The odd square of cleared land is all that remains to show the cafe on the Chester Road at Shire Oak ever existed. Planning applications have come and gone, but the cafe was demolished and no developer has taken the site on. Imagery from Apple Maps.
There’s something come in a few weeks ago I think will make a good question for a Bank Holiday weekend, and it’s a subject I’ve been meaning to mention for years – the lost transport cafe on the Chester Road between Shire Oak Crossroads.
My generation called it ‘Greasy Lil’s’ although I think it was called the Shire Oak Cafe. I only went in once and remember it being a bit dingy, but busy. I believe it finally closed in the early 1990s.
Reader Phil asked:
Hi Bob
Do you remember the name of the now demolished diner/restaurant that was situated on the A452 near the quarry?
It was located on the Shire Oak nature reserve side in between Lichfield Road and Castlehill Road.
Regards
Phil
It was certainly a popular place, and like other lost independent transport cafes – places like The Four Winds in Heath Hayes, Taylors Cafe in Brownhills, The Wishing Well at Rugeley and Maria’s at Hints near Tamworth, memories of them trigger recollections of a lost age.
I believe it may have been owned and run by a chap called Sid Cohen for a while, but I may be confused with the similar cafe that existed further down the Chester Road, later to become a Little Chef and is now an Indian Restaurant.
Does anyone have any memories of this lost roadhouse? Even better, are there any pictures?
If you can help, please do: Comment here or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.
Despite repeated applications, the site of the cafe remains stubbornly undeveloped.