britishers -- tell me about WIMPY BARS and their shitty burgers

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Wimpys predate their expansion Eisbaer, so it's been a decline ever since. When I was growing up in the 70s Wimpys were probably the #1 brand, McDonalds the glamorous challenger. BK not even on my radar until a while later.

Doctor Beak's had a very limited run.

― Groke, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:10 (nineteen years ago)

RJG, it was up near where Underworld is. I'm almost convinced it is now Subway, but I await Onimo's reporting back with bated breath.

― ailsa, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:10 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah Eisbaer, you should be supporting your homegrown businesses and shit!

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:11 (nineteen years ago)

There's a Subway around there and I can't picture in my head whether they're the same place or not. I think Wimpy is next door to Jessops, maybe.

― onimo, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:11 (nineteen years ago)

Wendys was great. There's a wimpy on the high st at West Norwood. Haven't been in one for years though.

― Vicky, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

When I was a child, going to Wimpys was a cultural novelty, it was the first fast food place I'd ever been to. It really stuck in ~~the craw~~ the mind.

I can remember the first time I ever went to MacDonalds - this was on the first visit to the States. When was the first MacDonalds opened in the UK? Because I can remember it being a big deal. But I'm not sure if it was the First One, or just the first one in our area.

― Masonic Boom, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

Doctor Beak's had a very limited run.

a TV ad campaign featuring the Miami Sound Machine would've helped.

― blueski, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

1973 - McDonald's Golden Arches Restaurants Limited founded in UK as a joint venture partnership between the McDonald's Corporation and two businessmen; one British, one American.

I *do* remember it, then!

― Masonic Boom, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:14 (nineteen years ago)

When was the first MacDonalds opened in the UK?

It was in Woolwich (SE London again!) in 1973 or thereabouts iirc. There's a plaque on the wall outside it as I think it was also the 1000th or 10000th McD's in the world or something.

― onimo, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:14 (nineteen years ago)

xpost

― onimo, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:14 (nineteen years ago)

Oh wait, the shop wasn't opened until 1974, though. Woolwich, apparently. 3000th.

― Masonic Boom, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:15 (nineteen years ago)

1974!! (First McDs in Britain)

It's weird when you realise that these absolutely monolithic inescapable brands arrived in your lifetime.

― Groke, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:15 (nineteen years ago)

there was a lovely romantic and charming article in a late 90's SELECT mag by steve lowe all about WIMPY bars. i must dig that out. i couldn't believe it when he wrote those 'isn't everything shit...' books. they were the total opposite of this particular piece.

― pisces, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:16 (nineteen years ago)

We had a Wimpy's in Edgware. I think it was replaced by a KFC. And the supermarket was replaced by a Blockbuster's. And the Loppylug's video outlet was replaced by a Haagen Dazs concern. And the betting shop closed down. Thus even Edgware is not immune to creeping globalisation. Even Poundstretcher is gone.

=''(

― admrl, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:16 (nineteen years ago)

...which is strange because I can remember going into the centre of town (London) to go to McDonalds, and it was strange and exciting. By that point, Wimpys must have been a bit old hat.

Now I remember - first trip to the US (1977) was when McD's breakfast was launched. It was truly revolting.

― Masonic Boom, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:16 (nineteen years ago)

Oh where was I? I had one...

Oh yeah, Teddington.

― Mark G, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:17 (nineteen years ago)

think the subway on union st (there is one on almost every other st, these days) is next to the jessops and has been for a while. I do remember a wimpy on union st, though... but think there was a burger king, too, because I remember there was one inside central station and one outside and the prices were different. maybe the wimpy turned into a burger king and closed down. when the burger king on sauchiehall st (near the CCA and eh ABC ish) closed down and they took the signs down there was a kind of scorched impression of an earlier wimpy sign!

― RJG, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:17 (nineteen years ago)

In 1989, the Burger King brand acquired many locations of its major UK rival Wimpy when its parent company bought the brand from its previous owner United Biscuits and re-branded them as "Burger King", giving it an even greater presence in that country. While other "Wimpy" locations are still trading today (now independent from BK) they no longer have the presence they once did (the market is now dominated by Burger King and the larger McDonald's).

― Groke, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:18 (nineteen years ago)

Burker King on Union St is opposite the station. The Wimpy that I'm almost sure is still there is on the same side as Subway/Jessops and possibly in the same place as the former.

― onimo, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:20 (nineteen years ago)

No mention of Mr Wimpy yet? Surely the creepiest creation ever to turn up at a children's party?

― Matt DC, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:23 (nineteen years ago)

I can't remember if there was actually a Wimpys in Cheshunt or if we had to go down to Waltham Cross for it. Though for REALLY exciting shopping expeditions, we went to the one in Wood Green.

― Masonic Boom, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:24 (nineteen years ago)

I am off to find a Wimpy Bar!

― onimo, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:24 (nineteen years ago)

Didn't they rebrand a few years ago? Please, let's keep our native culture alive.

― admrl, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, mr. wimpy was a bit crap. unlike j. wellington wimpy (I looked it up)

― RJG, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

The last time I had a Wimpy was in Brighton, I think, the day of the S1n1st3r picnic when I bad-manneredly gatecrashed bedspace at Archel's and Ben bought a hat (for the possibly 3 ilxors who'll know what I'm talking about). I had a bender and it came on a china plate, anyway.

― Madchen, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

from j. wellington wimpy's wikipedia page:

The Serbian name for this character is Pera Ždera. There are quite a few grill meat restaurants named after him there.

― RJG, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:26 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.wimpyburgers.co.uk/holding.jpg

― admrl, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:26 (nineteen years ago)

I was just trying to look at that website. But...

[url][Removed Illegal Link]

apparently the Seth Efrikans are coming!

― Masonic Boom, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:27 (nineteen years ago)

bah

http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article2311387.ece

― Masonic Boom, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:27 (nineteen years ago)

No mention of Mr Wimpy yet? Surely the creepiest creation ever to turn up at a children's party?

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40122000/jpg/_40122284_blair_nursery203.jpg

http://www.nff.org.uk/chancellor/chancellor_nff6.jpg

― Tom D., Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:28 (nineteen years ago)

no way is Mr Wimpy creepier than Ronald Macdonald.

― blueski, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:30 (nineteen years ago)

is this mr. wimpy?

http://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1113917736-00.jpg

― Eisbaer, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:32 (nineteen years ago)

clowns or clown-like people at children's partys...no problem

cartoon beefeaters...um

― RJG, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:33 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.describe-online.com/glasgow/unionstreet.htm

According to this, Wimpy is there, next door to Subway. I hope Gerry enjoys his walk. Though they also seem to think that Fopp is called "Gary Jules", so I'm not sure they are to be trusted.

― ailsa, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:33 (nineteen years ago)

"doorway not known" sounds mysterious.

― Masonic Boom, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:34 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.ben-eden.com/images/wimpy_game.jpg

― Eisbaer, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:34 (nineteen years ago)

if that IS mr. wimpy, he looks pretty cool -- more like a sports team mascot than a burger joint mascot.

― Eisbaer, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:35 (nineteen years ago)

clowns or clown-like people at children's partys...no problem

oh really

― blueski, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:35 (nineteen years ago)

not that you'd have either of them turn up to a children's party not taking place within the restuarant anyway surely?

― blueski, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:36 (nineteen years ago)

WAIT...there was a Wimpy game?

― admrl, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:37 (nineteen years ago)

Onimo has just texted me to tell me that the Wimpy in Union Street in Glasgow is no more :-/

― ailsa, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:41 (nineteen years ago)

Wimpy Milkshake however are another kettle of "cumberland rings". (Am I making them up??? OH SO INDIE ARGH)

Milky Wimpshake! My indiest pals liked 'em so I pretended to too but I had never heard a note of theirs until I decided to steal some from the internet, at which point I said "eh" and forgot about them again.

I really liked Swindon Wimpy as a nipper. That is the kind of classy individual you are dealing with here. Anyway, I liked the food better than McDonald's and the Burger King it turned into, and you didn't feel so pressurised to rush and leave, maybe because it wasn't usually as busy.

― a passing spacecadet, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:42 (nineteen years ago)

ALAS

― RJG, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:49 (nineteen years ago)

There was one in Glasgow that made really, really great burgers. It's an O'Brien's now.

― stet, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 16:51 (nineteen years ago)

The West Ealing Wimpy is still open for business!!!

― jel --, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 17:08 (nineteen years ago)

finally some good news!

i doubt i'll ever go back tho :/

― blueski, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 17:09 (nineteen years ago)

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/news_images/1603_4136_2.jpg

― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 17:12 (nineteen years ago)

I wish life was like that cartoon

― admrl, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 17:13 (nineteen years ago)

good morning adam!

― blueski, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 17:14 (nineteen years ago)

I think someone had taken the Y of the Wimpy swingy thing that they have out on the street last time I went past.

Southern Fried Chicken always seems more popular.

― jel --, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 17:14 (nineteen years ago)

Skipping 457 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I was in one in Johannesburg airport last year (where it's still a well loved and profitable chain) and it looked exactly like a seaside treat from the 70s.

Hopefully this link works, never tried one direct to my photo stream before:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5Gp83BAZBo5f9jf5A

― Overtoun House windows (aldo), Thursday, 14 August 2025 10:56 (nine months ago)

Chips look OK but the burger is a bit grim.

― you gotta roll with the pączki to get to what's real (snoball), Thursday, 14 August 2025 17:28 (nine months ago)

xxp for some reason reminds me of this photo I saw yesterday

https://i.imgur.com/ak09Pq5.png

― Proust Ian Rush (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Thursday, 14 August 2025 18:02 (nine months ago)

The one in Portcawl still has a trace on Google Street View, where the footage dates back to 2011:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HnCyWscVmxhqYxNb8

My first thought was "that's a lot of surveillance cameras". And my second thought is that from Street View's angle the place actually looks quite nice, or at least the location is nice. Except that as per the photos up the page the seaward side doesn't have windows. It would have made more sense to put the kitchen on the landward side of the restaurant, but perhaps they didn't have any choice.

If you rotate the camera 180 degrees there's an advert for Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2, which is spooky.

Because it has Wimpy in the name.

― Ashley Pomeroy, Thursday, 14 August 2025 19:18 (nine months ago)

two months pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXoQkbyaoxY

― Ward Fowler, Wednesday, 15 October 2025 14:00 (seven months ago)

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