| During the Second World War there were many food
shortages including biscuits, cereals,
cheese, eggs, margarine, meat, milk, and tea.
By the summer of 1942 most foodstuffs
were rationed, except for fresh vegetables, fruit, fish
and bread.
British Restaurants were set up to feed people in
need. After the war, the Civic Restaurants Act 1947
enabled those that were profitable to continue as Civic
Restaurants. In 1949 there were 678 of them in the UK.
The
Civic Restaurants Act allowed them to apply
to the local licensing authority for permission to sell
alcohol on the premises.
Many Civic Restaurants were also used for functions such as
wedding receptions. By the time that rationing ended in 1954
only a few of them still remained.
'Cash and carry' meals were also available for people
holding parties etc. at home. In Wolverhampton there
were Civic Restaurants at Monmore Green, Dunkley Street,
Walsall Street and Dudley Road. On average the four
restaurants produced 2,500 mid-day meals between them,
along with 200 mid-day meals for various factories etc.,
3,150 mid-day meals for school children along with 750
cold 'cash and carry' meals.
The restaurants provided a vital service during the
food rationing era. By 1953 there were just two left in
Wolverhampton, Dunkley Street and Walsall Street,
providing around 1,000 meals each day. |
