Caffs & Greasy spoons

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Thu 29 Dec, 2011 4:04 pm

after the refurb of the back of the Leeds City varieties,it would appear the The Swan cafe is no more,shame .I t was an old fashioned greasy spoon hidden away, that you could guarantee wouldn't be full of tourists<G>.

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Wed 31 Oct, 2012 2:28 pm

i haven't been in merrion centre market for ages.is the cafe in there still going/ it was trying to be an internet cafe last time i looked over 18 months ago.

RayCooke · Post by **RayCooke** » Thu 01 Nov, 2012 12:31 am

Paul1951 wrote: Linky Oik wrote: Paul1951#Posted on: 07-May-2011 22:28:12. Hey does anyone remember a cafe in Leeds City Centre oppsite the market in 1967 ish, called Dennis's cafe. I think it was later turned into a fish and chip bar. Anyway does anyone remember the fruit machine/ bingo machine type game that was there? Does anyone remember playing on that machine?http://www.flickr.com/photos/27677450@N ... 42005/This is a picture of the cafe after it became a fish and chip shopHope someone can get back in touchPaul Thank you Paul..I've been racking the old brain for ages trying to remember the name of that cafe. Georges Cafe was nearby that as well..Leeds Bridge I think. One thing I remember about Dennis's Cafe was Jimmy Saville often popped in very late cos there was a lot of homeless kids (me included at one time) used to go there 'til they got kicked out for buying nowt..Then it was down to the City Station or anywhere you could get a warm. The 2 Tomato Dip's were other favourites. Yes we knew Saville then but he was always a bit scary and never alone..Big fella was always with him but don't know who he was. You didn't approach Jimmy !! If he called you over then that was different. I never spoke to him ever cos I was friends with one of the doormen at The Bali Hai club and he warned me against it. Yes he was well known then but he got through his life without being captured.If one of us back then had been braver then who knows.....He was always friendly with the police and often could be seen chatting with them of a night...that was off-putting to folk like us at that time.Hi PaulYes I remember Dennis's well. Back around 1977-82 as a teenager I often went there with my pals on Saturday afternoons, before wandering around second-hand record shops and generally being a nuisance. If anyone remembers a bunch of denim-clad, Saturday-happy teenage lads stuffing themselves with chips, it was probably me and my mates. Hey Linky OikWhen you used to go to Dennis's as a 'denim-clad teenager' do you remember a type of pinball/bingo machine? (it used to cost around sixpence a go in the 60's) Or was it not there in the late 70's?

RayCooke · Post by **RayCooke** » Thu 01 Nov, 2012 12:33 am

RayCooke wrote: Paul1951 wrote: Linky Oik wrote: Paul1951#Posted on: 07-May-2011 22:28:12. Hey does anyone remember a cafe in Leeds City Centre oppsite the market in 1967 ish, called Dennis's cafe. I think it was later turned into a fish and chip bar. Anyway does anyone remember the fruit machine/ bingo machine type game that was there? Does anyone remember playing on that machine?http://www.flickr.com/photos/27677450@N ... 42005/This is a picture of the cafe after it became a fish and chip shopHope someone can get back in touchPaul Thank you Paul..I've been racking the old brain for ages trying to remember the name of that cafe. Georges Cafe was nearby that as well..Leeds Bridge I think. One thing I remember about Dennis's Cafe was Jimmy Saville often popped in very late cos there was a lot of homeless kids (me included at one time) used to go there 'til they got kicked out for buying nowt..Then it was down to the City Station or anywhere you could get a warm. The 2 Tomato Dip's were other favourites. Yes we knew Saville then but he was always a bit scary and never alone..Big fella was always with him but don't know who he was. You didn't approach Jimmy !! If he called you over then that was different. I never spoke to him ever cos I was friends with one of the doormen at The Bali Hai club and he warned me against it. Yes he was well known then but he got through his life without being captured.If one of us back then had been braver then who knows.....He was always friendly with the police and often could be seen chatting with them of a night...that was off-putting to folk like us at that time.PS. I remember the pinball machine as well. It use to be a tanner (6d) a go.Hi PaulYes I remember Dennis's well. Back around 1977-82 as a teenager I often went there with my pals on Saturday afternoons, before wandering around second-hand record shops and generally being a nuisance. If anyone remembers a bunch of denim-clad, Saturday-happy teenage lads stuffing themselves with chips, it was probably me and my mates. Hey Linky OikWhen you used to go to Dennis's as a 'denim-clad teenager' do you remember a type of pinball/bingo machine? (it used to cost around sixpence a go in the 60's) Or was it not there in the late 70's?

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Fri 02 Nov, 2012 11:24 am

Steve Jones wrote: i haven't been in merrion centre market for ages.is the cafe in there still going/ it was trying to be an internet cafe last time i looked over 18 months ago. having gone for a look yesterday,i realised that of ocurse the entire market is now shut as part of the Arena Quarter redevelopment including the cafe. a pity, I used to like their pie and peas.i found a nice little italian coffee shop in The light next to the stairs up to the top floor.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Fri 02 Nov, 2012 1:55 pm

Do they do pie and peas?

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Fri 02 Nov, 2012 2:07 pm

Cardiarms wrote: Do they do pie and peas? No they don't <g>.They do have a happy hour on coffees though and a good range of cakes!

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Sat 03 Nov, 2012 9:23 pm

The only thing to commend the St John's centre (for me anyway) is on the upper-floor there was a Cafe that, at it's far end, overlooked St John's Church & Gardens.Nice enough coffee + cake.Merrion Balcony allus struck me as a good spot for a cafe, though not seen much up there.

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Sun 04 Nov, 2012 2:54 pm

Jogon wrote: The only thing to commend the St John's centre (for me anyway) is on the upper-floor there was a Cafe that, at it's far end, overlooked St John's Church & Gardens.Nice enough coffee + cake.Merrion Balcony allus struck me as a good spot for a cafe, though not seen much up there. There was a coffee on the merrion balcony upstairs for years jogon ,going by various names.it was up the steps opposite "The Works".I had a quick glance while in there last week but seems nothing there now although I didn't go up the stairs having just come out of The Works.

Derculees · Post by **Derculees** » Sun 04 Nov, 2012 3:58 pm

I, along with countless others have always asked for a 'well done' bacon buttie and have yet to get one. Is it just a figure of speech to ensure that raw bacon receives some form of individual heat treatment prior to being sandwiched? How many times have you bitten hard on a sarnie and pulled half the contents along with it, sharpened teeth and a firm grip with both hands being required to win the tug of war with the umbilicals! As for crispy, no such thing unless it's cooked at home, or bought cold in packets from pubs. The best bacon I've ever had was smoked from Whitby. It was pre cooked by the smoke and almost ready for eating, if you were a medium-rare fan, or a 'well done' cafe eater,- oops, back to the beginning.