L&H Cloake Sussex
To read more about L& H Cloake click here H & R Closke Croydon
(Feb 27, 2014)
Tony said:Hello Daren if you still have the bag I would love to buy it from you
Cheers Tony
(May 16, 2013)Daren said:
Hello would you know in the seconed photo of the record bags are they worth any money as I have one in very gd condition
Regards Daren
(Mar 23, 2013) Jen said:Is this the one?
www.met.police.uk/history/images/elephant_crossing.jpg
(Jan 22, 2013)
Steve Bradford said:I worked in the Crawley shop about 1970, i used to phone in the figures for the charts every week. I also remember one of the owners, maybe Richard, had an old 2 seater white Jaguar that he would turn up in. Enjoyed working there.
(Dec 12, 2012)
Vince said:Yes I worked at Crawley and what a great place to work and listen to some great sounds. From the Crawley shop you had Porl Thompson who found fame in the Cure. Kevin Cohen of Amulet, Vince Rees, Pete Smith, Chris Cullen of T30 Control and later The Red Planet Orchestra. Music changes your soul!
(Oct 1, 2012) Anonymous said:
Also had 4 of those listening booths that seem so archaic now.
Good old racket with 4 of them going and also the shop music system.
(Oct 1, 2012) Sheila Wells said:
I worked in the shop from 1974 to 1979 usually in the bargain basement.
Lots of American imports Lots of classical though too don't forget.
It was a chart returns shop, ie it contributed figures for compiling the singles charts.
(July 7, 2012) Janatvan said:
I worked at both the streatham and Croydon branches in the 70s
(June 7, 2015)I only dealt with Mrs Cloake on the telephone. You couldn't have asked for a friendlier, more helpful person. Comment: Eric Serebro
(October 1, 2015) That record bag brings back memories, served many a 45 up in one of them. I worked at the streatham branch 1979-1980 (roughly). I recall working with Sue, Mick and Caroline. Mick the manager had a 30 year habit of over ordering vinyls, hence the place was a treasure trove of musical nostalgia. It served as a fantastic Saturday job for a 15 year old, I still remember the friendships which I made and the boozy lunch breaks at The Manor. Great days! Comment: Andy Budge.
I remember that shop. I bought blank cassettes there.
By Simon (28/11/2009)Cloake's must have been part of a chain - I used to go in their Redhill shop when I lived in Surrey. How many shops did they have?
By Mike Atherton (29/01/2012)I worked for RCA Records from 1969 - 1973 selling records to shops in Sussex Surrey & Hampshire, L & H Cloak at the time also had branches in The Boulevard Crawley & Redhill. It was a family business, I used to deal with Richard Cloake at Crawley, a really nice family concern.
By John Desborough (22/02/2012)Yes I worked at Crawley and what a great place to work and listen to some great sounds. From the Crawley shop you had Porl Thompson who found fame in the Cure. Kevin Cohen of Amulet, Vince Rees, Pete Smith, Chris Cullen of T30 Control and later The Red Planet Orchestra. Music changes your soul!
By Vince (12/12/2012)From September 1978 a gang of us Brighton Tec students used to religiously go around as many record shops in Brighton as possible, especially on a Monday as it was new releases day! We used to visit the old concrete jungle of Churchill Square with HMV and L & H Cloake. L & H Cloake was hidden right down the back down concrete ramps, but it was also bright and sunny in the shop as I can remember rows and rows of picture sleeves up on the walls. They used to stock picture discs, coloured vinyl and all manner of unusual goodies. God, I spent a bomb in there. I can particularly remember seeing the different coloured 7" vinyls of "King Rocker" by Generation X on Chrysalis Records. I was aware there was a similar branch in Crawley, but I thought they may have been called H&R Cloake?
By Nick Linazasoro (12/05/2013)Nick, I think you're right when we changed from the cheap old paper bags to yellow polythene industrial strength type record bags.
By Alida Whiteborough (03/02/2014)L & H Cloake opened in Brighton in December 1975 - I was their "Saturday boy" from the start until going full time with them when I left school the following June. It was the sixth and last store to open in the chain, the others being in Crawley, East Grinstead, Streatham, Croydon and Redhill. The business had been set up by two brothers (l. & H.) in the fifties (I believe), but by the time I started was effectively being run by their respective sons, both called Richard. Eventually they split the chain between them, with Brighton and two others becoming 'H & R Cloake' and the rest 'L Cloake & son'. After a brief flirtation with punk and all the coloured vinyl we could get our hands on, we started to specialize in US disco / funk imports, supplying the burgeoning DJ scene in the town. The now legendary Mick Fuller started working there in around '78 and began organising club nights around the county, in particular the never to be forgotten Bognor Boogie Bus. The Brighton store was never a success, being tucked away round the back of the Square (they'd been promised a walkway from the seafront when they took the shop on - it never materialised) and it closed at the end of '81. The manager, Trevor, went on to open Miles Ahead in Queen's Road, taking me and Mick with him, but this only lasted for a year or so before going to the wall.
By Cookster660 (28/09/2014)
According to the London Gazette, L. & H. Cloake Limited, with it’s registered office at 29 High Street, Croydon, Surrey, appointed a liquidator on 29th September 1979. This must be when it became H. & R. Cloake after the reorganisation:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/47989/page/13476/data.pdf
This ties in with the phone book evidence of 262 High Road, Streatham, SW16 becoming L. Cloake & Son in 1979/80.
“I became a regular customer at H. & R. Cloake, Croydon from 1987, when I bought the first CD reissue of Frank Zappa’s ‘Hot Rats’ there. In the year 2000, one of the sales assistants kindly gave me a couple of promo CD’s for being such a good customer.” Dave Harwood
On the internet I found evidence of it still being open in 2002:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=H+%26+R+Cloake+records&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=c9L_Vvz2HMila4KVv9AO#q=H%26R+cloake+croydon&start=10
21 Feb 2002 – “I want you to come forward on Monday, February 25 at H & R Cloake, 29 High Street, Croydon (opposite Grants) and give your unreserved support to the children of the world...” – Winston McKenzie (promoting his charity CD).
Name Sally-Clairew Fadelle Comment I worked in the Crawley shop in 1979. Richard Cloake was a self serving arse wipe but everyone else was nice! (February 11, 2017)
I remember buying bill Nelsons red noise, revolt into style on blue vinyl in abt 78/79 I was abt 9 or 10.memories aye.
rebel51
L & H Cloake, (then H & R Cloake) Churchill Square, Brighton.
The best reference for this store came from a certain ‘Cookster660’ in 2014, who informs us thus:
“L & H Cloake opened in Brighton in December 1975 – I was their “Saturday boy” from the start until going full time with them when I left school the following June. It was the sixth and last store to open in the chain, the others being in Crawley, East Grinstead, Streatham, Croydon and Redhill. The business had been set up by two brothers (l. & H.) in the fifties (I believe), but by the time I started was effectively being run by their respective sons, both called Richard. Eventually they split the chain between them, with Brighton and two others becoming ‘H & R Cloake’ and the rest ‘L Cloake & son’. After a brief flirtation with punk and all the coloured vinyl we could get our hands on, we started to specialise in US disco / funk imports, supplying the burgeoning DJ scene in the town. The now legendary Mick Fuller started working there in around ’78 and began organising club nights around the county, in particular the never to be forgotten Bognor Boogie Bus. The Brighton store was never a success, being tucked away round the back of the Square (they’d been promised a walkway from the seafront when they took the shop on – it never materialised) and it closed at the end of ’81. The manager, Trevor, went on to open Miles Ahead in Queen’s Road, taking me and Mick with him, but this only lasted for a year or so before going to the wall”.
Apparently Porl Thompson who found fame in the Cure, used to work in the Crawley shop before his fame.
(Feb 27, 2014)
Tony said:Hello Daren if you still have the bag I would love to buy it from you
Cheers Tony
(May 16, 2013)Daren said:
Hello would you know in the seconed photo of the record bags are they worth any money as I have one in very gd condition
Regards Daren
(Mar 23, 2013) Jen said:Is this the one?
www.met.police.uk/history/images/elephant_crossing.jpg
(Jan 22, 2013)
Steve Bradford said:I worked in the Crawley shop about 1970, i used to phone in the figures for the charts every week. I also remember one of the owners, maybe Richard, had an old 2 seater white Jaguar that he would turn up in. Enjoyed working there.
(Dec 12, 2012)
Vince said:Yes I worked at Crawley and what a great place to work and listen to some great sounds. From the Crawley shop you had Porl Thompson who found fame in the Cure. Kevin Cohen of Amulet, Vince Rees, Pete Smith, Chris Cullen of T30 Control and later The Red Planet Orchestra. Music changes your soul!
(Oct 1, 2012) Anonymous said:
Also had 4 of those listening booths that seem so archaic now.
Good old racket with 4 of them going and also the shop music system.
(Oct 1, 2012) Sheila Wells said:
I worked in the shop from 1974 to 1979 usually in the bargain basement.
Lots of American imports Lots of classical though too don't forget.
It was a chart returns shop, ie it contributed figures for compiling the singles charts.
(July 7, 2012) Janatvan said:
I worked at both the streatham and Croydon branches in the 70s
(June 7, 2015)I only dealt with Mrs Cloake on the telephone. You couldn't have asked for a friendlier, more helpful person. Comment: Eric Serebro
(October 1, 2015) That record bag brings back memories, served many a 45 up in one of them. I worked at the streatham branch 1979-1980 (roughly). I recall working with Sue, Mick and Caroline. Mick the manager had a 30 year habit of over ordering vinyls, hence the place was a treasure trove of musical nostalgia. It served as a fantastic Saturday job for a 15 year old, I still remember the friendships which I made and the boozy lunch breaks at The Manor. Great days! Comment: Andy Budge.
I remember that shop. I bought blank cassettes there.
By Simon (28/11/2009)Cloake's must have been part of a chain - I used to go in their Redhill shop when I lived in Surrey. How many shops did they have?
By Mike Atherton (29/01/2012)I worked for RCA Records from 1969 - 1973 selling records to shops in Sussex Surrey & Hampshire, L & H Cloak at the time also had branches in The Boulevard Crawley & Redhill. It was a family business, I used to deal with Richard Cloake at Crawley, a really nice family concern.
By John Desborough (22/02/2012)Yes I worked at Crawley and what a great place to work and listen to some great sounds. From the Crawley shop you had Porl Thompson who found fame in the Cure. Kevin Cohen of Amulet, Vince Rees, Pete Smith, Chris Cullen of T30 Control and later The Red Planet Orchestra. Music changes your soul!
By Vince (12/12/2012)From September 1978 a gang of us Brighton Tec students used to religiously go around as many record shops in Brighton as possible, especially on a Monday as it was new releases day! We used to visit the old concrete jungle of Churchill Square with HMV and L & H Cloake. L & H Cloake was hidden right down the back down concrete ramps, but it was also bright and sunny in the shop as I can remember rows and rows of picture sleeves up on the walls. They used to stock picture discs, coloured vinyl and all manner of unusual goodies. God, I spent a bomb in there. I can particularly remember seeing the different coloured 7" vinyls of "King Rocker" by Generation X on Chrysalis Records. I was aware there was a similar branch in Crawley, but I thought they may have been called H&R Cloake?
By Nick Linazasoro (12/05/2013)Nick, I think you're right when we changed from the cheap old paper bags to yellow polythene industrial strength type record bags.
By Alida Whiteborough (03/02/2014)L & H Cloake opened in Brighton in December 1975 - I was their "Saturday boy" from the start until going full time with them when I left school the following June. It was the sixth and last store to open in the chain, the others being in Crawley, East Grinstead, Streatham, Croydon and Redhill. The business had been set up by two brothers (l. & H.) in the fifties (I believe), but by the time I started was effectively being run by their respective sons, both called Richard. Eventually they split the chain between them, with Brighton and two others becoming 'H & R Cloake' and the rest 'L Cloake & son'. After a brief flirtation with punk and all the coloured vinyl we could get our hands on, we started to specialize in US disco / funk imports, supplying the burgeoning DJ scene in the town. The now legendary Mick Fuller started working there in around '78 and began organising club nights around the county, in particular the never to be forgotten Bognor Boogie Bus. The Brighton store was never a success, being tucked away round the back of the Square (they'd been promised a walkway from the seafront when they took the shop on - it never materialised) and it closed at the end of '81. The manager, Trevor, went on to open Miles Ahead in Queen's Road, taking me and Mick with him, but this only lasted for a year or so before going to the wall.
By Cookster660 (28/09/2014)
According to the London Gazette, L. & H. Cloake Limited, with it’s registered office at 29 High Street, Croydon, Surrey, appointed a liquidator on 29th September 1979. This must be when it became H. & R. Cloake after the reorganisation:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/47989/page/13476/data.pdf
This ties in with the phone book evidence of 262 High Road, Streatham, SW16 becoming L. Cloake & Son in 1979/80.
“I became a regular customer at H. & R. Cloake, Croydon from 1987, when I bought the first CD reissue of Frank Zappa’s ‘Hot Rats’ there. In the year 2000, one of the sales assistants kindly gave me a couple of promo CD’s for being such a good customer.” Dave Harwood
On the internet I found evidence of it still being open in 2002:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=H+%26+R+Cloake+records&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=c9L_Vvz2HMila4KVv9AO#q=H%26R+cloake+croydon&start=10
21 Feb 2002 – “I want you to come forward on Monday, February 25 at H & R Cloake, 29 High Street, Croydon (opposite Grants) and give your unreserved support to the children of the world...” – Winston McKenzie (promoting his charity CD).
Name Sally-Clairew Fadelle Comment I worked in the Crawley shop in 1979. Richard Cloake was a self serving arse wipe but everyone else was nice! (February 11, 2017)
I remember buying bill Nelsons red noise, revolt into style on blue vinyl in abt 78/79 I was abt 9 or 10.memories aye.
rebel51
L & H Cloake, (then H & R Cloake) Churchill Square, Brighton.
The best reference for this store came from a certain ‘Cookster660’ in 2014, who informs us thus:
“L & H Cloake opened in Brighton in December 1975 – I was their “Saturday boy” from the start until going full time with them when I left school the following June. It was the sixth and last store to open in the chain, the others being in Crawley, East Grinstead, Streatham, Croydon and Redhill. The business had been set up by two brothers (l. & H.) in the fifties (I believe), but by the time I started was effectively being run by their respective sons, both called Richard. Eventually they split the chain between them, with Brighton and two others becoming ‘H & R Cloake’ and the rest ‘L Cloake & son’. After a brief flirtation with punk and all the coloured vinyl we could get our hands on, we started to specialise in US disco / funk imports, supplying the burgeoning DJ scene in the town. The now legendary Mick Fuller started working there in around ’78 and began organising club nights around the county, in particular the never to be forgotten Bognor Boogie Bus. The Brighton store was never a success, being tucked away round the back of the Square (they’d been promised a walkway from the seafront when they took the shop on – it never materialised) and it closed at the end of ’81. The manager, Trevor, went on to open Miles Ahead in Queen’s Road, taking me and Mick with him, but this only lasted for a year or so before going to the wall”.
Apparently Porl Thompson who found fame in the Cure, used to work in the Crawley shop before his fame.
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Trevor Miles Lyme Rosthorne Brighton
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