''Seafood seafood''
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''Seafood seafood''
So I cant remember what the actual cry was, but can you settle 2 discussions / arguments that I am currently enjoying with my darling wife.
But when I started going in pubs in Burnley mid to late 70s men came i with a tray like the ones used in cinemas for Ice cream, One was what they shouted ?
and 2 I thought they sold Muscles, cockles, and pork scratching's , my wife says they sold parched peas (Black peas in vinegar) Now I remember having them hot with vinegar and pepper around November? can anyone remember the sellers call and also what they sold?
But when I started going in pubs in Burnley mid to late 70s men came i with a tray like the ones used in cinemas for Ice cream, One was what they shouted ?
and 2 I thought they sold Muscles, cockles, and pork scratching's , my wife says they sold parched peas (Black peas in vinegar) Now I remember having them hot with vinegar and pepper around November? can anyone remember the sellers call and also what they sold?
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Similar arrived in my local, at the time. Friday nights.
Around the same time as the Sally Army.
Around the same time as the Sally Army.

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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Yep and they wore white coats and carried a large wicker basket at least the guy in Accy did.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Can’t remember the last time I saw one, 90s maybe?
Sure they were just there to prove that people will buy anything when they are p***ed.
Sure they were just there to prove that people will buy anything when they are p***ed.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
We used to get the samosa man in Manchester. Early 2000s. A quid for a large samosa, used to carry them in a large tray through all the pubs around Ancoats/Oldham Street.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
He'd make a killing off meClaretOfMancunia wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 11:32 amWe used to get the samosa man in Manchester. Early 2000s. A quid for a large samosa, used to carry them in a large tray through all the pubs around Ancoats/Oldham Street.

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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
You've just triggered a very obscure memory for me, I remember these chaps when I worked in the Miners in the early 2000s
Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Kershaws cockles and prawns a scouser in the pubs in burnley allways greeted with have you got crabs

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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Preceded?
Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Bloke in Tod in the 70's used to shout seafood but a mate got him to shout seaweed.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
"Cold Fish" is what I loved!
I reckon it was battered fish as sold in the chippy, was frozen and then distributed in wicker baskets in pubs etc. By the time you got it, it was no longer frozen, just cold, and juicy, and delicious.
I reckon it was battered fish as sold in the chippy, was frozen and then distributed in wicker baskets in pubs etc. By the time you got it, it was no longer frozen, just cold, and juicy, and delicious.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
I think the original 70s cry was cockles, mussels, prawns. The original guys came from Wigan and people often cadged a lift from them to the casino when they had finished.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
That’s the fella I remember. Had a bit of a ‘cod-eye’ if I remember rightly.
Nice fella… always cheery and smiley despite some of the “bants” he used to get.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Exactly how I remember it, ‘cockle man’ came round every Friday night, always surprisingly popular. Big guy with a beard in Ossy, mid-90s.Cardclaret wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 11:29 amYep and they wore white coats and carried a large wicker basket at least the guy in Accy did.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
He was doing well still working at that age!NottsClaret wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 1:13 pmExactly how I remember it, ‘cockle man’ came round every Friday night, always surprisingly popular. Big guy with a beard in Ossy, mid-90s.

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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Yeah, OK. Kebab shops preceded blokes going around pubs selling cockles and the likes.Jakubclaret wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 12:39 pmI'm sure my old bean the kebabs were knocking around in the 80s era

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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
The Kershaw bloke..."Cockles, mussels, prawns, welks".
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
I do humbly apologise profusely for not accurately recording when the first seafood snacks & kebabs became the choice of the intoxicated. I'd happily wager a bet after a skinful you are thinking of doners & not crab sticks.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Maybe he was thinking of crabs if he ever visited kinky Karen in Cumbria.Jakubclaret wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 2:49 pmI do humbly apologise profusely for not accurately recording when the first seafood snacks & kebabs became the choice of the intoxicated. I'd happily wager a bet after a skinful you are thinking of doners & not crab sticks.

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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
I remember buying cockles from the guys (scouses?) who did Burnley pubs on Friday evening in early-mid 1970s (when I frequented Nelson Inn/Borough); went very well with a pint or two.
Last one I saw was in Nottingham. I went with a family member to an ODI at Trent Bridge (v Pakistan I think) and after it ended went into the Parliament Square area in a pub (Bell Inn?) and encountered the "cockle man" I was very pleased to see him for a cockle fix and he was quite a character.
Later I saw he had a degree of fame as one of the last of his sort https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-n ... e-26383900
Last one I saw was in Nottingham. I went with a family member to an ODI at Trent Bridge (v Pakistan I think) and after it ended went into the Parliament Square area in a pub (Bell Inn?) and encountered the "cockle man" I was very pleased to see him for a cockle fix and he was quite a character.
Later I saw he had a degree of fame as one of the last of his sort https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-n ... e-26383900
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
..followed by "" alive alive-oh"" ?claret3561 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 1:08 pmI think the original 70s cry was cockles, mussels, prawns.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
You’d be winning that bet!!Jakubclaret wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 2:49 pmI do humbly apologise profusely for not accurately recording when the first seafood snacks & kebabs became the choice of the intoxicated. I'd happily wager a bet after a skinful you are thinking of doners & not crab sticks.

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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Moonies with roses.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
So there was people in pubs in the Burnley area who just happened to be there with their change of gear (and their gear) just in case a fish seller came in, who may or may not have taken them to Wigan Casino?claret3561 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 1:08 pmI think the original 70s cry was cockles, mussels, prawns. The original guys came from Wigan and people often cadged a lift from them to the casino when they had finished.
Didn't most people get to the Casino by mini bus?
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
We had cockle sellers in the pubs in West Lancs These were guys who were on the dole and cockled on Southport beach bringing their wares round to supplement their benefits
Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Exactly the same down south in the early 1970's in my home town of Dunstable.Buxtonclaret wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 11:26 amSimilar arrived in my local, at the time. Friday nights.
Around the same time as the Sally Army.![]()
Always on a Friday night and also the Salvation Army and their War Cry.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Who remembers the one ormed cockle man?
He simply shouted cockles and mussels
He simply shouted cockles and mussels
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Very popular in Torbay, 70's to 80's as I recall.
Cockles, mussels, whelks and crabsticks. Not sure about prawns.
Cockles, mussels, whelks and crabsticks. Not sure about prawns.
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
And quite often "Kippers" as well.No Ney Never wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 1:42 pmThe Kershaw bloke..."Cockles, mussels, prawns, welks".
There was a team of 'em not just the one guy, all with scouse accents. I remember seeing 'em get out of a van by the Wellington on Saturday nights then split up to do the pubs and clubs of Fulledge , Burnley Wood, Yorrshire Street - there were loads in them days - and the town centre.
There was also a fella who wandered the streets of Fulledge every Saturday evening with a big wicker basket shouting " Sykes-tor- pe- dos" which were steaming hot pasty shaped meat and tater pies. Delicious.
AND, ....... the old guy who about an hour after the match finished, walked around the same area shouting "Last Sports Pink",- the paper which had a comprehensive report of the game, so soon after it ended, which he sold from a canvas bag slung 'round his shoulder.
Thanks for the memories

Re: ''Seafood seafood''
There was a cockles and mussels fella in the clitheroe pubs around 2000
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Well heres one i hope somone remembers, my dad was called "Matt" he was a very proud Irishman, he came here to England in the early 1950s, one of the first jobs he ever had was doing the "basket" as he called it, he would get his basket with cockles, welks, and mussels etc, and would set off on a friday night about 7 pm to get the train it was then called "Puffing Billy" from what was then called Bank Top Station, to Colne he would go around all the pubs & clubs in Colne with the basket untill he had sold everthing and then get the last train back to Burnley, and back to his digs as he called it in those days, never once did he encounter any trouble while doing his round, good days i suppose but bloody hard work. 

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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
Someone mentioned the Salvation Army going round pubs selling Warcry. They also sold a paper/comic for kids called The Young Soldier. Had a few puzzles and jokes in it. My dad used to bring it home for me, Haslingden late 50s and early 60s. Anyone else remember it?
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Re: ''Seafood seafood''
I think you know the answer to that!
Re: ''Seafood seafood''
According to predictive text, I live in Seafood.
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