Comments on: Frank Derrett’s West End

By: Linda Miller

Linda Miller — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 00:57:39 +0000

I had my 21st dinner at Topo Gigios with my then boyfriend ..often think of him ..and some friends. Wonderful evening.

By: Donatella Parlanti

Donatella Parlanti — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 11:29:28 +0000

I am eternally grateful to you for this incredible page. I have been looking for years for an external photo of my late father’s restaurant, La Dolce Vita in Frith Street in the 1960’s and this is the only one I have ever seen.
I have quite a few of the interior and of the celebrities that used to dine there, but not one of the exterior.

Thank you so much for this, I literally have tears in my eyes!
You have made my day.

By: David Ellison

David Ellison — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 05:47:41 +0000

Working in Lexington St., lunching in Berwick St. during the 60’s early 70’s, these photo’s jolted pleasant memories of a much kinder world, a far cry from where I now live in Australia!
Thankyou so much!

By: joan

joan — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 13:51:19 +0000

Met my husband 1963 I worked in the Haymarket we meet at the Amafi in Old Compton Street ,
our children must have ate in every Italian Restaurant, Our New Year Day would be At Topo Gigio in Windmill Street with all our friends, miss the old days,

By: paul loften

paul loften — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 14:48:23 +0000

Dave Howes, now that is something really special ! To have a picture of your grandads car amongst Mr Derretts Photos What chances are there of ever coming across that ? What a pleasure and surprise it must have been to see it ! Those days you could work ,drive and park in the West End , although even then that was coming to an end. I think parking meters were intoduced in the 60’s . The Gentle Author thrills us daily with wonderful tales and photos of the unexpected.

By: Dave Howes

Dave Howes — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 10:47:28 +0000

Good to see the photo of Captain Watts chandlery. My grandfather was his London delivery driver at that time, and that’s his white car parked outside! It must have been taken whilst the funny little turquoise delivery van was going through one of it’s frequent periods of ill health.
My granddad started his driving career at 13 as ‘second driver’ on a Foden steam lorry, worked until her retired at 65, had a heart attack 3 months later, decided that retirement wasn’t for him, and got a job driving for the captain for another 14 years.

By: paul loften

paul loften — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 16:27:49 +0000

Thanks for letting me know John !
I am a fan of Robert Elms ! Although I havent listened to his program for a while.! I once saw him give a brilliant talk at Swiss Cottage Library many years ago about London. It was where I worked . He was givinga talk about the old music venues like the Marquee in Wardour street . It was one of my old haunts and we would see the Who and Kinks play live before they were really famous

By: John Campbell

John Campbell — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 20:21:27 +0000

Hi Paul,
The photos were discussed on Robert Elms’ radio show on BBC London today if you are interested.
John

By: Ian Silverton

Ian Silverton — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 03:55:35 +0000

Just had to add, Talk of the Town, missed that picture first time around, never missed any of the Top Stars of the 60s appearing there, my friend was the General Manager then Mike C, he always got me and any friends the best seats in the house, never ever missed, thanks Mike, where ever you are now.

By: Ian Silverton

Ian Silverton — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 18:59:37 +0000

Charlie Chester’s Casino, now that was the place to go, or so we all thought at the time, remember also a nice salt beef bar opposite, always open after visiting The Scene!! In Tilt yard around the corner, a nice Hotel now, what about the Windmill Theater , now would so tame in 2020 Happy Days GA.