‘FULL ENGLISH PERFECTION’
You’ll be itching to visit for great roads, food and bike nights
This week our quest to find Britain’s best biking cafe takes us to the rural roads of the midlands, where we make a pit stop at the local eatery known as the Long Itch Diner.
The name may sound like the epithet of a cheap motel, but it’s derived from the village up the road, Long Itchington. The diner itself is located in a converted filling station on a prime spot along the A423. “It’s the roads that bring me here,” says Raoul Charmetton, who was out for a blast on his Ducati XDiavel, “but I stay for the friendly atmosphere and great food. It’s good value for money, too.”
The layout of the Long Itch allows for plenty of parking and the forecourt canopy provides sheltered outdoor dining. Inside, the decor is somewhat uninspiring to be honest, however the food is anything but bland. We ordered the traditional fry up and it scored very highly indeed – virtually textbook Full English perfection.
“We’ve always aimed for quality,” owner John Dalton told MCN. “We know how it should be and that’s how we do it.” Chef Roger Prickett also has a passion for curries, so be sure to check out the specials board. The Long Itch holds a bike night every Thursday throughout the season which regularly attracts a hundred or more bikes and bikers, but drop in any time and you’re bound to meet a fellow rider or two. With good food, a warm welcome and plenty of friendly banter, the Long Itch Diner is another worthy contender for MCN’s coveted Golden Sausage award.