1870's Swiss Cottage station was built for the Metropolitan Railway in 1868, just five years after the London Underground opened in 1863, almost the same time as Express Dairy was founded. Spiers and Pond started in 1858 when they built the ‘Cafe de Paris’ in Australia, and then spotted an opportunity to provide refreshment facilities in London, where they built refreshment rooms around the network. (Stills from Secrets of the London Underground' UKTV)
1870's Swiss Cottage station was built for the Metropolitan Railway in 1868, just five years after the London Underground opened in 1863, almost the same time as Express Dairy was founded. Spiers and Pond started in 1858 when they built the ‘Cafe de Paris’ in Australia, and then spotted an opportunity to provide refreshment facilities in London, where they built refreshment rooms around the network. (Stills from Secrets of the London Underground' UKTV)
1870's Swiss Cottage station was built for the Metropolitan Railway in 1868, just five years after the London Underground opened in 1863, almost the same time as Express Dairy was founded. Spiers and Pond started in 1858 when they built the ‘Cafe de Paris’ in Australia, and then spotted an opportunity to provide refreshment facilities in London, where they built refreshment rooms around the network. (Stills from Secrets of the London Underground' UKTV)
1870's Swiss Cottage station was built for the Metropolitan Railway in 1868, just five years after the London Underground opened in 1863, almost the same time as Express Dairy was founded. Spiers and Pond started in 1858 when they built the ‘Cafe de Paris’ in Australia, and then spotted an opportunity to provide refreshment facilities in London, where they built refreshment rooms around the network. (Stills from Secrets of the London Underground' UKTV)
1905 Refreshment Menu for winter. (Courtesy Gerald Croxford)
1905 Christmas Price List (Courtesy Gerald Croxford)
1905 Depot and 'Refreshment Depot' List (Courtesy Gerald Croxford)
(Courtesy Gerald Croxford)
1920's? Depot and Restaurant List (Courtesy Gerald Croxford)
1913 Express Tea Shop menu
1916 Express Dairy tea rooms on corner by Elephant and Castle station on the City and South London Railway (now the Northern Line), with original domed roof. (Courtesy London Transport Collection)
1920's? Tea cup and saucer, College Farm. (Courtesy Paul Smith)
(Courtesy Gerald Croxford)
(Courtesy Gerald Croxford)
1930's? Express Dairy Restaurant Menu. (Courtesy Gerald Croxford)
1933 Rooftop view of Hammersmith (District/Piccadilly line) station, in the background is a sign: Express Dairy Co Ltd Luncheons Teas Suppers. (Courtesy London Transport Collection)
1950's? Retail Depots and Restaurants (Courtesy Paul Luke)
1958 New Bucklersbury Restaurant (near Bank station in London)
1958 New Bucklersbury Restaurant (near Bank station in London)
1959 'Tavistock' restaurants offer waitress service; profile of 'Stonehouse' near Liverpool Street station. (Express News March)
1959 'Tavistock' restaurants offer waitress service; profile of 'Stonehouse' near Liverpool Street station. (Express News March)
1959 'Tavistock' restaurants offer waitress service; profile of 'Stonehouse' near Liverpool Street station. (Express News March)
1959 Restaurant Manageresses dinner at Firs Hall, Winchmore Hill, later acquired by Beales Hotels. (Express News March)
1960 New style Fleet Street restaurant
1960 New style Fleet Street restaurant
1960 New style Fleet Street restaurant
1961 Spiers and Pond supplement
1965 Eating Out-Dinner for two at the Oxford Street Chicken Inn. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 Griddle Inn menu. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 Artists impression of a quick-serve alternative-Griddle Inn-with more limited menu. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 Eating Out-Dinner for two at the Oxford Street Chicken Inn. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 Management comments on the Chicken Inn. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 Oxford Street, Haymarket and Leicester Square already open, more planned at Baker Street, Argull Street and Victoria. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 Chicken Inn menu. (Express News Summer/Autumn)
1965 Alcove Restaurant, Kensington High Street "reflects a new trend in Express Catering. The downstairs embrances a bar and other sumptuous touches". (Express News Spring)
1965 Miss B. King and Mrs C. Sweet receive the Good Housekeeping Cup for the Artillery Row restaurant. (Express News Spring)
1965 London Management Dinner (April Express News)
1966 Express night-time operations Page 3 (Express News Summer 1966)
1966 Restaurant Management Dinner(Courtesy Beryl Purslove)
1967 Artillery Row Restaurant between Victoria and Westminster in Central London
1967 Artillery Row Restaurant between Victoria and Westminster in Central London
1967 Artillery Row Restaurant between Victoria and Westminster in Central London
1967 Artillery Row Restaurant between Victoria and Westminster in Central London
1967 Artillery Row Restaurant between Victoria and Westminster in Central London
1967 Chicken Inns in Central London
1967 Chicken Inns in Central London
1967 Chicken Inns in Central London
1967 Chicken Inns in Central London
1967 Chicken Inns in Central London
1968 Mrs Gladys Wellington from Manchester, Jamaica as an entree hand at the Carnival Cafeteria, Horseferry Road
1968 Horseferry Road restaurant re-styling
1968 Horseferry Road restaurant re-styling
1968 Horseferry Road restaurant re-styling
1968 Horseferry Road restaurant re-styling
1968 Part of a 'Backing Britain' campaign, where Express pegged their prices for 6 months because of a national financial crisis. See the shop sign "Express Pegs Prices until 31st March" in the Chicken Inn window. (Express News Spring)
1968 Feature promoting the importance of women in Express - Mrs Joyce Dunk, Manageress, Strand Restaurant. (Express News Spring)
1970 Berni Inns becomes part of the Group - Llandoger Trow in Bristol
1972 Twin sisters Daisy Arnold and Mrs May Beck live together at Morden after working in Express tea shops and restaurants. Daisy is second from the left in the lower picture, in 1921. (Express News Spring)
2023 Express Tea Shop at London Bridge being redeveloped as a Starbucks (Courtesy IanVisits, Ian Mansfield)
