Fine Fare

[suzannewozere2]

Re: Fine Fare

There was definitely a Chelsea Girl in Harlow at one point and I remember the Timothy Whites there quite well. A visiting aunt and uncle bought me a Corgi Green Hornet car from there in the early 70s

Yes the Chelsea Girl was roughly where half price jewellers is now. It was very dark and had music playing. Therewere heart shaped pouffes as well.

Boots had an upstairs and sold records.

[Wil]

Re: Fine Fare

There was a MacFisheries in Bishop's Stortford and Timothy Whites in Harlow.

Does anyone remember Spoils the kitchen shop and Chelsea Girl?

There was definitely a Chelsea Girl in Harlow at one point and I remember the Timothy Whites there quite well. A visiting aunt and uncle bought me a Corgi Green Hornet car from there in the early 70s

[suzannewozere2]

Re: Fine Fare

I

Then there was Woolco which was a part of Woolworths.

Which reminds me - Whatever happened to Woolworths? Remember them?

What about Winfield ? again part of Woolies.

[Austin Maxi]

Re: Fine Fare

I remember Fine Fare, and International stores, and Wavy Line.

No-one seems to have mentioned Presto yet - "You'll be impressed at Prestos!"

Then there was Woolco which was a part of Woolworths.

Which reminds me - Whatever happened to Woolworths? Remember them?

[Snowblue]

Re: Fine Fare

I remember Coopers who became Coopers Fine Fare. Would that be the same chain?

I remember Galbraiths. Anyone remember Templetons?

[suzannewozere2]

Re: Fine Fare

I lived in Sawbridgeworth, around the corner the post office was a wavy line store. In the village there was a fine fare and international stores, a VG and a co-op.

There was a MacFisheries in Bishop's Stortford and Timothy Whites in Harlow.

Does anyone remember Spoils the kitchen shop and Chelsea Girl?

[Caz]

Re: Fine Fare

Only have a vague memory of that chain. Our local was Galbraiths, don't know what happened to them either? My biggest memory of supermarkets was when my mum sent me to stand in the queue for sugar. Anyone remember the sugar shortage in the 70's? I had to stand in that queue the whole afternoon as it went on for what seemed like miles!! After I got some my mum then sent my brother and a woman neighbour recognised him and sent him off home as it was only one bag per family!

[Star Attraction]

Re: Fine Fare

I definitely remember when Fine Fare had a store in Middle Street, Yeovil. It closed late 70s (circa 1977/78), and Primark moved into the premises they vacated.

As for the double f logo, I remember that well, though at the time the Yeovil store was still trading (I was just a young kid), it just looked like a funny shape to me, I didn't get what it meant at the time.

The Fine Fare league for football was still going in the mid eighties in some parts of the country. Mid to late 80s (1866/87?) I think Fine Fare, Carrefour (UK) and Gateway amalgamated.

[Danny]

Re: Fine Fare

[absinthe_boy]

Re: Fine Fare

I remember having both Fine Fare and the International in Letchworth Garden City. The International certainly was bought out as a chain by Gateway, who later metamorphosised into Somerfield. I didn't much like the International except they did a nice line in jelly. I remember the Letchworth store as being very bland, possibly even unclean to my childish eyes.

Fine Fare I think were also bougut out by Gateway...in Letchie the International turned into a Gateway (before closing altogether, another story) while the Fine Fare site was sold and became something else...I forget what. I always liked Fine Fare, the orange own-label packaging was somehow reassuring, as was the double-F logo.

We had VG store on one of the estates too, I could bike there as a kid and buy sweets or comics as it was the closest "supermarket" to our house.

Time marches on, but it is a shame these familiar things disappear.

[Hobittual]

Re: Fine Fare

Oh and Mace, that was another low profile organisation, probably went out drinking with Fine Fare.

[Hobittual]

Re: Fine Fare

What about Macfisheries, I remember the store that is now Somerfield in my town, opening with a big splash as Macfisheries. within a couple of months it had turned to Gateway and subsequently Somerfield.
Incidentally, gateway stores were owned by the Tate family, as in Sharon Tate, murdered by Charles Manson.

[sixtyten]

Re: Fine Fare

Hold on, I'll just go fetch my microscope

[tonyfoster61]

Re: Fine Fare

I used to work for Fine Fare - 1978 - 85 as a W.E.P. then as a Butcher in various stores around the midlands and the south.

Attached is a photo of the doors from one of their stores - you can see the 'FF' logo on the door handles.

[Homer'sWife]

Re: Fine Fare

Think they sold out to either Tesco or Somerfield

..just checked it was sold to Gateway,who then became Somerfield
(or scummerfield,as its known in my neck of the woods)

Also known as Scummerfield or Scummers here in Devon!!