IT WAS great to read regular contributor Derek Weeks’ memories of Toni’s Cafe and the music of the day (Letters June 1) though I doubt that you will get planning permission these days to build a city on Rock and Roll!

I used to walk along to Toni’s at lunch time when I was an apprentice mechanic at Pontings Ford Garage in West Street.

Earlier memories are of the Coffee House in Swan Court from which my sister Hazel was banned by my Dad even though one of his friends, Ernie Ball (Reg Presley’s dad), owned a cafe in London street sandwiched (excuse pun) between Halcrow’s funeral directors and Fitchew’s news agents. Ernie also owned The Kiosk at the open-air swimming pool just up the road.

My mother, Ida, worked at both of these venues but became very well known as ‘Mrs P’ when she worked for many years at ‘The Cabin’, owned by Sid Gillham, next to the Post Office — virtually doubling as their canteen.

My favourite ‘hang out’ was the Mikado in London Street owned by Mr and Mrs Norris.

Other cafes were The Stuart, which was the first in Andover to have an espresso machine delivering frothy coffee, next to where Barclays bank is now; The Norman Gate, opposite the chip shop in the Upper High Street; the Milk Bar, behind the Guildhall; and, of course, the Copper Kettle (now a wine bar) where the Troggs and the Ten Feet Five used to practice.

It seems we had our fair share of cafes back in ‘the good old days’ too!

Allan Pothecary, Eardley Avenue, Andover