A lost Liverpool '50s-style diner provided an authentic US diner style experience in Liverpool city centre.
Eddie Rocket's opened on Bold Street in 2004. With its retro red leather sofas, black-and-white checked flooring and a jukebox at every table, Grease’s Sandy and Danny wouldn't have looked out of place in this 1950s inspired diner.
Unlike anything else in Liverpool city centre at that time, the restaurant was popular due to its retro, US roadside diner inspired menu from the mid-twentieth century. There was a choice of eight mouth-watering burgers as well as other classic American fair, including buffalo wings, nachos and chilli dogs.
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As well as 'The Classic', other burger choices included 'The Atomic', topped with chilli sauce and jalapenos - "So hot, it will blow you away." There was also 'The Moby Dick' described as "A whale of a fish burger."
But if you had a sweet tooth then the desserts didn't disappoint either. American classic treats such as chocolate fudge brownie, knickerbocker glory, ice cream floats and banana splits were all prepared in full view of diners in the restaurant's open kitchen.
There was also authentic American hand-dipped shakes blended with pure malt extract that came in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and Oreo cookie flavour. While it's easy to get an over-the-top and indulgent milkshake, or fudge brownie, in many restaurants in the city, back in 2004, it felt like something different.
As soon as you were seated at your table, you were presented with a menu welcoming you to the diner that also warned: "Don't play with your food. Don't stick gum under the seats. Buy your mother a baseball cap. Stop kicking your sister." And most importantly: "Be polite - you may have to work here one day."
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In a review of the Bold Street restaurant in the Liverpool Echo in 2007, the cosy booths and romantic 1950s tunes, brought our reviewer, Jade Wright, to the conclusion there was "No finer diner than Eddie's for that first date". Jade also complimented the diner on its "enormous portions", and although not 100% impressed with the veggie burger offering, said the classic burger was "succulent, covered in rich, gooey cheese and wrapped in a sesame-coated bun and the chips and onion rings were excellent."
Eddie Rocket's is apparently diner slang for empty pockets, and the concept was born in the late 1980s after the restaurant's founder, Niall Fortune, had a chance encounter with a classic American diner whilst travelling around the US. Reportedly he fell so in love with the experience, he made plans to recreate the American diner on his return to Ireland.
The first Eddie Rocket's was launched in Dublin in 1989 with the chain going on to achieve great success in Ireland. The Dublin restaurant was said to be a good place for star-spotting, with rock stars and celebrities, such as the members of U2, reportedly hanging out there.
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The Bold Street outlet was Eddie Rocket's first venture in the UK with a branch later opening up in Swansea, Wales. At its peak, the diner had 42 locations in Ireland (both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland), England, Wales, and Spain.
The majority of the restaurants in the chain were also franchises. A dispute between Eddie Rocket's and its largest franchisee, Limerick businessman Brian Dunne, saw a number of the restaurants in Ireland rebranded as Rockin' Joe's in 2013.
By 2010, the Bold Street outlet had rebranded to Rockerfellas before closed a few years later. It was later taken over by Ben's Chicken but the Bold Street premises is now home to KO Grill.
Does Eddie Rocket's awaken any memories for you? Let us know in the comments section below.
But with 38 Eddie Rocket's still operating in Ireland, there's still a lot of love for the US inspired diner. So perhaps the final word should go to Jade Wright, who reviewed Eddie's for the ECHO in 2007: "If you’re looking for a good value, fun venue to romance that new love in your life, slip on your Fonzie leather jacket and get down to Eddie Rocket’s. You won’t regret it."
Thanks for the memories, Eddie.
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