Ridgway's Cafe

[Vivienne14]

Does anyone have any information about this cafe on Corporation Street? Do you remember it? Do you know who owned/managed the business? Viv.

 

[Astoness]

cant help with that one viv but it looked a very nice place..wonder if no 100 is still there..would think it is...looks a bit like it could have turned into a jewellery shop..

lyn

 

[Phil]

As far as I can work it out, this photo shows the cafe on the immediate right and I think that puts it about where Oasis is today.

 

[Vivienne14]

Thanks both. It's not where I expected it to be. It's good to find out its real location. Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

It seems to me that this wasn't a 'cafe' in the regular sense of the word as many social events and dances seem to have been held there, such as the one below. Some seem to have catered for 300+ guests. I think they may have had 'temperance' connections too. Viv.

 

[mikejee]

I wonder if it was a shop owned by Ridgeway tea, in the same way thet Lyons had tea shops. Ridgeway tea originated in Birmingham, but went bankrupt and went to London but apparently (https://londonstreetviews.wordpress.com/2012/12/21/thomas-ridgway/) they did have a shop in High St much earlier.

 

[Vivienne14]

Think it probably was Mike. I'm related to the Ridgway family from Lymm mentioned in the link - Thomas's home town. Interesting for me that they had these early links with Birmingham and what they we're doing there. Viv.