i'm trying to put together a cafe for motor enthusiasts

[benstevensuk]

hello everyone

i've started writing on a couple of other forums about this to see what interest there is. someone suggested i write here too.

i am in the strong belief that there is enough people in cornwall with interests in cars and bikes to open a ace cafe type clubhouse. i have been looking for the ideal venue to start and i may have finally found one. near roche.

there is still a huge amount of work and planning to do, but i want to get more help, discussion, support, suggestion, etc etc

what do you all think here?

[blindside666]

No idea where Roche is but it sounds like an interesting idea to me. One that could be very successful.
Sort of like a Hard Rock Cafe but for motor people then? So exhuasts instead of guitars on the wall
Or signed jackets etc
I'd be willing to help.

[RennyB]

Hi Ben!

Not sure if i said on kk but im liking your plans, Cornwall could do with this kind of venue!

[hazard9]

im there..
do it...

[graham22]

Great idea, wherever it'll be in Cornwall I'll drop by.

Why Roach, presume you have found somewhere? One of the others have already said they don't know where it is. Appreciate it's near the A30 but surely if you want passing trade you would be right on the main road (as per Route 38 cafe and indeed, The Ace being on the N.Circular). I guess you'll be relying on daytime custom as well as weekend/evening club meets/ride outs to make it sustainable.

I'm not a fan of Newquay but wouldn't somewhere on the outskirts of that town attract more custom in view of the types of people/neets that happen there? ie the Pearl Centre?

I'm not knocking Roach but the only reason I go to that area is for Combellacks or Dameralls (and both have burger/tea vans!)

It was mentioned that someone was planning a 'petrolhead' cafe a little further west partly as a place to display his collection of motorbikes but nothing else has been heard - is that you?

Good luck, even if it is Roach it'll be ideal for us Cornish riders to meet as it's not far from where we met recently.

[ZXR400Lee]

Aye.. Top Idea..

(Leemc2005 - Kernow Kruz)

Cheers!

[VTR]

Great idea & if you go ahead with it I wish you good luck & I'll pop in when ever I'm down that way.

.....but, there was something similar in Newton Abbot about 8yrs or so ago called Torque cafe. Opened with bikers in mind with TV's showing bike racing etc. Good idea, nice people, good atmosphere & they even did some rideouts. Unfortunately it didn't last long & closed after about a year (might have been longer I can't recall). I seem to remember the owners saying that there wasn't enough custom from bikers alone & there just wasn't enough passing trade to keep going, even though it was as good as next to Newton Abbot train station

[Johnnyb]

That was the old Honda dealers originally want it, if i remember rightly, passsed it a few times but there were usually just a few cruiser riders in there so never went in........

[VTR]

That was the old Honda dealers originally want it, if i remember rightly, passsed it a few times but there were usually just a few cruiser riders in there so never went in........

If you're thinking of the old Torbay motorcycles then it was on the other side of the road going away from the train station.
There was another dealer next door, Grand Prix motorcycles....... I think

[Billi]

it sounds like agood idea,, but remember that the ace caters for all sorts of groups not just motorcyclicsts...even in that you got diferent types..but they cover hot rods,, rockabilly, classic cars..bikes..scooterists..and they also rent the cafe out to groups when its not booked for an event,, they also let patch clubs use it..so if you gonna do it..i think you gotta be prepared to let all groups in, if you stick to "motorcyclists" it won't work..just my opinion.. also agree that it needs to be very accessible,, i've no idea where roche is.....

[badgerKDD]

Unfortunately I'v got a sister in law that lives in Roche and a music mate, not a great place! It used to be quite close to the A30 but the new Goss Moor By Pass has put it further off the beaten path.

But definately good luck in your venture, I would support it, as Graham said its fairly close to where we've been having our Cornwall pub meets, so a dedicated venue would be great! There's a 'Hardly' dealer guy around that area as well so plenty of scope. Only drawback to attracting car clubs, as Billi suggests ( and I'm not knocking what you said I agree in theory), is Roach area is heavily populated with the 'Nova Chav' idiots. .

Still keep us posted on developements .

[benstevensuk]

hi guys,

all really great feedback.
the cafe should be available for everyone. there are a few classic clubs interested as well as more modern local clubs. i still have links to the bike press so hopefully a bit of coverage will help.
the location unfortunately has to be away from the public and residential areas because of the noise expected. also as i am very very limited in funds it will have to be the cheapest place in the world for a bit. lol
but location is important.

[Funky]

I like the sound of it, there is a place around here that is really tucked away, but gets loads of people there. Though it is on a good biking road. But with alot of press involved it should be really good.

[jam]

It's a good idea in theory, in practice you'll need to attract a wide range of cuctomers/enthusiasts just as the Ace has done in London. In some ways the Ace has been a victim of its' own success, the car nights in particular have been a huge success in terms of numbers but, the type of people turning up at events has tended to be more of the 'Chav Nova' types which has in some respects alienated the traditional performance car enthusiast, in much the same way that the Streetfighter day has exploded up there, again bringing with it unwanted attendance.
The lst Streetfighter event I went to up there had all manner of Cav type scumbags there, idiots were sitting on displayed bikes and several people i know had their bikes damaged or in one or two instances parts were removed from the bikes by thieving scotes.
I'm happy to support your venture, and when you get set up let me know what bike events you're going to run throughout the year, and I'll see about bringing my mobile dyno truck down for the day, which is always a good crowd pleaser. If you have the space off road for some stunt riding and ride in show, I'm sure a Streetfigter day would go down really well in this neck of the woods, just as it has done up in Prees at the Raven Cafe, I'm fairly certain that Streetighters mag would give you good coverage which always helps to spread the word.

[deej]

its a good idea but roche already has a top cafe next door to the skoda dealership,might not be open all hours of the day but its stunning in TJ's so you'd need as top chef and menu to beat that place