We are compiling a history book of Baldwin's omega from when it was part of the brincliffe estate to present day. Do you have memories of the building or any useful information or photographs from the past. The building has been a fashionable restaurant sine 1960's and before this a tennis club and a school any information or stories from any time in the history will be really appreciated.

Thanks I look forward to hearing your tales
Polly Baldwin

what an institution! There must be more people who have had their wedding receptions there than anywhere else. Isn't it famous for after dinner speakers as well?

Baldwins use to have the most fantastic Salmon and Strawberry evenings. Went several times for these with members of the Sheffield Keep Fit!! They also had Hawaiin evenings too. The discos were great.

The thing I remember about ,other than the fabulous food,was the Gents had a glass screen across the urinal to stop you peeing on your shoes.1st time i'd ever seen that.

In the 1990's when I last went to Baldwins before I left Sheffield, I remember that inside the entrance area were a selection of George Cunningham pictures. I particularly remember these as George was a neighbour of ours and I have a couple of his prints on my wall.

Baldwins has always been very well known for it's fabulous food! We have our company Christmas 'bash' there, it never ceases to amaze me, so many diners yet the food is always piping hot and well served. Well done the Baldwins you are certainly amongst the best in the city.

My mother was a member of the Brincliffe Tennis Club in the 1930's. The building that is now Baldwin's was the Club House and the venue for many social events. Dances were very popular events with the girls in the flapper dresses of the time. Formal dinner dances were held with the men wearing dress suits. Apparently, I expect much to Mrs. Baldwin's disgust, all the catering was supplied by Messrs Fretwell Downing.

keep your memories coming this is going to be a great book to celebrate Dave Baldwin's 70th birthday!

keep your memories coming this is going to be a great book to celebrate Dave Baldwin's 70th birthday!

Yes I suppose he will be, I remember him managing the Capri fish and chip cafe behind Atkinsons. He had a spell at The Anglers Rest in Bamford, had the catering contract at Hillsborough, developed the Sheaf View, had another pub in Attercliffe, he's been a very busy lad has David.

If you get the opportunity get him to relate the time that he was charged and tried for rape in South Africa. All that happened is David and some of his Merchant Navy chums got a poker school going in a hotel bedroom, and hired a middle aged Zulu woman to serve the food and pour the drinks. As soon as 12-00 pm struck the door was kicked open and they all were arrested and charged with rape for having a black woman in their room after midnight, it was classed as something like statutory rape.

Their lawyer, who got them off, was none other than Sir Harley Shawcross who went on to be Attorney General. I can recall David saying, "I don't want to be funny, but have you ever seen a bloody middle aged Zulu woman"? :hihi:

hiya
is this the same david baldwin who had the wheatsheaf,if it is,l the last time i saw david was on tv, when a sheffield wednesday manager was in trouble as regards who he had bought. i think it was danny williams, also the david i knew had an older brother peter and lived on broomhall st, and went to springfield school, and i remember he was quite a good swimmer b/s, he was a good mate of derek walker i was in the class two years above him at school and lived on bath street, the thing is if it is him hiya david if not, sorry...

I was a poshish "do" at Baldwins. The place was packed, David came storming out of the kitchens in his whites and shouted at the waitresses to get ******* moving as there was food going cold, dozens of women started to scuttle back to the kitchen, to show how much of a tyrant he was one old lady hit him on the shoulder as she walked past him and told him not to swear.

Later David came around every table accompanied by some of the ladies who were carrying bottles of wine, he gave everyone in the room a drink, apologised for his language, as he walked past our all male party he looked over and said, as much to himself as us, "*******staff!

I am sad to here that he will shortly be 70, age catches up on us and although I know he will keep going as long as possible, who will replace him when he goes?

A good man, who has kept good table. Long may he reign.

I think he has always been know for his ,er, 'flowery' language!! Does anybody know if he is the same David Baldwin who was a chef at Nether Edge Hospital in the 70's?

My mother and father celebrated their 25 wedding anniversary at the Omega, that would be about 1962. As l remember it was a lovely meal, followed by dancing, with live music.

I had my 21st Birthday party at the Omega in 1968.
It was an evening to remember.Fabulous food,presented beautifully and served with prowess.The buffet was a splendid sight.
Dancing to a live band made the occasion special.
We had a photographer and I often look at the photos.
I have been to many top class restaurants in most capitals around the world but the Omega beat them all.
I left Sheffield 36 years ago but I hope Mr Baldwin has a Birthday party as memorable as mine.

An Oliver Twist moment. I had the audacity to ask for another potato (all diners had had theirs counted out) and was fixed with an ice maiden stare by the waitress. Also, arguing with the maitre d'/bouncer about dress code being stereotyping of character and how my money was as good as anybody else's. The fact I was going through my Brian May phase may have influenced his decison but I'm glad I kicked off because it made him very embarassed. Pity because the food was always good (even though rationed).

Dad used to make chocolates at Ridgeway Craft Centre, I remmeber he used to make them for the Omega...

He always told a story about how 1 diner asked for salt to be added to the meal and the chef came out to put him straight.........!!!

Is it too late to start a campaign to get the Baldwins back to the Anglers Polly?

I would like to thank you all for your posts! All very amusing please keep them coming in and if anyone has any photographs we would love to see them you can send them to

Polly A Baldwin
Baldwins Omega
Brincliffe Hill
Off Psalter Lane
Sheffield
S11 9DF

Thanks again for you time!!

My old pal David Baldwin 5 months separating us at birth. Where do I begin - he always called at our house in Clarence Street and we would walk to school (Springfield) together. On one occasion I recall, he came in "plonked" himself onto our settee, my father positioned at the other end shot up in the air, the settee collapsed, and the arm fell off!!! As money was tight my mother (Ethel - bless her) never forgave him although she eventually worked alongside David @ Harry Hopkinsons's fish and chip shop/cafe on Rockingham Street, but whenever Davids name was mentioned (as it was frequently) she always piped up "Yes he broke my settee".
Our class was not the most conformative so concessions were hard to come by, I remember on one occasion we were lucky enough to be chosen to attend the City Hall for a Philharmonic Orchestra concert, ten minutes into the performance David fell asleep, snored so loudly that those close by couldn't hear a thing, a clip round the ear from the headmaster resulting in fits of laughter from the rest of us - and we were never invited again. Another occasion four of us David, Stuart, myself and another (who's name I regret escapes me) were invited to spend a day on one of our teachers boat on a river (near Retford I think) we took it in turns to steer the thing, - David's turn - he got all the intructions wrong nearly capsized the boat and almost drowned - another concession not repeated.
An english lesson - we had pen and paper at the ready the teacher told us to write an essay on the game of cricket - David's contribution - RAIN STOPS PLAY.
Caning became almost a weekly ritual in the headmasters office where we would line up put our hands out and David (who was always a giant of a man) would outstretch his from shoulder height, now the deputy head was only 5Ft nothing and had to jump up and down to reach his hand this resulted in the rest of us unable to contain our hilarity subsequently received double the dose.
We had no sportsfield or running track at Springfield so our preparation for the inter-city schools sports day was running round the streets of Broomhall traffic permitting, but we were proud to bring a trophy or two back each year for the old school cabinet.We both left with no qualifications but have both had quality lives.
My wife Kay will always be indebted to him for in 1968 we became licensees of the newly opened "Golden Ball" on Campo Lane, she was daunted at her new role in life but David took time out from his busy life as a licensee himself to guide her in the fundamental requirements of pub catering.
In the early 70's we were on holiday in Majorca and after an evening out we were walking in the pitch black from Magaluf to Palma (no hotel or street lights then) when we became aware of headlights approaching from behind, a small 'FIAT 500' pulled alongside and who was sardined behind the steering wheel - David - yelling "NOW THEN WALKER I'D KNOW THAT ....... WALK ANYWHERE GET IN".
In the mid 80's he was instrumental in me becoming Steward at the South Yorkshire Police sports & social club (Niagara) from where I retired after 23 years.
We were at his 50th and in his welcoming address to each table he came to ours, where seated was our old PE master - Peter Price (unfortunately now deceased) who was lucky to still have a head of thick dark brown hair, David's remark to him was "WELCOME PETER I THOUGHT YOU WOULD HAVE HAD THE ....... DECENCY TO GO GREY".
We were at his 60th but an ill-timed, pre-planned holiday prevents us from being at his 70th - we are gutted, but wish him a super bash with many happy returns, and hope to have a more modest celebration with him and Pauline at some stage, where the tariff is definitely on us.
A GREAT GUY - A GREAT PAL - We love him to bits and God willing we'll get together for the 80th, although wheelchair access maybe required!!!
So "THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES" and continue to do it "MY WAY."
Thanks to Mick Lee for notifying me of the Sheffield Forum Website. Derrick.

great post Dekay!
The Baldwin's site was an old quarry and the Bluecotes school was nearby. Does anybody have any info on these, and also, where exactly was the school?

Polly
I have a copy of the 1969/70 Good Food Guide edited, in those days, by Raymond Postgate, with an entry for The Omega. If you are interested, PM me your e-mail address and I will copy and send to you. I also remember attending a 21st Birthday Dinner in 1975 and more recently, an excellent Summer bash, ladies included!!!!!, for Sheffield Metal Club.

We were sent to "Baldwins" the morning after the blitz ,as there was an unexploded bomb near our hose in Nether Edge. It was then Brincliffe tennis Club.
The Blue nCoat Schoool was just below the turning into Quarry lane

thanks for these memories - we could do with some more info on Brincliffe tennis club and also the model railway that was on the Baldwin Omega site - possibly it was the Sheffield and District Society of Model and Experimental Engineers Ltd which is now in Ecclesall Woods. Any memories gratefully received

great post Dekay!

I'll second that, brilliant :thumbsup:

In 1967 I celebrated my 21st birthday at the Omega with 20 family / friends.
I paid for the meal, £42, I still have the bill. How times have changed !

We recently(Last year actually) had a birthday bash at the Omega.
I can remember a lad at school 1959/60 saying he wanted to work there. Alan Markhall I think his name was.

I've had a quick look at the text for their forthcoming book and there is some fantastic memories in there, plus as you'd expect, some great food - looking forward to this one!!

Thanks for all the contributions - the book goes on sale on the 21st at the Omega but it's also on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Baldwins-Omega-First-30-Years/dp/0954925483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284559297&sr=8-1

Paul.