the merry kettle - and the rest
This building 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 closed in late 2018 and, after some refurbishment, was taken over by the former Jam Pot. That business calls itself the Henfield Tea Garden, and sells teas and antiques.
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.
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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.
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Aniseed: A photo of Aniseed in mid-May 2017.
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Aniseed: Late May 2018, showing the garden being developed.
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Aniseed - "To Let": Early September 2018, and the premises are "To Let".
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Aniseed - "Let": The sign announces that lease has been agreed for a new restaurant... mid-January 2019.
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Henfield Tea Garden: The Jam Pot becomes the Henfield Tea Garden, selling antiques and teas. A photo of work in progress from mid-April 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.
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Aniseed: Late May 2018, showing the garden being developed.
SHOPS 26
Aniseed - "To Let": Early September 2018, and the premises are "To Let".
SHOPS 28
Aniseed - "Let": The sign announces that lease has been agreed for a new restaurant... mid-January 2019.
SHOPS 29
Henfield Tea Garden: The Jam Pot becomes the Henfield Tea Garden, selling antiques and teas. A photo of work in progress from mid-April 2019.