Do you remember the Cat & Cucumber?

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• The Cat & Cucumber was still there at 120 Queens Rd in the final Kellys in 1974 which looks about the date of this image.

  By Dr Geoffrey Mead (09/03/2020)

• My parents owned this cafe from 1977 – 1979. It was located on the corner of Queens Road and Church Street. It used to be a pub called the Windsor Castle. I think the photo is earlier than 1977, I’m guessing early 1970s.

  By Ruth Bolton (18/12/2020)

• I thought the Windsor Castle used to be on the corner of Windsor Street and Church Street, where the Earth and Stars now stands.

  By Alan Phillips (18/12/2020)

• I think the pub you’re referring to Alan was just called the Windsor, whereas the Cat & Cucumber was formerly the Windsor Castle. Two different pubs with similar names just a stone’s throw apart.

  By Ruth Bolton (19/12/2020)

• My Dad, Toni Martelli knew the owners of the Cat and Cucumber Cafe. The owner used to work at my dad’s parents restaurant called the Petit Savoyard in Soho. I remember going there as a child. The owners wife was called Soulange. Angie.

  By Angie Martelli (21/11/2021)

• Hi Ruth,
  My Dad lived in Brighton in the 1970’s, I think he mentioned the Cat & Cucumber as he used to have his post delivered there for a short while.
  Is your Mum called June by any chance?
  Would be lovely to hear from you.
  Jan Dewhurst (Stockport)

  By Jan Dewhurst (29/11/2022)

• Many years ago my great grandfather Ben court, had the pub then the Windsor Castle pub . He was known as Mr entertainment because of running the theatre royal and music hall. His eldest daughter, Minnie, was my grandmother. His youngest daughter known as Courtie went to become well known for the men only and later cocktail bar at the Old ship,frequented by suchlike as princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon, Grace Kelly etc. My great grandmother was Jenny leech, her brother had a son called Archibald to become Cary Grant. Courty had a sea chalet in the arches near the milk bar. There were many interesting people that visited. Such an interesting time in Brightons history.

  By Chris Marshall (25/04/2023)

• According to Kelly’s directory, the building was still the Windsor Castle in 1970, so it must have opened as the Cat and Cucumber sometime between 1970 and 1974. There is a ‘Cat And Cucumber’ cafe in Tower Bridge Road, London, which one reviewer recalls visiting in the 1960s. Maybe there’s a connection. Various reliable sources on Google say that cats are scared of cucumbers, but a comment on the ‘shopfrontelegy’ blog claims the London cafe is so-named because a cat was found sunning itself on a consignment of cucumbers left outside the door.

  By Gill Wales (05/05/2023)

• What lovely reminiscences and interesting information from all the above commenters!

  By Susan D Smutny (28/07/2023)

• My parents (Solange and Buddha) owned the restaurant in the early 70’s I think 1971 to 77 (I therefore lived there during that time) . The snack bar to the left was a new addition in 74 I am guessing. We had some memorable birthday parties there for myself and my brother – with friends from St Paul’s school just up the road and Middle Street school.

  The restaurant had a huge cellar which served a great play space for us as children. I don’t know the background of the name and am pretty sure it was already in situ when we arrived but I will check with my mum when I get a chance.

  When we left my dad went on to open a deli in Preston Circus (the Orange Tree) and left to be a chef at the Metropole Hotel on Brighton Seafront.

  Along the same road was a tobacconists (Mr Warner’s I think), a music shop, a second hand book shop and nearer to the station a shop selling glass blown items with the owner plying his craft for all to see. Also a stamp and old coin shop which is still there.

  Some years later I went to Brighton Museum and they were displaying the mural of Windsor Castle which was recovered when the building was demolished.

  By Jon Ota (07/08/2023)