Taste of the past
CAFES AND RESTAURANTS YOU MISS MOST
HUDDERSFIELD’S first Caribbean takeaway and the town’s finest steakhouse are among the town’s long lost restaurants and cafes you’ve told us you miss.
One of Huddersfield’s first Chinese eateries and a proper tearoom were also among the places you fondly remember.
Last week The Examiner’s sister website, YorkshireLive, ran an article about seven Huddersfield restaurants and cafes from the 1990s which we miss. But readers also mentioned some other Huddersfield eating establishments which disappeared long ago.
Bannisters
Bannisters, formerly JE Bannister and Sons, was a long established cafe and tearoom on Byram Street, opposite Huddersfield Parish Church.
Downstairs was the cafe while upstairs you could get tea and scones as well as main meals brought to your table.
Mandy Kirk worked there as a Saturday girl for three years in the late 1970s and early 80s.
She remembers: “We all had to wear little white aprons... It was a great place to work, always busy and you knew all the regulars. Tips were always good... Places like that don’t exist anymore which is a shame.”
The site was more recently Verve Bar which closed last year.
Flamingo
This restaurant on an alley off the Market Place – known as ‘Wappy Nick’ – popped up repeatedly when we asked readers about which Huddersfield restaurants they missed.
During its time it was probably the best place for a steak in Huddersfield.
Shaun Sykes recalls: “It was excellent food-wise. The decor wasn’t the best – a bit tired – but good atmosphere.
“The owner was a Greek Cypriot called Andy as was his head waiter and friend Charlie.
“It was a steakhouse in the main but served other food too.
“They did a fabulous mixed grill – [the] biggest I’ve ever seen.”
While Flamingo was Cypriot owned the menu wasn’t particularly Greek. However, some Hellenic traditions took place.
Shaun remembers plate smashing and bouzouki playing. He says the restaurant is ‘much missed.’
Hong Kong
It’s now a car park but at the bottom of Northumberland Street once stood a tall post-war office and housing block.
On the ground floor was Hong Kong, one of Huddersfield’s first Chinese eateries.
It is believed Hong Kong closed around 40 years ago but owner Philip Lee’s son Yong today owns Ho Wah Chinese takeaway, on Wakefield Road at Waterloo.
Den Carr recalls: “It’s almost 50 years since I ate there but as far as I remember it was spacious with an excellent menu, reasonably priced food and excellent service.
“I worked on nearby Lord Street and often called at Hong Kong’s back door for takeaways for our staff when working late on Friday evenings.”
Midway Cafe
Midway, Bradford Road, was Huddersfield’s first Caribbean takeaway. It served generous portions of curry goat and rice and peas at low prices.
The cafe was owned by Daphne ‘Mummy’ Fiddler, from Clarendon, Jamaica, and her husband Augustus.
Visiting famous folk who ate at Midway included West Indies cricket legend Viv Richards, reggae band Aswad and two-tone group The Selecter.
Wesley Marsden fondly remembers going with his mum and dad.
He said: “The lovely lady there always gave you plenty... of food.”
“We didn’t have much money back then but could afford to eat at the Midway Cafe... Huddersfield is missing a good cafe like this these days.”
Daphne died aged 86 in 2018. Her funeral was attended by hundreds.