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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Does anyone know whether there were any cafe or restaurants in wood green high road during the war years?   Or in Myddleton Road.  

Thank you

Julia

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Thanks Hugh. Lyons always seemed to be a much older building very olde world inside. I remember the Coop well giving my Mum's Dividend number it went behind pub replaced by Key Market entrannces either side. Eventually rebuilt on corner of Lymington Avenue. Mayes Road entrance removed due to shopping city. Remember wonderful cottage loaves on Saturday from bakery in Mayes Road.

I'm not sure if this helps, but the cafe (currently The Greenery but previously many other names/types, including a greasy spoon) right next to Turnpike Lane tube's main entrance has old wooden panelling on the internal staircase up to the loos on the first floor, which suggests it might have been there in some form since the original parade of shops was built when the Piccadilly Line was extended in the 30s. The ground floor has been revamped so often that none of the original is left, but obviously nobody's ever thought it worth refurbishing a staircase that's not used all that often.

An interesting eatery.  In the 60s it was used by my mum and grandma for a two / three hour catch up with friends over a 2s 6d cup of tea. I remember it being taken over by new proprietors who were distinctly unhappy that people sat for that length of time and spent so little. In my mind I’m seeing a set up similar to many supermarket cafes where one trailed along a counter with a tray and service was given by people behind where the food was displayed. Moving forward, I think in the 70s it was called The Chariot, I used to eat a tasty lunch there most Saturdays. 

There was a restaurant/cafe on Green Lanes around the end of the 50’s/early 60’s, called the Q.S. (for ‘Quick Service’ I think), changing to ‘Crystals’ later on. It was situated between the Odeon palace cinema and the Nags Head pub. It must have been a restaurant when I remember it because it had waitresses and tablecloths. 

Just checked. QS was two shops north of the cinema, at 11 Broadway from 1955. So that means it was in the same premises as the John Stanley Playle refreshment rooms that I mentioned on the last page. I assume it took over from him. 

It's shown in this photo from 1972.

I remember we used to use the Express Dairy café at Turnpike Lane Station in the 1950s:

You can see it to the right of the station here.

Yes!! The Express Dairy-that was where my mum and grandma had their cuppa. Thank you for the name reminder. 

We used to visit regularly in the 50s and 60s. I remember the Lyons Ice Cream which came in little rounds, wrapped in card. And my grandfather having coffee and a dash - no, not milk, he had lots of that. The dash was whisky from his pocket! My mother adored their chocolate eclairs.

A lovely story Richard, paints a picture of everyday life at that time. I remember the ice cream very well. 
I must be getting old: yearning for the past. 

Hold my feet to the flame and I'd still say it was the best ice cream I ever tasted!

Ah, but did you ever try Rossi’s ice cream in Southend on Sea? Definitely etched in my childhood memories....!

Yes I did - an many more Italian ices; and I agree they are the best;  but that Lyons ice cream was right there - available always!  By the way I enjoyed Italian ices in Italy but I lived in Cardiff for a while and tasted a firms called Thayers ice cream! To die for. 

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