Boxer's Cafe - Tunsgate

[PopPicker]

I'm looking for info on this cafe, it was upstairs via a staircase from Tunsgate, the windows overlooked the High St.

I think it closed in the mid 70's.

The site is now occupied by a rather pricey restaurant.

Geoff

For further input please go to Revive45 (http://www.revive45.com)

Now occupied by the Olivetto restaurant, 124 High St Guildford

This upstairs cafe with it's entrance in the Tunsgate was the centre for the Bohemian's of Guildford...or at least the would be's. It was the meeting place for many, with more than one or two romances commencing over a cup of hot chocolate.

As I recall it was owned by an American (Canadian?) woman and her husband. He was the Saville Row suited type sporting a military 'tach and she was a rather loud, in voice and make up, woman who drank a lot. When drunk she would come in and converse and then had a tendancy to kick (sometimes literally) customers out, who either ignored her, made fun of her or who didn't have any drink in front them.

[PennyBlack]

OMG I remember Boxers !!! So long ago and yes it was just as you described. I often used to pop in for a cup of coffee

[PopPicker]

Hey PennyBlack what years did you used to go there ?

[PennyBlack]

Hi PopPicker - oooh goodness, long time ago now as I'm 61 this month so during my teen years. Oh but I wish so much we could turn back time and live those years again.
I used to go to Clarks Grammar School up the old Portsmouth Road and I've tried finding information on the internet about that but can't find anything anywhere.The school closed YEARS ago. Drives me mad actually because sites such as Friend Reunited are useless to me as both the schools - including this one - that I went to aren't listed. Which school did you go to?

[PopPicker]

I went to George Abbott and my time at Boxers was around 1969/70 before we moved to Sussex.

I do remember spending many Saturday mornings there, gossiping and chatting up and being chatted up and then wandering up to the Royal Oak for a swift half or two, even though I was under age at the time it did feel rather wicked and altogether grown up. We'd then walk back to Boxers to spend as long as we could there before being 'asked' to leave.

I've long since lost contact with all my friends and acquaintances from that time, of course moving to Australia didn't help.

One of the good things about it was that Boxers was a great leveler, there was an age range of probably 10 years and everyone got on with everyone else really well, so even though I was toward the bottom of that range I met some very interesting 'older' people, and I did grow up considerably during that time.

[PennyBlack]

You're making me smile! What you've remembered is so spot on describing the people and atmosphere.

Now I wonder if you remember this one - there was a nightclub halfway up the High Street and I'm cross as I can't remember the name now but it was accessed through a shop doorway! I went there a couple of times - tiny it was and it wasn't there that long.

I know what you mean about losing contact with everyone you know and sadly now that you're in Australia it must be hard especially as we are now older because those 'years' were so special and we remember them the most like they were yesterday.

So how come you moved to Australia? Have you been there long? My youngest son's best friend moved over there a couple of years ago to Adelaide and no, this guy isn't coming back. His poor mum is totally devastated and become ill since he left. She was once a smiling, happy, bubbly lady, now she's just quiet, doesn't smile much anymore. Its like someone has turned out a light in her life. So sad.

Do you have any relatives/family still living in the UK?

[PopPicker]

Sorry I don't remember the name, I was a bit young for nightclubs, but having said that a friend of mine had a band, Redearth, and I helped them set up one night in club hidden away off the high street, so perhaps it was the same one.

What part of Sussex do you live in, I used to be in Plaistow, near Petworth.

I came to Australia after I married my first wife, she was an Aussie and she dragged me over here and I ended up staying, I had a few opportunities to move back but quite honestly the traffic is just too much and spending 2 or three hours a day commuting didn't turn me on greatly.

My mum and sister live up north in the Pennines, very different from Surrey and Sussex but mum loves the quite rolling hills.