the nation.”

Take That, the greatest comeback of all time? Boyband tops new poll for best revival

02 June 2008

Take That, the 90’s boyband who made a triumphant return to the charts in 2006, has been voted the greatest comeback of all time, according to a new poll, with 45 percent of Brits believing their revival has been the most successful ever.

Take That, the 90's boyband who made a triumphant return to the charts in 2006, has been voted the greatest comeback of all time, according to a new poll, with 45 percent of Brits believing their revival has been the most successful ever.

The survey of 1600 people, carried out on behalf of roadside restaurant chain Little Chef, also revealed that the other top revivals included John Travolta, who received nearly 20 percent of the vote, following his comeback performance in Pulp Fiction and Cadbury’s Wispa Bars, which polled 13 percent of votes, and made a limited reappearance on shop shelves following a Facebook poll to bring them back. Other celebrated comebacks included Christopher Biggins, The Spice Girls, Mr T from the A-Team, perms, Dr Who and Led Zeppelin.

The research, conducted to mark Little Chef’s 50th Birthday, comes following the relaunch of popular TV shows from days gone by, such as Gladiators, and the resurgence of 80’s nostalgia in programmes such as Ashes to Ashes. The roadside restaurant chain will itself soon be the subject of a major revival, following the announcement that Michelin-starred chef, Heston Blumenthal, is to revamp the iconic brand as part of a Channel 4 documentary later this year.

In fact, a huge 79 percent of people believed that retro-chic is firmly back in vogue across the UK, and didn’t want the comebacks to stop. According to the survey, the top things we’d love to bring back from days gone by include 1970s kids TV show Swap Shop and comedy favourite, Fawlty Towers, fashions including bell bottoms, bands such as The Beatles and retro-food like black forest gateau.

Cathy Stevenson, marketing director at Little Chef, comments: “This research just goes to show that Britain loves a good comeback, whether it is a pop band, a clothing trend or a TV show. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the results seem to reflect very recent comebacks – such as Christopher Biggins following his win on ‘I’m a Celebrity’. However, there have been many great comebacks over the years, so we’re sure people will have their own favourites.” The survey also revealed that the era most people would bring back is the 1980s, which a third of Brits (33 percent) stating this was their favourite decade. Reasons ranged from childhood and school memories, to the fashions and music. Similar reasons were given for the 1970s, which was second with 23 percent of the vote, the 1960s with 22 percent, the 1990s with 14 percent and the 1950s with seven percent.

Cathy Stevenson continues: “This is a special year for us – our 50th birthday - and to mark the celebrations, we wanted to canvas the opinions of the nation to find out what trends and celebrities they would most like to see make a revival. What is clear is that retro-chic is now firmly part of our lives and this can be seen through the nation’s obsession with retro nights, clothes and music.

“It is clear that favourite decades are linked to special memories of things that have happened at a certain time. Little Chef has been serving up great roadside food since 1958, so perhaps the 1950s would be our favourite decade!”

Little Chef marked its 50th birthday in May 2008, and has embarked on a nationwide campervan tour to find out what people would keep at Little Chef ahead of its relaunch, as well as other things they would bring back from the past 50 years.

Cathy Stevenson concludes: “We know Little Chef inspires fond memories for many people across the country, and, like the things identified in the research, we do have a certain retro charm we are keen not to lose. However, we are not living in the past, which is why we’re using our 50th birthday as the time to relaunch our new look and offering later this year. Keep an eye out for the new look Little Chef – perhaps Black Forest Gateau will be on the menu!”

Do you have an opinion on what you would like to Bring Back? Let us know at www.littlechef.co.uk/bringback.

Little Chef celebrates 50th birthday

13 May 2008

On Tuesday 13 May 2008, Little Chef, the nation’s favourite roadside restaurant, will celebrate its 50th birthday. The chain has come a long way since its first 11-seater restaurant opened in Reading, in 1958.

To celebrate its big birthday Little Chef has launched a campaign to find out what people would Bring Back from the past 50 years. Its own research showed that nostalgia is very much back in vogue with 79 percent of Brits thinking that retro-chic is making a revival. Forget iPods, sat navs and the other latest technological advancements of the new millennium. Britain is a retro-chic nation that would most like to relive the neon-lit days of the 1980s.

Shoulder pads, new romantic music, perms, bell bottoms and halter neck tops are all making a return to the streets of the UK as the British public look to attempt to bring back the 80’s. TV favourites which people which is return to our screens include ‘Swap Shop’, ‘Fawlty Towers’, ‘Tis Was’, ‘Rainbow’ and ‘Button Moon’.

Cathy Stevenson, head of marketing at Little Chef, comments:
“Little Chef is celebrating its 50th birthday in style. We are taking to the streets and to canvas the opinions of the nation to find out what trends and celebrities they would most like to see make a revival. It is clear that retro-chic is now firmly part of our lives, with eight out of ten people believing that this is the case. This can be seen through the nation’s obsession with retro nights, clothes and music.”

Leading the way as the greatest revival of all time is Take That, with almost half of those surveyed (45 percent) agreeing that the band’s takeover of the charts has earned them the top spot for ‘Best Comeback’. Despite Paul McCartney and Heather Mills’ divorce battle, the nation’s love for The Beatles remains strong with almost 35 percent of the people surveyed stating the group was the one people most wanted back in the charts.

The children’s TV presenter we would most like to see make a return to the small screen is Phillip Schofield – with 30 percent of women clearly having a soft spot for the mischief that he and Gordon the Gopher used to get up to in the broom cupboard!

The survey also revealed the nation’s opinions on formerly popular food. Despite the likes of Angel Delight and Iced Gems tickling our taste buds, it seems that we are a nation of dessert lovers as a huge one in five people would love to feast on a black forest gateau, showing that perhaps we are not so health conscious after all.

Cathy Stevenson concludes:
“We know Little Chef inspires fond memories for many people across the country, and, like the things identified in the research, we do have a certain retro charm we are keen not to lose. However, we are not living in the past, which is why we’re using our 50th birthday as the time to relaunch our new look and offering later this year. Keep an eye out for the new look Little Chef – perhaps Black Forest Gateau will be on the menu!”

Little Chef now has 186 restaurants throughout the country offering favourites such as the famous Olympic Breakfast, which the traveller consumers over 2 million of a year.

Do you have an opinion on what you would like to Bring Back? Let us know at www.littlechef.co.uk/bringback

Heston Blumenthal Brings culinary flair to Little Chef

26 March 2008

National roadside restaurant chain Little Chef has announced its latest recruit - 3 Michelin-starred chef and culinary alchemist, Heston Blumenthal.

Heston, who owns the Fat Duck restaurant in Berkshire, will be followed by a camera crew for a Channel 4 documentary, which will track his progress as he brings his unique style and flair to help revamp the iconic Little Chef brand, which celebrates it 50th birthday in 2008.

Cathy Stevenson, marketing director at Little Chef, comments:
"We are absolutely thrilled that Heston will be working with Little Chef to help us relaunch later in 2008.  We know Little Chef inspires fond memories for many people across the country, and we strongly believe we can reposition the brand whilst retaining all the well-loved values and affection that clearly remain for Little Chef.

"We are lucky in that Little Chef is an iconic brand, but we are aware we need to make it relevant to many people again.   Heston's style and flair for food, plus a personal fondness for Little Chef, means that exciting times lie ahead." 

The programme, 'Big Chef, Little Chef' (working title) is set to broadcast later in 2008.

Little Chef cheer up the little ones stranded by the floods!

25 July 2007

Little Chef staff cheered up the children stranded at Oxford United Football ground due to the floods by taking them a box of goodies!

Little Chef helped to ease parent’s stress when they delivered kids lunch boxes, puzzle books, toys and crayons to families who were stranded at Oxford United Football ground as a result of the floods in Oxford.

Little Chef Assistant Manager Anne Williams, wife of Oxford United Communications Manager Chris, was called upon to provide ‘goodies’ for the ‘bored’ kids to help make their stay at the shelter a little easier.

Assistant Manager Anne said “It’s the least we could do. Some of these people are regular customers of ours and we felt compelled to help in whatever way we could”.

Several Little Chefs located across the flood stricken areas are also offering free hot drinks to any local people who have been affected by the floods . Restaurants at Oxford (A34) and Burford (A40, Oxfordshire) Buckland (A420 Oxfordshire), Alcester (A46 Warwickshire) and Stonehouse (A419, Gloucestershire).

Left to right:

Thomas way (14), Spencer Smy (10), Lindan Forbes (4), Elliss Forbes (9), Rene Smy (7), Ainsley Richetts (10), Torrin Forbes (6) all of Osney Court, Botley Road, Oxford with Little Chef Managers, Anne Williams and Lorraine Kucuk.

Little Chef Rescue Deal - pdf

03 January 2007

Little Chef Rescue Deal

03 January 2007

On 3rd January 2007, Little Chef secured its future in a deal which saved the majority of the business.

On 3rd January 2007, Little Chef secured its future in a deal which saved the majority of the business rescuing over 3,500 jobs.

2006 was a challenging year for Little Chef. Although we made a lot of significant improvements, including launching our new menu and the new website, unfortunately, on 3rd January 2007, The Peoples Restaurant Group went into administration and as a result we’ve had to say farewell to 38 of our restaurants.

We are now a 193 restaurant strong business, owned by PT Specialist Retailing Ltd who has recognised our enormous potential so we’re still moving ahead with plans to develop our much loved brand.

We’d like to thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to Little Chef and we look forward to seeing you in 2007.

View the press release (PDF), recently closed restaurants and have your say.

Little Chef goes Smoke Free

09 November 2006

Little Chef decides ahead of the no-smoking ban to introduce a no-smoking policy at all restaurants

In the interests of the health and well-being of all our customers and our staff, we have decided ahead of the no-smoking ban that comes into force next year to introduce a no-smoking policy at all of our Little Chef restaurants.

Take A Fresh Look At Little Chef!

26 October 2006

To mark the launch of its brand new menu, Little Chef will be banging on about its bangers during the nations annual Sausage Week (30th October - 5th November)

To mark the launch of its brand new menu, British roadside diner, Little Chef will be banging on about its bangers during the nation’s annual Sausage Week (30th October – 5th November).

The restaurant chain, synonymous with delivering hearty breakfasts to travellers, is proud to be launching a fresh new look for diners, which will feature, amongst other highlights, delicious free-range bangers and fresh free-range eggs in all its restaurants.

Little Chef pride itself on being somewhat of an expert on this matter, selling more than 13 million eggs and 13 million sausages per year.

To celebrate British Sausage Week, Little Chef is creating the perfect sausage butty – designed to satiate Britain’s appetite for the porker!

Made with the finest British pork banger from outdoor reared pigs and packaged in a soft freshly baked bun – it will surely tantalise those early morning taste buds!

Claire Wormley marketing manager comments: “Our menu is perfectly timed to coincide with one of the food calendar’s finest celebrations – our nation’s love of sausages. And what better way to pay homage than to create a delicious sandwich made with Britain’s finest ingredients!”

She continues: “And of course the perfect sausage butty wouldn’t be complete without the accompanying condiments - always a source of great debate at the nation’s breakfast table!”

Little Chef’s National Sausage Week Sandwich is available in vegetarian variety as well.

Little Chef’s new menu, launched on 9th November, features a range of freshly cooked to order breakfasts, lunchtime snacks, sandwiches and heartier evening meals. The emphasis is placed firmly on quality ingredients which has led to the introduction of a free range 100% British pork sausage and delicious free range eggs.

Be Safe Be Seen

24 October 2006

Little Chef's little lesson in winter road safety

Children visiting Little Chef restaurants during the half term holiday and throughout the forthcoming winter, will receive a mini lesson in road safety, thanks to a campaign in partnership with the Department for Transport.

Little Chef’s Little Lessons, offers children an interactive means of learning the dangers of the road during the darker winter months, in the form of a in-store competition.

Each child visiting one of the leading roadside restaurant’s outlets during November will receive a free reflective armband on completion of a special ‘Be Safe Be Seen’ placemat, which helps children learn to wear bright fluorescent colours to ensure they give drivers a warning.

The message ‘Be Bright Day and Night’ is one that the restaurant is keen to promote ahead of the daylight saving on Saturday 28th October.

Marketing Manager for Little Chef, Claire Wormley comments: “We feel a responsibility towards road users, whether they are drivers or families that break their journeys with us. As our restaurants serve over 5,000 children’s meals per week, we are ideally placed to advise not only adults, but children as well about the dangers of not being seen by traffic on the road.”

“And of course, we’ve been sure to make the lesson as fun as possible by incorporating the messages into a puzzle placemat. We’ve also got four funky coloured fluorescent armbands, one will be given away free with every meal. It’s a great way to drive the message home to kids and we’re sure they’ll become collectables once they’re back in the playground!”