Does anyone remember Huckleberry's? It was like a Wimpy. There used to be one in Putney, London, in the early 1980s. There was an advert on the TV which used to go, "But have you ever been to Huckleberry's, you just ain't lived!" It's driving me mad because nobody remembers it!! I used to love their huckleburgers. Huckleberry's were a fast food chain owned by Grand Metropolitan with outlets in London and the South East, Oxford St, Tottenham Court Road, Queensway, Wood Green, Sheperds Bush, Putney, Lewisham, Southend, Crawley, Brighton, Portsmouth, Southhampton, Northhampton and Oxford. I worked with them as a Duty Manager from 1983 to 1985. QSC, Quality, Service and Cleanliness were the words and actions that have kept me in work ever since.They tried to compete with the competition by breading fresh chicken, battering fresh cod and their own take on burgers. Huckleburger, Doubledecker, cheese and hamburger, fries, onion rings, apple pie and milkshakes were also on the menu. The colour scheme was red and white but changed to blue and white for the new stores. Chuckleberry the clown with Christopher Biggins as a side kick was the mascot. I have fond memories of working with some great people. We worked as a team, hard work but fun. I was there for the takeover by Wimpy, but it was not the same atmosphere.
FOOD & DRINK
Do You Remember Huckleberry's Burger Bar?
Do You Remember Huckleberry's Burger Bar?
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XXX
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Just come across this site, I trained in Southampton at the Bargate, used to be a disco, in 1979? I have many happy memories of my time there. John Fleming was the MD, John Gillespie as OD, Keith Duke, John Jarvis etc as DMs. I was Store Manager at Northampton, with Patrick Ormone & Julie Stone as deputy managers for over a year then was moved Tottenham Court Road. John Servant (ex Wimpy OD) then took over. Within another 2 years sold to Wimpy. Such a shame.
We did the best burgers, chicken & fish at the time. McDonald's actually considered as a major threat but we were sold down the river. RIP Huckleberry's.
Martin Sergison (ex senior manager).
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Ashmuji
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JohnJarvis was my first Area manager. In Watford, John Servant was a regular visitor as he lived nearby. He was ex Wimpy hence sale to Wimpy came as no surprise..
You must know Joe Figoni at TCR.
Julie Stone rings a bell.
When Wimpy got sold, John Gillespie askes me to join him at Chef and Brewer to help open first food court in Basildon with Mike Newton and Francis Addy. Three of us were team at Southend.
Ahsan Ahmedi.
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sjk4158
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Joe Fulgone - would love to meet up with him again...
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overlandandsea
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I worked at Huckleberry's in the early 1980's part time on the weekends and during school holidays. This was Watford High Street (became a Wimpy afterwards). Used to work the early shift with my best friend Sue Ferris prepping food for the day, placing cheese in a star formation, cutting lettuce, dredging the chicken in flour. I would also do the birthday parties upstairs. Sad to say I left due to a manager's harrasment by his new girlfriend. Our orginal manager was great. I used to hang with some of the folks after work and go out to Bailey's Night Club etc. Romeo and Heather were a couple that worked there at the same time. Uniform was hideous brown and orange stripes.
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Andyc2050
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That wasn’t Patrick and heather was it, they cam to Northampton where I worked as shift manager.
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Andyc2050
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That wasn’t Patrick and heather was it, they cam to Northampton where I worked as shift manager.
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Ashmuji
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Was there in 1983 as duty manager for 3-4 months
Manager was Francis Addy who went out (secretly) with a Chinese supervisor called Ho Sin I think.
Avril and Shioban worked there. Cant remember other.
Loved it there and we used to go to Baileys as a group. A couple if doors away was a Ponderosa American diner.
Ahsan Ahmedi
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black99jack
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Hi not my first job but in the start up crew in southend high st now burger kings. Still use the broiler not the grill. Should have stayed huckelberrys
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Ashmuji
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Hi .
I was at southend as asst manager with francis Addy. 1983/4.
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Thesniki5
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I used to live in Surrey in 1981
I do remember the advertising. I quote it regularly!!!
This is what I recall “ you might have been to Timbuktu or up the Nile in a canoe, but if you have been to Huckleberry’s you just ain’t lived”
Thought I was the only one!!!
Howdy from Dallas Texas!!!
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BOMBA777
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There was one in London, N22...they did the best fish sandwich ever created on earth, Hot, tasty fish in the thinnest, crispest batter, perfect sauce & served in bread with caraway seeds. I miss it like I do Wendy's 3/4lb'er with triple extra everything.
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brianjeasley
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Does anyone have any photos of Huckleberry's memorabilia, or the restaurants themselves? I'm putting a book together, sort of a corporate history of my company, Druther's, formerly known as Burger Queen. We were the ones who brought Huckleberry's to the UK! Send any Huckleberry's photos to contact@drutherssystems.com
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Andyc2050
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Hi I us3d to work at Northampton branch for around 3 years. Fab fun, met loads of people still friends with now. Menu was Great, chicken portions, fish and chips, all sorts of stuff. Competed with McDonald’s every day but we swapped food when we got board. Legendary after shift parties. Refused to dress as mr Hucklebuerger though. I have some napkins and logos I think.
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brianjeasley
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Hello from across the pond! Huckleberry's was actually a part of my company at the time, Druther's! We started as thr Burger Queen chain of restaurants, and rebranded the entire chain to Druther's Restaurants. We opened up locations in the UK under the name Huckleberry's. In 1990 we converted the entire chain of restaurants to Dairy Queens, in the next few years that's when I assume Huckleberry's closed. Glad to see folks still remember! Thanks for your question, hope I could help!
-Brian Easley
Vice President, Druther's Systems
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
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Indigogroup
on
Haven't been on here for sometime. Lots of new relevant info since I was last here. I find it really strange there is so much mystery regarding Huckleberry's, especially as they came from America, they must of had a track record in America before they came to the UK. They must have been quite a large company, as when they came to the UK they opened quite a few branches very quickly. It was a real shame that Burger King were buying up everything at the time, not only did we lose wonderful Huckleberry's we also lost the big counter service Wimpy's as well. From what I'm hearing Wimpy are talking about opening lots of new restaurants here in the UK, so we may have a return to company owned counter service Wimpy restaurants. Shame we can't say the same for Huckleberry's, they were the best, they had the best concept and the best food all under one roof.
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BUGS
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i remember the one that was in lewisham london se13 that i went to in the early 1980.s i loved there huckleburger i used to go there every lunch time when i worked at solex carburetters does anyone in lewisham remember what happened to the huckleberry's burger bar as i remember going there for lunch and finding the burger bar had been closed and never reopened
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lucymilton
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I remember that same one in Lewisham, but sadly nobody else I speak to does haha
My mum used to take my sister and I there occasionally if we were doing some shopping in the department stores like Army & Navy. I was born in 78 so i was only young when i used to go, so don't know wot happened to it.
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Indigogroup
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Hu
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