Bob brings home the bacon award

Some people might consider it a bit odd, travelling 14 miles through the rush hour traffic just to buy a bacon butty from a roadside cafe.

But this is not just any old bacon butty. According to the esteemed patrolmen of the Automobile Association, this is the best bacon butty in the country.

Bob's Big Bites is nothing special to look at. Set at an odd angle beyond the Stourbridge ring road, the shabby-looking caravan, with its peeling white paintwork, looks like it would benefit from a bit of loving attention.

To give it an air of permanence, a wooden awning has been added to the front, but that too looks like it has seen better days, the plastic corrugated roof having gone milky to the point it is almost opaque.

There is not even a sign bearing its name.

It is friendly, though. This is the authentic workmen's dining establishment.

A noticeboard for tradesmen's calling cards has been posted on the front, and the impressive looking plate bearing its AA award nestles above and advertisement for Quarry Bank Labour Club.

It also proudly displays a copy of its four-star food hygiene award from Dudley Council – a remarkable achievement considering that many supposedly more upmarket restaurants have struggled to get a single star.

Two small patio tables, decorated with bottle green table cloths are there for anybody wanting to dine al fresco.

Bob the owner, who has become a bit of a minor celebrity since he won the award, is not on duty. The cheery, grey-haired man behind the counter – who looks like he enjoys a bacon butty or two himself – says he is off doing a television interview. There is actually a pretty comprehensive menu, most of it traditional workmen's fare, the usual ham, egg or sausage sandwiches. I decide to go for the award-winning bacon sandwich in crusty bread, with a bit of sausage to provide a dash of decadence.

It soon becomes clear why this place has suddenly become so famous. The crispy, beautifully cooked bacon between two slices of farmhouse-style bread is as good as I have experienced.

The sausage was good too, and unlike some workmen's cafe, the food did not come dripping with grease. It is hard to imagine anywhere you could get a better sandwich for just £1.60. It was worth the journey.