Hello,

Does anyone out there remember the fantastic Bob Martin's drinks place on Conway Street Birkenhead?

It disappeared around 1969/70 time, but the guy who ran it made his own non-alcoholic drinks and the amount of choice was amazing. It was like a pub for kids!!! I remember that you could have the Blood Tonic cold or warm...LOL..

Well I miss this place still and I wish it was still there, but I think the whole block where it stood was demolished and the fab Mr Martin had to move. I really hope that his skills were passed down to his family as he was a very clever man in my opinion.

Hi, Wendy & welcome to the site. I personally don't remember Bob Martin's, but I didn't go down that part of town much. I do remember that we used to have drinks from the Lancashire Botanical Brewery; the dandelion & burdock was good. They came in stone jars. I see you've made quite a few posts already, which are welcome. Why don't you look in at General Chat/New members & tell us a bit about yourself.

Cheers, Chris.

Hello Wendy,and yes, my husband remembers Bob Martins shop well. He used to cycle down there from the north-end with his friends 54 years ago, and have his favourite tipple (as a lad) of ginger beer. He says there is nothing today to equal the flavour and smell of that wonderful brew (non-alcoholic of course)
Pat Ellis

Wendy I remember Bobs as my dad used to leave me there whilst he went to the betting shop just across the road. It was set up as a bar and even had the old dimple pint glasses. My favorite was blood tonic and I think really it was cherryade as asdas tastes exactly the same. He did ginger beer, sasparilla ad many other flavors. He used to wear a pinny and had his slicked with brylcream or something and never spoke a lot. My dad used to warn me about getting drunk.

My Lord, how many more memories am I going to get off this site. I remember Bob Martins especially the blood tonic. This is all too much for me I think I need to go and lie down.

Dave Miller

i REMEMBER bOB mARTINS. Used to go as a child for my pint of 'blood tonic' Used to buy a bottle you can make up from neat but never tasted the same. I thought 'blood tonic' wnrt to the grave when he died but noticed on TV another shop very similar still open, can't remember where it was though. used to be a porno book shop not far from Bob's used to ogle at the pictures after a few pints. Used to have a bar and all the main drinks were in barrels Used to sit at table with pint and packet of crisps by the window watching the world go by. Good old days. By the way, I'm 53.

BIG AL ROBBO.

i used to live right by bob martins you could also get a jug of whatever your favourite drink was for about a shilling i was always pestering my nan to let me and get some.

i used to live right by bob martins you could also get a jug of whatever your favourite drink was for about a shilling i was always pestering my nan to let me and go and get some. what memories and i am 59

I can remember Bob Martins and blood tonic
The shop used to be more or less over the road facing what is now the Birkenhead Bike shop in Conway Street
When a gang of us used to go play in Birkenhead Park depending where we finished up in there we would either go to Bob Martins if we came out of Conway st entrance or a little corner shop in Claughton rd opposite Cole St School
Will have to look and see if that shop is still there

No, the shop has long since gone. I use to go there to for a "blood tonic" too. I remember the man use to pull it out of a pump(like the way they use to pull a pint in a pub )

Use to go to bob Martins in the mid 50s and before then in the late 40s use to be taken by my dad to the Balm Beer shop in Oliver street it was on the corner of the little street that runs down the side of the Firemans Arms.
The side exit doors from the Ritz picture house use to open into that side street

bob martins was onthe corner of hilton st opposite the now cycle exchnge, it used to be a sweet shop opposite either called fabri s or olivieries, i used to think i was dead grown up sitting in bob martins having a drink of sasparella, mr martin the son who took it over after his father retired used to be orchestra leader at the ymca for the pantomimes at christmas i know cos i was in some of them ooh..the embarassment.

We used to call it the kids' pub. Even my kids used to go there when they were little, on the way up to Grange Road. I'm 67, the oldest one on here up to now. Any advances?

You're just a youngster.

I'm glad to hear that chris. Can remember being the youngster everywhere I went and then suddenly it changed.

Yeah, life catches up with you, doesn't it. I like the John Lennon quote: "Life is what happens while you're making other plans."
BTW, I'm 72.

You are well Silver Surfer Chris. This helps to pass a bit of time but I get carried away.

I remember Bobs and the drinks but most of all I asked every time I seen it and never got an anser off me dad...what does DUREX mean? it was a giant neon sighn in a lovly red in the window in conway street.

Spiders old man gave me some advice once. "Never go in a house with a little red light outside. That's a Watney's house and the ale is bloody awful." He was quite correct.

i can remember the durex signs too when i was only a teenager and my nan asked me what they were can you imagine trying to explain to my nan who was probably in her seventies at the time she had never heard of contraceptives and didn t know what they were.....

I rember Bob Martins very well i used to live on Claughton Road
at the top of Exmouth St opposite were the fire station is now
we used to go to Bobs after we had been to night school at
Hemmy thats if we had any money left.
If i rember it was on the bottom of Patterson st and Conway st
this in the middle 50s
I used to love the smell and the atmosphere in Bobs
Ex Birkoneon (Plastic Scouser)

Bob Martins was at bottom of Pattersons Street and Conway Street
Dad used to takme in there in the 60,s
always had a pint of Blood Tonic
The Dads used to go in the pub next door can,t remember the name of it

Oh! I thought this was going to be a pet shop. Obviously not.

No Bob Martins was kids pub
its the only one i,ve heard of
does anyone know of any more

No Bob Martins was kids pub
its the only one i,ve heard of
does anyone know of any more

There used to be a place on the corner of Bentink st and Bright st called Ma Ryans you could get some drinks there including
OXO which was OK on acold night
It was nowere near as goodas Bob Martins
Plastic Scouser

sorry but bob martins was at the bottom of hilton st and conway st, i lived a few doors away so i remember it well, great place for kids to pretend they were in a pub, only threepence(old money of course) a glass brilliant.

Don,t remember Ma Ryans was it a cafe?

Ma Ryans was more of a corner shop with a few wooden benches
you could sit on .It was full if five people were in
It was not the most hygenic place on earth and old
Ma Ryans personal hygine would not pass the test today
believe me

I used to live in 'little' Sun St. I remember Bob Martins and with the same fondness as all of you, but does any one remember Miss Heggie's on the corner of Sun St and Watson St? It was a general store. What I remember most about it was the advert on the ceiling with massive bull on it. I think it advertised Bovril.

You know the swimming baths on Conway Street ? Over the road is a little garage type of business (I think !).
THAT'S where Bob Martins' used to be !

bob martins was on the corner of hilton st(noy there now











bob martins was on the corner of hilton st and conway st opposite the cycle exchange i lived right next to it when the old houses were opposite the cycle exchange many atime went in ther for a 3d drink of juice great stuff...







0

bob martins was on the corner of hilton st and conway st opposite the cycle exchange i lived right next to it when the old houses were opposite the cycle exchange many atime went in ther for a 3d drink of juice great stuff...







0

You are correct Bob Martins was on the corner of Hilton Street and Conway Street. I used to live in Craven Street and we went in there every night almost, as kids. He used to have all the cordials in barrels behind the counter and then pour a measure into the glass before using the pump to add the carbonated water, an early Sodastream. In the winter we had hot water from the boiler. Bob was the old guy with the slicked hair and then it was run by his son Edgar until it was closed down. The shop at the top of Park Road East opposite the Park was called Jacks.

Jacks indeed a never ending supplier of Jublee's during the Summer

coincedent took a pic yesterday
You can just make out the outline of the doorway to it.
Seemed to be bigger when I went in there as a kid

My my take some bottles back to Jacks, or those coupons from cigarettes..

Bob Martin is dead now but his wife mary Martin is still alive and living in Moreton.

That is not Bob Martins, that used to be a sweet shop on Claughton Rd

derekdwc supplied the photo, not claiming it as site of bob martin's, but in reply to a comment in the thread about 'Jack's'.

Did "Bob Martin", have jokes and home made lucky bags in the window? ,or was it a shop further on?.It was items put between double glazing rather than a contemporary window display, However it did have sliding glass doors.Everything seemed to be sun bleached but the stink bombs still worked OK.Hot blood tonic after Livingstone Street baths in the winter, or the docks in the summer when blood tonic was taken cold, are my fond memories.

Blood tonic a legendary drink indeed,definitely did the trick after a three hour long game of footie in the park

I remember it very well I also remember Petes Cafe just a little way down from Bob Martins it sold the best meals for miles around the pea and ham soup you could stand your spoon up in.

Hello, Im new here and would like some info please, was there a decorators shop on conway street, a bit down after Bentleys pawn brokers?

Hi bonnieboo - welcome to WikiWirral.
I personally can't help you with this one, bit I'm sure there are loads of others who can. In fact, Bentlys was mentioned only yesterday in the 'Lowther, Fox & Craven St' topic.
This particular topic was set up for information Bob Martins on Conway St., and you can do the same too, just go to Wirral Information Request and start a new topic, and you might get a better viewing with more results.
Don't forget that there is a search facility on the top bar, and in most browsers, a control-f will search the whole page for a word that you give it.

And don't forget - go to the new members page and say hello. You don't need to write a lot, just a few words will do. Good Luck.

Bob Martins, otherwise known as "The Kids' Pub", first place to head to when you had a couple of coppers for a drink and then suddenly it was gone.

thats claughton road

Thank you, ill have a go ..

im 37 and drink in the queens and all the older generation speak of this place like its just amazing i would love to know if any of you brill people rember when it opened and when it closed bcoz if know these years a good freind of a historian may be able to get me some pictures thanx you all rock x

Re Derek's pic - I remember it as the Park Mecca.Had many a glass of sasspe... er saspa ... Oh b....r it ! Many a glass of pop.

my sisters and I used to go with our mum and dad/ I used to like the sasparilla. it was actually drawn from pumps like the ones in the pub

My x wife was Bob Martins widow,NO his skills were not passed on to his son Simon Martin or his daughter Lindsay Martin.

In a way that's a pity, yet his Bob's mythic status lives on, especially memories of his 'Blood Tonic'

Seem to remember that Bob Martins was over the road from Oliveri`s.Oli`s had a cafe in the back and at the front they had an open shop front that sold sweets.Remember Bob used to sell paraffin and brickettes,solid bricks of coal dust.Next to Oli`s was the chinese laundry,a chippy.fish and chips for a tanner,batter bits free.and a bookies.Opposite Oli`s on Hope street was Perrin Hughes where kids used to play on the crane

The shop you mention was Nellie Heggies. Corner of Bentinck and Sun Street the local grocerer and family friend

you can buy blood tonic and other cordials that bob martins sold at bold street sweetstore liverpool at the bottom of bold st opposite central station i am drinking blood tonic as i write fantastic

No way! really 'blood tonic'??? If it's anywhere near as good as Bob's then I am train-bound heading up to Liverpool. Can you post a print screen from Google Maps to show the shop?

just found your message it is as good great hot or cold i like it either way.it is called mr.fitzpatricks blood tonic cordial .theshop has about eight or ten different flavours it is f4.50 a bottle .i am having a drink now it is a 500ml bottle of cordial.you cannot miss the shop at the bottom of bold st just before argos .i will try to do as you ask .i am waiting for my mate who is more expert at it .hope this helps for now.

go on google maps liverpool bold st the shop is called bold street sweets at the bottom of bold st

Thanks to the other posters about Durex---i wasnt sure if i was remembering correctly. Only went there once or twice--power of advertising.
What are durex? There johnnies. No- what are they not whose are they.

have just been to bold st sweetshop they have a great selection of cordials. blood tonic sarsaparlla dandilion burdock elderflower apple. lemon ginger. punch. ginger.blackcurrant liquorice. rhubarb rosehip. black beer raisin. raison. cream soda and more. have just bought blood tonic blackcurrant liquorice.

have a look at the website for bold st sweets it is worth it. www.boldstreetsweets.co.uk more than 1500 varieties from britain and america.fab offers deals and discounts.

Arsenal many thanks for that Will save up for the Chrimbo

Here's an online sweet shop I use. Similar to arsenal's link. It sure takes you back to your childhood. The swines have changed the prices though.

http://www.aquarterof.co.uk/?gclid=CIq2yofRu7kCFY_KtAodmFQADQ

I think they've borrowed their cartoon characters from somewhere though. Seem quite familiar !

erainn your most welcome,enjoy it when you visit.

For those with fond memories of Bob Martin's here's a rather sad pic that I've just come across of the premises just before they were demolished in July 1976.

great pic marty...happy days for all those who used it. me and my dad did.

Ahhhh.... Memories

A very sad picture of a busy shop, we used to drop in after our visit to Livy baths, blood tonic it gave us back our energy, well we were young at the time

flippin heck davew3, that's exactly when I was took there and for the same drink. learnt to swim in livvy, my nan lived next door and was a cleaner in there.

Great pic thanks
Looks like a list of the drinks you could get there on either side of the doorway
Can't remember the railings though - to make you cross by the lights?

Have you by any chance got one starting from the other end of that block?
Looking for pics of The Royal Standard and The George to add to pubs index

Derek, any chance of a link to that attachment zoomed out a bit?
thanks.

looks so much smaller than I remember.

or is it that iam so much bigger now?? feck another visit to slimming world beckons.

Took it off the pic posted by marty99fred and zoomed in via an image viewer and pressed prtsc key on keyboard and pasted it in paint, then saved it
Possibly marty99fred can do a better job from original
photo/scan.
I'd like to see the drinks on offer there.
I only remember blood tonic

Ah, the kids' pub. Remember it well.

Sadly, Derek, even at full magnification of the original scan the image is not much clearer than your blow-up. By screwing my eyes up a and using a bit of intelligent guesswork, I can just make out the word "Drinks" following by a list of, I think, thirteen varieties. Those that appear to be listed are: Lemon, Sarsaparilla, Dandelion & Burdock, Ginger Beer, Raspberry, Apple, Cream Soda, Blood Tonic, Pineapple and Vimto; the other three are much too blurry to even guess at.

Hiya derek. It was the street map I was referring to.

Can remember waiting in line and having to make that heavy decision what drink to have and looking at the lists of all the drinks and thinking well I like this and I like that but I haven't tried that, very difficult until your turn came up, but being young that was decision making at it's best.

Looking at the pictures, it struck me of the demise of a little thought of trade.... the signwriter! How sad that all we have now is crappy plastic/vinyl mass produced stuff. Progress I guess?

Also the road sign adjacent to Bob Martins indicates a Play Street. Are there any of those left? Booting your football against someone's brand new Mk.1 Cortina wouldn't have gone down well. Today, the 3rd World War would break out I guess. Mmmmmm ?

I only went in a few times and I can't remember if you could get the blood tonic as a cold, warm or hottish drink maybe in a pint glass?
Coming out of the park the other end of Park Road East as kids was our usual route and frozen jubblys were our treats (if you were lucky enough you got a half frozen slushy one)


NickLeg
Any particular area of B'HEAD you'd like - no link sorry
pm me and I will email a section to you

click re maps

that picture brings back so many memories for me I lived a few doors away from bob martins, and nuttalls the dairy ah so sad would love to revisit those days just to remember

what an image, an empty shell, yet once full of joy and happy youngsters

Hello, I'm unable to see this image (I have been approved). Can anyone help? I remember going here when visiting my Aunt and Uncle on Hilton in the early 60's and would love to see a picture of it. Many thanks.

This is what I see:

Attachments: Viewing Permissions May Apply. Click Me
183-197 Conway Street.jpg

If I subscribe (User+) will I see the image? Or is it a broken link?

Thanks

You need to upgrade to userplus squonk.

Done. Still don't see it though.

I see it! Thanks!

Yay