Used to wait there for the 86 bus to school every morning... entrance to Ilford Chambers was good shelter on rainy days. Wonder if superbike is still across the road, was there for donkeys years.
It's still a decent shelter if waiting for the bus to be honest and incredibly the signage for Superbike is still there (well, half of it is still there) despite the shop having closed around 20 years ago.
I remember a Wimpy bar/restaurant around about the middle of the parade of shops in Ilford chambers back in the 1970's. I remember about 1978 (when I was about 18) being in the Wimpy around 10.30 at night having a meal with a mate after coming out of Room at the top ( on top of Harrison Gibsons) and a fight kicked off in the Wimpy between a couple of drunks, the manager called the police and the drunks were duly arrested. My mate and I just sat there out of harms way watching the fracas while eating our Wimpy & chips. When we eventually got up to leave, we had to pay the bill at the cash register and I quipped "And here's an extra pound for the floor show" 😂😂😂😂
I never knew Wimpy did in-house entertainment 🤣 What a kind man you are. An impromptu show like that (as long as no one was seriously hurt) is well worth a complimentary fee. Was at least some consolation to the manager!
Interesting as ever. Glad to hear stylex is still there. I remember going in there circa 82 and getting a great deal on a Fred Perry jumper. I remember the owner was always keen to make a sale !
I went to Stylex several years ago when I was visiting my mum (still lives in Ilford)... I bumped into Jack, the guy who ran Jean Bin opposite Music Power. Turns out Jean Bin and Stylex were run by brothers all along, and Jack went along to join his brother was the Jean Bin area was demolished and turned into flats.
The 199 bus route must have replaced the 291 route which ran in the early 70s (they were operated by single deck RF type coaches). It wasn't well used, so I can't imagine why they used double deckers on it - unless they were too tight fisted to buy new single deckers at the time. What a pity the old shops had to go to provide Sainsburys, which I believe is now closed as well.
According to what I've read online, the 199 started in 1972 to replace the southern end of the 179. The 179 continued to run on Saturdays though, meaning there was a duplication on that bit of the route. Good question as to why they would use double deckers on it! Yes the large Sainsbury's is due for demolition when their housing project on the site commences construction. The replacement Sainsbury's will apparently be smaller than the existing one. Not sure when that's all going to start though.
Ah yes, the good old "American Beefburger Bar" - or something to that effect. I'm not exactly sure when it closed down, but it was not too long ago comparatively. In 2012 the neighbouring clothes shop Stylex took over the premises and expanded into it. Alas Pioneer Market closed in 2004/2005 and Bishops et al went with it. There's a documentary on RUclips (search Ilford Pioneer Market) about its final days which provides more detail.
It's a good question June. If you mean the Co-op that used to be in the High Road towards the Broadway, I was informed by an IR follower on Facebook that it suffered fire damage in 1983. Its resultant closure meant it never returned. The building was rebuilt and occupied by Bejam which renamed to Iceland around 1989. As for photographs, I haven't come across any other than one on Facebook by that follower who mentioned the fire. The photo didn't show much left of the building, but the fire crews tending to the flames.
Good bit of info, are all pub cleaning jobs outsourced? I never stopped to think about whether some chains do it in house. Do you recall which years was Jenny there?
I can not remember the year. Jim Maguire who owned Maguires on the Corner was holding it for the Brewery and yes must cleaning is outsourced @@IlfordRetro
Thanks @@johnrmce I'd even forgotten about Maguires being the name after The Hope. I believe (but could be wrong) Jim sold it/it was transferred to new ownership when it became Champs as it is now known.
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Beautiful memories of childhood 1982. That was my 1st memories of Ilford
Wonderful to hear Raj
Used to wait there for the 86 bus to school every morning... entrance to Ilford Chambers was good shelter on rainy days. Wonder if superbike is still across the road, was there for donkeys years.
It's still a decent shelter if waiting for the bus to be honest and incredibly the signage for Superbike is still there (well, half of it is still there) despite the shop having closed around 20 years ago.
I remember a Wimpy bar/restaurant around about the middle of the parade of shops in Ilford chambers back in the 1970's.
I remember about 1978 (when I was about 18) being in the Wimpy around 10.30 at night having a meal with a mate after coming out of Room at the top ( on top of Harrison Gibsons) and a fight kicked off in the Wimpy between a couple of drunks, the manager called the police and the drunks were duly arrested.
My mate and I just sat there out of harms way watching the fracas while eating our Wimpy & chips.
When we eventually got up to leave, we had to pay the bill at the cash register and I quipped "And here's an extra pound for the floor show" 😂😂😂😂
I never knew Wimpy did in-house entertainment 🤣 What a kind man you are. An impromptu show like that (as long as no one was seriously hurt) is well worth a complimentary fee. Was at least some consolation to the manager!
Interesting as ever. Glad to hear stylex is still there. I remember going in there circa 82 and getting a great deal on a Fred Perry jumper. I remember the owner was always keen to make a sale !
Thanks Ian; and to be honest, Stylex still sells decent gear at a good price. It's fast becoming one of the 'older' names in the town centre too.
I went to Stylex several years ago when I was visiting my mum (still lives in Ilford)... I bumped into Jack, the guy who ran Jean Bin opposite Music Power. Turns out Jean Bin and Stylex were run by brothers all along, and Jack went along to join his brother was the Jean Bin area was demolished and turned into flats.
The 199 bus route must have replaced the 291 route which ran in the early 70s (they were operated by single deck RF type coaches). It wasn't well used, so I can't imagine why they used double deckers on it - unless they were too tight fisted to buy new single deckers at the time. What a pity the old shops had to go to provide Sainsburys, which I believe is now closed as well.
According to what I've read online, the 199 started in 1972 to replace the southern end of the 179. The 179 continued to run on Saturdays though, meaning there was a duplication on that bit of the route. Good question as to why they would use double deckers on it! Yes the large Sainsbury's is due for demolition when their housing project on the site commences construction. The replacement Sainsbury's will apparently be smaller than the existing one. Not sure when that's all going to start though.
Does anyone remember the American hamburger bar? I moved away in 1985, so much change! What happened to the pioneer market? Mrs. Bishops wool shop?!
Ah yes, the good old "American Beefburger Bar" - or something to that effect. I'm not exactly sure when it closed down, but it was not too long ago comparatively. In 2012 the neighbouring clothes shop Stylex took over the premises and expanded into it. Alas Pioneer Market closed in 2004/2005 and Bishops et al went with it. There's a documentary on RUclips (search Ilford Pioneer Market) about its final days which provides more detail.
I'm looking for some old images of the co-OP in ilford and some info .and what year did it close .
It's a good question June. If you mean the Co-op that used to be in the High Road towards the Broadway, I was informed by an IR follower on Facebook that it suffered fire damage in 1983. Its resultant closure meant it never returned. The building was rebuilt and occupied by Bejam which renamed to Iceland around 1989. As for photographs, I haven't come across any other than one on Facebook by that follower who mentioned the fire. The photo didn't show much left of the building, but the fire crews tending to the flames.
i had the contract to clean the Black Horse I believe the manager was a Scottish lady Jenny
Good bit of info, are all pub cleaning jobs outsourced? I never stopped to think about whether some chains do it in house. Do you recall which years was Jenny there?
I can not remember the year. Jim Maguire who owned Maguires on the Corner was holding it for the Brewery and yes must cleaning is outsourced @@IlfordRetro
Thanks @@johnrmce I'd even forgotten about Maguires being the name after The Hope. I believe (but could be wrong) Jim sold it/it was transferred to new ownership when it became Champs as it is now known.
The sainsburys building is a complete eye sore; it screams of the 1980s
It's clad in their old corporate brown colour isn't it? Very dated, you're right