‘IT’S A GENUINE OLD-SCHOOL GEM’

Close to Brand Hatch circuit, the M25 and M20, the Oakdene Café has the whole South East on its doorstep

If it weren’t for the sign by the roadside, most people would probably just ride past the Oakdene Café in Wrotham without even knowing they’d missed it. Set back from the road across a dusty, pot-holed parking lot, this single-storey cabin can often be obscured by the wagons and artics that rumble in looking for a pitch for the night. But to ride by would be to miss out, as we discovered on our recent visit. Words like ‘traditional’ and ‘authentic’ are often used to conjure up a rose-tinted, picture perfect image, but as such they’re just not evocative enough to describe the Oakdene. It’s a genuine, original old-school cafeteria that, apart from an occasional lick of paint, looks very much as it has done since the 1970s. The Oakdene is a survivor and that’s a good thing, as places like this are becoming rare. Although the building itself may look a little ragged around the edges, the staff and food are anything but. All meals are prepared fresh to order and the service is as friendly as you’ll find anywhere. Our set breakfast certainly ticked all the boxes. Owner Janet Jeavons, 72, took up the lease in 1982 and has been serving up proper home-cooked trucker’s portions ever since. She said: “These days it’s more recreational than a transport café, especially on a Wednesday when we can have 400-500 bikes filling the carpark to overflowing.” Key to the atmosphere are the regulars, an approachable bunch otherwise known as the Oakdene Die’ards. “We’ve been riding together since the 1960s,” says spokesman Robbo, “and the old-fashioned spit and sawdust feel is what it’s all about.” “There aren’t many cafes that offer a decent dinner with vegetables,” adds fellow Die’ard Mendel. “It’s somewhere to hang out that has good food, no beer and a lot of bikes.”