The Copper Kettle, Cafe and restaurant, 17 Fore Street

If you would like to share your memories of the Copper Kettle you can complete our 'Your Memories of Chard' form here, message us on the Museum Facebook page or visit us at the Museum.

Many residents of Chard remember the Copper Kettle, but the location of these memories vary, depending on the persons age. Initially, located on Holyrood Street. Newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Sweet, Jim and Trixie, bought what was Mr. Beake the bakers, together with the adjoining cottages to set up home in 1935. When walking up the staircase of one of the cottages Jim’s foot went through and he found a copper kettle, which he later hung outside and so the name for the shop and restaurant was decided upon!

After renovation the property became a corner shop, restaurant and B and B. The business expanded into outside catering and employed over 20 people. In 1962 Jim and Trixie were the first to set up a meals on wheels service for the elderly in Chard.

The Copper Kettle closed in 1973 with a compulsory purchase order served to demolish the property. Meanwhile the owner of a restaurant at 17 Fore Street, asked to use the name and so another era began. Since then No.17 has been a fish and chip restaurant under the names of Farmer Guppy’s and the Copper Kettle, as well as Girasol and Saraiva’s, a Portuguese restaurant. But it all started in Holyrood Street with that old copper kettle under the stairs.