24 hour Transport Cafe - Red Lodge

Turnpike Road (old A11)

Newmarket

Suffolk

IP28 8LB

Opening hours

24 hours

Take the "Red Lodge" turning off the A11 and follow 'Transport Cafe" signs, you can't miss it.

This is where you place your order, there seemed to be just one breakfast option.

The place has remained unchanged for decades.

Through the doorway leads to another long seating area and the outside toilets.

What a stunning view!

80p bought me a stewed mug of tea.

If you like beans and tomatoes you are in for a real treat.

Tomato juice swamped the plate.

Red Lodge 24 hour transport cafe has remain unchanged for decades, it even had a documentary made about it. I remember stopping there about 20 years ago but couldn't remember what my thoughts were on their fry up. I had been to another amazing "Last Gang In Town" gig in Cambridge and on my way home the next day was getting really excited about stopping at Red Lodge. I had been thinking about visiting a long time ago but realised it would make much more sense to pop in when I was actually passing it on my way somewhere, the day had arrived so in I went..

Upon entering - When I first walked in the place it was fairly empty, there is a counter straight ahead with a large menu on the wall. There only seemed to be one fried breakfast option on the menu, the 'Red Lodge special breakfast". There is nothing on the tables except the odd bottle of ketchup and brown sauce so grab what you need from the counter and find a table. There are two inside areas to sit and you can also sit outside at the front or out the back. There is lots of signed band photos on the wall, some looking very faded now, possible famous visitors over the years? I liked the way the place has been left unchanged for years with a vast selection of things on the wall to keep you occupied while you wait for your food. 7/10

Service - I ordered and payed at the counter and when it was ready I collected it from the counter. 5/10

Contents - 1 sausage, 2 bacon, 1 egg, fried bread, beans and tinned tomatoes. 6/10

Presentation - It looked ok but the tomato and beans overload was apparent the second I looked at it. 6/10

The food - As you may well have noticed by now I am not a fan of economy sausages, but there it was nestled between 2 deep fried pieces of bacon and mount tomato. The fried egg was perfect as was the fried bread but this was short lived as it absorbed the sea of tomato juice and turned soggy. Fairly standard beans and loads of them. 6/10

Value for money - £4.40 for the fried breakfast and 80p for a mug of tea seemed a fair price. 6/10

Veggie option - No

Overall - I have been looking forward to revisiting this place for ages now and I did leave feeling disappointed. I was expecting a varied breakfast menu but was surprised to find one choice with just 6 different items on it and not a mushroom in sight. The tea was stewed and the food was swamped in tomato juice, great fried bread and fried egg though! By the time I left, the place was filling up with people and I know many people love the place. I love the look and feel of the place and the fact it hasn't changed in 40 odd years but very much doubt I will return. 6/10