The 1950s Good Food Guides

An original 1950s guide

In the immediate postwar period, socialist, academic, novelist and bon vivant, Raymond Postgate, recognised the mediocrity of much of the British food on offer to the paying public. Being a man of action he decided to start a 'Campaign Against Cruelty to Food'. Mobilising a network of volunteers 'of good taste' in the Good Food Club, Postgate requested reviews of restaurants and cafes across Britain, and, beginning in 1951, he published them in 'The Good Food Guide'. Not only did this voice of the middle classes prove to be a spur to British restaurateurs to improve their fare, it is also - in the view of the Ragged Ramblers - comedy gold...

"Slap-up inn, with waiters in full dress, the 'Maitre' supervising everything, and compulsory boiled shirts on Saturday nights." (1952-1953: Ruislip, THE ORCHARD. P296)

"This is Uncle Neville's hotel,  and Uncle Neville likes children and knows what they want and what is good for them." (1952-1953: St. Anne-on-Sea, Lancs. THE PIER HOTEL. P213)

See Bon Appetite, Piddle and Bon Appetite, Frintgraninghamondam for Ragged Ramble response to this.

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~ Munro Tweeder-Harris Esq. ~