Darlington's Traditional
Restaurant & Café Bar

Fully Licensed - Open 9.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Saturday
36-44 Tubwell Row Darlington - Tel: 01325 464475

© Copyright 2006-2009
Crombies Restaurant
& Café Bar

Success on a plate for family restaurant

A family restaurant that prides itself on home-cooked meals made from local produce is celebrating its 70th year in business.

Crombie's Restaurant, in Tubwell Row, Darlington, is the oldest established family restaurant in the town, serving an extensive menu of traditional English meals.

The food is prepared from local produce, bought in and around the area, with many dishes, such as the steak and kidney pies, made from recipies dating back to the opening of the restaurant.

The business was started in 1933 by Jamie and Katherine Crombie, when a cup of tea cost tuppence, and roast beef 1/3d. It is now run by the Crombies' grand-daughter, Maureen Stehr and her husband Frederick. Mrs Stehr's 84-year-old mother, Christine McCallum helped as a waitress on opening day.

The Stehrs have managed the business since 1978, with the help of a small team of staff, including waitress Iris Simpson who has worked at the restaurant for the past 39 years.

Mr Stehr said,

"We've seen a lot of similar businesses come and go over the years but we've managed to survive and still do well. I think people continue to come back and recommend us to others because they like the atmosphere and we serve a wide choice of basic meals, made very well from fresh foods."

The restaurant has modernised over the years, with changes made to suit the times while still retaining the atmoshpere.

"It is very easy to lose people,"

said Mr Stehr.

"Every day you have to concentrate on what you are doing. It is very important to keep up standards, and keep an eye on what the clientele wants, without giving in to popular demand just for the sake of it."

The 75-seater restaurant has been refurbished with new lights and curtains, while its walls are decorated with watercolours of the town by artist Ian Fennelly.

"We like to think we have become part of the town's history. People remember us from when they were children, and we've had customers come in who have been overseas for 30 years, saying 'At least Crombies is still here'"

Crombie's restaurant is open from 9.30 to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, contact 01325 464475 for details. For the restaurant's history, sample menu and a discount voucher, visit www.crombies.com.

Happy 70th Birthday Crombies

Crombies Café in Darlington is marking its 70th anniversary and salutations to it. Many of the patrons may have been around even longer.

It is as traditional as toasted crumpets, as English as enthusiasm. Nothing so much as a chilli con carne, as contumatious as a curry, peeps between the red coat lines of roasts, grills and fish specials, though Beaujolais may make a special guest appearance with which to wash them down.

It is the proper sort of place where everyone not only knows everyone else but may address them as Mrs. Scroggins, or whatever, despite being friends since childhood. Warts and all, it is also the sort of place where conversation inveitably turns towards illness and to its ultimately unfortunate consequences.

"You're a bit early this morning,"

someone said.

"Yes," replied his friend "I have to be at the hospital later on."

It was founded by Jamie and Katherine Crombie in 1933 - cup of tea twopence, roast beef 1/3d - and is now owned by Frederick Stehr and his wife Maureen, the Crombies' granddaughter. Christina McCallum, Maureen's 83 year old mum, was a waitress on opening day.

We looked in for a very good breakfast, £3.85, though it looked like someone had sliced off a bit of the egg to give the dog. Both sausage and bacon were excellent. The Boss ("I do wish they wouldn't talk about being poorly," she winced) has scrambled eggs with cheese and tomato.

Ian Fennelly's impressionist paintings of town centre buildings adorn eye-catching walls, conversation abounds. If they talked for England as well, they'd come here to pick the team.

Restaurant Celebrates Anniversary

A Darlington restaurant has celebrated 70 years in business.

Crombies, in Tubwell Row, has supported traders in the indoor market, which provided the family firm with ingredients for a varied menu of home cooked food. Owner Frederick Stehr said,

"We are delighted to be celebrating our 70th year in business. Many thanks must go to all our loyal customers who have become friends over the years."

Markets Manager Peter Wilson said,

"For over 140 years the indoor market has served the local community with a wide range of goods and fresh produce.
Regular customers such as Crombies help to support our traders and keep the market vibrant and prosperous."