Finchely Road
Tales of the City Part 3
ALAN DEIN is going through a phase of regurgitating
the memory of places situated along the Finchley Road which he frequented at least
a quarter of a century ago...
RIP Emmanuelle: the Night Haunt...
...It was called EMMANUELLE (you could write a Phd on the low-brow cultural impact of that film), positioned in the parade on the west side of Finchley Road, near the Swiss Cottage tube exit. It was the tail end of the 70s/early 80s when I occasionally went there, usually very late on a Saturday night, say 2amish. Many of the clientele were faces from the Jewish soul and disco crowd who hailed from places like Southgate or Gants Hill. They just about tolerated us punk-types who were noticeably outside their cultural radar. The atmosphere was subdued and stoned, and the un-cuisine was burgers etc. I doubt whether anyone who ever ate there will actually remember anything else about the night-owl fare.
RIP Hamburger City: 70s American stylee
HAMBURGER CITY was opposite the Golders Green clocktower, on the same side as the Ionic. Just like STRIKES which I think must have preceded it chronologically, here was the imitation New York burger bar for those who pined to be kids in Awerica. It was the first time I'd ever eaten a 'quarterpounder'.
RIP The Gondola: a touch of Venice in Temple
Fortune:
Perhaps the best Cannelloni west of Genoa was served at THE GONDOLA. This place beat the pants off all those fussy and formal Italian restaurants in the area. I'd love to see a photo of the interior. I recall a definite Gondola thing going on....
RIP Viva Tacos: Mexico in our City
The legendary VIVA TACOS, fondly dubbed VT's by its die-hard fanclub arrived in the late 70s in the parade heading north from Finchley Road tube station, by the bus stop. Must have been London's first ever taste of good 'n’ fast spicy Tex-Mex food. VIVA VT's
Another branch opened in Warren Street - were there any others? It's a crime that they were replaced by SPUD-U-LIKE's. How could anyone ever have liked those half-baked potatoes with the choice of only yucch for fillings.
London-RIP remembers
Aah, memories. We recall our own forays along the Finchley Road featuringTricky Dicks, Les Elites, Poorboy. What do you remember? contact us and tell us about it.
We want to hear what you've got to say..
Leave a message for us here.Messages
| Message: | 5/5 |
| Date and time: | 26/03/2010 at 09:33:19 |
| Sender: | John the DJ |
| I worked at the Purple Pussycat from the end of 82 till 87 when the Chippeck family were bought out. At that point I moved to Les Elites. If you saw new years in then, Tess, it would have been me djing. They didn't trust Clive, the little black guy, to do big nights because he was useless. lol. I'm on the hunt for some old friends from there at that time. Send me a friend request on facebook. John Roussety | |
| Message: | 4/5 |
| Date and time: | 03/01/2010 at 17:35:49 |
| Sender: | Tess |
| Anyone else have memories of the Purple PussyCat. Saw quite a few faces there and saw in a couple of new years - 85 -86 i think | |
| Message: | 3/5 |
| Date and time: | 11/08/2008 at 20:25:19 |
| Sender: | Mary |
| La Cage D'Or was off the main street at Finchley Road. It was down steps into the bowels of the earth and a desk where Bernie, the owner usually stood greeting people. There was a cafe to the right. (I saw Bernie about 20 years ago when I was in Venice, California and he owned a boutique that I just happened to walk into!!)There was a disco and a bar - a cage at one point that one of my friends danced in. This was in the 70s and was a haunt for a huge mix of people. There was a mother daughter who always went there - There was Joan Collins and her sister. There was Ewa Aulin...A lot of Persians. John Billig who would have his chauffeur drop him off. We dated. It was a fun place. It was a fun time. Wigs and false eyelashes. Later hot pants and over the knee boots and poor lighting made even me, a runway model look like a super model Hah hah Meaning it was difficult at times to see exactly how someone looked. Exchange telephone numbers and the daylight meeting might be quite shocking!!! Another place further along Finchley Road was La Pubell...or Plubell excuse my spelling (The Dustbin) | |
| Message: | 2/5 |
| Date and time: | 16/02/2008 at 15:21:13 |
| Sender: | Big T |
| Anyone remember the name of the American diner place that was a regular late night stop off near Finchley Rd & Frognal station in Finchley Road, circa 1983? | |
| Message: | 1/5 |
| Date and time: | 12/02/2008 at 08:17:16 |
| Sender: | BFS |
| Maxwells in Hampstead was the place on a Saturday evening! Their No.7 half-pounder off the menu, well-done, with thousand island dressing, fries and a Coke, all for the princely sum of £2.80 and then on to Hombres afterwards. The late 70s and early 80s, were the best!! | |
