The provision of food during the Second World War is well documented, and I am sure most of us are familiar with rationing, the Land Army and anti-food waste propaganda posters from school projects. There is another element of eating during the war however, one which is less well known but equally vital:
In 1940, the Ministry of Food recognised that many families were finding themselves without cooking facilities due to bomb damage, evacuation of women leaving working men to fend for themselves, and women joining the workforce rather than being at home to cook. They introduced "communal feeding centres", renamed "British Restaurants" by Churchill to remove any stigma attached to their use, as a means to provide ready-made nutritious hot meals to those in need, in addition to their regular ration tokens.
In 1943, 2000 British Restaurants existed with more and more set up as demand in cities grew. The Times newspaper published an article which stated approximately 180 million meals per week were being provided by the facilities across the country. Customers would purchase coloured tokens at the entrance to the restaurant which were then exchanged for food at a canteen-style service area. A blue token might be for a side dish, red for a main meal, yellow for dessert, for example. Food could be eaten in the restaurant, or taken home in a container to stretch over several meals if needed. In Liverpool's main restaurant, a 3 course meal cost 9d or £1.48 in today's money.
In rural areas, communal kitchen food was distributed by vans co-ordinated by the Women's Voluntary Service, rather than a central building, so that those in remote villages could benefit. In more urban areas restaurants used civic buildings provided by the local council. The government recognised the importance of morale and requested that restaurants used art work, colourful table settings and cheerful interior design to create welcoming, sociable and uplifting environments for those using them. The pictures shown here are of restaurants in London, but most followed the same format.
The Old Warsop Society has researched the British Restaurant whose kitchens were based in the old school meals kitchens on Clumber Street in Worksop between 1942 and 1946. Known as The Clumber Restaurant, it was the first to be established in the district and accommodated 250 patrons in a billiard hall.
Do you or someone you know have memories of British Restaurants in Nottinghamshire? If so, it would be great to hear from you at susie.mcgraw@sherwoodforesttrust.org.uk! Our Spirit of Wartime Sherwood project, kindly funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is always keen to hear from those interested in how the Second World Was affected Sherwood Forest. Feel free to get in touch!
With thanks to Steve Horne of the Old Warsop Society.