Cafés and Restaurants

West End

of Princes Street

Recollections

1.

Dorothy Finlay (née Cossar)

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Thank you to David Gordon, for adding a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

Dorothy wrote:

Shandwick Place

"The Café at the West End, in Shandwick Place, had a very good restaurant in the front.  Out out the back, there was a large area where live bands played at night with very good artists.

My mother, Jeanie Cossar, worked there in the 1950s and made very good tips, thanks to the large American clientele"

Dorothy Finlay (née Cossar), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook:  May 26, 2012:

Recollections

2.

June Wood (née Robertson)

Arroyo Grande, California, USA

Thank you to June Wood (née Robertson) for posting a reply to Dorothy's message above in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

June wrote:

Music

"Yes Dorothy, I remember the West End Café very well.  It had good music on Sunday nights. 

One group was led by Freddy Randall.  He was a nice chap who played trumpet.  I believe he was up there in the music world.

This was back when the Kirchen band was playing at the Palais De Dance.  Great days.  Thanx for the memory."

June Wood (née Robertson), California, USA:
 Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, May 26, 2012

Recollections

3.

Bob Sinclair

Noosa, Queensland, Australia

Thank you to Bob Sinclair, Noosa, Queensland, Australia, for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

Bob wrote:

Jazz

"I was Interesting to see the comments on the West End Café.

I remember a friend, who worked in the American Express at The West End of Princes Street, asking me if I had been to the West End Café 'just across from the Milk Bar'.    I think it was in the early-1950s.

As I hadn't been there, he took me one night and there was a trumpeter playing.  Later, when I went bank for a second serving, Johnny Dankworth was playing and Cleo Laine was doing the vocals.

I think then the outfit was called the Johnny Dankworth Five, but I could be wrong.  Anyway, it was an eye opener.  My friend was into progressive jazz, but I was too young to appreciate it."

Bob Sinclair, Noosa, Queensland, Australia:
 Message posted in EdinPhoto guestbook, June 5, 2012

Recollections

4.

Ken Murdie

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Ken Murdie, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, who wrote:

West End Cafe

Shandwick Place

"I just want to add a wee tidbit about the West End Cafe, which was a wonderful place to go to listen to good jazz in the early 1950s.  We always referred to it as 'The Wecky'  (The spelling might be wrong!)

I wonder if my old friends, David Wilson and Gord Holland, will see this!"

Ken Murdie (age 85),  Ottawa, Ontario, Canada:  7 October 2018

 

Edinburgh Shops

Edinburgh Recollections

 

 

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