Background
Hugh Sheppard heard Tom Mangold on “Today” (06/12/2014) saying that the Jeremy Thorpe related plot to murder Norman Scott (resulting in the death of his dog Rinka) was hatched in the Ritz restaurant, Shepherds Bush.
Hugh Sheppard
1960s recall says that this was a cafe about 5 doors in on the Goldhawk Road from Shepherds Bush Green, and was a regular Tech. Ops. lunchtime venue. So who overheard what then? The formidable waitress/manageress would have known; nothing get past her. How long did the Ritz last? And did she last with it?
Dave Mundy
I was introduced to “The Ritz” in 1963 when I joined Crew 1. You had a choice of 3 roasts a day plus dessert for 3s/6d.! It was enough food to last you all day. The head ‘chef’ was Greek-Cypriot as were the three waiters, one for each row of tables. Over the year it dwindled to 1 waiter and eventually went up-market with an alcohol licence – shock horror! It is now closed. In all that time I never saw a female worker there or an MP! There was also the ‘Swiss’ restaurant and, the only survivor of that time, the ‘Cafe-Rest’. “Oddies” went years ago and the Swiss is now a very good Polish restaurant.
Derek Martin
“The Ritz” was the place to eat in the evening when working at the Theatre. Spag bol and chips was the favourite.
John Hoare
“Champagne, Sir?”
One of the waiters always greeted us this way – of course, what came was a glass of water. When we took anyone there for the first time we would ramp it up with an enthusiastic “yes please” and the waiter wouldn’t go until the newcomer had been suitably embarrassed!
Howard Michaels
I have a strong memory circa 1970 on the first series of the young generation show, swinging Geoff Tindale on the well mole and spam fritters!
Roger Bunce
I have particularly fond memories of ‘The Swiss’. The menu included ‘Prok Sausage, Egg and Chips.
Hugh Sheppard
As usual, Roger’s memory is spot on. In introducing this topic, my 1960s memory was at fault, ’twas the “Swiss” that we favoured. I think “The Ritz” was next door or next door but one. As to MPs etc. my guess is that “The Ritz” was the venue simply because it was notionally inappropriate.
So who was the waitress/manageress in the SWISS restaurant? For years I could recall a cracking story about her, but it has drifted now.
Tony Crake
Is Mr Mangold getting mixed up with "Oddies" (Oddis?) Much more up market and may have concealed an MP or two
I seem to remember going there for an end of series party after a "Cliff Richard Show" in TVT ( poss Crew 3 )
Bernie Newnham
“Oddi’s” turned into “The Hat Shop” which looked like a hat shop on the outside but was actually a pizza restaurant.
Has anyone ever been to “The Patio”, nearly next door? An excellent and famous Polish restaurant run by a lady often in her dressing gown. After the main course she says, "And what kind of vodka would you like?". Used to make afternoon edits go well.
Ian Hillson
Amazing how sticky the unwashed carpet tiles always were in the “Cafe-Rest’”.
Dave Plowman
Anyone remember “Tommy’s” – the Chinese one half way along The Green? You’d come out bloated, but be starving by tea time. I think it was Al Tuson who introduced me to it. I never did much care for the food in “The Ritz”.
Patrick Heigham
Don’t remember “Tommy’s” but there was “Bertorelli’s” which if we were feeling particularly flush (or my birthday), was an occasional indulgence.
“Oddy’s” – for the basement ‘lounge’ one had to be a ‘member’ but TV crews from the TVT were nodded through!
I think the “Swiss” was the one most favoured by Crew 3 in the early 1960s (B & W’s, Billy Cotton, “Crackerjack”).
Oh! and the meal claim for second meal of the day – 3/4d. If one took it all in cash, it was taxed on your payslip, but a 3/- luncheon voucher wasn’t, so the tax only levied on 1/4d.
We must have been reasonably flush in those days, I often ate in the waitress service canteen for a steak, but as a Gram op, preferred a pie and pint in the TVC Club, after an outside rehearsal.
(Ed: Oddies Oddis or Oddy’s? sorry, can’t help here …)
