Maximum Diner

by Christopher Nye

A tale about a dream. The dream of running a restaurant. In Uckfield, East Sussex. 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 American-style diner; a town without a McDonald's. Here's the story of how to make it big in small-town Britain.

Genres: Biography, Humor

400 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2004

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original review 2004
Lightweight in style, but with some (chicken) nuggets of business observation. (I wish I'd read the warning to "Beware the good times" about this time last year!) and I'll have to remind myself to read it again if I ever think opening a restaurant is a sure fire way to make money. Aside from the business angle, this was also a solid observation of small town England at the turn of the twentieth century - the people who live and work there, the businesses that come and go, the increasing urbanization and alienation of one type of community while another grows alongside and within it. People will always be people, helping each other out and finding satisfaction in the small day to day routines that make sense of a life. And you get the impression that the author wants to return to his routine sooner rather than later in a town that McDonalds haven't got their eyes on.
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Second Reading
A second reading for this book which tells the story of opening an American style restaurant in Uckfield, and gives a snapshot of Britain and the British that continually rings true. It's the characters that frequent the diner that make the book, helping the author to suffer the other slings and arrows that outrageous fortune throws at him. If I ever think of opening a restaurant, which I occasionally daydream about, I'll pick up this book and think again!

[Kelvin Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit rambling and directionless, but mildly funny and with a lot of charm, but maybe I only find it charming because I grew up in Uckfield, during the Maximum Diner years. If you didn't, which is true of most people, maybe there's less here for you. Even so, it's a nice, quick read.

(The Mrs Green mentioned now and then is no relation, but I'm fairly certain my uncle has a cameo towards the end.)

[Sara Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christopher Nye comes across as a nice, ordinary bloke, and he tells this cautionary tale of the perils of setting up a small food outlet in a charming and humorous way. If I remember rightly, I think at one point he expresses an admiration for Bill Bryson - and you can feel his influence in this book.

[Rae Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book which follows the author and his rag tag team as they go through the highs and lows of the catering industry. From opening the restaurant through to food inspectors, competition from McDonald's and doing daft things for promotion, this is a great read. It will have you howling with laughter and well as leaving you with tips and tricks to for running your own business. Warning! This is not a book to read on a train/plane/any crowded environment because you will be laughing!

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an unexpected pleasure ... one of the funniest books that I have read in a long time. The joys of owning a restaurant, the pleasure of dealing with the public, cooking for people who don't appreciate it ... these are all dealt with by Nye in humorous fashion. A real find.

[Bonnie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny book with excellent descriptions of small-town life in England. Light, fast reading, but involving. Also good for readers who like "behind the scenes" type stories.