Wigan Album
Hope Street, Wigan
19 Comments
Photo: Dennis Miller
Item #: 19176
I have an interior shot I will post later.
Great pictures Dennis, I remember the Roy Cafe around the late 60s early 70s, had been modernised a bit by then.
Great Art Deco style architecture. Better than the boring non discript buildings we have today
Dennis, it makes me want to get my 1940s togs on and go in for afternoon tea!
IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME WELL IT WAS LATER CALLED THE WISHBONE CAFE IN THE SIXTIES.
My mother & dad had their wedding reception here, often wondered if thats why i was named Roy, i never was told & i never asked!
It,was The Wishbone cafe.Further down left by the side of the Roal Arcade,was King Hals kitchen Restaurant entrance which linked to the Wishbone upstairs
Why were many of the old buildings hastily demolished. I'm sure some could have been restored and would have blended in well with the newer additions.
After looking at old phot`s such as these, it makes you realise just how much of Wigans heritage as been demolsihed and not for the better! Modern concrete slabs and mirrored windows may be cost effective but do nothing for me! How sad. . . .
I fully agree Nads!
My Mum Muriel worked as a secretary at the Wishbone,and when she took me in i often say Jennifer Moss(Lucille Hewitt from Coronation Stree),and sometimes saw Donald Campbell in the Restaurant.
the wishbone, was great, for a meal. they also sold cooked chicken, down stairs.
1956 we had our wedding tea upstairs at the Roy cafe
Did this become the Starlight Room Restaurant around 1970??????
The footprint is still there on Marsden Street at the back of B&M but obviously built in the time of BHS which used to have a cafe below.
Now just a red brick nothingness compared to that lovely much loved building with a nice selection of shops below.
Didn't the waitresses dress like NIPPIES?
Barbara, I don't know what a Nippy is but imagine they wore black skirts and blowses and little white aprons with lace around the edge.
Colin, NIPPIES were waitresses in the Lyons Corner House Cafes early to mid 20th cen. The nickname was chosen because the waitresses tended to nip around speedily as they worked.
Thanks Ron, you are a wealth of information.
Wouldn't it be nice if all that building of character could be recreated in the redevelopment.