Shops of yore

We often used to go in Farmer Giles for coffee and toast on a Saturday assuming you could get a seat. It always seemed crowded, which was a good sign

George - that was the big guy's name who had the giant teapot and just poured over all the cups together do you remember! I don't recall the proprietor's name who used to whisk your plate away and wipe the table as you put the last spoonful in your mouth! I used to impersonate him (voicewise) and when possible would get the table at the back, above and to the side of the serving hatch. I would shout down "a one a boil, a one a vienna steak an a one a jamrol". (say it very quickly) A short time later there would be a row at the serving hatch with the woman in the kitchen (wife maybe?) and the waiter! He cottoned on quite quickly and wouldn't let us sit there again!

I remember it as being much further down as well, along with Davies' and the newsagents. There was garden pool upstairs with catfish in it.

Hi, Old Lincolnian, I can't remember any other cafes in the area apart from the Wimpy round the corner, Fishy Moore's and the Pool Meadow Bus Stn, so that might have been why it was so popular. These days there seems to be an 'eatery' every second establishment! All to do with the University I suspect. Apart from there, the only other places we frequented were Woolworth's (who didn't at some point), Fishy Moore's, or the snack bar in the Market. On a different note and further to the previous topic of the 'upstairs coffee shop' does anyone remember the 'Forty Thieves' Nightclub just before Shelton Square? I seem to recall it went between the two rows of buildings in Market Way.

Hi Wearethemods Your'e probably right about Farmer Giles. I remember the "Forty Thieves", it was in the building going over the entrance to Shelton Square. Unfortunately I cannot tell you anything else about it as I never went inside but I'm sure somebody else can.

I also remember the 'Forty Thieves' but it was always thought to be a club where trouble could occur at a moments notice! Whether this was true or not I don't really know. Its reputation was enough to make me give it a wide berth!!

I noticed today that the outfitters/tailors shop in the Coliseum Building has now become a "shop of yore"

To revive an earlier discussion on here about Christopher J Bee, the camera shop in the Lower Precinct, this was taken over in the late 60's by Keith Fuell, one of the staff. Keith, an old boy of King Henry VIII, was very young when he took the shop over and it traded first as Concord Cameras, but after a dispute over the name, it became Keith J Fuell Photographic. Sadly, it went out of business after only a couple of years. Remembering that has also brought back memories of the delicious cakes and pastries in Elizabeth's which was directly opposite.

Sad that the OC couldn't make a go of it Elizabeth's! Mmm! I regularly used the one in Hertford Street in the 1970s for a Friday lunchtime treat

There's an interesting property on this photo, a vague memory of a shop selling motor bikes has been mentioned in the vicinity and also a stonemason's but an unusual design and I wondered what the property number could be and what it had been used for in the past. London Road

Dutchman, I think there was a book shop in Earl Street in the mid 60's - I used to be mad on horses and bought some pony books there with my birthday money when I was about 10! The carnival was always the nearest Saturday to my birthday and I'm sure that I combined the two events - gummed up with hayfever, as usual. Can you remember whether there was such a shop there and, if so, what it was called? Thanks

Hello Anne Yes there was, "Hudson's" I think?

Thankyou Dutchman! That's a coincidence, my late partner's first job was in Hudson's in Birmingham!

Responding to my own post, the property is named 'Charter House View' and I found 'Coventry Motor Mart', London Road and wondered if they traded from this property. Cyril Lord being a notable speedway rider. I put a search on the Forum and saw a few posts regarding the business. Coventry Motor Mart

Very interesting Foxcote, I went into the link and found a 1936 BSA Scout too. Tony's first car. Many thanks....