 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi - we've got a 19.00 tunnel booking Fri 4th April and a hotel booked in Reims and we need to figure somewhere to get something to eat somewhere between the two ? Does anyone know what time the service area restaurants close ?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The restaurants in Cite Europe will be open then, there are a reasonable variety of places to eat.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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With those timings I'd suggest the chippy in Cheriton. Come off the M20 at J12, the one after the chunnel junction, head right and the chippy is about 400 yds on your right - almost opposite the (BP?) garage.
Once you are France, then usual place to stop is the Aire de Urvillirs(sp?) south of S.Quentin. But if all else fails there is always MacDonalds as you get into Reims: just take the second slip off after the toll and its on the 2nd roundabout - 1 Rue de la Croix Maurencienne 51370 Saint-Brice-Courcelles France - according to Google.
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RobW, ha, good shout re the chippy, we always fill up at that garage. Any idea what time it closes, we're on midnight Chunnel Fri/ Saturday weekend coming and a chip supper would be great if still open.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Pedantica, Given that the OP will be in the tunnel during the key French eating time (7-9pm) then at least both of those will be open when they go past.
This past New Year we were in Les Arcs, racing most evenings. And then we had to drive back down to Bourg St Maurice. By the time we got there, it was well gone 9 o'clock - not the sort of time to start looking for a nice French restaurant. So we alternated between MacDonalds and the Pizza place - both fulfilled the need for food at that time. The owner of the hotel we were staying in made an additional suggestion: the kebab shop...
Elder son (12) has since announced that he thinks MacDonalds is rubbish...
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RobW, the clue that this was a joke is in the winky smiley.
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Actually, in the OP's place, I would be bringing a nice picnic. And I assume that you didn't have any self-catering facilities yourselves at New Year.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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mikeh, the rest area restaurants will probably still be open but a bit "tail end of the day" ish. But there'll be something to eat - I'd stop at the first one you get to, as you'll lose the hour crossing into French time.
The chippie sounds a good idea if you're hungry at that stage.
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Pedantica, Yes, I knew you weren't being entirely serious...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I've eaten there a couple of times, the food is really good, they brew their own beer too which is wonderful 
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Ah, that's better!
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You know it makes sense.
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I'm with Pedantica on this. We always take some sandwiches and other goodies, plus a thermos of coffee. Then you can stop and eat where you want: UK motorway, tunnel, French motorway.
I'm a great fan of the French Aire network. Much better than any motorway cafe.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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+1 for the picnic. What you want, when you want. Most restaurants shut around 9pm.
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Poster: A snowHead
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If that Reims place will still be open, it looks good. But you won't get there till after 11 pm - might be a tad hungry before then. Maybe take sarnies to keep you going and have a few beers there on arrival?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Jonpim, I used to drive the length of France a lot in the past, but then had a long gap until some drives in the last couple of years. I was very disappointed to note that the offerings in the aires seemed to have reduced and deteriorated quite substantially. They seem to major in greasy pizzas and unappetizingly floppy sandwiches, rather than the 'plats du jour' and proper baguettes of yesteryear.  Or was I just unlucky in choice of aires?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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My experience of the autoroute aires is pretty mixed. Some of the hot food is grim.
Recently we look out for ones that have a "Paul" concession. Good patisserie and straight off the knife fresh sandwiches/baguettes. Not too expensive. You can find them here: http://www.paul.fr/shop/fr-FR/Shops
Aire d'Urvilliers near St Quentin has one and I reckon that will our stop between Tunnel and Reims this Friday night.
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Pedantica, I don't mean the places with restaurants and petrol, but those places with just picnic tables and toilets.
Some also have childrens play areas (I've spent many happy moments on swings and things when no one else about)
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Le Comptoir du Malt in Cite Europe does very similar food and beer to the brasserie in Reims, I've eaten there many times as well as the one in Abbeville http://www.lecomptoirdumalt.fr/
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Jonpim, ah, sorry. Those are indeed a marvellous invention.
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My daughter always refused to use the tolets in those, awkward madam, she'd rather queue for one in the larger Aires
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I have had some lovely summer picnics in those small aires - they are not so inviting in winter and the loos are generally holes in the ground.
Food in the larger aires does vary a lot. I quite like the "help yourself" salad bars. Makes a good light meal with a bread roll and a coffee. But they don't all have them.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Thanks all for the suggestions - a picnics a good idea and also Cite Europe - and we're headed for the Hotel Bleu at St Brice, so we've got the Mac D as a fall back
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pam w, i think you will find lots of the Aires full of crocuses and daffodils right now - rather pretty
But i agree about the toilets. Another cross for you ladies to bear. Not so bad for the blokes.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Ladies should just use the disabled facilities in the aires.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| pam w wrote: |
I have had some lovely summer picnics in those small aires - they are not so inviting in winter and the loos are generally holes in the ground.
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The disabled loo always has a proper loo in it 
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Hells Bells, genepi, +1  though you still need to bring your own loo roll in my experience.
I can recommend a nice restaurant in Arras if you want to make a stop for a proper dinner, less than an hour from Calais and en route, http://www.hotelcarnot.com/uk/index.php the brasserie does a very nice set menu as well as a la carte too. We've been there a couple of times but when we've been staying in Arras. If we're staying in Reims we usually arrive in time to eat in the hotel restaurant there.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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igLou, they are always a bit of an experience. We stopped off for a quick loo stop in December somewhere, but as they were hosing out the loos, I crossed my legs for quite a while before we could stop again.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Quote: |
where to pee threat
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For years we carried a potty in the car for my daughter should the aires by hole loos. What we tend to do now is stop to get fresh bread from a larger Aire, loo stop etc and then drive onto a smaller aire to stop and eat
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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We drive through the night, and have no probs finding anywhere to eat, or pee for that matter. Although, that being said, I normally drive the Calais - Reims (and beyond) stretch, so there are normally no stops on my watch, everyone is usually snoring, and I'm normally knocking back the incredibly strong French coffee which we stock up on! 
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