Previous Pickiness

God forbid you should have to park your engine of economic generation for any length of time in Govanhill. Nae spaces here pal. But, like many decisions in contemporary society, the reluctant but… Read more: Patricia’s X SLB, Govanhill, Glasgow

It is of paramount importance to the six or seven readers of this blog and myself to be able to nip off the M8 and get decent coffee whilst not handing over any… Read more: The Summit café, Tiso, Couper Street, Glasgow

One of the most disheartening journeys in Scotland remains driving the M8 from Glasgow to Edinburgh. After finally reaching the Edinburgh City bypass, having righteously avoiding the Wildbean café, Harthill (https://pickymaninavan.com/2025/03/04/wild-bean-cafe-harthill-and-everywhere) there seems… Read more: Patina Bakery, Edinburgh Park.

After last week’s episode, in which Sancho, my faithful co-driver, has claimed that their character was somewhat maligned, questions have been raised in the House (our house) and on the Today Programme at… Read more: Crema. Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow

Is the customer always right? My experience is no-one is. Although one’s van-based partner Sancho claims that they are. Themselves, not the customer. And only 97% of the time. So I did take… Read more: The Milkman, Peebles

Whilst away, the strenuous work I carry out on your behalf was put aside, although I can say that any branch of the Lemonis Modern Bakery is well worth your attention.

What pleasure it is to be invited for a sporting weekend in the country with associated quality comestibles and copious imbibables. Especially so as the location was gourmet Aunt’s wee Highlan’ Hame. I… Read more: Ullapool and Inverness, briefly. Cult Café, West Coast Deli, The Bakery.

…and will report next Thursday on certain establishments of interest.

Achilles may have been the greatest and swiftest of the Greeks but there was the eventually defining matter of his heel. I feel the same about the coffee in Melo. Melo is conveniently… Read more: Melo, Bearsden, Glasgow

One hesitates to admit to scuttling, but scuttle across the border we did until safely on the Welsh side. Rocco, my cuboid steed, was packed not with stock, but with holiday gear for… Read more: Booka Bookshop café, Oswestry

…and will return on Thursday

What is so irresistible about the rural, wild enormity of Scotland? Is it the scale, variety and sheer freedom of the landscape? Or is it the pleasant independence, idiosyncrasy and hospitality of the… Read more: Broch Café, A84, Strathyre

Gather Deli, Musicker café, Rothesay. Cadillac Kustomz Diner, Caledonia Bistro & Deli, Port Bannantyne. One relishes the chance to go to an Island. But there are islands and Islands. Over drinks a friend… Read more: Rothesay and Port Bannantyne, the Isle of Bute

…and will return next Thursday.

The exterior signage on the Duke reads, ’Breakfast to bed time. Running all day long.’ That, my PMiaV chums is what we are doing all day long in our vans. But pause, consider,… Read more: The Duke, Kilmarnock

Olivia’s looked like a classy joint as I sat at the lights. Several refreshment options had possibilities amongst the strip of shops on this reach of the Crow Road, but as I strive… Read more: Olivia’s, Crow Road, Broomhill, Glasgow

Whilst wafting along the A911 on a quiet Sunday I was delayed by a small queue of modern, sensible cars turning into Loch Leven’s Larder. My gallant charger and I followed into the… Read more: Greenhouse Café, Loch Leven’s Larder. Kinross.

Parking my trusted metallic steed Roccy in Partick was not easy in working hours, but you should stable yours in the metered bays on Peel Street and stroll back to Brera. 30 minutes… Read more: Brera Caffé, Partick, Glasgow

Stockbridge would normally be nightmare parking territory for the picky operator of an LWB van but I slid easily into a resident’s bay opposite 2 Children, one of the many, many upmarket-looking coffee… Read more: 2 Children, Raeburn Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, Planet Earth

13.23. I was desperate to get to Hamilton for 13.28. Not a sentence you often read nor the premise for a great action movie. But let me set the scene; 73mph on the… Read more: Cadzow Bakehouse, Hamilton

Naturally, I know some picky people. They decided to move from Hyndland to Lenzie; short commute, countryside, nice houses, the Academy… That’s quite picky. Hyndland is not exactly a slum. ‘Lenzie,’ snorted my… Read more: Billington’s of Lenzie

One of the many proclivities my auntie the gourmand, my uncle the retired vicar and my mother have in common, apart from their parents, love of odd dogs and a tendency to pedantry… Read more: Tebay Services, M6, Cumbria.

‘I suppose,’ said Sancho, ‘You’re in some café, stuffing yourself…’ Au contraire. Not Proven. How on earth is she so prescient? I shouldn’t have taken this call. ‘…when you should be working.’ The… Read more: Wild Bean Café – Harthill, and everywhere

It should be a truth universally acknowledged that one must avoid drinking coffee in a garden centre café. Hold on, I said that last week. But if a humble scribe must steal they… Read more: Loch Fyne Oyster Bar Tree Shop Garden Centre café

It should be a truth universally acknowledged that one must avoid drinking coffee in a garden centre café. Said establishments have a captive, pliant audience of pensioners with time on their hands, home… Read more: The Oven at Overton Farm, Clyde Valley.

Is Fusion a good thing? Nuclear fusion, well it has its uses. We probably can’t do without it. Jazz Fusion, I’m not sure. I think we could do without it. I know Sancho… Read more: Tempura, Ayr.

Inverary, originally a model town constructed by a typically ambitious Campbell Duke of Argyll always seems inexplicably busy. I cannot quite fathom the attraction. It could be the spectacular view, or the absurdly… Read more: Brambles, Inverary.

My petite yet perfectly formed friend revealed what her father gets up to now he’s retired. He had worked variously as a rep for a champagne vineyard, a whisky distillery and as a… Read more: Auchentullich Farm Shop, Loch Lomond-side

I had failed to find suitable refreshment in Bothwell in the past and held out faint hope for satiety. Main Street seemed to be more concerned with outward appearances; hairdressers, salons, skincare etc… Read more: Cadzow Bakehouse, Bothwell.

Just nip off the Clydeside Expressway at the Dumbarton Road roundabout and park your chariot outside the West End copshop on Dumbarton Road free for 30 minutes. What more assurance could the light… Read more: Kennoway Coffee, Thornwood – Glasgow.

Escaping back from or unfortunately driving towards Aberdeen, one can loop one’s van off the A90 into Stonehaven. There is a lot to like about this town. Stonehaven has a large bay and… Read more: Stonehaven special; Dunnottar Castle coffee truck, Molly’s Café Bar, Picos Deli, Marine Hotel, Carron Fish Bar

If your van is travelling north along the A82 parallel to the monumental, causal beauty of Loch Linnhe and the walls of Ardnamurchan you must reach Fort William. Don’t stop. My previous involuntary… Read more: The Wildcat – Fort William.

The Route 74 Truckstop is clearly signposted from either direction on the M74 and has a free carpark. ‘Everyone Welcome’ it says by the door just in case you suffer from semiochodriverphobia. A… Read more: Wheeler’s Diner, Route 74 Truckstop – Glasgow.

Your van can linger for quite some time on the single yellows in George St, Oban. As long as it’s out of season. Otherwise it’s the Tesco, Lidl or Aldi carpark and a… Read more: Oban Fish and Chip Shop, Mandarin Thai – Oban. Triple Feature.

This is a wild west outpost of the Hinba Partick/West End organisation. I’ve been here before as I thought it was the only coffee game in town. Inside it’s ‘mild trendy coffee shop’.… Read more: Hinba – Oban, the finale!

I know a bit about the gastro side of Gala as I’m often here on business. My proper PMiaV business, not just visiting cafes. I had previously narrowed it down to Zola’s Bakery,… Read more: Zola’s Bakery – Galashiels, double feature

If only there was a coffee roastery in Gala… Then there was. A small A-board was in my path (don’t move it Gala council, it wasn’t obstructing the path). In white chalk it… Read more: Luckie Beans – Galashiels, part 2

To a migratory visitor Larkhall appears to be a non-entity; one those central belt towns that seems to have had its original purpose removed and no-one is quite sure what to do with… Read more: Laverockha – Larkhall.

Paisley Road West, between the Opry and Bellahouston Park via shisha lounges, the Subway station and a Greek Thompson terrace could never bore a lover of humanity such as I. Watch out for… Read more: The Good Coffee Cartel – Paisley Road West, Glasgow.

There are plenty of comestible choices and free 30/60 minute parking on Fenwick road for the PMiaV here. In a pleasing Italian burst of adjacent food outlets is a deli/restaurant, gelateria and Grain… Read more: Grain and Grind – Giffnock, Glasgow.

It’s a local place, a proper café. I stopped the van right outside, enjoying the liberties locals take with parking rules. Service is quick, the savoury food is basically Italian: light meals and… Read more: The Grind House – Pollokshields, Glasgow.