Established in 1964

Grumbles began in 1964. It was the time of the Beatles and Rolling Stones and there was an air of great fun. Anything seemed possible — it was the Sixties! Grumbles was the first restaurant in London with a silly name.

There were very few restaurants in London outside Soho, and Pimlico was then a slum. We managed to find these premises for £12 a week and spend our 'capital' of £300 on a lick of paint, an old domestic cooker and some wood which our friend Julian Hippisley knocked into the tables you see today.

Many things were happening in the world. Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment, BBC2 was launched, there was the great train robbery, Labour was back in power and Dr Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The most expensive dish on the menu was fillet steak at 9 shillings and sixpence (45p) and the house wine was the same. The average bill for two was well under £3.

We had two wonderful waitresses, Patsy and Sylvia, who not only were excellent waitresses but also attracted many customers. We were convinced that Patsy had invented the Mini skirt before Mary Quant!

In the early days, as we rushed around the tables, we hardly had time to notice the faces of the likes of The Beatles, Mamas and Papas, Julie Christie, Michael Foot, Christine Keeler, Ian le Frenais, Rod Steiger and so many many more, as well as Jane Lapotaire sometimes helping me with the washing up!

After thirty years, I handed over the helm to Charles Tidman and in 2011, Alex Turnbull took over and has cheerfully kept it on the same track. 

Jeremy Friend
Founder

Photographed with Alex Turnbull, Current Owner