Product Description

Join Christopher Nye on his hilarious journey to become the self-styled Rocco Forte of the Road to Eastbourne...

This is a book about a dream. The dream of running a restaurant. In Uckfield, East Sussex.
Well, okay, Uckfield didn't actually appear in the dream. But for Christopher Nye it was the perfect choice: a small town, but not too small; a town crying out for an American-style diner; a town without a McDonald's.
So here's the story of how to make it big in small-town Britain. How to find the right premises (if not quite the right location); how to hire teenage staff with teashop experience while giving work experience to a haute cuisine chef; how to stay out of casualty when things get a bit `Goodfellas' on a Friday night; how to keep your puppy hidden from the Environmental Health Inspector; and why you should never, ever, hire an Elvis impersonator on the cheap. Oh - and how to deal with McDonald's, when they realise they need an outlet in Uckfield after all.
Maximum Diner is a tale of all this, served up with the crispiest chips and the strangest milkshakes on the south coast. Read it and laugh aloud. But keep that dream alive. For this might all happen to you.

Enjoy the town: `If you want to buy a plastic washing up bowl for under a pound or try out a new brand of economy toilet tissue, you're spoilt for choice in Uckfield.'

Meet the customers: `I could tell Budgie was trouble from the word go. More precisely, I could tell he was trouble from the word c*** tattooed across his knuckles.'

Meet the staff: `That's a lovely shirt I love that shirt it goes very nicely with your trousers do you want to swap, what do you want to eat by the way do you want coffee yeah nice coffee? Umm like your shoes too.'

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #187883 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-03
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Independent on Sunday
Hysterically funny...Maximum Diner is huge fun, and highly informative...this book will make you laugh and sigh.

The Independent
I never realsied until now what grisly fun VAT regulations could furnish.

The Guardian
Entertaining...the narration is self-deprecating and funny.

Customer Reviews

Amusing & entertaining read
Thoroughly enjoyed reading Christopher Nyes memoirs of battling on the front line of catering, with only a spatula and a wonky home made griddle (and the occasional unexpected act of god) by his side. A thoroughly charming slice of small town life topped with hormonal delivery boys and a side portion of Garys. Thoroughly recommended.

Maximum Diner Maximum Laughs
I loved this book - i am biased as i was there when the diner opened, know half the people in it BUT it was brilliantly written and i just couldnt stop laughing! It brings back GREAT memories and even though i have moved from Uckfield now, me and my husband still come down twice a month for the hash!

A fun read for the drinking fastfood eating masses
This book is a great account of small town England and will be instantly recognisable to anyone who has either worked in a restaurant/diner or has seeked out fastfood whilst fuelled with alcohol. A "real-world", witty account of everyday life flipping burgers in East Sussex - covering the relaionships with both staff and the general public (mainly called Gary - "How did you stick it for 7-years Chris?"