Thursday, 2 June 2011

NICOLL & SMIBERT - NETHERGATE SHOP

Here is a photo of the Nicoll & Smibert shop in the Nethergate, taken sometime in the late 60's.
Big thanks to Peter.
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22 comments:

  1. Bridie2 June 2011 at 11:44

    Fantastic...I loved Nicoll and Smiberts when I was wee. Would love to see some interior shots if anyone has them.

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  2. Neale E2 June 2011 at 11:49

    Then it became Brumbie Jumbos, with the Radio Tay advert that went:

    "Haven't you got a Brumbie Jumbos burger, madam?"

    "Eh, Eh e' i' a'."

    Ah the power of advertising, 30 plus years on!

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  3. Jim3 June 2011 at 01:40

    The restaurant (downstairs?) was quite large, as I remember, but then I was quite small at the time.

    It seems a pity to have lost all these outlets. Greggs has shown small shops can still compete with the supermarkets, but they operate on a bigger scale, bringing in stock from bakeries far outside Dundee.

    Surviving outlets like Goodfellow & Steven (and F&D round the corner in Whitehall St) don't compete on price.

    Re the earlier post, wasn't there another Andrew Kidd at one time? That was the reason for the "G".

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  4. Anonymous3 June 2011 at 03:43

    Could anyone else confirm that there was a balcony which went all the way around above the ground floor level.

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    1. Anonymous3 August 2023 at 08:15

      Yes, there was a balcony. I played for St James AFC and we had a dance there. The balcony had tables and chairs where you could sit and look down onto the dance floor which was normally the restaurant.

      Delete
  5. Tam3 June 2011 at 10:15

    I remember the tea room at the back did seem very big, had it not been a dance hall at some point in the past? I do seem to remember a baclony although could only have been about 6 or 7 when was there.

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  6. Anonymous4 June 2011 at 01:25

    N & S also had vans that went around schools at dinner time(peh on a roll anybody?).
    They had a door at the back and you actually climbed into the van and there was a wee counter where you got served.
    Some kids would hang about in that wee space in winter and you had to squeeze past them to get served, which was great if it was some sixth year pump.
    Is Smibert no a weird name, how many Smiberts do you know?

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  7. Peter4 June 2011 at 06:24

    When I worked at N&S....1963-65...the downstairs area housed the "fancy" restaurant and kitchens.

    The street level tearoom was less posh and had a full balcony above that acted as the snack bar. Food was transported from the kitchens below to the upper levels on a dumb waiter.

    On Saturday nights, the street level tearoom was used for dinner dances and the snack bar food dispensing area became the booze bar. A mirrored ball hung from the ceiling to give the "stardust" effect while the dancing was going on.

    The shop area consisted of the bakery on the left and the delicatessen on the right as you came in the front door.

    It was a busy, vibrant place to work, with probably around a hundred or so people employed on a daily basis plus additional workers brought in on Saturdays.

    It was like a wee self contained community in there.....happy memories.

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  8. RETRO DUNDEE4 June 2011 at 13:50

    Thanks for the lowdown, Peter.
    Your description conjures up a clearer picture of the interior and helps those, like me, who have a rather hazy memory of the place.

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  9. Graeme4 June 2011 at 15:13

    Spot on Retro, Peter's description does indeed paint a picture of what I remember from my visits in the 70's as a wee boy. I do remember being taken downstairs with my mum & granny and it being quite posh.

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  10. KYM GRAY (GOLDIE)13 June 2011 at 15:42

    I had a Saturday job in Nicoll & Smiberts from age 14 until it closed when I was nearly 16. Memories.

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  11. Peter16 June 2011 at 19:14

    Kym,what year did it close?

    Was Bob Watson still in charge of the Deli at the time?

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  12. George Shepherd21 April 2012 at 13:08

    The Nicol & Smibert van used to visit our street - in Downfield every day late 60's early 70's - Marion was the driver and I remember the coburg cakes were superb!!

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    1. kevin24 September 2021 at 02:09

      Marion was lovely, she used to stop at the back door of Lawside Academy every lunchtime, her and the Fred's van!

      Delete
  13. Anonymous30 November 2012 at 04:00

    Peter is spot on, I remember sitting on the balcony, near where the serving counter was, with my bridge roll (cheese) and looking down at the posh folk having a waiter-service lunch at tables with cloth tablecloths! The mirrored ball gave it a very stylish appearance (to my 1é year-old eyes. only had lunch downstairs once, as a guest of the mum of a wealthier friend - those were the days!

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  14. Anonymous30 April 2015 at 13:08

    would like to know if any one got more info about the smibert family please

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  15. Anonymous30 April 2015 at 13:12

    the post on the 4th june 2011 am one smibert it was my mum side of the family own it mum was a nicoll

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  16. Anonymous2 May 2015 at 01:50

    to let you know i have set up a facebook on about nicoll and smibert any one can join and to help me to fine out more info would help me

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous27 October 2024 at 22:13

      I am a Smibert, did you ever get more information

      Delete
  17. Unknown5 November 2017 at 05:06

    My father worked for Nicoll & Smibert when we returned home from Malaya Cora 1966/1969
    He was a driver on one of their vans and I would go out with him on Saturday’s into the highlands, could be very tricky in the winter with the snow and all !
    He would wrap two of N & S pies in foil and perch them on the engine so that they were nice and warm come dinner time.
    At the end of the day we would return back to the bakery warehouse where we would hand in all the fresh perishable goods which would end up as pig swill, but not before the man in charge would let me take home a load of fresh cream cakes for myself and my siblings....Memories....Fantastic.

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  18. Anonymous29 March 2021 at 12:56

    Nicoll & Smibert had electric mobile shops that when round Dundee. Before that they had electric vans which were sold to Fitchett Dairy's for milk delivery

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