The late 1980s and early '90s saw a flood of American themed fast-food diners and bars open up across the UK.
And while the likes of McDonald's had long established itself on the UK's high streets by this time, the country's appetite for the taste of US cuisine had only become more ravenous. Another chain that made it to these shores was TGI Fridays, which first opened in New York in 1965 by founder Alan Stillman to help celebrate the weekend, hence its name standing for 'Thank God It's Friday.'
Derived originally from the US singles bar culture, it was a place where barmen and women showed off their amazing juggling tricks or "flares", by pouring drinks into shakers from a great height or tossing bottles to each other. But as the chain developed into the late '80s, the focus of the bar/restaurants switched from singles to families.
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Serving American bistro-style cuisine, bar food, and alcoholic beverages, the first New York restaurant featured the same red-and-white striped décor still associated with the brand today. With the popularity of the chain stateside and the growing desire for American style restaurants in the UK, the first TGI Fridays opened in Birmingham in 1986.
A second restaurant opened soon after in London's Covent Garden in 1987. And by the end of the 1980s, the chain had opened up in Fareham, Reading and Cardiff.
It wasn't until the early 1990s that Greater Manchester got its first taste of the new bistro that came with an extra-large portion of American-style razzmatazz. In December 1990, the first TGI Fridays in Greater Manchester opened up off Cross Street in Sale.
All staff employed at the restaurant would be paid on a commission basis. Some would get a percentage of the total food and drink sales, while others would be paid according to their own sales.
Sean Wheeler, the new store's opening manager told the M.E.N. in 1990 that the commission pay at the new US inspired bistro was a powerful incentive, adding: "We're looking for highly motivated, bright personalities."
Job interviews for the restaurant were held at Granada Studios in Manchester, where would-be staff were subject to an American-style audition. Their ability to juggle cocktail shakers, clear and reset a table in 60-seconds and greet customers with an all-American style smile were all factors as to whether they got the gig.
In fact, the TGI Fridays practice of providing diners with a great customer service experience was based on the cheerful American trade of a Dub Dub, which is what the serving staff were known as. Dub Dubs are staff drilled in the art of making sure their customers go home replete with jokes and banter, and wowed by other gimmicks like juggling and magic tricks, all performed with impeccable table craft and cheeriness.
This wasn't something Brits, perhaps more familiar with the begrudging snarl found at many motorway greasy spoons, will have been used to at the time. Many of the chain's employees were students or graduates, but it also suited many extrovert young people with performing aspirations – much like US restaurants, particularly those in Los Angeles, are renowned for employing would-be actors.
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But before they were allowed near the customers, staff had to pass a strict training course in the art of staying upbeat. There was even a 12-point code of conduct for staff to stick to at all times, which included greeting guests within 30 seconds, as well as ending the evening with a polite "Goodnight" and a sincerely expressed with to come again.
Just after the restaurant opened, a reviewer from the M.E.N. was sent to TGI's in Sale to give their verdict on the new restaurant concept. They said: "Just the location of TGI Friday's affords the stamp of authenticity; like most of its American counterparts it sits, surrounded by an extensive car park, close to a major motorway junction.
"And inside the low-rise, pitched roof building there's a Disneyland of coloured glass, flickering video screens, loud music and theatrical staff. They wear the same red and white striped-livery as the plastic tablecloths, though appear to be licensed to decorate their uniforms and badges and anarchic headgear."
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Inside the restaurant-cum-bar the décor was furnished with large Tiffany lamps and a bric-a-brac of classic Americana like snow-shoes, giant moose heads, old guitars and squeezeboxes, fishing baskets and a portrait of President Roosevelt. There was even a stained glass telephone kiosk.
The reviewer said there were over 500 cocktails to choose from, and were taken aback by the generously sized starter of brie and toasted almonds that they said were as big as a main course. Customisable pizzas, burgers, Tex-Mex and desserts were served in huge US-sized portions to the pleasantly surprised reviewer.
But the restaurant wasn't just for adults looking to indulge their craving for a cocktail or loaded burger; on Saturdays and Sundays there was a Kids' Club. For no charge, mums and dads cold enjoy a stress-free meal as their kids were taken off their hands by staff dressed as astronauts, ducks, clowns, cowgirls, cowboys and cows.
Balloon modelling, magic tricks, drawing, colouring and face-painting were enthusiastically provided. And for birthday parties, waiters would swap their usual attire for sombreros, bandanas, a bowler or a sequinned Donald Duck hat while singing Happy Birthday as they presented a cake.
While much of this US inspired service and cuisine is commonplace these days, it was a more of novel concept back in the early '90s, but one that proved successful. Since TGI Fridays found its first home in Greater Manchester, there are now eight branches across the region, including the original Sale restaurant, as well as in Prestwich, Ashton Under Lyne, Bolton, Cheadle, and in Manchester itself, at Piccadilly, the Trafford Centre and Manchester's Royal Exchange.
Does this story awaken any memories for you? Let us know in the comments section below.
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