Wigan Album
Millgate
16 CommentsPhoto: Dennis Seddon
Item #: 20075
The fish and chips here were absolutely mouthwatering, and always red-hot because they weren't left standing as there was a constant queue of people.The fish was thick and snow-white,its batter very thin and crispy. The cafe at the back was simple, unpretentious and homely, and greatly missed.
is that the Civic centre just seen on the right edge of the photo?
Yes Carol, that is the concrete carbuncle of a civic centre.
I have memories of rainy saturday dinner times at the Boro, grey sky and drizzle outside compared with the steam and warmth inside.
During the long summer holidays in the 1950s my mam and her friend would round up half a dozen of us kids and cart us of to Southport for the day, partly to keep us occupied and partly to give the other mothers a break. On the way home we always called at the Boro Cafe for fish and chips. It was part of the day out. Happy days.
I remember as a child calling here for some chips one evening after attending the swimming baths. I could hardly see as my eyes were affected by the chlorine and accidently put sugar on my chips instead of salt. I begged for more but didnt get any Ha Ha.
I remember taking my husband there for the first time... He is an American and used to new and shiny with no atmosphere..I wish I could have taken a picture his face when we walked in back and he saw the condition of the room...Once he tasted the Fish and chips though, he became an instant fan and we went back on just about every trip back to Wigan... Wish it was still there, wish the Wigan I knew and grew up with, was still there....
What sort of shop was LIZ ELASTIC?
Sold haberdashery and sewing/kinitting gear if I remember rightly, Jondav.
Prior to Liz Elastic, the shop was the premises of Stella Shaw, who sold and made corsets and foundation garments for the larger lady. She advertised that she catered for 'up to 55 inch hips', which I would have thought would make customers rather reluctant to be seen entering the premises!
Was the"Green Curtain" where Liz Elastic is ?
At that size mick they wouldn't,t get in even if they wanted to
we used to go to boro cafe the food was good but your feet used to stick to the floor or you had to mind your step it was that slippy the outside petty is another story ha ha
This brings back memories. I remember buying chips here and then going down the side alley to look at the monkeys in the pet shop. The man who owned the Boro Cafe won a fortune on the Pools but still came and worked every day frying the best fish and chips ever.
what would we rather have atmospheric shops or the concrete monster next to it.what leadership we have in wigan. last thirty years worth of rubbish architecture erected in our town
55 inch Hips ?? thats quite dainty compared with some of the sights you see around town these days
mickey east, I'm with you there; bring back our lovely, atmospheric alleyways and shops full of character...we may as well be in a plastic bubble now. And how right you are, Gerry, about the sights you see today, especially in Summer! At least the larger ladies visiting Stella's covered up their 55" hips.