Who remembers having a knickerbocker glory in Fortes?

Wendy Weaver… They always looked lovely but my mother couldn’t afford things like that. When I had my own money I never got around to buying one😋 We had several large Forte establishments in Bournemouth including The Barbecue where Ted Heath, Edmundo Ros, Mantovani played. Charles Forte lived in Bournemouth for a while.

Matt Thomas… They still do them in Rainbow Restaurant

Alan Wood… Yes, was a Grans treat for me, very occasionally in Hastings

Nicola Barfield… Omg yes and they used to do the extra large brandy glass with Eccles cake in bottom so many other cakes with ice cream then loads of cream

Eric Harmer… Free one from Phil ? I think , as my mum worked there

Dennis Torrance… Yes and also lime ice cream sodas

John Coleman… Had one yesterday! In Liverpool! WTH cookie dough & salted Caramel!

Charlie Ball… Yep

Steve Thorpe… Nice ones in Dimarcos!

Jan Warren… Fortes on Bexhill Seafront opposite “Ags” amusement centre, we all used to hang out there in the 60s/early 70s!!

Lyn Humphrey… Yep, and also had one last month in Simply Italian at E/B Harbour!

Pauline Richards… Banana split was my favourite

Monica Bane… No way as good as they use to be with jelly and real cream not cheap at over a fiver!

Mike Guy… My goodness, you were rich!

Dave Nattress… In Bexhill as Jan Warren said we had the Forte’s Ice Cream/knickerbocker glory/coffee bar on the seafront on the corner of Wilton Road opposite the amusements, round the corner from the Wimpey bar in Devonshire Road, and along from the Continental cafe/restaurant and basement club. Used to gravitate from one to another. Across the road by the amusements was a little late night club – drinks after hours – forget the name now – was it the Arcadian? Could have made that name up. There might even have been another little place along from that one for a short while. On the corner the RAF club. Further along was the Bexhill club – far too straight for a bunch of long-haired weekend hippies, no way would we have got in there, or wanted to. It was for people back then who were at the age I am now – which is very old! We were never gonna be that old. Never thought about getting old or anything like, being young was going on forever and in many respects you bet, it has. You know the old gag, went out with a girl the other night but it was all knickerbocker(s) and no glory!! Had to lower the tone!! The Criterion – one in Western Road the other (think it was also The Criterion opposite the DLW did knickerbocker glories and all sorts of ice-cream. The old type with little chunks of actual ice – remember those? Hastings seemed to have many more ice ream parlours.

Jan Warren… Hey thanks Dave for the guided tour of Bexhill “hang-outs”, circa 1969/70!! – I remember all those groovy places too!! – but going back to “Ags” amusement arcade ……. d’you remember the basement, which had a jukebox, many pinball machines and a football table …….. many of us used to meet there, drinking cider, smoking, playing the jukebox ……. also, outside on the steps ……. playing guitars (Andy Towner?) ……. and Fred, the owner of “Ags” telling us to “tone it down”?! – and all the local bikers parked up along the seafront?! …. and we would go to and from “Ags” and “Fortes”, and some of our friends had small bedsits in Wilton Road, and “Lindsey” the “dealer” with his hippy bag, and Joe Gladwish, the local “down ‘n’ out” who is amazingly still walking these streets as I see him often and always stop for a chat and a hug, he is a Bexhill “legend”, love him to bits!! – OK Dave, hope you will comment or add to this, thanks matey, I LOVE nostalgia, especially the local stuff!

James Westlake… Yes, a special treat

Nick Prince… Oh yes!

Josie Lawson… Had one but not sure it was Fortes

Marion… I remember Fortes in Bexhill very well. I enjoyed every school holiday during the 50s and 60s in Bexhill and it was a great treat to go to Fortes and have a knickerbocker glory, usual paid for by my grandparents.

Mike Guy… Bloody hell – you were rich

Chris Meachen… Dimarcos were best

Jane Hartley… Definitely Dimarco’s

Jo Turner… Always wanted one. Never allowed

Andrea Sutton… I remember going into Fortes in Hastings as a child and having knickerbocker glories. My mother and father use to meet there in the 1950’s and spend there courting days at Fortes.

Pauline Richards… It was opposite the old swimming baths where skateboard place is in Hastings

Gay… I was taken to the Westover Road, Bournemouth, Fortes and bought a knickerbocker glory to celebrate the birth of my cousin Sheila. It was a huge treat.

Wendy Weaver… There is still a Fortes in St Leonards on the seafront, two shops east of the Warrior Square corner. They are of the original family and do really good pizzas. I’m sure they would do a knickerbocker glory – they are really nice people. We have been there a few times – would go there more often but it is too difficult to park.

Pauline Richards… Wendy, they’ve just taken the old bank over next door now and are extending their menu

Wendy Weaver… Pauline, That is good news. They were in that building before but then let it out (I think). I hope they do a genuine Italian menu – including Cannoli

Jan Cunliffe… I remember sitting in the underground arcade with the greasers. I thought I was so cool, must have been 12 or 13 at the time. We used to go to a pub and use a back room, play darts and drink away all the other punters. Terry, Paul, Steve Jones, gosh! A lifetime ago. When did we get so old? And how the hell did I get away with going to the pub at that age?

Jeff Belton… had my first one in the 1970’s, love them , yum yum

Martin Applewhite… I never had the Knickerbocker Glory but in the summer of 1976 or 1977 I worked at Forte’s as a summer job, mainly in the coffee shop adjoining the restaurant. We made a nice breakfast!

Jacqui Martin… Yep……….I used to make them, also banana splits. I worked there for a few years when I was at school. Summer holidays and weekends. Making them was my favourite but as they were probably the most expensive they weren’t ordered that much. I spent many happy evening there with friends

Matt Thomas… You can get one now in The Rainbow

Mick O’Dowd… Used to make these up when I worked at Orio di Mascio (later The Italian Way) back in the 60’s! Loved ’em!

Phil Dance… Mick, wasn’t it Iorio? Couldn’t afford one, but used to make them up for customers in Divitos Queens Road.

Wendy Weaver… Before Fortes opened the Westover Road premises it was a place called The Barbecue with a huge dance hall at the back. All the big dance bands came there : Joe Loss, Mantovani, Edmundo Ross, Ted Heath, etc . I saw all these bands, great memories. I was an only child and used to get taken to all the night clubs etc. Great experience.

Alan Wood… Oh yes ,Thankfully can still remember thank you Nan x

Carol Arnold… Used to make them in Fortes in 1969!

Dennis Torrance… Heaven in a glass

 

9 thoughts on “Who remembers having a knickerbocker glory in Fortes?”

  1. In Bexhill as Jan Warren said we had the Forte’s Ice Cream/knickerbocker glory/coffee bar on the seafront on the corner of Wilton Road opposite the amusements, round the corner from the Wimpey bar in Devonshire Road, and along from the Continental cafe/restaurant and basement club. Used to gravitate from one to another. Across the road by the amusements was a little late night club – drinks after hours – forget the name now – was it the Arcadian? Could have made that name up. There might even have been another little place along from that one for a short while. On the corner the RAF club. Further along was the Bexhill club – far too straight for a bunch of long-haired weekend hippies, no way would we have got in there, or wanted to. It was for people back then who were at the age I am now – which is very old! We were never gonna be that old. Never thought about getting old or anything like, being young was going on forever and in many respects you bet, it has. You know the old gag, went out with a girl the other night but it was all knickerbocker(s) and no glory!! Had to lower the tone!! The Criterion – one in Western Road the other (think it was also The Criterion opposite the DLW did knickerbocker glories and all sorts of ice-cream. The old type with little chunks of actual ice – remember those? Hastings seemed to have many more ice ream parlours.

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  2. I remember Fortes in Bexhill very well. I enjoyed every school holiday during the 50s and 60s in Bexhill and it was a great treat to go to Fortes and have a knickerbocker glory usual paid for by my grandparents.

    Reply
  3. Hi my Mother and Father use to spend there courting days at Fortes Hastings , I remember going as a child and having knickerbocker glories

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  4. I was taken to the Westover Road, Bournemouth, Fortes and bought a knickerbocker glory to celebrate the birth of my cousin Sheila. It was a huge treat.

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  5. I remember sitting in the underground arcade with the greasers. I thought I was so cool, must have been 12 or 13 at the time. We used to go to a pub and use a back room, play darts and drink away all the other punters. Terry, Paul, Steve Jones, gosh! A lifetime ago. When did we get so old? And how the hell did I get away with going to the pub at that age?

    Reply
  6. I never had the Knickerbocker Glory but in the summer of 1976 or 1977 I worked at Forte’s as a summer job, mainly in the coffee shop adjoining the restaurant. We made a nice breakfast!

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  7. Yep……….I used to make them, also banana splits. I worked there for a few years when I was at school. Summer holidays and weekends. Making them was my favourite but as they were probably the most expensive they weren’t ordered that much. I spent many happy evening there with friends.

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