by Alastair Campbell
The nation's 83 remaining Little Chef restaurants could soon be getting a makeover, with bistro furniture a likely addition if they are sold to a coffee-house chain or similar brand.
Much loved by many Brits - but much maligned by others - Little Chef has had a turbulent few years, and after being bought by business turnaround specialists RCapital its estate was downsized from over 200 locations to just 83.
These were brought back to profitability, and can still be seen alongside many A-roads throughout the UK; however, that could soon be set to change.
Sky News reports that RCapital have appointed KPMG to sell the remaining Little Chef diners, six years on from when they first took control of the chain.
A statement from RCapital pointed out that, in the past six years, the Little Chef brand has undergone financial restructuring and operational turnaround.
It added: "The move was part of a long-term critical rebuild strategy to create consistently profitable sites against the backdrop of one of the worst recessions in living memory.
"With the turnaround successfully completed, it's time to explore the next phase for the food service operator."
According to Sky News, that could mean selling the remaining 83 stores - complete with their generally quite large car parks - to a convenience store operator or coffee chain.
If the latter were to purchase the brand, it is likely that new bistro furniture would be installed, potentially bringing the Little Chef brand well into the 21st century as a destination for social gatherings, and coffee and cake rather than all-day breakfasts.
This would be a significant step forwards - not just from the troubled recent times, but from the early days of the restaurant chain.
It opened its doors in 1958, in Reading, with a branch that could seat just 11 diners; it now serves around six million customers each year.
More recently, Little Chef has already taken steps into the barista coffee experience, adding Lavazza beverages to its menus, with trained barista staff to serve them.
With four million cups served each year - equivalent to two cups of coffee for every three customers - it's clear to see why a coffee-shop operator has been tipped to take on the iconic roadside diner brand.