Better Ole, Fanling [????- ] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Better Ole, Fanling [????- ]

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Submitted by David on Fri, 2012-04-20 14:07

Poistion is approximate.

There's one of their business-cards from the 1960s on Facebook, and more memories of the place on this thread.

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1950
1952
1965
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Submitted by moddsey on Sat, 2012-04-21 22:32.

China Mail 15 March 1927

The original Better 'Ole was operated by the Naval and  Military YMCA in Peking Road, Kowloon (formerly a godown) for servicemen returning from camp at Fanling. It did not last long and closed down in October 1927.

Submitted by Bill Griffiths on Wed, 2012-05-09 04:33.

I remember when I was stationed in Fan Ling in 1951just prior to being sent off to Korea..I am sure there was a soldier who took his discharge from one of the Regiments serving there at the time, who actually opened up a fish and chip shop catering especially for the troops there..and I am certain I  remember this being called

'The hole in the wall'  or it could have been 'the better ole'...

Of course I have nothing only my memory to support this..and not sure how to follow  this...The regiments there at the time were The Middlesex Regiment'..The Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders'..The Kings Shropshire Light Infantry'...There must be someone else who remembers this.....

Bill Griffiths

Submitted by Bill Griffiths on Fri, 2012-11-02 00:41.

Hello I wrote some time ago to say that I remember the Better Ole as a fish and chip shop owned and run by an ex British Soldier....

Just today...1st November I was in Town..hereford UK and met an ex soldier pal of mine who also remembers the Better Ole....and it being used by all the British soldiers stationed up in the New Territories....

So pleased to know that my memory was not playing tricks on me....best wishes

Bill Griffiths

PS...will be in Hong Kong from 1st till 15th December for a vacation....look forward to meeting up with any other GWULOS

Submitted by philk on Fri, 2012-11-02 14:17.

The name of the place lives on in Sheung Shui still.

Better 'Ole, Sheung Shui

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Better 'Ole, Sheung Shui

Submitted by moddsey on Fri, 2012-11-02 15:27.
But is it a Better Ole!

Submitted by harryhktc on Wed, 2016-09-28 23:22.

Aye

Submitted by gwulome on Mon, 2016-09-12 15:43.

My father retained this article from the Hong Kong Standard in 1952 that gives some details

BetterOle.jpg

BetterOle.jpg, by gwulome

 

Submitted by TST Dave on Tue, 2019-12-10 11:27.

There's a recent article in Zolima which puts the opening date of the orginal location as 1947, with the current location dating to the early '80s. The original owner was a British serviceman named Pop Watson; the current owner is the 3rd generation of the family that bought the business from him when he retired in 1962.

https://zolimacitymag.com/forgotten-hong-kong-icon-better-ole-classic-pu...