End of the world soon.

[Sooty09]

Not the Mayan calender thing but the closing down of Dunnies cafe next to the river in Otley. Its been the meeting place for bikers and cyclists all my motorcycling life.
Its going to be demolished to make way for a retirement home.
For those who have never visited its not the highest quality food, and the tea and coffee not the strongest, the place is always a bit grubby and most mugs are a bit stained and chipped, and ladies never ever look in the toilet.
- BUT -
Its got a great outdoor seating area, just enough level ground to park the bikes on and is warm inside when its raining. Opens at about 6.00 and is the perfect place to start a days riding.
- AND -
A mug of tea is 30p, a good sized bacon bap is £1.50, Full English fry up with tea and bread £3.35 etc. A few years ago somebody complained the toasted teacakes were a bit smaller so they put up a notice -
"Due to a change of supplier our teacakes are smaller so we have reduced the price to compensate - now 45p"
Dunnies has set the bar for value, every other cafe including roadside vans are ripping us off.
Where to meet will be a future problem, perhaps Witherspoons will be the logical alternative, nice coffe, breakfast is not too bad and reasonable quality and they don't seem to mind wet riders hanging about, it just wont be the same.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Shame

End of an era, great place & not many left like it

 

[glenn2926]

Boo Hoo

Now that is the end of an era

 

[Elle]

Shame about that, didn't go often but it is a good meeting place.
Which Wetherspoons are you referring to for meetings?

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

I can't believe it

It was a good starting place for a m bike run and a good destination for a cycle.

Another part of our history goes

 

[inazone242]

First introduced to the culinary delights of Dunnies about 1980 a cup of tea was 10p (its only 30p now)a chip buttie should not be taken lightly as its a meal in its own right. was always a good place to either start or finish the days riding.
Before the licensing laws were changed for the pubs, bank holidays were a hoot all the piss heads came to Otley for the all day drinking and would finish up jumping from the bridge into the river or hiring a rowing boat and sinking them
Was their one day and a guy had puncture he got the tyre off OK and fixed it but to get the tyre back on he went into the cafe for some washing up liquid but was refused it , so he bought a chip buttie and squeezed the fat and grease out of it and rubbed it round the tyre bead to get it back on the rim..
Deffinatley seem some sights there over the years, gona miss it.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

£3.30's worth of full breakfast this morning

 

[tosh23]

gutted, Ive only been there once and loved the place, I was planning to go back this year...I might go back there in 30 years time when im old and decrepit

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Closing date 4th Feb

 

[Tinytim]

Closing date 4th Feb

That is a bastid aint it. Thanks for the date...must get a few Last Breakfasts in before she closes !

We're fooked .

 

[Tobers]

If you lot like it so much why not buy it and run it? Biker cooperative style.

Ah - that'll be due to it being demolished then.

But...on the bright side the retirement home may have a decent canteen you could use.

 

[GSSTEVE]

Late Protest.. As seen this morn

The Final Cut.....

 

[Mr K]

I hate to say it, but you can't force a cafe to sell-up....... so either they weren't making enough money or the offer to sell was irresistible.

Must admit, it was on my list of "excuses for a ride"..

 

[inazone242]

I hate to say it, but you can't force a cafe to sell-up....... so either they weren't making enough money or the offer to sell was irresistible.

Must admit, it was on my list of "excuses for a ride"..

The reports / interviews in the local press stated they were ready to retire, Paul one of the owners is in his 60's and his brother will be the same, all in all they served the local community for over 30 years with that place.