Little Chef

File:Sam Scorer, Little Chef - geograph.org.uk - 173949.jpg on the A1 in Nottinghamshire. This building became Grade II listed shortly after Little Chef left the premises in early 2012.]]

In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, American lunch room operator Arthur Valentine created the concept of selling small prefabricated diners through mail order.{{Cite web |last=Alvord |first=Kyler |date=2020-06-30 |title=These Mail-Order Diners Helped Define Roadside Eating. Now They're Disappearing. |url=https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/valentine-diners-history-mail-order-roadside-us |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Thrillist |language=en}} These were called Valentine Diners, and various models were manufactured in Wichita, Kansas, later becoming famous landmarks across the U.S. Route 66.{{Cite web |date=2016-03-21 |title=Historic Valentine Diners |url=https://catherinesherman.wordpress.com/2016/03/21/historic-valentine-diners/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Catherine Sherman |language=en}} In the 1950s, British caravan designer Sam Alper was travelling the United States, and saw the model called 'The Little Chef' in Leedey, Oklahoma.{{cite web |title=A Little Bit About Us |url=http://littlechef.co.uk/aboutus |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107200715/http://www.littlechef.co.uk/aboutus |archive-date=7 January 2011 |access-date=14 April 2024 |publisher=Little Chef}}

Upon Alper's return home, he worked with catering boss Peter Merchant to design and build his own version of a small roadside diner.{{cite news |date=12 April 2024 |title=Little Chefs: What happened to roadside diner chain |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68796980 |access-date=13 November 2024 |work=BBC News }} The first Little Chef opened in 1958 on Oxford Road, Reading in the car park of the former Rex Cinema, it had just eleven seats. The earliest Little Chefs remained as basic, prefabricated constructions, with room for up to twenty customers, a staff of three to four, and provision for car parking.{{cite web|url=http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1987/fulltext/211c02.pdf|title=Trusthouse Forte PLC|year=2007|publisher=Competition Commission (United Kingdom)|access-date=14 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708150614/http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/rep_pub/reports/1987/fulltext/211c02.pdf|archive-date=8 July 2011|url-status=usurped}} There was also a short-lived experiment in 1964 with a branch in London's Regent's Park.{{cite web|url=https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2020/12/24/the-year-little-chef-opened-in-regents-park/|title=The year Little Chef opened a cafe in Regent's Park|access-date=14 April 2024}}

From 1965 onwards, the outlets began to be built in brick, with room for about forty customers, by which time there were 12 outlets. Standard décor and uniforms were brought in, together with staff training. Later on, they were built with room for some sixty customers, while parking space was improved, and sign boards and other identifying marks were emphasised. By 1970, Little Chef became a subsidiary of the Trust Houses hotel, restaurant, and catering conglomerate, by which time there were 25 Little Chef restaurants.[http://www.littlechef.co.uk/aboutus About us : Little Chef] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309154720/http://littlechef.co.uk/aboutus |date=9 March 2013 }}

In 1970, Trust Houses merged with Charles Forte's hotel and catering consortium to create Trust House Forte.{{cite web|url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Companies/33957/little-chef.html|title=Little Chef – hospitality company profiles|date=17 August 2009|publisher=catersearch.com|access-date=15 February 2011|archive-date=11 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411084007/http://www.caterersearch.com/Companies/33957/little-chef.html|url-status=dead}} The takeover by Forte gave Little Chef the capital and resources to expand rapidly. Soon, Trust House Forte had 44 Little Chef restaurants. Frustrated by planning laws, Forte began sending out teams to "well-located" transport cafes, offering the owners cash incentives to sell and move out "within the week" so that Forte could turn their restaurants into Little Chefs. {{cite book |last=Lawrence |first=David |author-link= |date=2010 |title=Food on the Move: the Extraordinary World of the Motorway Service Area |url= |location= |publisher=Between Books |page=118 |isbn=978-0953698011}} Following this tactic, the chain, by 1972, had expanded to 100 outlets. In the 1970s, there were also two restaurants in France, both of which closed by 1976.

Sites were a mixture of self-service and waitress service, though predominantly the former.{{cn|date=August 2024}} By 1976, there were 174 outlets, and the first Little Chef Lodge motel was opened. In 1977, "Jubilee Pancakes" were added to the menu.File:Little Chef - geograph.org.uk - 198664.jpg restaurant near York, on the A64 eastbound.]]

Little Chef outlets were opened at larger Trust House Forte service areas on motorways and trunk roads. In 1987, these service areas became known as Welcome Break after the acquisition of the smaller Welcome Break group of motorway service areas and the Happy Eater roadside restaurants, Little Chef's main rival at the time, in 1986, as part of the break-up of the Imperial Group.

In 1990, the Little Chef Lodges were rebranded as Travelodge. In 1992–3, two sites were opened in the Republic of Ireland. In 1995, Forte announced the end of the Happy Eater brand, with all existing sites converted into Little Chef by 1997.

Little Chef had a spin-off brand called "Little Chef Express," which Forte developed in 1995 as a rival to fast-food outlets.{{cn|date=August 2024}} The first Express outlet was at the Markham Moor service station (A1 North), though only as an addition to the existing Little Chef menu there.{{cn|date=August 2024}} Only five restaurants were ever built on the roadside, and the idea was redeveloped when Little Chef was taken over by Compass, with the Express take-outs being set up in food courts, including one in the Eurostar terminal.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

In 1996, catering and broadcasting conglomerate Granada successfully mounted a hostile takeover for the Forte group.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/forte-1323877.html|title=FORTE|last=Hosking|first=Patrick|date=14 January 1996|work=The Independent |location=UK|access-date=12 February 2011}} The Welcome Break chain was sold by Granada, with the Little Chefs at those motorway service areas becoming a similar table-service restaurant, branded as Red Hen. High prices earned the chain the nickname "Little Thief".{{cite book|first1=Duncan |last1=Angwin|first2=Stephen |last2=Cummings|first3=Chris |last3=Smith|title=The Strategy Pathfinder: Core Concepts and Live Cases|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VXlZqDz7shAC&pg=PT306|date=12 December 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-119-99588-3|page=307}}

In 1998, Granada bought AJ's Family Restaurants, another Little Chef rival, from the [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02297958 Celebrated Group] and converted all of its fifteen sites to Little Chefs.{{cn|date=August 2024}} AJ's had originally been set up in 1986 by two Happy Eater directors, following their sale to Forte.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

File:Little Chef, Eastham - geograph.org.uk - 209842.jpg restaurant in Merseyside, pictured in 2006.]]

File:Disused Little Chef - geograph.org.uk - 148422.jpg restaurant in Shropshire, pictured in 2006.]]

File:Veggie sausages flickr user frenkieb creative commons.jpg

In 2000, Granada merged with the Compass Group to form Granada Compass, but the two demerged in 2001, leaving Little Chef as part of Compass.{{cite web|url=http://www.compass-group.com/Our-history.htm|title=Our history|publisher=Compass Group|access-date=20 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017195956/http://www.compass-group.com/Our-history.htm|archive-date=17 October 2016}} At about this time, some Little Chefs began serving Harry Ramsden's meals,{{cite web|url=http://www.godsowncounty.co.uk/04/yorkshire/harry-ramsdens-now-and-then/|title=Harry Ramsden's Past and Present|date=12 April 2009|publisher=God's Own Country|access-date=20 February 2011|location=Yorkshire}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/little-chefs-special-gives-hopeless-romantics-a-taste-of-true-love-620093.html|title=Little Chef's special gives hopeless romantics a taste of true love|last=Boggan|first=Steve|date=14 December 2001|work=The Independent |location=UK|access-date=20 February 2011}} a cross-branding exercise undertaken by Compass, who also owned Harry Ramsden's, though this serving ended in June 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2005/06/16/54093/Little-Chef-drops-Harry-Ramsden39s.htm|title=Little Chef drops Harry Ramsden's|date=5 July 2004|publisher=catersearch.com|access-date=20 February 2011}}

The private equity investment company Permira bought Travelodge and Little Chef from Compass Group in December 2002 for £712 million,{{cite web|url=http://www.altassets.com/private-equity-news/by-region/europe/western-europe/united-kingdom/article/nz1550.html |title=Permira agrees to pay Compass £712m for UK Travelodge and Little Chef |date=18 December 2002 |publisher=AltAssets |access-date=10 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707120411/http://www.altassets.com/private-equity-news/by-region/europe/western-europe/united-kingdom/article/nz1550.html |archive-date=7 July 2011 }} forming a special purpose vehicle called TLLC Group Holdings.{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/leisure/article541790.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810105449/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/leisure/article541790.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 August 2011|title=Catering entrepreneurs in '£50m' Little Chef buy|last=Costello|first=Miles|date=8 July 2005|work=The Times |location=UK|access-date=10 March 2011}} The Little Chefs alongside Moto service station, formerly named Granada motorway service areas and owned{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/compass-puts-little-chef-sale-on-the-menu-646706.html|title=Compass puts Little Chef sale on the menu|last=Mesure|first=Susie|date=29 June 2002|work=The Independent |location=UK|access-date=10 March 2011}} by Compass until 2006, were owned by Moto and operated as franchised outlets.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

In August 2004, Little Chef announced a plan to change its logo, to a slimmer version of "Fat Charlie," the chain's mascot.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3569246.stm|title=Portly Little Chef to slim down|date=16 August 2004|work=BBC News |access-date=12 February 2011}} Little Chef's chief executive Tim Scoble said that this was "the start of a reimage programme for Little Chef" since the chain "has become a little bit dated", but now wishes to "take it forward into the 21st century". CEO Scoble added, "We get accusations that [Fat Charlie]'s overweight and a lot of people have also written in to say it was a small child carrying hot food, which they said was dangerous". However, the idea was dropped after 15,000 customers complained.{{cite web|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/223449/Little-Chef-drops-slimmer-logo-15000-complaints/|title=Little Chef drops slimmer logo after 15,000 complaints|date=29 September 2004|work=Brandrepublic|access-date=12 February 2011}}

In 2005, it was announced by Permira that 130 under-performing restaurants were to be closed, reducing the chain to 234 restaurants. Prior to that, Compass had been gradually reducing the number of restaurants, from well over 400 at one time. During 2005, Travelodge Hotels Ltd (the new name for TLLC) made various announcements about the sale of some or all of the restaurants, until, in October 2005, the chain was sold to The People's Restaurant Group Ltd, who planned to "modernise" the restaurants and introduce self-service.

Also in 2005, the five Little Chef restaurants in Ireland were sold off to new operators, and the Little Chefs were rebranded. The two Dublin ones became "Metzo" restaurants, while the three others Eddie Rocket's restaurants.

In October 2005, Little Chef was sold to The People's Restaurant Group (owned by catering entrepreneurs Lawrence Wosskow and Simon Heath) for £58 million, but with Permira retaining Travelodge.{{cite web |date=20 October 2005 |title=Little Chef sold to Out of Town founders for... |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/restaurant/little-chef-sold-to-out-of-town-founders-for-52m-plus |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=The Caterer }}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/migrationtemp/2924267/City-sandwich.html|title=City sandwich|date=21 October 2005|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK|access-date=3 April 2011}}{{cite news |last=Mesure |first=Susie |date=9 July 2005 |title=Fast-food entrepreneur to buy Little Chef |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/fastfood-entrepreneur-to-buy-little-chef-498063.html |access-date=3 April 2011 |work=The Independent |location=UK}}{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=2529238|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011153209/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=2529238|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2012|title=The People's Restaurant Group Ltd.|work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |access-date=3 April 2011}}

Upon purchasing the chain, Wosskow travelled to 220 of the 234 restaurants that were trading and spoke to both customers and staff at each location. Wosskow ultimately discovered that the buildings, facilities and equipment at every location needed major upgrades. As well as this, Wosskow and Heath learned that the existing Burger King franchises were trading well, but that a grab-and-go concept was also needed to compete with emerging takeaway businesses at forecourts.{{cite news |date=12 April 2024 |title=Little Chefs: What happened to roadside diner chain |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-68796980 |access-date=21 April 2024 |work=BBC News }}{{cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 – Sliced Bread, Toast – Little Chef |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xvkh |access-date=21 April 2024 |website=BBC }}

In March 2006, The People's Restaurant Group sold 65 of its sites under a leaseback deal for £59 million to Israeli property group Arazim.{{cite web|url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2006/03/02/305487/Little-Chef-chain-says-goodbye-to-Fat-Charlie.htm|title=Little Chef chain says goodbye to Fat Charlie|last=Bill|first=Tom|date=2 March 2006|publisher=catersearch.com|access-date=23 April 2011}} The purpose of this deal was to generate enough funds to reinvest into upgrading the existing sites.{{cite web |date=12 January 2007 |title=Fladgate advises Arazim on Little Chef purchase |url=http://www.fladgate.com/pubs/xprPubDetail.aspx?xpST=PubDetail&pub=36 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323021459/http://www.fladgate.com/pubs/xprPubDetail.aspx?xpST=PubDetail&pub=36 |archive-date=23 March 2012 |access-date=23 April 2011 |publisher=Fladgate}}{{cite web |last=Chesters |first=Laura |date=24 February 2006 |title=Israeli investor takes Little Chefs off menu |url=http://www.propertyweek.com/israeli-investor-takes-little-chefs-off-menu/3063280.article |access-date=23 April 2011 |publisher=propertyweek.com}} Soon after this deal was launched, Little Chef opened its own coffee shop brand, "Coffee Tempo!" within several larger branches. These grab-and-go units were developed by Nick Smith, who had joined Little Chef as development director after previously leading the design and implementation of the Wild Bean Café format at BP petrol stations. Little Chef also introduced a takeaway menu.

The summer of 2006 saw poor weather which affected trading, as well as Wosskow suffering a near-fatal heart attack. As a consequence, Wosskow was told by doctors to avoid any stressful working environment and was forced to step away from the business entirely.{{cite news |last=Pagnamenta |first=Robin |date=30 December 2006 |title=Little Chef chain seeks rescue in weekend talks |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/leisure/article1265155.ece |access-date=16 April 2011 |work=The Times |location=UK}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

In December 2006, it was reported that Little Chef was undergoing serious financial problems; the business was said to be losing around £3 million a year and was struggling to keep up with rent payments. On 21 December, Little Chef announced it was in "urgent" rescue talks with a group of American investors, to secure funding.{{cite news|url=http://business.scotsman.com/fooddrinkagriculture/Little-Chef-in-survival-bid.2837065.jp|title=Little Chef in survival bid|date=21 December 2006|work=Edinburgh Evening News|access-date=16 April 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/leisure/article759539.ece|title=Little Chef in rescue talks with American investors|first1=Siobhan |last1=Kennedy|first2=Dominic |last2=Walsh|date=21 December 2006|work=The Times |location=UK|access-date=23 April 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} It had been suggested at the time that PricewaterhouseCoopers was on standby to act as administrators for the company; however, a source close to the company was quoted as saying, "We are still very hopeful that this situation can be resolved." At the time, The People's Restaurant Group was being advised by KPMG's corporate-recovery arm. On Christmas Eve 2006, Little Chef was taken into administration.{{cite news| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,1978254,00.html |work=The Guardian |location=UK | title=Little Chef chain fights to stave off bankruptcy | first=Richard | last=Wachman | date=24 December 2006 | access-date=11 May 2010}}

On 3 January 2007, Little Chef was rescued from administration by the private equity group RCapital, which paid "less than £10 million." Of the 235 branches, 38 were not included in the sale and were closed immediately, while the remaining ones continued to operate normally.{{cite news |last=Geoghegan |first=Tom |date=5 January 2007 |title=The road to recovery |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6232425.stm |access-date=11 May 2010 |work=BBC News}}

By December 2007, a number of sites not leased from Travelodge or Arazim, Little Chef's two main landlords, closed, as Little Chef had not been able to reach an agreement with them. All the franchised outlets at Moto sites closed down between 2008 and 2010, many of which being replaced by Costa Coffee.

In April 2008, RCapital recruited Ian Pegler to lead as the CEO of Little Chef. Pegler had previously worked for Little Chef and Happy Eater under Trust House Forte.{{cite web |title=Little Chef to undergo a revolution in gastronomy |url=https://www.ft.com/content/0a8af534-9162-11dd-b5cd-0000779fd18c |access-date=23 April 2024 |website=www.ft.com}}

In January 2009, celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal appeared in a Channel 4 documentary, Big Chef Takes On Little Chef,{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2009/jan/19/big-chef-little-chef-heston-blumenthal | title = Big Chef Takes On Little Chef: the verdict | first1 = Susan | last1 = Smillie | work = The Guardian | date = 20 January 2009 | access-date = 26 August 2024}}

to revamp the Little Chef chain; the programme was broadcast from 19 to 21 January,{{cite news| url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/restaurant/little-chef-drops-heston-blumenthals-menu| title= Little Chef drops Heston Blumenthal's menu| access-date=14 April 2024 |work=The Caterer|location=UK| first=Neil | last=Gerrard | date=24 June 2013}} and involved Blumenthal introducing a new menu and organising a refit at the village of Popham outlet, near Basingstoke. The trial was successful, with a promise from the owner that none of the dishes would change without Blumenthal's consent. Heston Blumenthal returned to Popham in February 2009 to review progress, and the owner promised that, if there was a profit within three months, the redesigned format would be spread to all branches. Furthermore, two more former Little Chef branches, in Ings and Malton. would reopen. It was later announced that a further two Little Chefs, at York and Kettering, would be refurbished in the style of the trial in Popham.

In 2011, a further ten new concept restaurants opened at Doncaster, Markham Moor North, Shrewsbury, Black Cat, Fontwell, Weston on the Green North, Wisley South, Ilminster, Podimore and Amesbury with a view to investing £20 million in updating the brand across the estate.{{cite news| url=http://www.littlechef.co.uk/promo/fontwell| title=The Taste Revolution Continues| access-date=21 July 2011| work=Little Chef website| location=UK| date=27 March 2008| archive-date=20 August 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820041927/http://littlechef.co.uk/promo/fontwell| url-status=dead}} New menus had been introduced and restaurants had been refurbished based on the style which Blumenthal designed in 2009. A full rebranding exercise was undertaken by venturethree,{{cite news| url=http://www.venturethree.com/#/work/little-chef/little-chef/01| title= Venture Three Re-Brand | access-date=21 July 2011 |work=Venture Three website |location=UK}} which was hailed as a "success" by the graphic design sector.{{cite news| url=http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2011/may/little-chef-new-identity| title=The new Little Chef| access-date=21 July 2011| work=Creative Review| location=UK| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820035106/http://creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2011/may/little-chef-new-identity| archive-date=20 August 2011| url-status=dead}} As part of its modernisation, the company used its new branding to create a presence on Facebook.{{citation| url=http://www.facebook.com/littlechefcouk| title =Little Chef Facebook| access-date=21 July 2011 |location=UK}} and Twitter.{{citation| url=https://twitter.com/littlechefcouk| title= Little Chef Twitter| access-date=21 July 2011 |location=UK}}

A Good-to-Go deli offering was introduced in the new concept restaurants, making bespoke sandwiches as well as takeaway meals appealing to customers on the move. Good-to-Go's sat alongside the traditional sit-down Little Chef format.

In May 2011, the company reported a 47% increase in food sales.{{cite news|url=http://www.eatoutmagazine.co.uk/online_article/Little-Chef-food-sales-up-47_percent-as-roadside-restaurant-launches-new-ideas/13622 |title=Little Chef food sales up 47% |access-date=21 July 2011 |work=Eat Out Magazine |location=UK |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002231448/http://www.eatoutmagazine.co.uk/online_article/Little-Chef-food-sales-up-47_percent-as-roadside-restaurant-launches-new-ideas/13622 |archive-date=2 October 2011 }}

On 11 January 2012, Little Chef announced it planned to close 67 of "failing" restaurants, that would result in the loss of up to 600 jobs.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16511001|title=Little Chef to close 67 outlets costing around 500 jobs|date=11 January 2012|access-date=11 January 2012|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}} On 7 February 2012, RCapital announced it was putting the Little Chef chain through "a pre-pack administration to offload a number of toxic leases". Graham Sims, the chairman of Little Chef, said that suppliers and other unsecured creditors would suffer from the decision to put the chain through this process, which had been taken "reluctantly." He expected job losses to be at the lower end of the previously announced range of "500 to 600." The business was to refocus on a core of 95 profitable sites.{{cite news|title=Little Chef owner's pre-pack solution|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/little-chef-owners-pre-pack-solution-hjn7drf97wx|url-access=subscription|work=The Times|access-date=14 April 2024}}

By January 2012, 11 Little Chefs had been converted to the Blumenthal format.{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/simon-kelner-olympic-breakfast-may-explain-little-chefs-decline-6288517.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Simon | last=Kelner | title=Simon Kelner: Olympic Breakfast may explain Little Chef's decline | date=12 January 2012|access-date=14 April 2024}}

In April 2012, chairman Graham Sims stated, "Everyone remembers Little Chef from the 1970s, with curtains at the windows and wooden tables. It worked well for twenty or thirty years but frankly it hasn't kept pace with the evolution of the retail market. It lost its way. We've gone through three or four owners in 10 years and none of them have really taken the tough decisions to sort out the assets, the cost base, and bring up the offer for the 21st century."{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9234547/Monday-interview-Little-Chef-trims-down-for-Olympic-challenge.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph|url-access=subscription | first=Harry | last=Wallop | title=Little Chef trims down for Olympic challenge | date=29 April 2012}} In Sims' view, some of the owners had treated the company as "a cash cow, looking for the traditional quick in and out".

In May 2012, Little Chef closed its headquarters in Sheffield, outsourcing its operational day-to-day support to Lt Pubs Limited in Norfolk, as well as its marketing and PR to Parker Hobart.{{cite web |title=LT Pub management subsidiary signed up for Little Chef deal |url=https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2012/05/02/LT-Pub-management-subsidiary-signed-up-for-Little-Chef-deal |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=Morning Advertiser|date=May 2012 }}{{cite web |title=Little Chef outsources operations and marketing as it closes headquarters |url=https://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2012/05/02/Little-Chef-outsources-operations-and-marketing-as-it-closes-headquarters |access-date=3 June 2022 |website=Big Hospitality|date=May 2012 }} The Barnsdale Bar South branch closed in 2012; however, for a short time, the former restaurant would house Little Chef's IT department. In September 2012, the company announced plans to entirely franchise.{{cite news|first=Rupert|last= Neate|title=Little Chef to cut 600 jobs in 'aggressive' rebuilding strategy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jan/11/liitle-chef-cut-600-jobs|website=The Guardian|access-date=14 April 2024}}

In April 2013, RCapital announced it would seek a buyer for the Little Chef business of 78 outlets, from Scotland to Cornwall, all of which were claimed to be profitable, a claim denoting an ostensible successful restructuring. The sale was expected to have a price tag of "tens of millions of pounds."{{cite web |last=Lucas |first=Louise |date=14 April 2013 |title=Little Chef serves up a turnround story |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f05448aa-a4f8-11e2-8777-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2Uo7Cfhca|url-access=subscription |work=Financial Times}}

In June 2013, Little Chef announced that it drops Heston Blumenthal's creations from its menus. Little Chef spokesman Richard Hillgrove was quoted as saying, "Heston originally approached us to do his Channel 4 show about how he was going to save Little Chef. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But he took everything away from its core."{{cite news |last=Bryant |first=Ben |date=23 June 2013 |title=Little Chef drops Heston Blumenthal from menu |work=The Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/10137302/Little-Chef-drops-Heston-Blumenthal-from-menu.html}}

In August 2013, RCapital sold Little Chef to Kuwaiti firm Kout Food Group for £15 million.{{cite web |title=Little Chef Bought By Kuwaiti Group 'For £15m' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/little-chef-bought-by-kuwaiti-group-for-15m-10438312 |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=Sky News }} Kout Food Group was the only bidder that was interested in retaining the Little Chef brand, as other bidders were believed to have included McDonald's, KFC and Costa Coffee, who wanted to rebrand the sites.{{cite news |date=26 May 2013 |title=Little Chef brand in danger, owners warn |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-22673590 |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=BBC News }} Upon purchasing the chain, chairwoman Fadwa Al-Homaizi remarked that Kout Food Group had plans to "revitalise" the chain.{{cite news |date=13 August 2013 |title=New owners promise big plans for Little Chef |url=https://www.cateringinsight.com/new-owners-promise-big-plans-for-little-chef/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=Catering Insight }} Kout Food Group would begin implementing more Burger King franchises at the sites, as well as introducing Subway.{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=Owen |date=6 February 2015 |title=A55 Burger King plan at Little Chef restaurant |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/a55-burger-king-plan-little-8594234 |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=North Wales Live }}

In August 2014, Little Chef attracted headlines when Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, stopped off at the Little Chef at Doncaster on route to a private engagement.{{cite web |date=11 August 2014 |title=Prince Philip makes unexpected visit to a Little Chef |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2014081120384/prince-philip-unexpected-visit-little-chef/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=HELLO! }}

In May 2016, it was announced that the Little Chef restaurant in Warminster would undergo a considerable renovation.{{cite web |date=27 May 2016 |title=Warminster's Little Chef first in UK to undergo redevelopment |url=https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/14521291.warminsters-little-chef-first-in-uk-to-undergo-redevelopment/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |website=Wiltshire Times }}

In August 2016, Little Chef ran their 'The Summer of Big Wins' competition, encouraging families to stop off during the busy summer trading period.{{cite news |date=4 August 2016 |title=Restaurant chain Little Chef cooks up plans to reawaken brand |url=https://www.foodserviceequipmentjournal.com/little-chef-to-roll-out-new-marketing-campaign/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=Foodservice Equipment Journal }} Around the same time, the Chippenham branch was closed and converted into a standalone Burger King, leaving Little Chef with a portfolio of eight independent Burger King franchises. These locations included Whitemare Pool, Rusington, Rugeley, Saltash (all of which also housed Subway franchises), North Muskham, Chesterfield, and Halkyn.

In January 2017, it emerged that Kout Food Group were looking to sell Little Chef, having discussions with a number of interested buyers.{{cite news |last=Ambrose |first=Jillian |date=24 January 2017 |title=Hungry investors to battle over Little Chef takeover |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/01/24/hungry-investors-battle-little-chef-takeover/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |work=The Telegraph |issn=0307-1235}}

In February 2017, Kout Food Group sold all 70 Little Chef sites to Euro Garages for £16 million, along with one year's license for them to operate under the Little Chef brand. The sale also included 8 former Little Chef sites that had been transformed into standalone Burger King locations.{{cite web |date=27 July 2017 |title=Euro Garages invested £16m on Little Chef deal |url=https://www.mca-insight.com/coffee-shops/euro-garages-invested-16m-on-little-chef-deal/555764.article |access-date=27 January 2024 |website=MCA Insight }} The vision for Euro Garages was to convert, by January 2018, all Little Chef sites to their franchise partner brands, such as Starbucks and Greggs.

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| quote = “As you might have heard in the news, Little Chef has recently joined the Euro Garages family. This site will undergo a complete refurbishment into a Starbucks coffee shop which will open in May 2017. We have been serving you our delicious Olympic breakfasts, Works Burgers and Pancakes since the 80's and we have done this with all the passion and pride our staff could give you. We would like to thank you for your valued custom over the years. As always, and since 1958, we wish you a safe journey home.”

—Notice at Balhaldie South restaurant, which closed in March 2017.

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Immediately upon purchasing the sites, operations at Euro Garages removed alcohol from sale, due to their owners' policy and ethical concerns regarding serving alcohol to motorists, as well as reducing many of the sites' operating hours from closing at 10 pm, to closing at 3 pm.{{cite web |date=23 January 2016 |title=Petrol stations owned by Muslim family remove alcohol from shelves |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1032827/petrol-stations-owned-by-muslim-family-remove-alocohol-from-shelves |access-date=14 April 2024 |website=The Express Tribune }} Sites such as in Winterbourne Abbas, Axminster, and Dolgellau, closed soon after the acquisition. In July 2017, Euro Garages closed two prime locations, the Blumenthal-remodelled in Popham, and in Barton Stacey.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

During that period, the Little Chef brand suffered online criticism in platforms such as Tripadvisor, with complaints concerning "poor quality" food and the buildings not being kept clean.{{cite web |last=Live |first=Lincolnshire |date=10 February 2018 |title=Has this former Little Chef improved since it changed hands? |url=https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/diner-slammed-trip-adviser-used-1186955 |access-date=8 March 2024 |website=Lincolnshire Live }} There were also complaints from Little Chef staff that they were not being kept informed on the transformation process regarding their sites, and that their long-standing service to Little Chef had been ignored.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The closure process of Little Chef was scheduled to be complete before the end of 2017, but was postponed until early 2018 due to timing problems. The license agreement for the brand expired at the end of January 2018, causing Euro Garages to temporarily rename all remaining Little Chef locations to "EG Diner" until they could be converted into their partner brands.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/features/little-chef-end-road-britains-finest-roadside-cuisine/|title=Little Chef: the end of the road for Britain's finest roadside cuisine?|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=2 February 2018|access-date=2 February 2018}} All EG Diners that were not rebranded were closed by the end of October 2018.

The defunct brand is currently owned by Kout Food Group, which also own the Happy Eater and Coffee Tempo! trademarks. Accounts previously filed show an interest in franchising the Little Chef brand in the future.{{cite web|title=Search for a trade mark – Intellectual Property Office|url=https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/1/UK00002168252|access-date=12 March 2020|website=trademarks.ipo.gov.uk}}

In 2019, Edwin Coe, then solicitors for Kout Food Group, threatened to sue chef Matei Baran if he did not cease his £600 application for a "Big Chef, Little Chef" trademark for an upcoming book. Baran changed the title to Big Chef, Mini Chef.{{cite web |last=Graham |first=Hannah |date=14 January 2019 |title=Little Chef threat forced dad to scrap title of book written for ill son |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/matei-baran-salt-cove-book-15674737 |access-date=20 November 2022 |website=ChronicleLive }} Later in 2019, a company called "Little Chef Ltd" was ordered to have its name changed.{{cite web |title=Decision on Little Chef Ltd |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/company-names-tribunal-decision-little-chef-ltd/decision-on-little-chef-ltd |access-date=14 April 2024 |website=GOV.UK }}

Until October 2022, the Little Chef website remained operational, still featuring the 2015 menu and a list of locations, all of which had closed.{{cite web|title=Locations|url=http://www.littlechef.co.uk/locations/|website=Little Chef|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122001448/http://www.littlechef.co.uk/locations/|url-status=dead}}

In November 2022, Loungers announced they were launching Brightside Roadside Dining to fill the gap in the market created by the demise of Little Chef and Happy Eater.{{cite web |url=https://brightside.co.uk/ |title=Brightside Roadside Dining|accessdate=14 April 2024}}{{cite web |last=|title=New Loungers concept to reinvigorate roadside dining |url=https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2022/11/07/loungers-to-launch-brightside-roadside-dining-concept |access-date=11 December 2022 |website=morningadvertiser.co.uk |date=7 November 2022 }} In February 2023, the company's first roadside diner opened in a former Little Chef unit on the A38 to Exeter in Kennford, Devon.{{cite news |last=Partridge |first=Joanna |date=11 February 2023 |title=Back to the future? Devon diner hopes to revive spirit of Little Chef |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/11/back-to-the-future-devon-diner-hopes-to-revive-spirit-of-little-chef |access-date=14 April 2024 |issn=0261-3077}}

In April 2024, BBC Radio 4 produced a 25-minute programme about the history of Little Chef, as part of their series about defunct brands.{{cite web |date=3 April 2024 |title=Toast - Little Chef - Sliced Bread Presents (podcast) |url=https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/sliced-bread/toast-little-chef-wgL7QTRKdGH/ |access-date=28 April 2024 |website=Listen Notes }}

The 1998 British comedy film Still Crazy makes repeated reference to a band member overdosing in a Little Chef.{{cite web |url=https://jamesbowman.net/reviewdetail.asp?pubid=982|date=1 January 1999|title=Movie Review: Still Crazy|website=James Bowman's website |access-date=17 April 2024}}

Cabaret group Fascinating Aïda have performed a comic song about the franchise, called "Little Chef".{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/back-in-the-saddle-fascinating-aida-in-edinburgh-mw0003707414|title=Back in the Saddle: Fascinating Aida in Edinburgh|website=AllMusic |access-date=17 April 2024}}

A December 2004 episode of the British sitcom Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere featured the Haydock Little Chef in which Billy 'The Butcher' Shannon (Craig Cheetham) threatens the waitress (Alex Hall) with a gun in order for him and his friends to be served after closing time.{{cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/max_and_paddys_road_to_nowhere/episodes/1/6/|title=Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere – Series 1, Episode 6|website=Comedy UK|access-date=17 April 2024}}{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Olivia |date=21 November 2022 |title=Lost Little Chef restaurants we once loved and what replaced them|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/lost-little-chef-restaurants-once-25515110 |work=Liverpool Echo |access-date=17 April 2024}}

In December 2024, the Christmas Day special and final episode of Gavin & Stacey included a nostalgic reference to the former Little Chef in Feering, which was revealed to be the first job of the main character, Smithy, as a pot washer.{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Anita |date=25 December 2024 |title=Gavin & Stacey: The Finale, review: better than any other comedy you’ve seen this year |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2024/12/25/gavin-and-stacey-the-finale-bbc-one-review/ |access-date=2 January 2025 |work=The Telegraph |issn=0307-1235}}

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Category:Defunct fast-food chains

Category:British companies established in 1958

Category:Restaurants established in 1958

Category:Restaurants disestablished in 2018

Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom

Category:1958 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:2018 disestablishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Defunct restaurants in the United Kingdom

Category:Permira companies