Wednesday 27 January 2010

Kardomah Freeze Dried Coffee for Vending


Another old Kardomah product for use in vending machines. The product code was E3210

Kardomah Malt



10 points in the eye spy book of rare Kardomah products.... Sold for about 20 years up until about 2005. B0452 was the product code.

Kardomah Chester


The Kardomah in Chester I think this now the building which houses Next. If you can confirm this, that would be great! Again if you have any memories drop me a line.

Kardomah Birmingham (New Street) as it is now


The Kardomah Cafe
February 1940 to February 1970
The Kardomah Cafe was a popular meeting place in the 1950s and 60s. The building still stands on New Street and is occupied by Muji and Ted Baker.

Thursday 21 January 2010

Kardomah Bold Street


Looking up Bold Street from the Hanover Street end it was not very far up on the left hand side. Next door to Waring and Gillow who sold quality furniture and almost opposite the Kardomah Cafe which specialised in coffee - the fragrance was very nice and seemed to travel the full length of the street.
cica 1943.

Did you used to to the Kardomah? let me Know......

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Kardomah Manchester, by night.......


Title Kardomah cafe, Market Street, Manchester, by night
Designer Black, Sir Misha (1910-1977)
Landauer, Fritz J. (1883-1968)
Artist
Country UK: England
Town/City Manchester
Subject Date 1939
Image Date 1939
View Exterior
Style Art Deco
Medium Photoprint
Colour / B&W Black & white
Credit Architectural Press Archive / RIBA Library Photographs Collection
Can you remember this... if so let me know....

With Thanks: http://www.ribapix.com

Kardomah Leeds Cafe culture


The Kardomah Cafe
The Kardomah was a great favourite with Leeds people, from it’s opening in 1908, to its sad closure in August of 1965. Housewives would drop in for a refreshing cuppa and snack, as a reward for slogging round the shops – situated on Briggate as it was, it would have been convenient for Kirkgate Market, and maybe felt to be more suitable and ‘up-market’ than the greasy-spoon type caffs on offer in the market.

If anyone can any more details just drop me line...........

Sunday 17 January 2010

Kardomah 42 Dale Street Liverpool



I think this is at 42 Dale Street Liverpool, if you can confirm just let me know....

Saturday 16 January 2010

Kardomah Hull



Uncovered during renovations in Hull, know any more? drop me a line........

Kardomah Preston Fishergate 1938


Fishergate 1938

Saxone Shoe shop in at the far left with the Kardomah a little further down. When this photograph was taken the Kardomah Cafe occupied the old Post Office building. Trams had cesed to run down Fishergate in 1935, however at least one tram wire support pole remains.

Kardomah Preston


Preston's (old) Post office 1903
The (new) Post Office adjacent to the Market Square opened in 1903 replacing these offices, which as can be seen, were located directly to the left of the Gas Companies offices on Fishergate.

These premises were for a time occupied by the Kardomah Cafe.

Kardomah Preston




Church St. & Lancaster Rd. Preston 1896
Horse drawn trams at the corner of Lancaster Road and Church Street in 1896.

Also seen is Starkies shop on the corner and the Red Lion Hotel a little further down on Church Street. Kardomah Tea must have been a popular drink of the day as it appears on many of the horse drawn trams of that era. The Kardomah Cafe would eventually occupy the old post office premises on Fishergate after the new facility opened at the Market square in 1903. Kardomah cafes were found in most major towns and cities and were the Starbucks of their day. The company lasted through to the late 1960's. Their coffee bean roasters used to vent directly into the street and it was hard to resist popping in for a cup freshly brewed coffee. The Electric tram did not appear on Preston's streets until 1904.

Kardomah Preston


A few notes about the Kardomah in Preston if you have any other information drop me a line......... Did you know the Bash Street Kids of Beano fame were first penned in the Kardomah in Preston!

Friday 15 January 2010

Derby Kardomah


THE manager of a former Derby cafe which became a meeting place for the rich and famous has died, aged 103. Tributes have been paid to Albert Ragg, who ran the Kardomah Cafe in the Corn Market for more than 33 years.
During its heyday the cafe was the place to be seen, attracting the likes of Brian Clough, the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and stars appearing at the Hippodrome theatre.
Mr Ragg, who had lived in the same house in Chaddesden since he moved to the city from Merseyside in 1934, died at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary on Saturday.
His daughter, Susan Nuttall, 69, who now lives in South Africa, said her father had loved running the cafe.
She said: "He used to talk about it all the time. My father used to talk about the people who went into the cafe such as the actor Richard Todd. My mum was a huge football fan so she always used to tell me about the Derby County players that visited regularly and the manager Brian Clough."
Born in Birkenhead, Mr Ragg moved to Derby with his wife, Marjorie, who died in 1993.
He took over as manager of the former Kardomah Cafe and stayed in the job for 33-and-a-half years until he retired in 1969.
During the Second World War, Mr Ragg was in a reserved occupation in catering, so he was not able to join the armed forces. Instead, he signed up to Derby's Home Guard.
The Derby County fan was also a member of the former Derby Society of Lancastrians for many years.
Mr Ragg also leaves his son, Ian Ragg, 73, of Chaddesden, 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Susan added: "My father was always very interested in people. He was a gentle person with a patient manner and loved chatting to anyone."
The cafe was owned by a firm called Kardomah Ltd which, at the start of the Second World War, had 30 branches around the country, including six in both Liverpool and London.
Mr Ragg eventually went on to become area manager, overseeing the branches in Derby and Nottingham.
The firm finally sold out to a major catering chain which closed the venue in 1980.
Mr Ragg's funeral takes place at Markeaton Crematorium on Monday at 2.20pm. Nov 2008

Tuesday 12 January 2010

Kardomah, coffee tins, history



Having tracked these old items down on ebay I hope they trigger some memories, if so let me Know......

Kardomah, tea caddy, tins


Having tracked these old items down on ebay I hope they trigger some memories if so let me Know......

Past Kardomah Products



Having tracked these old items on ebay I hope these trigger some memories if so let me Know......

Story so far??

I have compiled a time line of events which has some gaps & assuptions which I need your help in filling in / correcting. Also I am interested in your memoroies & stories & intersting facts...... please drop me a line if you can help :-)



The Kardomah coffee story

The time line so far....

1845 - The Kardomah Coffee Company founded in liverpool

1910c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Swansea

1915c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in London 186 Piccadilly

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in London 25 Cheapside

1920c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Birmingham

1925c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Hull

1928c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Paris

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Manchester Memorial Hall in Albert Square

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Cardiff

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Manchester ??? Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Southport Lord Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Preston ??? Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Nottingham King Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Leeds ??? Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Newport ??? Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Preston ??? Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Derby ??? Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Chester ??? Street

1930c - The Kardomah Gang forms made up of the various artists, musicians, poets and other writers, which frequented the Kardomah Café on Swansea's High Street, most famous member Dylan Thomas.

1945c - Kardomah celebrates its centinery

1947c - Brief Encounter uses a Kardomah Cafe to facilitate this bitter sweet love story.

1950c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Liverpool Stanley Street

1960c - The Beatles meet Brian Epstine at the "Kardomah"

1981c - The Cherry Boys release a single called "Kardomah Cafe"

1984c - The Kardomah Cafe opens in Sydney

1998c - The Band "Kardomah" from South Wales is formed and Releases their first album

2008c - The Film Edge of love released about Dylan Thomas starring Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley

Sunday 10 January 2010

Kardomah 750g Cappuccino


Still making great tasting high quality coffee products. This is a food servive 750g cappuccino product, tastes gerat.

Designer

Sir Misha Black

1910 - 1977

Industrial designer, interior designer and architect who was born in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Designed The London & Manchester Kardomah Cafes

Saturday 9 January 2010


The last one standing!
This is the last Kardomah cafe still going, in Swansea..
Please visit.........

k3 kardomah Manchester 40's


A Small photo of of what I think the Kardomah in Manchester 1940's? If anyone knows any more or can confirm, please let me know.

K4 kardomah london


Another shot of a cafe in London, 1950's or 60's in think. Not sure if this is the Piccadilly branch a couple of decades later?
I think there were up to 6 Cafe's in London at one point. Do you know where they were?

K5 Piccadilly London

London Piccadilly 1940's?

Do you remember it, let me know your stories & memories

With thanks to the RIBA

Thursday 7 January 2010

Kardomah Cafe Birm new street needless ally




Hello welcome to the Kardomah Blog!

This blog is all about the Kardomah Brand and my obsession with filling in some of the blanks in it's 160 year history! Along the way I need your help in verifying some of the snippets I have collated over the last 10 years.

As the unoffical archavist to the brand I am trying to pull together as much information as I can to preserve any memories, images, interesting facts, story's or rummers that relate to the brand.

Due to evening updates (and the risk of divorce) it may take a while for me to publish all the bits and bobs I have found, but please chip in with anything contributions....... until next time...