Frying tonight - Memories of the Leeds fish and chip restaurant with a 100 year history

Do you remember dining at Youngmans in Leeds city centre?
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It was the fish and chip restaurant which boasted more than 100 years of frying history stretching back to 1885.

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The doors closed for the last time after tea on February 1989 at its home on Queen Victoria Street, off Briggate.

Staff at Youngmans serve up of the last meals in the restaurant. Pictured, left to right, are Alice Brookes, Vivienne Bowers, Anne Sissons, Audrey Smith and Sandra Jubb. PIC: YPNStaff at Youngmans serve up of the last meals in the restaurant. Pictured, left to right, are Alice Brookes, Vivienne Bowers, Anne Sissons, Audrey Smith and Sandra Jubb. PIC: YPN
Staff at Youngmans serve up of the last meals in the restaurant. Pictured, left to right, are Alice Brookes, Vivienne Bowers, Anne Sissons, Audrey Smith and Sandra Jubb. PIC: YPN
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"It is a sad day for us all," remarked William Bettison, whose wife Sylvia was the grand-daughter of Robert Youngman who founded the business. Mr Bettison said he and his wife had opted for an early retirement as the premises spanned the site of an ambitious development scheme. Queen Victoria Street was being transformed into a roofed shopping mall and the County Arcade was being lavishly refurbished.

Among the last customers on the last night were George Cooke and his wife Ivy who used visit when they were courting. The couple, from Moor Grange in Leeds, would dine at the restaurant when they went to the former Empire Theatre.

Another regular was Gladys Williamson from Beeston who visited the restaurant every Friday with her son James. "It is a shock for us. We shan't know where to go instead."

Fast forward to 2020 and memories of fish and chips at the restaurant still burn bright among members of Leeds Retro, the Yorkshire Evening Post facebook group which celebrates city nostalgia.

These include:

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Neil Brearley: "Used to love going in there when I was a kid after shopping in town with my mum."

Ian Jones - "Used to love going there. Was a proper treat."

Jennifer Kilby - "I had my 13th birthday dinner there! A shoppers special and a jelly!!!"

Brian Megson - Sure did love the place. Terrific fish and chips.

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Janet Denton - "Used to go in there with my mum.She loved it because you got a club biscuit free for after your fish and chips."

Denize Elder - "My grandma used to take me there for tea after Christmas shopping. Lush."

Lynda Beverley Mitton - "Used to go there with my mate Sheila from Woolworths. Happy days, wish life was like that now."

Gail Firth-Robertshaw - "Loved going in there with my mum, as a treat after shopping. Wish we still had these kind of places now."

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Did you enjoy fish and chips at Youngman's back in the day? Share your memories with Andrew Hutchinson via email at: [email protected] or tweet him - @AndyHutchYPN*******************

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