Caffs & Greasy spoons

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Mon 10 Aug, 2009 9:12 pm

I was in the Merrion Centre last week as is apparent from the thread on the market,while I was there I decided to see if the cafe on the upper floor was managing to survive.I was delighted to find that it is still there.It is now called Annies Pantry and the counter has been repositioned.it also was a lot cleaner than I remember the old place<G>. .Still good value and good grub though.I didn't spot any signs telling people it exists though!

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Mon 10 Aug, 2009 9:50 pm

I've possibly mentioned this before, but LB's on Austhorpe Road at Crossgates does a cracking breakfast, which is good value too.

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Tue 11 Aug, 2009 9:10 am

Steve Jones wrote: I was in the Merrion Centre last week as is apparent from the thread on the market,while I was there I decided to see if the cafe on the upper floor was managing to survive.I was delighted to find that it is still there.It is now called Annies Pantry and the counter has been repositioned.it also was a lot cleaner than I remember the old place<G>. .Still good value and good grub though.I didn't spot any signs telling people it exists though! Was the old guy still there with the shirt and tie that used to t\ke your order?

wiggy · Post by **wiggy** » Tue 11 Aug, 2009 3:18 pm

A655 DINER,CAS,BEST BREAKFAST I'VE EVER HAD...TOP NOTCH SCOFF!

barneyrubble · Post by **barneyrubble** » Tue 11 Aug, 2009 4:22 pm

The coffee bar on Eastgate was "number 21" and the owner was Spanish, and very much into bike racing.

barneyrubble · Post by **barneyrubble** » Tue 11 Aug, 2009 4:33 pm

FLOJO wrote: Can anyone remember Birkbecks cafe in Leeds market? and is it still there?. Has a child I remember Birkbecks being next to where Wildbloods pork butchers were and there was a toy shop opposite, but then they moved more into the middle of the market.I always enjoyed their ham sandwich with english mustard, but I suppose taste changes with age. Their main site was upstairs just inside the Vicar Lane/George Street Ent, up a spirel staircase leading to the balconey, and like Flojo, It was the best ever ham sarney(breadcake) with mustard I ever had..

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Tue 11 Aug, 2009 7:28 pm

To answer LS 1 re the Merrion cafe (Annies Pantry). No,he wasn't there.It has obviously changed hands and had a makeover (for the better I might add).I remember him though.

Bert · Post by **Bert** » Tue 11 Aug, 2009 8:09 pm

Anyone remember the coffee bar aimed at the early teens market that opened back in the mid-fifties in the parade of shops opposite the Station pub in Station Road, Crossgates? It tried to project the 'bar' feel by having a new-fangled coffee machine with draft beer-style hand pumps. Any similarity to an espresso machine was purely superficial - the coffee was tasteless pap. But we all kept piling in there because, for a while, it was THE place to be for teenagers. Didn't last long because most local kids could only afford about one coffee a week if that, so most of them just sat around chatting and spending nothing. Must have been one of the worst researched business plans ever.

FLOJO · Post by **FLOJO** » Wed 12 Aug, 2009 3:11 am

Bert wrote: Anyone remember the coffee bar aimed at the early teens market that opened back in the mid-fifties in the parade of shops opposite the Station pub in Station Road, Crossgates? It tried to project the 'bar' feel by having a new-fangled coffee machine with draft beer-style hand pumps. Any similarity to an espresso machine was purely superficial - the coffee was tasteless pap. But we all kept piling in there because, for a while, it was THE place to be for teenagers. Didn't last long because most local kids could only afford about one coffee a week if that, so most of them just sat around chatting and spending nothing. Must have been one of the worst researched business plans ever. Yes Bert i can remember it I went to Crossgates girls school in early 60s and would sometimes meet up there after going to the Ritz but did not have much atmosphere but at the time you thought it was cool to be seen in there.

Bert · Post by **Bert** » Wed 12 Aug, 2009 11:35 am

Wow Flojo! You and I must have been in the same room together more than once - it was my regular stop on the way home from the Ritz too. You say early 60s, but if so it must have been very early mustn't it - 59/60ish? I had gone from Crossgates by 1962, and I thought the caff had already gone by then - but maybe what's left of my memory is playing tricks with me.