It's rare to see the likes of tripe, oxtail soup and cow heel pie on the menu nowadays, but between the 1950s and 1970s, Manchester was home to a restaurant chain that offered all of these dishes.
UCP (United Cattle Products) were a big deal in the North of England, with nearly 150 restaurants and shops which helped to promote eating tripe - the stomach lining of various farm animals. Here in Manchester there were various branches, including a restaurant on Market Street on Pall Mall corner, and a tripe shop on Stretford Road in Hulme.
The company was founded in Lancashire by “tripe dressers” (people who prepare tripe) who combined their businesses. UCP’s restaurants were loved by many families for its cheap meals, which also included cold tripe salads, tripe pies, and tripe and onions.
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The MEN recently posted a photo of the UCP branch on Market Street in our Greater Manchester memories Facebook page. Many of you shared your memories of the lost restaurant underneath the post.
Delma commented: “My mum used to take me there, she would have a chicken salad and [she] got me hot tripe with onions, mash and peas. I must have liked it then, but 50 years later, no way.”
Hilary said: “My mother loved cold tripe with vinegar, so we bought 1/4 lb for her when we came into town. I had an uncle who's favourite joke was 'If you c p on tripe, don't buy it!’”
Sandra wrote: “My husband and I used to go in on Friday nights in the sixties and have a three course meal (silver service) for £1”. Patricia added: “Loved the oxtail soup!”
Paul recalled when the Market Street UCP closed. He explained: “I [recently] passed the site where this place used to be. I told my son how a mate and I used to go there some days in the late 70s for our dinner. We were really disappointed when it shut.
“The site was taken over by another food organisation. When it reopened we called in hoping to get food similar to what we'd enjoyed previously. It was a salad bar! We left without buying anything.”
Elaine commented: “I went in every Saturday morning for Pie and Chips upstairs, and black pudding and tripe to take home for tea. Same routine as a child in the 60s.”
Mary added: “In the 50s I used to go to the UCP café in Stockport with my Grandma. We always had cow heel pie for lunch. Marvellous!”
What are your memories of the UCP restaurant and shops? Let us know in the comments section below.
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