the merry kettle - and the rest
This restaurant started off as a WW1 army hut and, when the house was built in 1928, became The Merry Kettle Tea Garden. It has had a mixed history since then. In the 1970s it was a very good restaurant owned by John Kent and was known as Kent's Restaurant. When he sold the business in the 1980s, it became the Mimosa - specialising in fish dishes - then Mo's, and then a succession of Indian restaurants: Bollywood Nights, the Café Royal, the Bengal Brasseries and, most recently, Aniseed. Aniseed is now to let.
SHOPS 9
Merry Kettle: A photo from 1920 showing the tea garden in the old hut before the house was built.
Mimosa: A photo from the 1980s, when the place was the Mimosa.
Mo's: Mo's was owned by a lady called Mo and sold everything in the way of food from steaks to pizza. A photo from 1985.
The Bengal Brasserie: Mo's became Bollywood Nights and Bollywood Nights became the Bengal Brasserie in 2006.
The Café Royal: In 2008 the Bengal Brasserie became the Café Royal - since summer 2015 it has been Aniseed.
SHOPS 11
Merry Kettle: The new owner of the Merry Kettle commissioned this photograph from local photographer Marjorie Baker in 1936 - presumably after refurbishment. The photo may have been used for advertising purposes as the surroundings have been whited out.
SHOPS 22
Aniseed: A photo of Aniseed in mid-May 2017.
SHOPS 24
Aniseed: Late May 2018, showing the garden being developed.
SHOPS 26
Aniseed - "To Let": Early September 2018, and the premises - now looking like a private house - are "To Let".
SHOPS 28
Aniseed - "Let": The sign announces that lease has been agreed for a new restaurant... mid-January 2019.
SHOPS 9
Merry Kettle: A photo from 1920 showing the tea garden in the old hut before the house was built.
Mimosa: A photo from the 1980s, when the place was the Mimosa.
Mo's: Mo's was owned by a lady called Mo and sold everything in the way of food from steaks to pizza. A photo from 1985.
The Bengal Brasserie: Mo's became Bollywood Nights and Bollywood Nights became the Bengal Brasserie in 2006.
The Café Royal: In 2008 the Bengal Brasserie became the Café Royal - since summer 2015 it has been Aniseed.
SHOPS 11
Merry Kettle: The new owner of the Merry Kettle commissioned this photograph from local photographer Marjorie Baker in 1936 - presumably after refurbishment. The photo may have been used for advertising purposes as the surroundings have been whited out.
SHOPS 22
Aniseed: A photo of Aniseed in mid-May 2017.
SHOPS 24
Aniseed: Late May 2018, showing the garden being developed.
SHOPS 26
Aniseed - "To Let": Early September 2018, and the premises - now looking like a private house - are "To Let".
SHOPS 28
Aniseed - "Let": The sign announces that lease has been agreed for a new restaurant... mid-January 2019.