Working life at the beach

In early November I went to interview Dave and Jim at the Red Rooves Snack Bar on the beach at Southsea. They were both really friendly and helpful and gave me an insight into their working life at the beach.

Dave (on the left) and Jim at the snack bar at the beach

The snack bar is a family run business and Dave has been selling snacks and ice-creams from the same place for thirty years. He also worked there fifty years ago when it was a fruit shop. Dave told me how things had changed over the last fifty years. 

A selection of the foods that are sold from the snack bar

The weather dictates when they open but they are generally open for eleven months of the year, closing only in December. They sell a selection of hot and cold drinks, burgers, chips, sandwiches and sweets. They also sell ice cream from the stand next door.

Dave tells me that they mostly sell to day trippers these days as there aren't as many tourists as there used to be at the height of the seaside industry. He explained how there used to be eight coach hire buildings dotted along the shoreline between his snack bar and the pier. It was really interesting to talk to Dave as he had worked at the beach for such a long time and his local knowledge was invaluable to my project; Much of what he told me tied in with the history of the British seaside resort that I had discovered so far. At the height its popularity British holidaymakers would flock to the coast by train or coach.  I decided to try and get some photographs of that particular stretch of seafront and after a little research I found a photograph showing the eight coach stands that Dave had told me about.

                 The stretch of beach which shows the coach stands between Dave's snack bar and the pier

Dave and Jim pointed out where there used to be entertainment on that stretch of beach which included a children's roundabout, model boats on water, a trampoline and also a traditional seaside Punch and Judy show.

Both of them had also witnessed many historical and memorable moments from their time working at the seafront. These included seeing the Mary Rose being brought up. The Falklands war ships leaving and returning to port. The home coming of the Royal yacht for the last time. The 40th and 50th D Day celebrations and the Trafalgar 200 celebrations in 2005.

When I talked to them individually about how they felt about their working life at the beach they both gave identical answers to each other. They couldn't see themselves working anywhere else, stating,

"It's a way of life, every day is different, the people, the weather"

Jim said, "I see it as a bit of a privilege really. We've got people here we used to serve as kids and now they bring their kids. We make lasting friendships"

Looking around him and throwing his hands out towards the view his said,

"It's wonderful innit"

....I couldn't agree more Jim.