Page 26 - A History Of Food And Drink In Wokingham

1961

For ten years Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Tompkins of the confectioners at the corner of Rose
Street, Wokingham, had been using two of the oldest working ovens in the country to bake
the home-made bread for which they had become swell-known. This year they retired and
their shop, believed to be the second oldest building in Wokingham, was swept away for
road widening. And with it went the ancient ovens.
Wokingham’s latest supermarket, Fine Fare, opened in the new shopping centre in Peach
Street and this started a price-slashing war. The first 150 customers received a free chicken.
Over the next few days Fine Fare handed out 7,000 frozen birds to early morning customers
or to those purchasing £2 worth or more of goods.

1962

Mr. and Mrs Purver sold their Bakery in London Road, where they had been for 30 years, to
M. Killan, also a baker.
The traditional cry of “Time, Gentlemen, Please,” was heard for the last time at the Royal
Exchange, Denmark Street, Wokingham, on Whit-Monday evening. Mrs. Phoebe Parfitt, wife
of licensee, Mr. W.C. (“Jack”) Parfitt, said that the house had been sold by the brewers.
Sale & Son at 26 Market Place was sold to J Kirby & Co Ltd, agriculture merchants. J Kirby &
Co later converted the property, which is now Headmasters Hairdressers.

The Rising Sun public house in Oxford Road was last mentioned.

1963
The restaurant chain Berni Inn took over Ye Olde Rose Inn. In the 70s most people only ate
out on special occasions, such as birthdays and the go-to place in Wokingham was the Berni
Inn. The favourite combination of food was a prawn cocktail starter followed by steak and
chips and then black forest gateau. If you were really lucky you ended up with an Irish
Coffee, with a waitress pouring the cream over the back of a spoon.

1967
Two hot plates were ready at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Skates in Wokingham, when
the Mayor, Councillor Mrs. Jean Davy, arrived at the start of the town’s own Meals on Wheels
service.
The Wokingham and District Agriculture Association announced that the Wokingham Show
would return to Wokingham this year after an absence of several years, and be held at Woods
Farm, Easthampstead Road, Wokingham

Lee’s Bakery moved from Denmark Street to Peach Street and into the restaurant business
in a big way. The whole of the ground floor of former White’s Furniture Store became an open
plan shop and bakery. The upper floor housed the Oakingham Restaurant, the front half of
which was a self-service, continental-style café and the rear half a fully-furnished restaurant
aimed at the business man’s lunch trade and special functions.
Bishops Supermarket was opened in 39 Market Place by the world famous Coco the Clown.

The Norreys Barn pub opened in Ashridge Road.

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