did netto buy them out.........they used to be all over the place....used to go with mi ma to the manor top one every thursday.

You're going back a couple of decades here kirky...there used to be one in Firth Park in the 1980s.

During that decade it became a Gateway supermarket...then sometime during the nineties it became a Somerfield, then recently became a Kwik Save a month or two back.

gateway bought them out

Remember the supermarket at the Manor Top was called Challenge..... was this before or after it was Fine Fare?

my first saturday job whilst I was still at school was at the Fine Fare on Buchanan road.This must have opened in1966 and I was set on to help stock all the shelves for opening.
One thing I remember from this time was that every item had to have the price on it using a label gun.The only items that didn't were sugar and p g tips loose tea and the shoplifters soon realised that they could put these straight into their shopping bags without any problems.,because they could have been bought elsewhere!!

Originally posted by Ronin
Remember the supermarket at the Manor Top was called Challenge..... was this before or after it was Fine Fare?
the challenge/gateway was never finefare...........fine fair was behind the elmtree pub

Originally posted by roughy101
gateway bought them out

before the challenge became gateway it was called frank dee's

You're taking me back now Kirky.

What about Mac Fisheries which later became Mac Markets? There was one where Gateway is now in Pinstone Street. I used to be a checkout operator there as a Saturday job. I seem to remember getting about £3 for the whole day.

Was there a Fine Fare under what is now the Odeon, it used to be to the left hand side to the Amusment arcade i think.

Originally posted by kirky
the challenge/gateway was never finefare...........fine fair was behind the elmtree pub

that is correct, the shop which is now "netto" was the "fine fare", it became a "gateway/somerfield for a few years, but was unviable because of the large gateway/somerfield on the other side of the road.

As I understand it, the company behind challenge etc, was owned by Frank Dee. it is that firm which bought out the supemarket chains, like Kwik Save.

Frank Dee, Kwik Save, Challenge, Mac Fisheries/Mac Markets and Gateway were all under the same parent company.

Fine fare at Gleadless Townend became Star supermarkets, and then Jacksons. i remember the Kwik Save at Firth Park being a Fine Fare. The Kwik Save at Hillsborough seemed unable to decide what it was to be branded as.

PT

Originally posted by unners
Was there a Fine Fare under what is now the Odeon, it used to be to the left hand side to the Amusment arcade i think.

That was a Presto, for some years, then it became something like a "Costcutter." I can't remember it being a fine fare. (i think presto was bought up by the same chain as challenge/gateway)

Does anyone else remember the presto at the back of the moor? (it closed down, and the building became a ("G)what-shops" or a "what everyone wants"

PT

didnt gordon jackson do the adverts on tv for fine fare?

Originally posted by Plain Talker
That was a Presto, for some years, then it became something like a "Costcutter." I can't remember it being a fine fare. (i think presto was bought up by the same chain as challenge/gateway)

Does anyone else remember the presto at the back of the moor? (it closed down, and the building became a ("G)what-shops" or a "what everyone wants"

PT

Thanx for that, you are correct!yes i remember the one at the Moor.

Kirky........ you are correct, the Challenge was the big one. Forgot about the one that is now Netto,we obviously only ever shopped at the posh end of the Manor Top. Wouldn't have been seen dead over the road.

Originally posted by Ronin
Kirky........ you are correct, the Challenge was the big one. Forgot about the one that is now Netto,we obviously only ever shopped at the posh end of the Manor Top. Wouldn't have been seen dead over the road.


i was once stood in finefare with mi ma and alex sabella was stood in front of us, as a fourteen year old mad blade sabella was my hero,i couldn't speak i was that shocked at being stood beside him:blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush: does anyone remember fred hartleys opposite the fine fare,you buy just about anything there.

Originally posted by kirky
did netto buy them out.........they used to be all over the place....used to go with mi ma to the manor top one every thursday.

THERE WAS A FINE FARE IN ATTERCLIFFE ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO MY MUM WORKED THERE

Originally posted by panda79
didnt gordon jackson do the adverts on tv for fine fare?


"be fare to your family....and your purse"

The cinema called the woodseats palace, was demolished to become a fine fayre. And now it's a weatherspoons pub.

see this link > http://www.rocknroll.f9.co.uk/cinemas/cinepho14.html

Now ten years ago it was a freezer food store called kwik save, before being a short-lived convenience store open late for groceries. If you go around the back, there is an electricity sub station, which still says Fine Fayre on it.....

muddycoffee,

That link doesn't work mate. Any ideas?

Try again Fowler. Has worked for me in 2 seperate locations. It's just a picture of the weatherspoons pub in the old fine fayre building. :confused:

I remember, and this is my earliest memory, of being pushed in my pram past the Sheaf pub, under the railway bridge and on to the Fine Fair Heeley Bottom. It used to occupy the building which is now Machine Mart.

Originally posted by Ronin
Kirky........ you are correct, the Challenge was the big one. Forgot about the one that is now Netto,we obviously only ever shopped at the posh end of the Manor Top. Wouldn't have been seen dead over the road. Got a job at challenge straight after leaving school.I went there on my work experience from school and they offered me the job.They were a really nice bunch of people that i worked with.:)

Originally posted by GMAN
I remember, and this is my earliest memory, of being pushed in my pram past the Sheaf pub, under the railway bridge and on to the Fine Fair Heeley Bottom. It used to occupy the building which is now Machine Mart.

Ther was also a clothes shop called Fine Ware, do you remember that too? Thats when Heeley Bottom was a thriving shopping area. My Nan lived on Broadfield Road until 1975. I loved it there in the 6 weeks holidays.

One of my earliest memorys is walking down Broadfield Road holding my aunts hand while my mum pushed my sister in pram going to Fine Fare to do the shopping on a friday morning. Fine Ware was where Howells solicitors is now. Im off to sulk now cos this has just made me feel very old.

Originally posted by dee40
Got a job at challenge straight after leaving school.I went there on my work experience from school and they offered me the job.They were a really nice bunch of people that i worked with.:)

I also used to work at Challange as a saturday lad, it then change to Frank Dee but I left before it changed to Sommerfield.

I bet I know you. I was only 15 yrs old then.

yes netto at manor top used to be fine fare.my cousin was manager there.......

There was a 'fine fare' on Penistone Rd opp. the Wednesday ground the other week...........

.............Hmmmm I think I've lost the plot!!

Originally posted by Plain Talker
That was a Presto, for some years, then it became something like a "Costcutter." I can't remember it being a fine fare. (i think presto was bought up by the same chain as challenge/gateway)

Does anyone else remember the presto at the back of the moor? (it closed down, and the building became a ("G)what-shops" or a "what everyone wants"

PT

I thought Presto was bought by Safeway? Safeway now swallowed by the Morrison empire...

K x

there used to be a Presto under the odeon, opposite the bus station, i worked for jw bradshaws (fruit and veg) in fitzalan square, when i was on my yts, around 1986. he used to send me there for 1/2lb of lurpak butter!!
later it became a Lo-Cost before being shut.:P

Used to be a fine fare at gleadless townend,anybody remember the "yellow" label own brand products:gag:

Hi


My brother was a Manager of Finefare and it was bought out by Gateway who was bought out by Argylle stores which then combined with Presto/Safeway which has now become Morrisons - so without a break in his service he now Manages a Morrisons store in North Yorkshire!!!

Does anyone remember the shop Liptons. There weren't very many of them but they were handy decent and lowish prices.

i used to work at both fine ware and finefare on heeley bottom when you had to try and get past people on the pavements in the late sixtys and early seventy

Originally posted by island3rlara
Does anyone remember the shop Liptons. There weren't very many of them but they were handy decent and lowish prices.
There used to be a liptons at gleadless townend too,fine fare and liptons,we had it all:)

Woodhouse used to have a "Macs" which then became "Lennons", then "Gateway". That was also in an old cinema.

Challenge supermarket on the Manor Top was the old Manor Pictures and was opened by Paul Reaney and Allan Clarke of Leeds United - God knows why.

Fine Fare opposite once had a visit from the Wombles - Manor Top went crazy!

Originally posted by Plain Talker
That was a Presto, for some years, then it became something like a "Costcutter." I can't remember it being a fine fare. (i think presto was bought up by the same chain as challenge/gateway)PT

Presto's were bought by Safeways, who in turn have now been bought by Morrison's.

Tazz

Morrison's are a nightmare - they'll make 4 million signs
and put them up everywhere...

Originally posted by Kristian
I thought Presto was bought by Safeway? Safeway now swallowed by the Morrison empire...

K x

Yep that's right, Tesco's on Infirmary Road used to be a Presto back in the day as they say, then it became a Safeway, and now leading into present day, it's a Tesco's.

Of course before any of the Supermarkets had the building it was an Infirmary back in the olden days, hence the name of the road afaik.

My mum used to drag me to a supermarket on the gallery above the markets I think, or was it above pond street, it was Presto or Liptons or something, imagine having one there now, you wouldnt dare go, for fear of having your bag snatched!!! Hope Im not the only one who can remember this one, or Im the oldest on the forum :(

Originally posted by jaynie38
My mum used to drag me to a supermarket on the gallery above the markets I think, or was it above pond street, it was Presto or Liptons or something, imagine having one there now, you wouldnt dare go, for fear of having your bag snatched!!! Hope Im not the only one who can remember this one, or Im the oldest on the forum :(

it was prestos , and yes it was rough around the gallery walking along there with your shopping they always seemed to be gangs hanging about the amusement arcade next to the chip shop and the minerva cafe

oh those where the days eh:)

i used to shop at Presto on the gallery - it was near my bus stop. it always smelled of wee wee though.

Morrisons have put up a galvanised pole that's taller than our town's
monument...ominously, there's a plug socket hanging out at the top.

its a long time since i even thought of fine fare....

both my grandparents worked at the one on manor top. i used to love visiting my grandad there 'cause he worked as a butcher in the basement. as a small child i used to feel like i was "behind the scenes" whenever i used to go down there :)

I remember the Fine Fare at Firth Park. Their own-brand Corn Flakes are still one of the most disgusting things I've ever tasted.

Does anyone remember the shop Liptons. There weren't very many of them but they were handy decent and lowish prices.

I remember Liptons,the one on frecheville shops.Does anyone remember Mace supermarkets? Think there was even fewer of them...

I remember Fine-Fare taking over the Shentalls, on John O'Gaunt and Park Hill Shops.

Mother-in-law worked at Fine Fare on Woodseats in the late 60's early 70's, I believe it was where Wetherspoons is now situated.

there used to be one on attercliffe road between shirland lane and brinsworth street used to be the old attercliffe palace owned by garfield weston off the Sunblest fame

In case it's of interest, here is a scan (http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u219/twigmore/FineFare.jpg) from the 1973 Kelly's Directory, giving details of the 20 Fine Fare branches in Sheffield around that time.

My first job on leaving school was at Fine Fare - their yelLOW price tomato sauce was actually fizzy - the worst thing I ever tasted. They taught me how to push trolleys though!! Happy days...

its a long time since i even thought of fine fare....

both my grandparents worked at the one on manor top. i used to love visiting my grandad there 'cause he worked as a butcher in the basement. as a small child i used to feel like i was "behind the scenes" whenever i used to go down there :)

who are your grandparents as my mother-in-law worked there to from it opening, they might remember Barbara, and her twin worked at the Townend shop.

Relevant to the topic but slight out of the area...

I can clearly remember the Fine Fare in Eckington. I also remember when there was a fire there about 1982-ish? Does anyone know the year that this branch finally ceased trading as Fine Fare?

Sh2006.

I worked at Fine Fare at Firth Park in the mid 60's. All the staff were really friendly, always a good atmosphere. The manager was a chap called Roger Coker, he emigrated to Australia. He was a good bloke to work for. He was gay and extremely 'camp'.

Each morning the different delivery vans and lorries would arrive. From across the warehouse Mr Coker would shout in a very camp voice, "Morning Newboulds" or, "Morning Heinz" or "Morning Walls"........the one that creased us was when the sugar delivery came !!.....the look on the burly lorry driver's face was classic.

THERE WAS A FINE FARE IN ATTERCLIFFE ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO MY MUM WORKED THERE

I worked at fine fare in attercliffe its now UNITED CARPETS AND BEDS when the store closed we were all redeployed to other stores Iwent to MANOR TOP which is now NETTO

i remember prestos at the back of the moor, no free plastic carrier bags just large brown paper bags. great when it rained.

There's a Wikipedia page about fine fare http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine_Fare and one about Presto http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presto_(UK_Supermarket) which answers many of the above questions.

However the most interesting one is about Aldi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldi which is owned by two brothers who fell out!

John

who are your grandparents as my mother-in-law worked there to from it opening, they might remember Barbara, and her twin worked at the Townend shop.

hi there, unfortunately they are both long gone, fine fare was the last place they worked before retirement :)

they were called evelyn and ernest booth :)

Remember the supermarket at the Manor Top was called Challenge..... was this before or after it was Fine Fare?

I remember Fine Fare on the Manor Top.It was one of the first supermarkets around (apart from Gowers and Burgons at Gleadless Town End, who remembers that one?) I remember the cross-eyed checkout operator who appeared to look in completely the opposite direction to where she was reading the price ticket on the item she was checking.

I remember Fine Fare on the Manor Top.It was one of the first supermarkets around (apart from Gowers and Burgons at Gleadless Town End, who remembers that one?) I remember the cross-eyed checkout operator who appeared to look in completely the opposite direction to where she was reading the price ticket on the item she was checking.

Gowers and Burgons had quite a few branches, dotted around.

The larger of the two supermarkets on J-O-Gaunt Shops was a Gowers and Burgons. (the smaller was a Shentalls/ Fine Fare)

I'm pretty sure there was a branch on Park Hill flats (I know there was definitely a Shentalls and a "Stores")

The Ex- Thresher/ local beer-off on the corner of Sharrow Lane and Wostenholm Rd still has a painted sign peeping out from behind the fascia, and you can read the name "Gowers" on it.

In the 70's I had a Saturday job stacking shelves at Fine-Fare on Crookes. I remember that in the stock room we deliberately damaged goods like drinking yoghurts, so that we could drink them for free !

I knew a guy who worked for Fine Fare. His name was Paul and he came from Eckington. He also told a lot of fairy stories including an encounter on a barge with a married woman that nobody believed. He said he was the manager of Fine Fare (he was 19) and that he had a Mercedes. He worked at the shop at the bottom of Heeley that is now I think Howells Solicitors.

One night my friend and I missed the bus and he said he would give us a lift. We thought this was cool as we would get to ride in this Mercedes, however, he told us it was in for a service and he drove us home in a skanky rusty old Escort van.

He once turned up at my house with 24 Strawberry Ski Yogurts. I still didn't like him much.

He sounds a bit dodgy to me...typical Fine Fare standard I reckon!
Saying that, it wasn't too bad working for them. About the only choice available for a kid to earn extra pocket money in the 70's was to do a paper round. So shelf-stacking for Fine Fare was a definite step up!