Popular A17 food truck that has fed celebrities like BBC Homes Under The Hammer star

Crissy Rock with staff member Cathy
-Credit:Michelle Coates


Nestled into a lay-by off one of Lincolnshire's busiest roads is a food truck that has fed loads of famous faces. Michelle Coates opened her business more than 20 years ago and has recently expanded her business again with a larger food truck off the A17 as it continues to go "from strength to strength."

Michelle, 44, explained that after school she became a factory worker but "didn't like it" and wanted to find something different. A family friend had a food truck business and so she decided to try it out and rented a truck off him to start her own business.

After six months, Michelle bought her own truck and spent a few years in March before moving to the layby she is currently in near Holbeach. She said: "I've been in this layby just over 18 years.

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"We have watched young lads come with their dads in their lorries from little boys and now they are grown men with their own children." Michelle, who is from Whaplode, offers a range of hot and cold food and drink options in her truck, where she works with employees Cathy Dance and Barb Kingshott.

Michelle with Spudman, who has almost four million followers on Tik Tok
Michelle with Spudman, who has almost four million followers on Tik Tok -Credit:Michelle Coates

Her business is located between Fosdyke Bridge and Saracen's Head in a large layby off the main road. She said: "We have lots of regulars, we have a really good customer base, from lorry drivers all over the country and local people from the local town and lots of holiday makers in the summer that come back year after year, we are really lucky. We also get a lot of farmers as well."

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Michelle has also met a few famous faces over the years, such as David Cameron before he became Prime Minister. She recalled: "It was a bit of a surprise.

"I was looking at him like I feel like I know him." She said his face had been in the newspaper that week with the upcoming election so she recognised him, and then one of his aides confirmed it was him when she asked.

Benidorm star Crissy Rocks has also visited the van a number of times. Michelle said: "She is quite regular, well I say regular, she comes in a bit. Her husband was a lorry driver and he used to come in a lot and we became friends and she came in with him.

"She is absolutely lovely and they even invited us as guests to go and watch one of their shows in Hunstanton either last year or year before." Other celebrities she has met over the years include darts player Mervyn King, BBC Homes Under The Hammer's Tommy Walsh and a news presenter from Look North.

She says Tommy visited when she was still based at March as "he was building an Eco House over there." Michelle says she gets to meet "a lot of interesting people" through her job.

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The business owner added: "The best part is the regulars, the customers that come in and we get to know them and become friends. Especially before Covid it was a bit like a pub without the alcohol, people used to meet here. Covid made things different, but it's still quite a sociable place and people make friends there and that is nice to see."

However, she shared that at times it can be "a hard business to be in, especially with the current climate but it's alright. It's hard work and it's long hours, but it is rewarding and we meet a lot of nice people."

Michelle has also recently met the famous TikToker Spudman when she went to collect her new food truck, as he was also looking at trucks. She says her new truck is "a big investment" but that it is a big improvement for customers.