Caffs & Greasy spoons

Uno Hoo · Post by **Uno Hoo** » Thu 27 May, 2010 11:40 pm

BLAKEY wrote: Three more that I remember and liked well (forgive me if I've mentioned them before in this huge topic). One was on a strange "sunken" road which ran alongside South Accommoadation Road - it might have been called another "Tomato Dip" but I can't be sure - their bacon sandwiches were legendary. Then there was the excellent Britton's Cafe - a small place with a corner entrance at the junction iof Wellington Street and Queen Street - it was operated by a large inposing lady, grey bun and tied back hair, who could serve half of Leeds in double quick time without and fuss or bother at all. The there was the "Royal Oak" above the puib of the same name in Kirkgate/York Street. They did great breakfasts but one thing that many of us found offensive - there was a pitiful youth there who really did obviously have a gender issue and behaved just like a timid lass, and wore a lady's floral pinafore overall for his waiting duties - I always felt that it made an exhibition of him and others agreed while naturally treating him with total respect.Another top class place, not exactly a transport cafe, was the Roxby - it was upstairs over the alleyway that led from Kirkgate to the rear of Wallace Arnold's coach station. They served fabulous breaKfasts and really great "home cooked" three course lunches. Quite by coincidence I had luncheon today at "Livebait" along with Mrs Hoo and the elder Hoo sprog. I waxed lyrical about how my first job was in Kirkgate, and at that time the area was notorious for rundown caffs and dosshouses. I'd forgotten all about the Roxby, as it was almost opposite Dewhirsts where I worked, but I never went in it, largely because I ate in the canteen at work. And I never knew about the cafe above the Royal Oak. One lives and learns!

dogduke · Post by **dogduke** » Fri 28 May, 2010 12:54 am

Who is Mrs.Hoo ?

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 28 May, 2010 11:26 am

[quotenick="Uno HooAnother top class place, not exactly a transport cafe, was the Roxby - it was upstairs over the alleyway that led from Kirkgate to the rear of Wallace Arnold's coach station. They served fabulous breaKfasts and really great "home cooked" three course lunches. Quite by coincidence I had luncheon today at "Livebait" along with Mrs Hoo and the elder Hoo sprog. I waxed lyrical about how my first job was in Kirkgate, and at that time the area was notorious for rundown caffs and dosshouses. I'd forgotten all about the Roxby, as it was almost opposite Dewhirsts where I worked, but I never went in it, largely because I ate in the canteen at work. And I never knew about the cafe above the Royal Oak. One lives and learns! ........................................................................................................The Royal Oak Cafe ws called just that, but I feel sure it had no other connection with the pub. Access was only from York Street, next door to the pub alleyway and not from the Kirkgate side..The two mature uniformed waitresses in the Roxby were super ladies. One was called Rose and the other, whose name now infuriatingly eludes me, had a lovely North Eastern accent. When asked from where she hailed she would proudly reply with a mischievous grin "SEEEEBORN" - which translates into West Yorkshire as "SEABURN" of course. I love the rich tapestry of accents and dialects, and can never understand why so many people strive to entirely get rid of them as if they are something to be ashamed of. Aaah bliss - I've remembered the Seaburn lady's name now - Hannah

tilly · Post by **tilly** » Fri 28 May, 2010 1:47 pm

BLAKEY wrote: Three more that I remember and liked well (forgive me if I've mentioned them before in this huge topic). One was on a strange "sunken" road which ran alongside South Accommoadation Road - it might have been called another "Tomato Dip" but I can't be sure - their bacon sandwiches were legendary. Then there was the excellent Britton's Cafe - a small place with a corner entrance at the junction iof Wellington Street and Queen Street - it was operated by a large inposing lady, grey bun and tied back hair, who could serve half of Leeds in double quick time without and fuss or bother at all. The there was the "Royal Oak" above the puib of the same name in Kirkgate/York Street. They did great breakfasts but one thing that many of us found offensive - there was a pitiful youth there who really did obviously have a gender issue and behaved just like a timid lass, and wore a lady's floral pinafore overall for his waiting duties - I always felt that it made an exhibition of him and others agreed while naturally treating him with total respect.Another top class place, not exactly a transport cafe, was the Roxby - it was upstairs over the alleyway that led from Kirkgate to the rear of Wallace Arnold's coach station. They served fabulous breaKfasts and really great "home cooked" three course lunches. Hi Blakey i too remember the cafe on South Accommoadation Road it was just before the bridge and as you say down a sunken road.Its strange the things that stick in the mind i remember he had a brand new Hobart Dish Washer in its box that had stood there for ever it was in the cafe were you sat.It just sat there getting dirty with the fag smoke am i sad or what? Ps Do you remember the Bryant and May match makeing firm that was over the road from this cafe? Pps If you answer and you get no reply its because im going on my hols to France .catch you all when i get back.

Si · Post by Si » Fri 28 May, 2010 2:16 pm

Have a good time, Tilly. Au revoir!

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 28 May, 2010 6:19 pm

tilly wrote: BLAKEY wrote: Three more that I remember and liked well (forgive me if I've mentioned them before in this huge topic). One was on a strange "sunken" road which ran alongside South Accommoadation Road - it might have been called another "Tomato Dip" but I can't be sure - their bacon sandwiches were legendary. Then there was the excellent Britton's Cafe - a small place with a corner entrance at the junction iof Wellington Street and Queen Street - it was operated by a large inposing lady, grey bun and tied back hair, who could serve half of Leeds in double quick time without and fuss or bother at all. The there was the "Royal Oak" above the puib of the same name in Kirkgate/York Street. They did great breakfasts but one thing that many of us found offensive - there was a pitiful youth there who really did obviously have a gender issue and behaved just like a timid lass, and wore a lady's floral pinafore overall for his waiting duties - I always felt that it made an exhibition of him and others agreed while naturally treating him with total respect. ...........................................................................................................Hi Blakey i too remember the cafe on South Accommoadation Road it was just before the bridge and as you say down a sunken road.Its strange the things that stick in the mind i remember he had a brand new Hobart Dish Washer in its box that had stood there for ever it was in the cafe were you sat.It just sat there getting dirty with the fag smoke am i sad or what? ? Ps Do you remember the Bryant and May match makeing firm that was over the road from this cafe? Pps If you answer and you get no reply its because im going on my hols to France .catch you all when i get back. Hi tilly - no of COURSE you're not sad !! - its lovely details like this that enable us to get such enjoyment from remembering our past - I can't say I remember the newly delivered Hobart dishwashing machine, but I remember the previos one which (who) was still in use - she was called Gertrude I believe I can't recall the the Bryant and May place at all - too busy trying to get a bacon buttie in Wallace Arnold's very mean meal breaks I suppose.Have a great time in La France - I went to the WW1 battlefields/cemeteries last July - and off to visit the Belgian tramways in August - I love Belgium greatly.

Uno Hoo · Post by **Uno Hoo** » Sun 30 May, 2010 12:34 pm

dogduke wrote: Who is Mrs.Hoo ? I No Hoo

RayCooke · Post by **RayCooke** » Sun 30 May, 2010 4:28 pm

Does anyone remember Georges Cafe. Open 24hrs just over Leeds Bridge. Also The Chicken Inn near the corn exchange with The Embassy Club downstairs in the basement? I remember Georges especially as it was one of the main places all the 'clubbers' went to at chucking out time and also the night-club/pub doormen as well. There was very often a card game[poker]going on in here through the night.There was another small place across the road from Georges...very small and on a corner. Jimmy Saville was often seen in there late on with his 'minders'. I remember there was an ace jukebox and 2 pinball machines in there which took up most of the space!

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sun 30 May, 2010 4:51 pm

Many will surely remember "BROWN'S CAFE" - it wss on the corner of The Calls and the narrow roadway into Wallace Arnold's coach station. It was run by an elderly fellow, bad on his feet, and a young girl who may have been a relative. I'm sad to say that it was somewhat lacking in the finer points of hygiene and he always wore an old sports jacket - never a white overall or anything like that. He seemed to keep open very long hours, and at least was always quietly obliging.

electricaldave · Post by **electricaldave** » Sun 30 May, 2010 7:10 pm

Quote: Could I borrow this for the Tapestry blog please? Its just the sort of personal comment we want. Sure, but why not write to a few of the Leeds cycle clubs, you'll get loads of stories, you might even get in contact with Denise (her daughter) I don't know if she is still riding, but she has switched clubs a few times, someone will be bound to know.