When I was in my teens I used to go to the the Langsett Music Centre and waited for the bus (81, 82, 83, 84) at the sarsaparilla bar on Langsett Road. I know there was one on Abbeydale Road aswell. They always intrigued me. What were they? Are they still there?

I never went to the one on Langsett Rd but by a coincidence I used to knock about with the son of the owner, their surname was Winter or Winters. When they closed the bar they used to have one of the old yellow electric clocks advertising Durex up on their living room wall!

I used to go to one on Broad Lane opposite the entrance to Jessops Hospital next door to the overated Butlers pie shop.

These bars were 'Temperance' bars set up by the Temperance Society to try and compete with pubs - never had any effect on me!

I remember the Sarsparilla shops

Before the coffee bars came into their own we used to for for a drink in the sarsparilla shops.

We used to drink hot Bovril, Sarspailla hot or cold and cordials such as blackcurrant.

They also used to sell licorice root, cinnamon sticks ad all manner of cough (spice) and lozenges.

I remember Rickson's on Middlewood Road opposite the Chinese Laundry and also one two or three doors away from the laundry, I think it was next to Atkinson's pie shop.

The other shops I can remember is the one already mentioned on Langsett road.

I think it was roughly opposite Burnaby Street.

The only other one I frequented was in the Kelvin area on Langsett Road next to another pie shop.

On a Sunday night we were pretty tame compared with today's youths, we used to walk the 'Monkey Run'from one end of Hillsborough to the other end hoping to meet of with the girls.

At each end we would call for a drink at one of these shops.

We were too young to go in the pubs and money was short so that.s what we did along with many more who probably too proud to admit it nowadays.

Happy Days

I can remember Jacks Sasperrella shop on langsett road, I was only a little girl about 5 or 6 but my dad used to take me to have a drink of sasperella somtimes. I remember that the drink tasted funny but I liked it! I allways used to like the neon durex sign in the window (I was too young to know what it was then). If my memory is correct I recall that there was wooden panneling over the bottom half of the window so you couldnt see in and there was a counter with stools round it towards the back of the shop, although my memories of this are fairly hazy it was such a long time ago

There was one in Hillsborough opposite (?) where Halifax is now.
We used to go there before going to the Kinema.

What about the Mikado Drink Shop on Stubbin Lane, Firth Park?

There used to be one on Ecclesall Rd opposite the old Star Picture Palace,and we used to go in after dropping of the tram after footballing in Endcliffe Park and sit like men of the world drinking Sarsaparilla from the same type of pint pots our Fathers drank from in the Pub,and we felt real men of the world!!,as you say PopT Happy Days.

The kids of today would'nt understand that you can have a good time without getting drunk,taking drugs or sniffing glue and acting like hooligans.
Those drink shops were as good for meeting girls as any disco.

There used to be one on a corner on Rushby Street at Firvale. I can remember jars of herbs, liquorice root, and two pub style hand pumps with pot handles for serving the drinks. It disappeared many years ago, my memories are of the earlier 1950's.

Originally posted by prioryx
The kids of today would'nt understand that you can have a good time without getting drunk,taking drugs or sniffing glue and acting like hooligans.


So you reckon you can, then?

LOL.

the durex sign, I'd forgotten about that!

Matsella

You were right.

There was one next to the pikelet shop where you had to go up two steps on Hillsboro.

There was another as well that I had forgotten opposite the tram sheds on Holme Lane.

What Memories!

Happy Days

what about tony sas shop on abbydale road near the pictures

I remember the saspirella bar on Abbeydale Road. I remember as a youngster a day out in the school holidays would be to go to Heeley Swimming Baths and then climb up the hill to Abbeydale to road to go to a chemists shop that had what we called a Children's Bar. We used to buy half a pint of saspirella and thought we were oh so grown up! What innocent days. I had no idea until I read these posts that they existed in other parts of Sheffield.

There was a caf'e on Spital hill many years ago that used to sell sasparilla. We used to go in quite often, mostly to play the pinball machine.

What about the one in Castle Street. It was either next to or a couple of doors along from Suggs. Had a few stools and a tap on the counter to dispense the stuff. I remember the big chunky glasses and the weird taste. Wasn't that struck, still preferred Dandelion and Burdock.

Originally posted by tattoo
what about tony sas shop on abbydale road near the pictures

My dad used to take us to Tony's at weekends, Tony Di Donno's it was called, and the sign outside said "Temperance bar" which I guess is a kind of religious abstension from alcohol.
These words are still carved in the stone of the building, and you can see it as you drive past on your way to Tesco's.

One third of our business premises here in Barber Road, Walkley, used to be a Sasparilla shop (the other two thirds being a grocer's and a laundry).

An ex-employee has done a painting - although we're not talking Lowry here - which is on show behind our main counter. It shows the front of the shop painted green with a sign in the window saying: Try our sasparilla - half a pint, 3d. There's also an advert for Vimto.

I don't know how long this shop/bar lasted. My grandfather and father moved into the premises, all three, in 1971. Since then the premises have been used for our business, plumbers merchants and bathroom suppliers (local folk will know who we are).

Originally posted by pitsmoorboy
There was a caf'e on Spital hill many years ago that used to sell sasparilla. We used to go in quite often, mostly to play the pinball machine.

I think it was called "The Centre Spot"

there was a drinks shop in heeley green,on gleadless road in the 50/60s.The last temperance bar open now is in rawtenstall lancashire and is still busy to this day.They had to stop selling sarsaparilla,as we know it,not long ago,they had to make up a new recipe,i cant remember why ,something to do with an ingredient used in the old recipe,not being allowed to be used.Anyway i believe it tastes the same!You can buy allsorts of remedies there,slippery elm!any one remember that for sickness,arrowroot to mention two!

just looked the last temperance bar up its called herbal health,on bank street rawtenstall,between,Blackburn and Bury.

Kath,

I well remember calling in the "drinkie" at Heeley Green though it would be early to mid 70's. As well as various sasparillas you could buy liqourice root and it was the place to go before wandering up to "Elliots" - the chippy for a bag of mixed! Something else that you don't seem to hear of now. :thumbsup:

I used to go in the one by the Abbeydale picture palace. Was a great place to pick up girls when we were too young for the pubs. Sasparilla tasted very much like root beer which is popular here in America and would taste lousy if it wasn't really cold.

There used to be a Real Sasparilla Bar in Rotherham...Just like an old fashioned pub, with a long wooden bar.. Bare wood floor with tables and chairs..and a barman serving sasparilla from a beer engine into pint pots..I only went there once in 1960.

hi wonders where you can buy sassperella now used to love goin in pops after pictures closed,on abbeydale road.

Does anyone remember the little shop on Brightside Lane that sold Herb Beer.

It was about 3 doors away from the Bleuchar pub just after the newsagents opposite the beginning of Upwell street.

There was a long bench along the wall where everyone sat cheek by jowl drinking the beer.

Happy Days!

I remember Hartleys Sarsaparrilla bar on Ecclesall Rd It was next to my Uncle Harolds shoe repair shop, and my Grandmother lived opposite. My cousin and I was discussing this a few weeks ago. I can still taste the hot vimto and the liqourice sticks. She remembers the sulpher tablets, my memory fails me on them. I spent many happy days there. The old bike wheels getting stuck inthe tram lines.

when i was a little girl of about 8 or 9 i used to beg my brother-in-law to take me to jacks on langsette rd he lived on one of the streets not far away so he used to take me to play on the pinball,the hightlight of my week it was.anyone remember him stan ludlam was his name.

I remember the Sas shop on Middlewood Rd, next door to the chinese laundry that sold blue starch bags for a 1d. Across the road next to Mark Hoopers tobacconist was the Smugglers Cave coffee bar that had the best jukebox in Hillsboro'. Complete with all the new Buddy Hollies, Red river Rock, Mason Dixon Lion etc; Another juke box was in Mitchells' coffee bar at the x roads of Leppings Lane. Great old days.

I remember the shop, quite small, at Heeley Green. This would be during the war, early 1940's. Run by a little old man and his wife. Drinks were 1/2d or 1d.

No-one has mentioned the one on Holme lane Malin Bridge. I used to have a drink there before walking on to Rivelin.

Hiya mum, oh, and the little one says hi too, lol.

I know that place, I lived down on beeley st.,from 45 to i think it was 59.




Originally posted by Harlan
There used to be one on Ecclesall Rd opposite the old Star Picture Palace,and we used to go in after dropping of the tram after footballing in Endcliffe Park and sit like men of the world drinking Sarsaparilla from the same type of pint pots our Fathers drank from in the Pub,and we felt real men of the world!!,as you say PopT Happy Days.

Originally posted by Bluebell
I remember the saspirella bar on Abbeydale Road. I remember as a youngster a day out in the school holidays would be to go to Heeley Swimming Baths and then climb up the hill to Abbeydale ...
<snip> I had no idea until I read these posts that they existed in other parts of Sheffield.

The Abbeydale Rd Temperance Bar visit was an intrinsic and obligatory part of the Heeley Baths Experience :-) as was a qick window gawp ( and occasional venture in) at Wilf Green's Bike shop.

T'also came in handy before Saturday morning visits to the Abbeydale cinema. 1/3d for cinema ticket: 8d or, later, 9d for a pint of sas.

I thought it was the only one, too. Three for five other Sheffield districts? ( sorry ;-p )

Ecol

The one on Holme Lane has been posted on the first page of this subject but it would be good to hear more about it.

Quote-

Matsella

You were right.

There was one next to the pikelet shop where you had to go up two steps on Hillsboro.

There was another as well that I had forgotten opposite the tram sheds on Holme Lane.

What Memories!

Happy Days

yes, sarsaparilla bars, now i have very fond memories of one such bar. I come from brightside area, and fondly remember a sarsaparilla bar on the corner of newhall road and brightside lane. The name of the shop now eludes me, the last time i used it would have been 1965 ish at the age of ten, and we knew it as the old dragons place, drinks were one penny a shot and the variety seemed endless. I have to say i always chose burdock , never having liked sarsaparilla. Happy days.

OKay, I know this is a topic jump, but after living in Birmingham for 20-odd years I have FINALLY found a shop wot sells Hendersons Relish. No more running the border guards with a crate stashed under the passenger seat, or bringing in individual bottles intimately secreted...

When did the old Herbalist disappear from Woodseats?
I remember being in there as a kid and being completely baffled by the ol' dear behind the counter who, whenever she sold Durex, would ask "Do you want me to split them for you?"

I'm still just as baffled.

AND
Whatever happened to Yates's wine lodges? <g>

The shop at Manor top Barnards was a sarsaparilla and soda bar before Barnard took it over. The owners lived on Ridgehill Avenue

try getting hendo's here in western australia sport, no chance.
Durex here is sticky tape.
shawn



Originally posted by Ivan
OKay, I know this is a topic jump, but after living in Birmingham for 20-odd years I have FINALLY found a shop wot sells Hendersons Relish. No more running the border guards with a crate stashed under the passenger seat, or bringing in individual bottles intimately secreted...

When did the old Herbalist disappear from Woodseats?
I remember being in there as a kid and being completely baffled by the ol' dear behind the counter who, whenever she sold Durex, would ask "Do you want me to split them for you?"

I'm still just as baffled.

AND
Whatever happened to Yates's wine lodges? <g>

Sarsaparlla bars. Oh yes. They were great. Used to go out on the bike a lot. I lived on 'The Cross' in those days and my mates and I cycled all over the city.
I remember one at Malin Bridge ( now beleived to be a snack shop), there was one Abbeydale Road and possible one up at Scoles in Rotherham. I used to go in and ask for a pint cos it made me feel grown up and odering a proper pint of the Golden Nectar. Not feeling too old but for things like that, I can say without reservation, " The Good Old Days ". Generally though, I wouldn't have them back.

Anyone remember Jack's sasparilla bar on Langsett Road? I remember feeling really 'hip' sipping the stuff and listening to the early Beatles in the 60's

Yes I remember Jack
He was quite a character
We lived on Langsett Estate and were frequenting 'Jacks' in the late '70s listening to Boomtown Rats Rat trap and loads of Northern Soul

What about the Mikado Drink Shop on Stubbin Lane, Firth Park?

Yes you are right they sold sarsaparilla it was near the fishing tackle shop.

there was a drinks shop in heeley green,on gleadless road in the 50/60s.The last temperance bar open now is in rawtenstall lancashire and is still busy to this day.They had to stop selling sarsaparilla,as we know it,not long ago,they had to make up a new recipe,i cant remember why ,something to do with an ingredient used in the old recipe,not being allowed to be used.Anyway i believe it tastes the same!You can buy allsorts of remedies there,slippery elm!any one remember that for sickness,arrowroot to mention two!


I remember the drinks shop in heeley green in the 70's, I'm almost sure it was called Maisy's. There was a counter with a little sink in it, and the tap which dispensed the drinks. My nanan lived on Myrtle Road opposite Heeley Green, and used to take me and my bro. I remember the strong smell as you walked in.:)

I remember the temperance bar and herbalists on Barber road. We lived on the opposite side of the road just a little lower down right opposite the Nook.My father was the Chiropodist.
On Fridays I was sent to the herbalists,as we called it, with a jug to be filled with sasparilla. I have mentioned before about the old man who kept the place, he was deaf and so I used to bang the door as I went in he used to come through from the back and tell me off.I can't remember his name.
There were rows of china pots containing dried stuff which he mixed they had lovely designs on them and names written in gold.He too had the lit up Durex sign,it was red,and he sold coltsfoot and liquorice root.
I think this was around 1951 or 52.
The laundry was on the corner, and you could look through the bars down onto the furnaces which someone was always stoking.a whistle was blown at 1.0pm to tell the staff to return to work after lunch.
On the other corner was Scrivens, up four steps.
The sasparilla was lovely it tasted like nothing available these days.
He also sold dandelion coffee powder.
Could go on for ever about that area, Mags

I think I went to the one in Heeley Green in the late 70s with my sis in law (at that time she was just my boyfriend's sister!). My husband cant remember the shop though, even though he is older than his sister. I cant remember if I had a drink or not, just remember it being small and old fashioned and fairly cheap too.

I do remember the drinkbar in Abbeydale Rd Next to the Abbey dale Cinema.In 1937 we used to go out cycling in Derby shire,and callthere for a pint of Sasp perella when we got back into town What happy wonderful days Youngers today don't know what they missed Old man

I well remember Jack's at 358 Langsett Road. It was owned and run by Jack Lee who proudly advertised his BREWED sarsparilla (not watered down from cordial). He also sold his "special" which was sarsparilla with a shot of "blood tonic" added (what was in it?). He must have closed the shop in about the mid 1970s. The drinks shop at Malin Bridge was Daubney's - handy for bus drivers and conductors on the No 2/3 "Outer Circle" route who often had 10-15 minutes to spare at the Malin Bridge stop. The one on Middlewood Road (opposite the Halifax, near Hillsborough Corner) was Styran's. Mrs Styran continued to run it for a few years after her husband died, but must have closed the shop in c. 1970. These shops sold hot or cold drinks, some made from fruit cordials but also Bovril, Horlicks, Ovaltine etc. Mrs Styran also sold ice lollies made with Horlicks. These drinks shops or "temperance bars" were encouraged by the temperance movement of the late 19th and early 20th century. Like many others I would, aged 14 or 15, prop up the bar at Jack's with a pint of Sarsparilla...

Wasn't there one in Attercliffe, somewhere near the old baths? I remember going there with my dad when I was little.

I still think of the sarsparilla we used to buy at the 'drink shop' as we used to call it, next to the Abbeydale picture palace.I tried the stuff at the shop across from the Star Cinema and a place in town but it was always the stuff at 2d a glass that we bought at Abbeydale that tasted divine.I used to dream about going to that shop for many years,at least 15 years, after finding myself as an exile in Australia[no I wasnt a convict]
I still drink Sarsparilla but it is brewed and put in a small bottle and a nice drink but nothing like I remember the drink we had at Abbeydale

:love: A hot pint of sass before and after a game at millmoor was heaven.
There was a herbal shop behind the top of the moor which sold the cordial too.I have only found the fizzy kind in the usa...not the same.

I can remember Jacks Sasperrella shop on langsett road, I was only a little girl about 5 or 6 but my dad used to take me to have a drink of sasperella somtimes. I remember that the drink tasted funny but I liked it! I allways used to like the neon durex sign in the window (I was too young to know what it was then). If my memory is correct I recall that there was wooden panneling over the bottom half of the window so you couldnt see in and there was a counter with stools round it towards the back of the shop, although my memories of this are fairly hazy it was such a long time ago
i have just been looking at some old photo's of owlerton/hillsborough and this shop was on them.
The books are called owlerton camera and hillsborough camera and contain loads of photo's of what the places used to look like some years ago.

use to go in Jacks in 1946 blow the whole weeks school dinner money idont remember a pin ball at that time,I do know we never drank the same drink twice (well maybe sas) wejust went around the hundred's of bottles untill our money ran out then peed all the way to burton st school.

i used to go in jacks sasperrella bar on langsett road, nice bloke. As you walked in towards the counter their was a wooden partician, on the other side he had bandits. He sold sweets and drinks, i was in my teens then and used to hang around in there when it was raining

:D Wow. Jacks sasparella bar. I remember it really well. Always looked a bit spooky to me (the narrow side as you walked in).
I remember jack would always push his false teeth out and back in again.
It closed in the late 80's. I remember cos i did a paper round at Mick's paper shop so i was always on the bottom road. I've lived on Langsett estate since 1982 and i'm back on there now. i bet i get a shout from white witch cos she used to live at the other side of the court.

I also remember Pegasus C.B shop next door that later went on to be called I.X.L . Alan owned it with his son , Pip.

I'd go back to my childhood tomorrow........:D

Anyone remember Jack's sasparilla bar on Langsett Road? I remember feeling really 'hip' sipping the stuff and listening to the early Beatles in the 60's

Yep - same here - we (about three or four lads) all saved like mad from our paper rounds and with the help of birthday money etc. all went and bought our first pair of levi jeans - spent an hour sitting in the bath with them on so they shrunk to fit, and then we were 'out on the town' on a Saturday night - our destination - Jacks sasparilla bar - pint of the 'brew' and a few 6d's in the pinball machine and we thought we were the coolest kids on the planet.

Set 'em up Jack

For eileen (Ausie) I well remember the drink shop next to the abbeydale picture palaceOut onthe bikes on Sunday comming back from the (Peacock Inn) down thro Totley,first stop,the drink shop Happy days 1938 Me and my girl friend used to call in the little drink shop opposite the STAR cinema on Eccelshall Rd,for a drink often as late as 11pm He sayed open til very late just after the Blitz Where the shop once stood is now a road Sad, in it?

:D Wow. Jacks sasparella bar. I remember it really well. Always looked a bit spooky to me (the narrow side as you walked in).
I remember jack would always push his false teeth out and back in again.
It closed in the late 80's. I remember cos i did a paper round at Mick's paper shop so i was always on the bottom road. I've lived on Langsett estate since 1982 and i'm back on there now. i bet i get a shout from white witch cos she used to live at the other side of the court.

I also remember Pegasus C.B shop next door that later went on to be called I.X.L . Alan owned it with his son , Pip.

I'd go back to my childhood tomorrow........:D


Hello there sheldon, what you been doing with yourself?? hows the family?? kaz xx

When I was in my teens I used to go to the the Langsett Music Centre and waited for the bus (81, 82, 83, 84) at the sarsaparilla bar on Langsett Road. I know there was one on Abbeydale Road aswell. They always intrigued me. What were they? Are they still there?
Bars that sold cheap soft drinks for youngsters and used for chatting up, or stealing a kiss[ when the owner wasn't looking of course ]If caught [stop that game or OUT ]

I remember the drinks shop in heeley green in the 70's, I'm almost sure it was called Maisy's. There was a counter with a little sink in it, and the tap which dispensed the drinks. My nanan lived on Myrtle Road opposite Heeley Green, and used to take me and my bro. I remember the strong smell as you walked in.:)I recall this drink shop, I made a bar with ribbed hardboard frontage
and formica top for the owner at that time About 1955, cheers Arthur,

Hello there sheldon, what you been doing with yourself?? hows the family?? kaz xx

Hello back. how are ya. how did ya guess it was me. lol.

Well, the family. what can i say. I'm back at mums now. but how are ya. its been many years.

Hello back. how are ya. how did ya guess it was me. lol.

Well, the family. what can i say. I'm back at mums now. but how are ya. its been many years.


Im fine thanks. Remember that time our cars got broken into, and we stayed up all night the next night watching the cars incase they come back, well, i stayed up anyway, you fell asleep lol (men....sigh) I will watch for you next time im at mums xxkaz

okay. ......its the red audi on the end of the block, i'll be in. I was chattin to ya Dad the other night. Do you remember when we use to play games of manhunt and the boundary was the estate perimeters. Those games \lasted all night.......:D

In the early '70s when I started work at the University and was housed in the Arts Tower, there was a shop opposite in Winter St. that sold sarsparilla, among other things, it was a sort of herbalist. It was a quaint little place but when the area was developed and the terraced houses torn down (to be replaced by the little boxes as at present) the shop went too. Actually, when it was abandoned my wife and I went in and we found a couple of framed notices that we snaffled--and when it came down we also fetched some of the worked stone which I have subsequently reused on a wall that I rebuilt at the back of our house.

There was a caf'e on Spital hill many years ago that used to sell sasparilla. We used to go in quite often, mostly to play the pinball machine.
Used to use this place myself in the early 60s when joyce and dougie burgin kept it. In fact met my ex in there.

Used to use this place myself in the early 60s when joyce and dougie burgin kept it. In fact met my ex in there.Hi this place was on the go before the war , used to go in there when ayoung lad Arthur.

the sasparilla shop on heeley green was called greatheads.used to hang around there and have a drink before the bingo turned out.me and my mate malcolm shipman always used to wait for our mums coming out of the bingo.

There used to be one on Handsworth top, just along from The Plaza cinema - I'm going back to the early 50's now.

There used to be a saraparilla bar at the side of the Attercliffe library this road lead up to Worksop rd.I used to pop in there when I came out of the swimming baths on the way home,from what i remember it was in the late 60's there was a whole choice of drinks .I remember feeling like a grown up going in them because it was like a pub, with the bar & all the drinks on display.sadly the baths,library or the bar do not exist today although the swimming baths is still there but not used as a baths.

I remember a shop labelled 'drug store' on the Williams side of Chesterfield Rd, Woodseats, where we drank sarsaparilla on a few occasions after going to Graves Park

Like some of the others, I had no idea there was so many sas shops around Sheffield!! I used to be taken to the Abbeydale Road on when I was very young, after we had been out walking in Derbyshire!!

The only other one I knew about was one I used to go to in the early 60's in Rotherham. My cousin had a hairdressers next door on Masborough Road, and I used to help sometimes on a Saturday - with drinks from the sas shop.

I used to love hot vimto - yummeeeeee

There used to be a saraparilla bar at the side of the Attercliffe library this road lead up to Worksop rd.I used to pop in there when I came out of the swimming baths on the way home,from what i remember it was in the late 60's there was a whole choice of drinks .I remember feeling like a grown up going in them because it was like a pub, with the bar & all the drinks on display.sadly the baths,library or the bar do not exist today although the swimming baths is still there but not used as a baths.

I remember it well! I loved sitting in there drinking hot Vimto.

Hi,

Nobody has mentioned Elliot's drink shop in the Wicker. It was close to where Associated Chemists are now. That did a roaring trade up to the early late 40's - early 50's: then the busines dropped off fast.

It was popular because of the "Passing Trade". A lot of people from Pitsmoor used to walk through the Wicker on their way to, and from, Town; rather than take the tram.

I never particularly liked Saraparilla, but the hot Blackcurrent was great.

Regards

Yes you are right they sold sarsaparilla it was near the fishing tackle shop.
it was next door!! the Jackson family ran it lilly was the mother and she had some sons Dale was one cant remember others also a daughter with long red hair used to work there called Mandy..

what about tony sas shop on abbydale road near the pictures

It's still got the sign below the window.

I remember the sasparilla bar on Langset rd, it was still there in the late 80's because I took my son in to try it, and he wasn't born until 1983.

I remember someone telling me that it was the last unlicensed still in Sheffield. When they closed the shop I rang to ask if they would sell the recipe for the sasparilla, but they said it would go with the property. The next owners didn't seem interested, so I suppose it has been lost :(

There was a sasp shop on Heeley Green which I went to but I mostly went to the one on Abbydale Road near the picture Palace, late sixties

In the early '70s when I started work at the University and was housed in the Arts Tower, there was a shop opposite in Winter St. that sold sarsparilla, among other things, it was a sort of herbalist. It was a quaint little place but when the area was developed and the terraced houses torn down (to be replaced by the little boxes as at present) the shop went too. Actually, when it was abandoned my wife and I went in and we found a couple of framed notices that we snaffled--and when it came down we also fetched some of the worked stone which I have subsequently reused on a wall that I rebuilt at the back of our house.

Yes I remember that when I was a kid about 50 years ago. It was I think on the corner of Weston stret and Bolsover street and it allways seemed very mysterious and different.

I remember a shop labelled 'drug store' on the Williams side of Chesterfield Rd, Woodseats, where we drank sarsaparilla on a few occasions after going to Graves Park

There was a sarsaparilla shop in Woodseats between the Chantrey and Woodseats Inn pubs.
It was owned first by Barons until the early 40s and then by Greaves. It was an all-male place where young lads would gather for a 'pint.' I never saw any girls go in there at all. Then again, at that age (about nine or ten,) we weren't really interested!

The sasparilla shop on Abbeydale road was always visited by myself and friends after going to Heeley baths .To feel grown up we would have a pint of saspariila in the heavy pint mugs
The owner and his son used to wear white coats behind the wooden counter.It seems like another age.As we got older we gravitated across the road to hang out in the Flamingo cafe and waste 6d on the pinball machine.Happy days!!!

:love: A hot pint of sass before and after a game at millmoor was heaven.
There was a herbal shop behind the top of the moor which sold the cordial too.I have only found the fizzy kind in the usa...not the same.

Would that have been a small shop somewhere I think near to the old Tivoli Cinema?

My 2 school pals and I used to park our bikes outside (no bicycle locks needed in those days) circa 1954/1955 and we'd enjoy a glass of Sarsaparilla in the early evenings sometimes. Other cordials were available too.

Happy memories indeed. :)

I seem to recall there being a shop at Darnall terminus where you could get sarsaparilla. Am I right perhaps someone could jog my memory on this?

wow where did this spring fm i thought this was buried in the dark distant past

There used to be a place near the bottom of Eccleshall Road, somewhere near the old "Wards" ? brewery, back in the late 50's, when I lived in a little row of terraced houses down there !!!
For "Sarsaparilla" -- try looking at Mawsons -- do a search - its the real stuff !

Hi,

Nobody has mentioned Elliot's drink shop in the Wicker. It was close to where Associated Chemists are now. That did a roaring trade up to the early late 40's - early 50's: then the busines dropped off fast.

It was popular because of the "Passing Trade". A lot of people from Pitsmoor used to walk through the Wicker on their way to, and from, Town; rather than take the tram.

I never particularly liked Saraparilla, but the hot Blackcurrent was great.

Regards
I liked the liquorice root you could buy & also the cinnamon sticks we chewed.

For big Dand C ,, The shop you mention,just below Summerfield St,on Eccelshall Takes me back to 1940 We used to call in there late at night,on our way back from the Cavendish dance hall on West St. He was still open at 11-30 at night .Boy,such wonderful days. All gone now. That was just before the Blitz on Sheffield

I went sometimes to jacks on langset road when I went to wycliffe youth club on friday nights. It was an interesting place tall bar stools and a flipper machine pretty sure that is not the right name for it. Jack was a really friendly man who seemed to like kids and very happy for them to hand around.

I meant to say jack was happy for kids to hang around not hand around!!

I remember the saspirella bar on Abbeydale Road. I remember as a youngster a day out in the school holidays would be to go to Heeley Swimming Baths and then climb up the hill to Abbeydale to road to go to a chemists shop that had what we called a Children's Bar. We used to buy half a pint of saspirella and thought we were oh so grown up! What innocent days. I had no idea until I read these posts that they existed in other parts of Sheffield.

i remember the one on abbeydale road for the same reasons and we used to live at the bottom of bedale road on broadfield road
happy days

One third of our business premises here in Barber Road, Walkley, used to be a Sasparilla shop (the other two thirds being a grocer's and a laundry).

An ex-employee has done a painting - although we're not talking Lowry here - which is on show behind our main counter. It shows the front of the shop painted green with a sign in the window saying: Try our sasparilla - half a pint, 3d. There's also an advert for Vimto.

I don't know how long this shop/bar lasted. My grandfather and father moved into the premises, all three, in 1971. Since then the premises have been used for our business, plumbers merchants and bathroom suppliers (local folk will know who we are).

The chappy that owned the sasparilla shop was a Mr Tomlinsn

What about the Mikado Drink Shop on Stubbin Lane, Firth Park?

Yep I drank in there around 1966/7 or so. Sarsparilla and also Vimto! yum!

There was an herbalist/chemist shop top of Rushby st. I am talking Owler lane/Page hall area, that sold sarsparilla. the name was SCHOLEYS
there was also a brother that ,had the dental practice over the shop and just around the corner was Scholeys ladies dress shop. Getting back to sarsparilla, was it originally an American drink as it was mentioned in their early soda fountains and in early American movies.

Further to my blurb. I'm talking 40's 50's. I do enjoy the trivia.

Hi all you ex sarsparilla drinkers - my father - Toni De Donno owned the shop on abbeydale rd mid 70's. He used to brew the drink himself. I used to serve in the temperance bar my self some days. I've got a picture of the inside of the shop which I'll dig out and post the link on this thread

Hi all you ex sarsparilla drinkers - my father - Toni De Donno owned the shop on abbeydale rd mid 70's. He used to brew the drink himself. I used to serve in the temperance bar my self some days. I've got a picture of the inside of the shop which I'll dig out and post the link on this thread

That picture I'd love to see!

I used to get my sarsaparilla fix from a little shop on Bellhouse Rd at the Hatfield House Rd. end.

I used to get my sarsaparilla fix from a little shop on Bellhouse Rd at the Hatfield House Rd. end.

You and me both! Cheers! :)

I was there from about 1964-67 (not all the time, mind..)

You and me both! Cheers! :)

I was there from about 1964-67 (not all the time, mind..)

My sarsaparilla habit was formed 42-48, not being obtainable in the West country I went cold turkey years ago.

A rass & sass in jacks on langsett rd playing space invaders & listening to dexys "geno" & madness "baggy trousers ",happy days.

There was one on Crookes somewhere near the Pieklet shop and one on Walkley near the Paladium. Used to go in 'em both as a lad but I ued to get my "packet of three" at the Crookes one :-)

There was an herbalist/chemist shop top of Rushby st. I am talking Owler lane/Page hall area, that sold sarsparilla. the name was SCHOLEYS
there was also a brother that ,had the dental practice over the shop and just around the corner was Scholeys ladies dress shop. Getting back to sarsparilla, was it originally an American drink as it was mentioned in their early soda fountains and in early American movies.
I'm stalking you fleets, dont they call it root beer in the U.S?

I'm stalking you fleets, dont they call it root beer in the U.S?

Hi Tex - Never liked root beer here but remember and enjoyed sarsaparilla as a kid, i've always thought there was a connection though. I distinctly recall that sarsaparilla was mentioned in early American movies along with soda fountains and soda jerks!

I also remember the SAS bars two at the bottom end of Ecclesall rd one opposite the old Star Cinema which if i remember correctly had two entrances one at either end then another SAS bar further down Ecclesall rd near Wards chip shop which was quite small if i remember right i also used to like the hard liquorice sticks similar to IMPS which sent your mouth black also used to go in the one on Abbeydale rd near the Abbeydale cinema opposite the Flamingo cafe:headbang: .

i first had sasparilla and hot vimto at the temperance bar near the corner of weedon street at the side of g.banks builders yard and the chinese laundry opposite what is now carphone warehouse on the meadowhall retail park, my othermemories are the mikado at firthpark at lunchtime from the redcaps school, and near the barracks at hillsbroall in the 60's , no idea if you can get sasprilla anymore?

There was one on Woodseats run by Nancy Enoch a lovely lady who talked in a whisper all the time

i first had sasparilla and hot vimto at the temperance bar near the corner of weedon street at the side of g.banks builders yard and the chinese laundry opposite what is now carphone warehouse on the meadowhall retail park, my othermemories are the mikado at firthpark at lunchtime from the redcaps school, and near the barracks at hillsbroall in the 60's , no idea if you can get sasprilla anymore?

My great grandparents had a sasparilla bar/herbalist shop on Oaks Green, Attercliffe. Apparently they ran it for years - my mum has very fond memories of it.

we used to go to the heeley baths in primary school (totley county) in about 1961, and then go to the sas shop on abbeydale road, it was good stuff.

Hi again - finally found the photo of me inside our sarsaparilla shop on abbeydale road. Unfortuantelly my father, Toni De Donno who used to own the shop in th 70's passed away four years ago but do have a pic with him serving somwhere. Will post when I find it.

http://s787.photobucket.com/albums/yy160/fourchairs/?action=view&current=bar.jpg

Hi again - finally found the photo of me inside our sarsaparilla shop on abbeydale road. Unfortuantelly my father, Toni De Donno who used to own the shop in th 70's passed away four years ago but do have a pic with him serving somwhere. Will post when I find it.

http://s787.photobucket.com/albums/yy160/fourchairs/?action=view&current=bar.jpg

Nice picture, worth waiting for!

their was one at the side of banners attercliffe till the late 70s

The one on Eccleshall Rd was called Hartley's. I used to live two doors down. They sold sarsparilla, dandelion and burdock, etc. I spent any cash I had there on sweets, and on fireworks when I had been collecting pennies for the guy. They also had a jar of liquorice roots that I found strangely satisfying. (after spending an hour mashing it to a sort of woody pulp).

I also remember the SAS bars two at the bottom end of Ecclesall rd one opposite the old Star Cinema which if i remember correctly had two entrances one at either end then another SAS bar further down Ecclesall rd near Wards chip shop which was quite small if i remember right i also used to like the hard liquorice sticks similar to IMPS which sent your mouth black also used to go in the one on Abbeydale rd near the Abbeydale cinema opposite the Flamingo cafe:headbang: .
Looks like you haunted the same places as me.The sarsaparilla from the SAS bar next to the Abbeydale had to be the best in the world in my opinion. I also used to buy the black liquorice sticks from the SAS bar across from the Star[funnily enough I have some in my drawer now but not from there!]also used to buy the liquorice root to chew especially when sweets weren't available[also have some of that in my drawer!]Still use chopped up liquorice root to use in herbal tea!

Hi again - finally found the photo of me inside our sarsaparilla shop on abbeydale road. Unfortuantelly my father, Toni De Donno who used to own the shop in th 70's passed away four years ago but do have a pic with him serving somwhere. Will post when I find it.

http://s787.photobucket.com/albums/yy160/fourchairs/?action=view&current=bar.jpg

Is your brother Jason De Donno?

Looks like you haunted the same places as me.The sarsaparilla from the SAS bar next to the Abbeydale had to be the best in the world in my opinion. I also used to buy the black liquorice sticks from the SAS bar across from the Star[funnily enough I have some in my drawer now but not from there!]also used to buy the liquorice root to chew especially when sweets weren't available[also have some of that in my drawer!]Still use chopped up liquorice root to use in herbal tea!

I never went to the SAS bar in Abbeydale, although I went to the Abbeydale cinema many times. I haven't seen liquorice root for years. I now remember one of the reasons I used to buy it was, when I was very young, sweets were still rationed, but liquorice root wasn't. I suppose I developed a taste that never went away.

Sarsaparilla Bars - Anyone remember them?

1970 is when I drank my second (the first and the last, lol), Sarsaparilla. It was at a bar or cafe directly opposite Millmoor Football ground in Rotherham. I think it was cream soda flavour and it tasted horrible although I was impressed with the tall heavy duty glasses. Anyone remember the place?

I used to go to Jacks on langsett road hillsborough sheffield in the late 70s and early 80s, playing pinball putting on the mini jukebox and drinking hot chocolate. We was there nearly every night it was some where to go in your teens. Great little place

we agree the sasparilla at the abbeydale shop was the best, my wife and i would call on our way to the "pictures" . sometimes we'd call at the one on gleadless rd cause i lived near there, but it wasnt as good and because they sold other goods likes pies etc there wasnt the room room to sit and take your time tho my mum liked the fact she could but buy homemade pie+gravy already+hot for our tea there! i went to school with the boy who lived at the back ofthe gleadless rd shop.

Is your brother Jason De Donno?

He certainly is

He certainly is

cool :) went to same school

I remember the Sarsparilla shops

Before the coffee bars came into their own we used to for for a drink in the sarsparilla shops.

We used to drink hot Bovril, Sarspailla hot or cold and cordials such as blackcurrant.

They also used to sell licorice root, cinnamon sticks ad all manner of cough (spice) and lozenges.

I remember Rickson's on Middlewood Road opposite the Chinese Laundry and also one two or three doors away from the laundry, I think it was next to Atkinson's pie shop.

The other shops I can remember is the one already mentioned on Langsett road.

I think it was roughly opposite Burnaby Street.

The only other one I frequented was in the Kelvin area on Langsett Road next to another pie shop.

On a Sunday night we were pretty tame compared with today's youths, we used to walk the 'Monkey Run'from one end of Hillsborough to the other end hoping to meet of with the girls.

At each end we would call for a drink at one of these shops.

We were too young to go in the pubs and money was short so that.s what we did along with many more who probably too proud to admit it nowadays.

Happy Days

the one on Langsett road was called Jacks sarsaparilla bar

There was a sarsparilla shop on Middlewood Rd opposite hallifax bank owned by a Mr Styran he ran the shop with is wife. also shop further on M/Wood Rd past Leppings Lane near chinese laundry and Atkinsons pie shop.

There was a sarsparilla shop on Middlewood Rd opposite hallifax bank owned by a Mr Styran he ran the shop with is wife..Yes - remember it well! It was one of the oldest businesses in Hillsborough, dating from 1902 when Walter Styran "herbalist and botanic drink brewer" opened the shop at 27 Middlewood Road. Walter's son (also Walter) eventually took over with his wife Elsie. After Walter Jnr. died in 1957, Elsie ran the shop until she retired about ten years later. The Styrans had lived at the back but Elsie moved to Trickett Road and lived to the ripe old age of 97.

I can remember Jacks Sasperrella shop on langsett road, I was only a little girl about 5 or 6 but my dad used to take me to have a drink of sasperella somtimes. I remember that the drink tasted funny but I liked it! I allways used to like the neon durex sign in the window (I was too young to know what it was then). If my memory is correct I recall that there was wooden panneling over the bottom half of the window so you couldnt see in and there was a counter with stools round it towards the back of the shop, although my memories of this are fairly hazy it was such a long time ago

I used to go to Jacks on Langsett road.

I went sometimes to jacks on langset road when I went to wycliffe youth club on friday nights. It was an interesting place tall bar stools and a flipper machine pretty sure that is not the right name for it. Jack was a really friendly man who seemed to like kids and very happy for them to hand around.

I agree! He was a lovely quiet man.

I agree! He was a lovely quiet man.Yes - Jack Lee was one of the best. He also brewed his own sarsparilla, instead of using cordial. This photo (http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u219/twigmore/Jacks.jpg) will take us all back!

there is an old saying that everyone knows where they were when JFK was assassinated,well me & my mates had just come out of the sarsparilla bar when the old lady who ran the pie shop came running out in the street shouting 'he' been murdered'.Turned out to be JFK.

we used to go to the Heely bar at dinnertime from Carfield School, and weekends to the one on the Main Road Darnall, I can still remember the particular smell of the various herbs etc in all of these places

Pop's (nick name) next to Abbeydale cinema/ballroom. A large variety of hot & cold drinks including draught Sarsaparilla. Not sure if any other drink shop sold draught, certainly the best I tasted and in pint pots too.

there was a drinks shop in heeley green,on gleadless road in the 50/60s.The last temperance bar open now is in rawtenstall lancashire and is still busy to this day.They had to stop selling sarsaparilla,as we know it,not long ago,they had to make up a new recipe,i cant remember why ,something to do with an ingredient used in the old recipe,not being allowed to be used.Anyway i believe it tastes the same!You can buy allsorts of remedies there,slippery elm!any one remember that for sickness,arrowroot to mention two!

Wasn't it across from the cinema?

The saspirella bar on Langsett road was called "Jacks" a wonderful place for an 8 year old (me) it was full of strange smells but more importantly it had the most wonderful pinball games. Great times

The Sasparilla bar on Langsett road opposite the bottom of Woodland Street was called "Jacks". Not only did it sell saspirella but it also had wonderful pinball machines which to an 8 year old (me) were fantastic

Wasn't it across from the cinema?

It was indeed.

Coming up from Kent Rd there was the butcher (Buzzy's?) the grocer (Flears or Bullaces?) the wallpaper shop (?) then the drink shop.

Blackcurrent was my favorite.

Yes - Jack Lee was one of the best. He also brewed his own sarsparilla, instead of using cordial. This photo (http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u219/twigmore/Jacks.jpg) will take us all back!

I'm getting a "malicious website" warning when I click on your link hillsbro. It might've been hacked or worse.

I'm getting a "malicious website" warning when I click on your link hillsbro. It might've been hacked or worse.Hi Steptoad - well I dunno (this is a bit too technical for me.;)) but the photo is on www.photobucket.com (http://www.photobucket.com). I just looked at it without any warning appearing, and Mrs hillsbro had the same experience with her computer.

I also just looked at hillsbro's photo without a warning being flagged up. :)

I've just had a look at the "threat" and it's this:- Trojan.Maliframe!html
It's too technical for me too, but apparently it's low danger.

I just followed the link to the photo without any warning appearing (by the way, hillsboro - the photo really did take me back!) I'd be surprised if the www.photobucket.com (http://www.photobucket.com) site was unsafe, but you never know. Maybe a computer-minded Forummer can tell us about "Trojan.Maliframe!html". :confused:

I remember the one which I think was on Abbeydale Rd. We used to go there after swimming at Heeley Baths on a Sat morning, buy a bar of 'Fourboys' chocolate and a sarsaparilla and sit in one of the litte booths. Thought we were in the pub. Lol

Great photo just how I remember it. We all used to meet there most nights in the late 70s . Jack was a nice fellow did a fantastic hot chocolate. All gave us free songs on the juke box. Great days.

Hi Dave Br - you are absolutely right, Jack Lee was the nicest person you could hope to meet. We all felt big when, aged 13 or 14, we propped up the bar drinking pints of sarsparilla! You could also buy his "spesh" - or special sarsparilla, which had some "blood tonic" in it. I don't know what was in the tonic but it added a slightly burnt flavour, and as far as I know my blood is still in good condition..:P

I'd love to know what became of Jack. I like to think he and his wife are still around somewhere, I guess well into their 80s by now, and enjoying life as they well deserve.

Jack had white hair when I was a kid and that was over 30 years ago so he must be knocking on. Glad he is still about.

Actually I think there were two on Abbeydale Road, one by the cinema which we used to call "Pops" as I think it was owned by two brothers called Poppleton in the late 40s/early 50s. There was another smaller one that sold a few other things beside drinks opposite Abbeydale school near Walker's chip shop. That one was a bit drab and we called it "Dirty Doris's".

i remember the one on abbydale rd which we would go to after swiming at healey batha and there was one on gleadledd rd near to where the old cinema was you can still buy sasapilla in some shops like farm shops or chatsworth shop but havingg tried them they dont taste anything like the ones that were poured from a barrel or maybe its just me yearning for the old days i think it was 3 old pennys a glass

I remember the saspirella bar on Abbeydale Road. I remember as a youngster a day out in the school holidays would be to go to Heeley Swimming Baths and then climb up the hill to Abbeydale to road to go to a chemists shop that had what we called a Children's Bar. We used to buy half a pint of saspirella and thought we were oh so grown up! What innocent days. I had no idea until I read these posts that they existed in other parts of Sheffield.

Yeh Me too.... :hihi:

the one we used to go to was on Chesterfield road,,at Woodseats, we used to go to Woodseats cinema on Saturday morning and then to get a drink there. They served a drink called a Green Godess, but my cousin always referred to it as a Green Gozzer weren't we all so innocent then? .still, we were luckier than kids today