The Banstead Image Library
The Sugar Bowl, Burgh Heath
As many people will remember, the Sugar Bowl in Burgh Heath was a well-liked, well-patronised upmarket restaurant, complete with space for dancing and an open-air swimming pool. I say ‘upmarket’ – should there be any doubt, just look at the luxury cars parked outside!
I don’t know when this photo was taken, but I’d hazard a guess and say mid- to late-1950s. Other Sugar Bowl images are here: picture #216 and picture #706
Picture added on 12 February 2024 at 13:47
External Links
Banstead History
Banstead History
Burgh Heath
He was allowed to take me with him when I was on school holidays and it is where I learnt to swim. The chef promised me 10/ if I swam a width, which I did when I was 9. Chef also showed me the correct way to pick up a Lobster, unfortunately he was unlucky with that particular Lobster as it gave him a very bad nip which necessitated him wearing a plaster for many days.
The owner of the Sugar Bowl had two daughters Cherry and Louise and I used to operate the kiosk with them, where we were paid in Mars bars.
On New Years Eve it had a large net across the ballroom filled with balloons to be released on the stroke of Midnight, I must have blown up hundreds over the years.
The tree seen at the back is still there in the overflow car park behind the Premier Inn, which incidentally still has some of the tiled flooring from the outside wooden changing rooms.
Our Old Ford Prefect had to be parked at the side on the left.