Manky Monkey Motors

We found this one while we were out & about on the trikes this afternoon.
Nelsons Diner is a great 50s style American diner, on the A339 at Kingsclere, between Basingstoke & Newbury. It really looks the part -all shiny chrome & red leather, & has a nice atmosphere. The staff are all fairly young, but very welcoming & the service is excellent. It's already been used as a photographic backdrop for several magazine photoshoots & several car clubs meet here each month. Worth a visit if you're in the area.
http://nelsonsdiner.co.uk/

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Thats the same decor and all as the OK Diner we use at Leominster  8)

Ahhhhh!

Me smell chocolate mmmmmmmmmmm

Could be a new meeting place for us once a month, Manky said he'll buy dinner for everyone that comes along  ;D

I think you misheard me -I said I'll buy dinner for one -me.
So who paid for the teas & chips today then eh? Your turn next time Flappy Boy.
Would make a great venue for a Summer evening ride out or Sunday morning breakfast run though.

I prefer to meet once a month, while dave would like to meet up once a day. HA HA HA HA.

Manky better do some more overtime to pay for this lot. 

I'm starvin!

 ;D
So we cruising over there in the Consul on Friday missus?
Maybe this is a franchise if there are other identical ones. A good idea if it is. The whole retro thing's pretty strong at the moment isn't it -& good, friendly service will never go out of fashion.

Just read on their website that Elvis is in the house every Monday & Wednesday night!

(http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/2674/pic0063yk8zo0.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)

This is the one in Leominster

Or even a lunchtime meet to allow those of us from further away to have a leisurely ride there and back?

Whenever you feel like coming up Bobbi, just say & we'll meet up to suit you -or anyone else that fancies visiting.

Did this used to be a "truckers" cafe about 15 years ago? it looks like the place I used to stop at. Would like to have ride out there again for late breakfast/lunch some time next summer.

Bring Bobbi with you then!
It was a Wimpy Bar years ago, then stood empty before becoming "Scooby's", with a yellow sign-written "Del Boy Trotter" Reliant van parked outside. It's probably had several other names over the years too. Stands to the side of a petrol station just after the Star pub. I really hope people support it this time cos it's very pleasant. As we pulled in, 5 assorted big Yank motors from Farnborough were pulling out, so hopefuly it'll take off as a rod/bike venue.
They're open till 9 in the evening. The menu & opening times are on their website -the link's at the top of this thread.

Thats all well and good but what are the portions like?

It used to be a little chef. I used to go in there for some brekky while my car was moted at the garage next door. It would be nice to meet out there on a sunday.
But what are the portions like? ;D

Would you like a large portion, said the vicar to the nun  :o ;D

Yeah. you're right, it was a Little Thief, not a Wimpy.
Portions? Dunno, go along & find out! We only had tea & french fries but no complaints.

Janie, Dave & I dropped in again this evening after a visit to the Milestones museum in Basingstoke, (see the Favourite Places to Visit bit of the main site).
Verdict: Great service. Very friendly & eager to please. A little pricey, (5 - 7 quid for a burger & fries), but good food. Portions big enough for us to waddle out feeling distinctly bloaty afterwards.
Wanna know why it's called Nelson's? It was the name of a donkey born in the 60s in the field where the diner now stands! 

Where's that Donkey now, in your burger  ;D

Yeah, they've missed out on a good marketing opportunity there haven't they. I'll mention it next time we drop in.

We met at Nelsons a couple of weeks ago for brekkie before doing the FBHVC drive it day over in Bishopstone, great venue for a monthly cruise night, I heard a club used to meet there, Fuelers or something???  Does anything happen there??

Not sure if they've changed their opening times, (maybe longer during the Summer months?), but they used to shut at around 7pm, which would mess up an evening club meet. We've talked of having a breakfast run there when we've finally got some vehicles on the road.
Taz & I called in at "Starvin' Marvins" on the A40, opposite the Hoover Building on the outskirts of London, on Wednesday evening. Similar American style diner. We decided Nelsons was better value -cheaper with bigger portions & a very friendly atmosphere.

This a thread from the past but Chevy Rick and I called in today as we were at a small show in Thatcham.

We were a bit disappointed with the diner. I don't know if you were better off in those days Andy or whether they have put their prices up!  Parking was pretty naff to. There doesn't seem to be enough for a full patronage and it was quite busy.

Maybe most diners fall short because they are trying to capture something that was of an age. Food in the USA has also been quite cheap for a long time so eating out over there is not so expensive and therefore is more common than here. 

We did once go to a really nice diner in Southsea near Portsmouth but I think that might have since closed. Mind you that was quite dear but they had really gone out of their way to capture the look and feel, including some great mural style artwork which showed 50s cars as if you were looking at them in the car park.  It was very clever. In instances like that you don't mind paying more.

Can anyone recommend any other diners we could visit? (As long as it isn't the one about 30 miles from Essex Arena.  Been there and never again. The only thing that made that a diner was the authentic looking sign in front of it!).

JJ  ::)  ;)

Nelsons are advertising for extra staff at the moment ready for expansion. The petrol station next door's just been revamped, including a supermarket & I think the diner will get a make over too to catch the extra trade.

 >:( £10 to £15 and on up the price went for a burger, £2 for a cup of tea, I think they were taking the wee wee,how do they cope with wide American cars i had to pull out of the parking space to let JJ get back in the car, NOT IMPRESSED   ::)

The litte chef at the top of Haldon hil at Exeter has become a american theme cafe, but on the one heading west they have called it the Haldon Forest Diner. Loads of parking and very good facilities. They do an all day roast, fantastic value and the waitress sizes you up so you get a decent portion. Worth a try if your heading West on the A38

Cheers for that Coppersmith.

I passed Nelsons Diner this evening & spotted this outside.