Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#1
Taking a family amble along Deal Pier is a nice thing to do. We did same on Easter Monday and yes very pleasant There is something about its lived in feel that makes it appealing. Even trying to negotiate the anglers has a certain attraction. But in some ways it amazes me that its still allowed in the era of Health & SAfety...all those whizzing reeling ballcock thingys and all that chucking of the lines seaward is something of a hazard to be negotiated by a shambling rambling public. BUT I wouldnt change it one bit as the anglers give it a fascination, as you watch and see if they catch anything and so on. But yes it certainly is unusual in this day and age to see the potential hazards and the general public mixed in together.
They stopped them fishing along Dover seafront for that very reason...banned on Health & Safety grounds a few years back.
We eventually made it to the NEW Cafe at the end of the pier, fortunately its a short pier as I cant be doin with too much walking...but alas, although the architecture of the Cafe is au naturelle and interesting, the cafe aspect itself is a tad disappointing with the emphasis more on CAFF than Cafe.
There was an advert at the entrance of the Pier for a forthcoming St Georges Day Party there...and we were all agog with interest, but afterwards when we saw for the first time the location for the party, we changed our minds...as it looks dull. I thought Caff's were gone out of style.
#2
I haven't seen the caff on deal Pier yet, but PaulB, be in at the beginning.......Caffs are the new black. Greasy spoons are all the rave, or soon will be. Toffs ordering a full Irish or English with plenty o'black pudding, in a greasy spoon with aproned older waitresses will soon become the norm. Watch this space!!!
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
#3
Ooh! does that mean we can look forward to the return of the 'motorway caff' with the plastic red and white table cloths accompanied by a sugar spoon attached to a chain screwed to the table. I can't wait
#4
I am slavering as we speak...................pass the ketchup, Mavis, and top up the brown sauce.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#5
yeah im up for properly cooked food, bring on the dripping sarnies etc.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#6
i was extremely dissapppointed when i saw the new greasy spoon.
just the way that the tables were set out was a let down, does not go with the lovely views.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#7
Well exactly Howard. Because of all the ballyhoo about this new restaurant I expected a bit more, but sadly they just more or less rebuilt what was there before with a few added facilities. An opportunity was lost to have a reasonable restaurant with reasonable seating at reasonable prices...so you could sit there with a glass of something chasing down your flambeyed steak and chips and enjoying the seaviews! I blame Paul Watkins myself !
Oh nooo!! Bern and BWS..youre talking about episodes of the Old Minder there courtesy of the 1970's...life was lived in Caffs with red and white table cloths and brown sauce in every shot..aaaarrrgh!! Very popular though it was at the time lets not go back there purleeeze..(oh no remember the flared trousers!!) Remember too with non-affection the accumulated brown sauce at the top of the sauce bottle left there by hundreds of other previous users. And all you could eat of the deep fat fryed fry-up for £1.10.
Nowadays we are all very..errmmm sophisticated. Having watched endless TV Chefs prepare carrot souffle and cucumber tartare in the comfort of our own homes, we couldnt possibly be wanting a fry-up anymore!!?
#8
PaulB, even as a vegetarian I have fond memories of the fried pigs trotters, the black and white pudding, the fried bread.Sophistication is great, but a lovely old fashioned fried-something-sarnie hits the spot, even if we have to wear flares and nylon kipper ties to eat it!!
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
#9
The old cafe was falling apart, they built a new one, why change the popular food that is served in it?
Just because it is a good piece of architecture, doesn't mean to say that the food should climb in pretentiousness. Why ordinary things can't happen in beautiful buildings is odd. It was actually my initial concern that they would build a new cafe and the food would change. You walk to the end of Deal Pier, you have a fry-up; you walk around Folkestone harbour harbour, you eat seafood (preferbly whelks) this is all good. I do think from a distance the building is hard to appreciate and they possibly have one too many tables but the choice of food is correct. Chardonnay drinkers should be suitably discouraged by the people fishing on the way up the pier, a reminder of the class of the everyday users of the structure.
TV Chefs have just made people talk more about food, not necessarily understand it. Much in the same way blokes in pubs are great at talking a good game of football...playing one is another matter. Fry-ups are great, honest and transcend fashion. Anyone can appreciate a good one and almost everyone enjoys one (even veggie options). Strong tea in a mug is far better than any wine on a fresh sunday morning after a stroll along the pier.
#10
Getting a good strong cuppa can be a challenge now! What's the point of a cuppa if you cannot taste the tea?!
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#11
BERN. You are so right there when I get up most mornings about 03.30 hrs first thing a cup of tea and always take my wife up one to gave her a big kiss tell her the tea is there
But some times she does not wake up, then it is of to work.
VicM
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
#12
The Cafe at the end of the pier is indeed an end-of-the-pier cafe offering steaming mugs of tea and good everyday food etc, which is nice, but as I recall they are also marketing themselves as an evening venue for at least 3 nights a week. The location would make for a great romantic evening meal with an a la carte menu and subtle lighting setting the mood. If they moved the tables to face the sea we could be sipping a glass of wine (not Chardonnay I hasten to add as it has a soporific effect on me) whilst gazing through the swirling mists towards the coast of France listening to the sound of gentle lapping waves
#13
That, Colette, sounds wonderful!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#14
See you two girls there then..!! well the wife is away...lol..Rose wine ok?
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#15
OY Marek the Boss not Paul your Boss has told me to keep an eye on you,so unless I get an invite I will tell.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#16
JHG
Grass!!!!
Natascha is the super Grass.She counts how many drinks I've had after mass on Sunday and how I've bust the hoover and dyed the best fluffy towels a light blue by putting a denim shirt in the same wash.I'm in enough trouble as it is.....help...I have ordered a skip so I can tidy up before the boss comes home to attend the Carnival night at the Town Hall.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Unregistered User
#17
New Pier structure is up for one of Kent's RIBA awards. One of twelve across the County under consideration.
Watty
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#18
the structure is not a problem paul, the cafe is.
Unregistered User
#19
Howard, the Pier cafe is run by a franchisee as was the previous operation. They provide what they think their market is as did the previous operator. I think they have been a little slow in coping with their new endeavour but my understanding is that it is improving as experience is gained. The operator is particularly amenable to menu suggestions based on his capability to cater.
Watty
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#20
it is not so much the menu paul, as the general layout.
anyway, as you say, they may well improve things as they go alongalways teething problems with these things.