A popular roadside diner in Penrith has closed its saloon-style swing doors for the last time.
With its blood red booths, wood-lined walls, long-horn cow skulls, and belt-busting fried breakfasts, the Rooster Grill off Ullswater Road was a little slice of Americana in Penrith.
Loved by locals and winning rave reviews on TripAdvisor, its clientele included visiting sports teams, coachloads of pensioners, holidaying families and wild-bearded bikers — all looking for a hearty pit-stop, be it a Sunday roast, ribs or steaks.
But like any good Western, the local businessman behind the popular venture is heading off into a sunset of sorts.
Frank Jackson, 58, is pondering new horizons after 19 years with a loyal core of staff at the helm, not least the wonderful Polish waitresses and chef Paul McKinnon.
Frank said there was no single factor which caused the rooster to crow for the last time. He had originally planned it as a five-year project and stayed on 14 years longer. He recalls falling into conversation with people in Spain who raved about it, and a record 2,000 customers on its busiest ever day.
But like every business, it has had to fight back from the pandemic only to then be hit with price spikes in everything from electricity to vegetable oil — which has gone up £27 for every 20 litres.
Frank was always determined to pay staff above the minimum wage too — a cost he was happy to bear — although he said it has been finding staff which proved the headache, preventing the cafe from opening at night-times since spring.
Up for sale since February and with a lot of equipment still in place should someone want to give it a go, Frank, leased the premises from the Ullswater Road garage.
Originally from Catterlen, he said: “I’ve been in business most of my life and have never seen a situation like this where you can’t find staff. We can’t seem to get anybody and nobody seems to want to do weekend jobs which is a lot of our business. It has put a lot of pressure on the girls here and the hardcore of staff.”
Asked what may have been to blame for the shortage, he said: “I’ve thought and thought and I can’t put my finger on it, but the costs and price rises have been another factor. I’ve enjoyed so much of the Rooster and I just want to make sure all staff and customers are thanked for their support over all of these years as we have had some great times. I’ve been wanting to do other things and we will keep up the outside catering, doing barbecues, weddings and functions.”
