It will be 40 years in November since the La Casserole restaurant in Stone opened its doors – and relatives of the owners want to hear people’s memories and see their photos of the popular, long-lost eaterie.
La Casserole was on Oulton Road (where the Golden Dragon Chinese takeaway now stands) and opened its doors to the Stone public on 17th November 1973, with Connie and late husband James Thomas at the helm. It was open until 1987.
Connie’s nieces Hannah Clifford and Rachel Thomas have set up a Facebook page for local people to share their memories – you can see it and add yours HERE. If you’re not on Facebook, you can mail memories and photos to us at news@alittlebitofstone.com and we’ll pass them on.
Hannah said: “I was too young to remember La Casserole (I was born in 1984) but we’d love to hear people’s memories as it’s often talked about and I believe my mum Helen, the baby sister of Connie, had fun times as a waitress there (but sadly lost her fight with cancer in 2010 so can’t share her stories).
“As you can imagine the restaurant had a French theme, complete with red checked table cloths and candles in wine bottles and there was a choice of casseroles – boeuf en daube, coq au vin, beef bourgiugnon and many more – as well as some classic (and well loved!) deserts – crème caramel, raspberry romanoff, chocolate praline – and carafes of wine (for only £2.50)! We have had a few comments on the page so far but would love to hear more. We know actor Tommy Steele dined at La Casserole in the 70s, for instance.”
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7 comments
John B
I worked there 85/86 ate a lot of profiteroles.
Emma Law
Was James Thomas still the owner then?
Liz Paterson
I have fond memories of La Casserole. My 1st visit was when I was 18 with a boyfriend called Steve, I’m now 58 so it must have recently opened. We met ‘Olives’ for the 1st time, (which we spit into the plants! Sorry! And had garlic bread also for the 1st time, a slightly better reaction to that.
I later visited with my now husband and friends on a number of occasions. I remember Roy dropping a lighted candle into Diane’s coffee, he was trying to see how much milk was in her coffee, we thought it was hilarious, she however didn’t see the funny side!
When talking about good bistro’s we often mention La Casserole. We opened our own little Bistro last year, run by our son. we have tried to capture something of what made La Casserole such a great evening, good food, service and atmosphere. Although we have candles on our tables we have a battle to get him to turn the lights down to the level that La Casserole had them. At least there’s no risk of anybody dropping candles into their coffee!
No longer live near so wasn’t aware that it had closed, always hopped to return one day.
Dan Roberts
This came up in conversation recently. I was quite young when I went with my parents but I always remember the smell of hot garlic bread! I think it had very subdued lighting as well – I was very young though so I can’t be 100% sure!
As to when it closed I think it must have been in the late 80s?
Jane martin
The best and most romantic place to go.. You could buy two entrees and a dessert, which made it more affordable and not so filling or fattening….The checkered table clothes and candles made you feel like you were a million miles away from Stone
Jamie Summerfield
Thanks Jane 🙂 Do you know when La Casserole closed?