I also like to have a ride down to Loomies a good 50 mile ride from Amesbury. Also like to have a ride to Compton Abbas airfield apart from that steep winding hill just before you get there.
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I also like to have a ride down to Loomies a good 50 mile ride from Amesbury. Also like to have a ride to Compton Abbas airfield apart from that steep winding hill just before you get there.
Some interesting responses from both sides of the fence, thanks guys
That's the key.Originally Posted by Snowy
The Ace Cafe is a crap ride, and a dump of a building. The only reason it does well is that they do decent food and they put on "nights"
Go there on an ordinary day and it's dead.
Location or events is the key. I'm afraid the old "build it and they will come" doesn't always work so it would have to offer something that the others don't.
Be at the end of a great road, a place where bikers meet already or attached to an event.
the one thing i will say though is not everyone wants a nice riding road to get somewhere. people in cars who will be your main source of income might not want to drive 50 miles for a burger, no matter how good it may be. a dealership/display thing may draw some but surely if your aiming for a good riding road, it also needs to be a main car road to keep a good flow of business?
Yep, I ride over to the bus park in Abergavenny on average 8 to 9 times a year for the reasons highlighted by Graeme and it is only an hour from my in-laws too. Stop for about 2 hours approx, chewing the fat with other bikers. I always have a mug of coffee and a bacon butty. Most of all the roads are kept in a much better standard compared to Somerset. It is a hard one James - to be fair I think teenagers taking up biking will be in ever dwindling numbers with the amount of hoops in place to jump through now. Difficult for a café to cater for one small sector of customers in the modern climate, but specialised events for biking groups could bring in additional custom to a café which serves decent grub at affordable prices.
Last edited by redken1; 16-11-13 at 09:06 PM.
Once you've got the right location, I would say you can't have too much publicity. I like to ride out to Abergavenny, AV8, Poole, George Whites old place etc..... Even though I regularly scan the internet and mags I only heard about the Hill Top at the same time as it closed down. If you consider all the popular destinations we all use, the secret seems to be a bit more than a car park and a definite reliance on revenue from a cross section of users. In answer to the question, yes I'd use a new place to stop for a cuppa.
As mentioned elsewhere, Loomies does well as located in a great area for bikes, my understanding is that it is also used for some car meets and having a garage right next door also doubles as a 'transport cafe' if there is still such a thing so doesn't need to rely solely on the biker coin.
Check it out on a wet Sunday in the winter and very few bikes around, like Poole Quay, the shiny bike brigade are vital if you want to attract large numbers but obviously only during decent weather.
I really enjoy riding out to Shaftesbury, Mere, Yeovil area as very quiet roads but not many places known for bike gatherings, Compton Abbas pretty much only one that comes to mind so would welcome somewhere recognised as a bikers haunt with a decent cup of tea and a pie : )
Last edited by Trev; 17-11-13 at 07:47 PM.
I'd visit every once in a while. I'm of the school the decides where I'm going based on my mood that day.... But if it's carp I don't usually go back unless the route is really special.
I love fishing to hahaha
Not very good at it, but I love spelling too LOL
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