Cycling UK Forum

On the C2C route between Penrith and Alston the Hartside cafe has been burnt down

For the second time.
There’ll be a lot of bikers homeless this summer but a marvellous opportunity for a fast food van on a Sunday. I was never taken with it and last time I cycled past I did so without stopping. ...there’s a first!

Arson or ''electrical fault ''

Guess it will depend on cause and how quickly they can re-build. I imagine any 'fast food van' would be run by the owners. Seems a shame, hardly a culinary 'experience' but good basics and always a friendly welcome.... they did an amazing job feeding everyone at the TOB stage finish a few years ago.

always found it expensive.....I appreciate it was on top of the hill but they really milked the monopoly

Considering Hartside had been closed for over a week due to snow, I think electrical fault is more likely than arson.

Did it have water/mains utilities?
Something similar happened in Malvern, the cafe on the Worcestershire Beacon burnt down. Rebuilding was not allowed!

The fire appliances had to follow the snow plough to get there

What a shame, not the best but the location is perfect and the food substantial. The whole of the Pennine section of C2C route is still under serious snow.

We stopped there for a cuppa/cake in Autumn 2016 on a wet and windy day.They didn't bat an eyelid at two cyclists dripping water all over their floor I have stopped there numerous times over the years on the Motorbike and don't really get why some folk think it's expensive The cake portions were huge!We actually wrapped half of ours to save for later on in the day!
Hopefully it will return

I've stopped in the car park on dozens of occasions since 2008 (Always on the bike). But to be honest, with decent shopping facilities just down the road in Penrith or a slighty more restricted choice in Alston, I've never felt a need to buy a scrap of food there.

And it's not as if the building was attractive; a grotty, half baked cafe stuck in a car park, rather similar to an old fashioned truck stop

gbnz wrote:I've stopped in the car park on dozens of occasions since 2008 (Always on the bike). But to be honest, with decent shopping facilities just down the road in Penrith or a slighty more restricted choice in Alston, I've never felt a need to buy a scrap of food there.

And it's not as if the building was attractive; a grotty, half baked cafe stuck in a car park, rather similar to an old fashioned truck stop

-1!
Why did you stop, for a picnic? I think I might need a rest after the climb, even from Alston
Do like to read dissenting views

cyclemad wrote:Arson or ''electrical fault ''

If it was arson the arsonist must have had a snow plough. The fire was spotted by a gritter driver.

Amazingly gets 4 stars in tripadvisor https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restauran ... gland.html
I just read the terrible ratings made interesting reading.

Cyril Haearn wrote:

gbnz wrote:I've stopped in the car park on dozens of occasions since 2008 (Always on the bike). But to be honest, with decent shopping facilities just down the road in Penrith or a slighty more restricted choice in Alston, I've never felt a need to buy a scrap of food there.

And it's not as if the building was attractive; a grotty, half baked cafe stuck in a car park, rather similar to an old fashioned truck stop

-1!
Why did you stop, for a picnic? I think I might need a rest after the climb, even from Alstonk:

Well on the 110 mile ride between a walk in the Lakes and home, the blocks of stone on the edge of the car park always made a useful stopping point for a rest and quick bite (And with the attraction of the next twenty miles on a slight downhill gradient)