Our Canteens (1951)

This is a 12 minute documentary about how London Transport Canteens feed the thousands of staff each and every day.

[@richdorak1547]

So wonderful to see such humanity , comradery and dedication in real life. Watching this in 2024 shows just how much the world has diminished .

[@elrjames7799]

Yes: public service interest and provision is now subordinated to private contractors.

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Many large industries and businesses had canteens. For a very small amout one could have a decent substantial slap up meal. Love the smile on the face of the dinner lady at 6:05 - what a lovely lady!

[@trevordance5181]

The main Royal Mail postal sorting office next to East Croydon Station not only had a subsidized canteen/restaurant, it had a bar too complete with jackpot fruit machines. Different days back then!

[@layde1]

We used to take canteens for granted in the workplace, now it is a luxury. We even had tea trolleys. All gone. Now staff just buy unhealthy fast food.

[@Isleofskye]

When I worked, well not actually "worked" but appeared on a daily basis there, the highlight of the morning and afternoon was the biscuit trolley....

[@Isleofskye]

One does one's best B. M......One does one's best, my friend...

[@jrperez1592]

For about 75 years the company I work for had a canteen with staff and kitchen. I started there in 2005 and in 2018 they took out he canteen and put in vending machines. My god what an awful decision.

[@plauditecives]

So nice to see a proper cup of tea.

[@ekspatriat]

Seconded to British Leyland Longbridge 79/80. The canteen was ace. Breakfast for me was bacon and egg sarnie. You got asked 'want dip'? I always said yes so the sarnie was dunked in a big hot tray of bacon fat! Ate it with a tea and a fag with the ashtray of a Mini Metro hub cap.

[@slippers4648]

An absolutely charming film.

[@MikeMike-hx3gm]

Really interesting. My late mum told me she'd once been a nippy in a Lyons Corner House

[@jackjones4248]

"TfL no longer employs catering staff. The last kitchen was privatized in 1993. The majority have closed or been converted into cafes that sell overpriced sandwiches to Central London office workers. For the drivers, cleaners, and engineers that work for TfL, the matter of a hearty lunch is now an entirely private concern."

[@analogueman123456787]

A similar story on British Rail. Some staff canteens escaped the immediate axe upon privatisation, but only until the end of the Millennium. These days, with Network Rail seeking to maximise revenue from station premises, it's all over-priced coffee shops, Sainsburys Locals and McDonalds. I really miss our old canteens... 😞

[@mikem443]

Really enjoyed thanks

[@alexmckenna1171]

Where did things go wrong? Even the Police don't have canteens now, and I suppose few companies do, if any.

[@rollingtones1]

Alex McKenna my business takes me to many office parks, and every large building in the USA that houses office workers has their own lunch room. Same thing holds true for factories.

[@MrDaiseymay]

I may be wrong, but having watched American TV COP series, like Kojac etc, during the 1970's, I was appalled at seeing them eating burger's and other junk food, while sitting in their Patrol cars, and I think that influenced the authorities in Britain , and elsewhere. When I was a teenager in the 1950's, it was a complete no-no to be seen eating food in the street, except for the traditional Bag of chips. Drinking from cans and bottles was frowned on too. Consequently, you seldom saw a public waste bin overflowing with uneaten food and wrappings.

[@Richardsrailway]

Opening shot is Newbury Park bus shelter

[@lindabingham394]

i remember in gradeschool in us the lunch ladys cooked real food didnt just open a can and cook fozen food it was good feed back then and most of the ladies where local farmers wives who knew how to cook

[@bigooman2396]

The simple days so so far far far gone😣😭😭😭.

[@BermondseySteve]

Today's young usually assume what they see today is the way it's always been, tho they can't imagine how we survived without 'smart' phones & laptops.

[@arilebon]

Gosh -- perhaps when employees were valued more than they are now?

[@motorridder]

Best of Britain 😊😊😊😊

[@jeffmee763]

You get a coffee machine and a chocolate machine that rips you off if you are lucky. In the 50s and 60s we were looked after better than now you felt like you were working for a good company.

[@fauxmanchu8094]

Jeff Mee Very sad.

[@ladytron9188]

Definitely

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

Food served by the women to help a man do his job.

[@vipsmart5250]

Love the good old days

[@adscri]

Another world.

[@rp7159]

And we Brits ruled it.

[@colinsteam]

The generation that stopped Hitler in his tracks could teach today’s youth AND immigrants a lesson in what made this island nation so great.

[@trevordance5181]

I bet London Transport hasn't looked after its staffs culinary and welfare needs like this for donkey's years, especially since all the garages and buses are now run by various private companies. Such a shame that worthwhile in house services like this are long gone and everything now is run "on the cheap". Does anyone know whereabouts in Croydon the distribution depot was and when it was finally closed down.

[@petesmitt]

Croydon Food Production Centre located at Progress Way in Purley near Croydon, 1950 - 1983.

[@altheliterate]

I don't mean to brag, but my shop has TWO, count them two whole vending machines for us.

[@vulgivagu]

I first worked in the 1960's. Then , an for some time after, workers had their cooked meal at midday. Now it is sandwiches or something from the bakers or takeaway and the main meal is in the evening. Outsourcing today has wrecked the way workers are treated anyway. Ask any agency worker.

[@nazarene5680]

Amazing we made our own stuff then. Bring back British manufacturing and jobs.

[@j.j.1064]

Canteens are now consigned to history. There's a Dr Beeching mentality that looks for cuts wherever they can find them.

[@rp7159]

The bloke at 11.20 went home satisfied. 😊

[@havingalook2]

Is there any such canteens now for the various transport works? Anywhere?

[@Ass_Burgers_Syndrome]

I think they still have them on the Underground. At least they did when I left.

[@windbag45]

Canteens still exist in garages that were under the London Transport banner. The canteens are tendered out to private companies.

[@thomash4578]

You will have to do the best you can. A good philosophy

[@weerobot]

Needs 50s Music...Shower scene unexpected...nearly choked on my Ovaltine ...

[@tonybrenland5363]

they was great canteens i did ten years on buses ate in most garages in london and baker street top grub top women doing it , sad see it all go , it wasent dear eaither not subsidiesed but not making big profits others

[@karljoachimgoll]

What is the dish at 0:30??? ❓

[@Dresdenflower]

Mashed potatoes, veggies and chicken or turkey meatballs I think.

[@karljoachimgoll]

@@Dresdenflower Thank you.

[@SharkoonBln]

@@Dresdenflower Veggies look like cauliflower.

[@lesreed9269]

Love all these old vids - but the "exaggerated working class accents" piss me orf!

[@TheStu55]

I never saw any money exchanged. Meals were free?

[@plauditecives]

No -- look at 9:05 -- money being exchanged.

[@juliebrooke6099]

Heavily subsidised. Not many left now but the Houses of Parliament still have a subsidised ( by the taxpayer ) restaurant.

[@RobertRedford77]

Lovely films.

[@joseph-mariopelerin7028]

heh... i wan't to be fed at work too! how did we loose loose those canteens as a society??? how one day, decided that workers can just eat peanuts and pops....

[@john07973]

Great stuff 👍 no diversity, equality and inclusion to hamper efficiency back then

[@loopiewho]

OH

[@barbarapineda5730]

Veg strew. Add celery carrot. Onion.too may.be no salt or pepper.potatoe maybe. Peas. Kidney beans sheep. Skin. Eggs too

[@Ass_Burgers_Syndrome]

Learn to punctuate for fooks sake.

[@romeo9017]

Akin to the military all go to contract and the standards are now abysmal..

[@madmaxmcinnes4102]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jerrybootneck1736]

1/5p for a cooked meal, that's 7 1/2p in todays money. What can you buy today for that price and not as good quality either.

[@phuongnguyen-yd3bn]

Population increases for many years. A canteen gradually became impossible to deal with lots of people but hard to control the quality and freshness. The world has a big deal with big profit but lose everything about quality except washing machine and smartphone. And fast food or vending machine at least make sure how quality and quantity it is, no poison. People accepted all except being poor.

[@rapman5791]

Pip Pip Cheerio Bob’s your uncle

[@jeffreyhodge5564]

No sense of community. Nowadays ,we are all individuals in our own little worlds and this pandemic will accelerate this ,well at least we still have school dinners!

[@chancesareshewears]

no meat

[@michaelparkin6974]

no veg

[@chancesareshewears]

no gloves and filthy environments. Brexit here we come.

[@lesreed9269]

Fool...

[@lesreed9269]

@kev googlestein Don't eat 'em, so wouldn't know - but we have standards that ensure we don't get poisoned if we don't chlorinate ALL chicken produce.

[@barbarapineda5730]

But try too comphev... the differnt... words canteen.ones too purchase chicken pot.pies. or suot... stakes. 🍵 🍵. Muffins. Blk berrie preserve. Sheep lamb. Is sauages mades from 🐑 🐏..sheep.

[@louisebean9428]

How sexist! The men need food!

[@civlyzed]

We do! Make us some sandwiches 😉

[@garethwilliams4467]

Is it sexist when all the customers were men. Do you think many women had those jobs back then ?

[@barbarapineda5730]

there's. Ol, england, united Kingdom, but most things haves too changes new. Styles. Changes of grubs. Is dreadful. Or 🍾 🍾 🍾. The good lifes drank and be married. Okay.