The former owner of a much loved restaurant that hosted weddings and birthday meals for generations of families said having fun and being a little "ahead of its time" was key to its success.
Pastime Restaurant had been a fixture in Hamilton Square, Birkenhead for 25-years before it closed in 1998. The business was started by Rod Heron and his head chef brother, Brian, back in 1974.
The brothers took possession of a basement in an old Georgian building in Hamilton Square. Previously, Brian had worked as a chef at the Royal Restaurant in Hanover Street, Liverpool, while Rod had been a manager.
READ MORE: Family life in Liverpool captured in generations of photos
Deciding to bring together their experiences, they opened Pastime Restaurant in a basement that had previously been the Lucky Chinese Restaurant. The success of the venture soon meant the business grew, occupying more basements in the building and eventually the whole of number 42 Hamilton Square.
Speaking about how quickly the restaurant grew in popularity, Rod, 80, told the ECHO: "Birkenhead Market was there when we first started. We used to get people in on, I think, Wednesday, which was market day, and then people coming in on business lunches and it got busier."
At their busiest, Rod said diners would have to book six-weeks in advance just to reserve a table. Asked why the restaurant proved so popular, the former owner said he believed it was because it was a bit different from anything else around.
He said: "What was around was like Bernie Inns and scampi and chips in a basket, that sort of thing. But Brian worked in hotels so he had that experience. I wouldn't say it was fine dining but it was a little bit above what others were doing.
For more nostalgia stories, sign up to our Liverpool Echo newsletter here.
"One of the main things people used to go on about, we used to have about 10 veg and we used to reel them off and customers would choose two or three. I think that at the time seemed to be a novelty."
Adding: "People seem to remember the steak Rossini's and French onion soup. We used to put a crouton with parmesan cheese and people had never had that in them days."
However, there was one particular time an unusual item made its way onto the menu that surprised Rod as well as his customers. Rod said: "I think we were just a little bit ahead of our time.
"We used to have stuff on the menu like bear and crocodile. In those days lots of stuff was unheard of.
"I think a bear had died at a zoo - there was nothing wrong with it. For some reason they said are you interested in bear meat, it's okay to eat.
"So we said yes and that went down quite well. It was in the days when rules and regulations were a lot freer - not like now."
Over the next quarter-of-a-century, the restaurant grew both in size and custom. People who dined there remember it as THE place to celebrate a special occasion such as a wedding or birthday.
The latest series of Memory Lane is in major retailers including Asda, Tesco, Home Bargains and selected newsagents now. This series of the bumper picture special looks at fun in the sun - with stunning photographs and treasured memories of family holidays from years gone by. You can also buy Memory Lane online here.
Rod said: "I don't know why people used us for special occasions as we weren't that posh but we were probably a little bit different, especially being down in a basement." The restaurant later expanded vertically with the creation of a banqueting suite on the first floor overlooking the square.
Rod said: "People used to get married at the Town Hall across the road and have their photos taken in Hamilton Square and then they would come to the restaurant," adding: "We would see people get married there and then their kids would come. And then before you know where they are, the kids were 16 and having birthdays there."
Do these awaken any memories for you? Let us know in the comments section below.
The friendly, family atmosphere the restaurant became known for was down not just to Rod and head chef Brian being brothers, but also the generations of his own family that worked there. Rod said: "My mum helped, she looked after the cleaning side of it all. My sister worked there as a waitress and then all the kids as they grew up helped."
Later, the family also opened a fancy dress shop above the restaurant as a new business venture. Rod said on New Year, they would encourage customers arriving in fancy dress, many of who would have purchased their outfits from the shop upstairs.
Recently, an ex-employee of Pastime Restaurant, Terry Fenlon, created a Facebook group where people could share photos, memories and even old recipes from the kitchen. One person wrote: "Visited on many occasions for work lunches, birthdays and anniversaries. The food and service was amazing and Rod ran a tight ship and excelled in being his usual charming self. Thank you for the good times xxx".
Another posted: "Was the best restaurant by far, the food was amazing thanks to Brian. The restaurant was beautiful, absolutely spotless the decor was beautiful, fantastic atmosphere. Worked there for two years with the lovely Rod. Wish it was still there."
Reflecting on his years running the much loved family restaurant, Rod said: "You don't really think at the time that you're creating memories for people. I just wanted people to have a good time and good food."
READ NEXT:
Best school trips kids on Merseyside remember from Rhyl to Colomendy
Legendary Liverpool nightclub that became an institution in the city
Naked initiations and posh nosh at Liverpool's lost revolving restaurant in the sky
Lime Street's lost Las Vegas arcade where kids 'bunked' school to spend pocket money
17 unearthed photos show lost Liverpool shopping parade in the 90s
