LUTHER WALTON'S SHOP 1974

by Dave Roberts


We're back in Middlewich Town Centre in 1974. The black & white building to the right is The White Bear and framed in its ornate gateway is Luther Walton's shop, which I remember as a mixture of high-class confectioner and travel agent. Next door, to the left, was Reg Taylor's Newsagents and next to that Samuel's Ironmongers, with Skellern's shoe shop on the corner of Wheelock Street and Dierden's Terrace completing the row. Walton's has now become the 'Kandi' Bar*, and for most of the 80s it was, as Colin Derek Appleton reminded us, Tempter's Wine Bar, referred to by social climbing Middlewich newbies as 'The Wine Bar In The Village', thus making it the inspiration for a poem about old and new Middlewich which will probably find its way here before too long.. Does anyone remember any other uses the building had between then and now?

* Update: In early 2012 the Kandi Bar was transformed once more and became 'Chimichango's Mexican Restaurant'.


First published on Facebook.

Original Facebook feedback:

Natalie Sant Then it was shops and a cafe, about six years ago.

Colin Derek Appleton I think the shops and cafe were in what was Reg Taylor's old newsagents?

Geraldine Williams Luther Walton's brother used to run a sweet shop higher up Wheelock Street (wool shop area) and in the days of rationing my family used to pool its sweet coupons and spend them at that shop for a once-monthly binge. Luther's was also an ice-cream parlour at one time.

Dave Roberts Yes, the shops and cafe were at Reg Taylor's, next door. It was called Middlewich In Shops and the cafe was at the back. A very pleasant spot, but short-lived. It was later incorporated into the Kandi Bar premises as the Choklat Bar. Luther Walton was ahead of his time with his travel business where you could buy brain and coach tickets.

Ian Bailey And ex juke box records!

Melanie Edwards Don't forget Cafe Bar M 2002-2007

Update (July 2017)

By 2017 Luther Walton's had become CHIMICHANGO'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

and Reg Taylor's Newsagent MAGGIE FINN'S TEA-ROOM

Originally published 2012

Revised and re-published 21st July 2017

Reformatted and re-published 24th April 2020




Chimichango's (photo Bill Armsden)





The Choklat Bar (photo Bill Armsden)



First published on Facebook 3rd May 2011

First published in The Middlewich Diary 21st July 2011


Revised and re-published 21st July 2017

CHRISTMAS IN MIDDLEWICH 2011 - WHEELOCK STREET ON DECEMBER 2nd

A picture to make many an exiled Middlewicher long for home. This is the scene in Wheelock Street on the evening of December 2nd, with the Christmas lights now in place for the festive season
The Christmas Fayre got off to a  successful and, by all accounts, eventful start and many people will be staying out and heading for the newly re-opened White Bear, looking very inviting in all its newly-restored splendour on the right. To the right of the pub, by the way, are the two shops we made famous earlier this year. The one with the green windows right next to the restored White Bear will forever more be known as Sharon's Cafe. Well, it will to us.
Underneath the White Bear sign and in the distance we can see the distinctive facade of the old Alhambra Cinema, which is now a very popular Chinese restaurant.
On the opposite side of the road, looking cheerful and welcoming in the December night, are the Kandi Steakhouse (now Chimichangos Mexican Restaurant) and adjacent Choklat Bar.