Can anyone remember anything about the old British Restaurant in Darlaston? I have a vague recollection of being taken there when a youngster by my grandmother, as her niece worked there. Other relatives have said I was mistaken. This is what I can remember and it would date back to around 1950. Gran and I went by bus from West Bromwich and the buses at Darlaston stopped in a road altogether. We then walked, zig-zagging down sidestreets, passing a church in a square with a low brick wall round it. I remember spotting someone's pop bottle full of cold tea placed on the other side of the wall. Funny things you remember! When we got to the restaurant the counter was on the right and tables and chairs on the left. We were taken through to the upstairs room and I was fascinated by the crockery and food going up and down on a dumb waiter. In fact I got on a chair and had a look down the shaft and had to be restrained by my grandmother from going 'arse over tip.' I have now discovered the Women's Conservative and Primrose League Hall in Bilston Street, Darlaston was converted into a British Restaurant, known locally as "The Trough" and its location would seem to fit my childhood memories. For those who don't know about British Restaurants they were places set up by the Ministry of Food during WW2 so that people who had used up all their food ration could still get a decent meal at an economical price. These restaurants were clean and well-managed, but their spartan decor usually resembled a works canteen, sometimes there were also very long queques. A main meal would cost about 1s. 6d. (8p). They carried on for quite a few years after the end of the war, sometimes under the name of Civic Restaurants. Rita

Hello Rita, Whilst you are correct about then being set up by the MoF, I think you will find that most of them were operated by the WVS. The basic reason for them being set up was to ensure workers could get a decent meal. You have to remember that few factories, unless it was very large like a car maker, had a factory canteen prior to the war. A lot of vital war materials were produced in small factories employing only a few dozen people, which made it uneconomic to have its own canteen. But with twelve hour shift work becoming the norm, mid day food was vital to keep workers going. In a similar way farm and some other workers received a special ration of food, cheese, butter tea etc, so that they or their wives could pack lunch for them. Ted ----- Original Message ----- From: <Greenways6@aol.com> To: <ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2006 11:05 AM Subject: [B.C.] Non Gen: British Restaurant > For those who don't know about British Restaurants they were places set up > by the Ministry of Food during WW2 so that people who had used up all > their > food ration could still get a decent meal at an economical price. These > restaurants were clean and well-managed, but their spartan decor usually > resembled > a works canteen, sometimes there were also very long queques. A main > meal > would cost about 1s. 6d. (8p). They carried on for quite a few years > after the > end of the war, sometimes under the name of Civic Restaurants. > > Rita > > > ==== ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY Mailing List ==== > The Assistant List Admins are Jean Morgan and Jan Ross > (Couldn't do it without those two great ladies) > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.2.2/280 - Release Date: 13/03/2006 > >

You were asking about British Restaurants during WW2. My husband Gil was a telegraph boy in 1942 and he remembers being given tokens for free dinners at the British Restaurants in Walsall. There were at least three in the town. Darlaston Road (chapel) Dale Street (chapel) Upper Forster Street opposite the entrance to Queen Marys School. He says the meals were satisfying and anyone could go there. Most of the factories had their own canteens providing meals so no workers starved. I asked about Darlaston but he did not pedal his bike that far. Messengers for that area were based at Wednesbury. Regards Pat. ----- Original Message ----- From: <Greenways6@aol.com> To: <eng-black-country-d@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2006 11:05 AM Subject: Non Gen: British Restaurant > Can anyone remember anything about the old British Restaurant in > Darlaston?