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Eating In
Bring the restaurant to you: gastronomic inspiration for novice cooks and greedy gourmands
From fine dining to comfort food, we’ve got you covered with this mouthwatering selection spanning decades of making, cooking - and eating. Nostalgic childhood favourites, regional delicacies and recipe tips for the thrifty are all on hand, whether you’re after artisan cheese, homemade samosas or a full turkey dinner. This collection also reflects the challenge of feeding the nation during two world wars and how an increasingly multicultural society saw postwar Britain’s culinary landscape burst into colour.
Herrings Herrings
Public Information Filler 1940 7 mins
This informative herring aid from WWII makes no bones about the need to make the most of every fish
Black Country Food Black Country Food
News 1972 5 mins Location: Wednesbury
Tasting the plain, good 'fittle' of the Black Country - just remember to pull the hairs out of those pork scratchings.
Cheese Making at Home Cheese Making at Home
Non-Fiction 1918 4 mins Silent
Handy hints for would-be fromagers
Indian Sweets Indian Sweets
News 1979 4 mins Location: Moseley
A new type of shop appears on the high street: Indian sweets have arrived in Birmingham.
Chinese Restaurants Chinese Restaurants
Non-Fiction 1965 7 mins Location: Birmingham
From the House of Liang Nam to the Kam Ling Bamboo Rooms: the pioneers who made the long journey from Hong Kong to bring Chinese food to Birmingham.
A Party Dish by X. Marcel Boulestin A Party Dish by X. Marcel Boulestin
1936 9 mins Silent
Guests to impress? Celebrity chef Marcel Boulestin out a quick veal escalope with the aid of a shiny new gas cooker.
Boxing Day Boxing Day
Cookery show 1973 27 mins
Dorothy Sleightholme, Yorkshire's answer to Fanny Cradock, makes a meal of turkey leftovers in this seasonal offering from the Farmhouse Kitchen.
Sunshine in Soho Sunshine in Soho
Documentary 1956 32 mins Location: Soho
1950s Soho beats with far more energy than its 21st century counterpart in this vivid time capsule.
Bun Eating Contest Bun Eating Contest
News 1963 1 mins Silent Location: Rathfriland
Can you spot the cheat in this greedy contest?
Herbert Campbell As Little Bobby Herbert Campbell As Little Bobby
Comedy 1899 1 mins Silent
A not-so-little variety star shows off his appetite
Mrs Newlywed's First Dinner Mrs Newlywed's First Dinner
Amateur film 1949 8 mins Silent
There are culinary catastrophes galore when Mrs Newlywed attempts to cook the couple's first meal in their austerity kitchen.
A Love Supreme A Love Supreme
2001 10 mins Silent
A homage to the director's mother, mistress of the art of making samosas
Clegg's People: Food Clegg's People: Food
Documentary 1986 24 mins Location: Scarborough
A real appetiser of a film, as Yorkshire and beyond reveals some of its gastronomic concoctions, such as the Pontefract cake, Bakewell pudding, and fare not for the queasy.
Parrett Eels Parrett Eels
Current affairs 1981 4 mins Location: Stathe
Elvers are cooked for a special tasting
Snails at The Miners Arms in Winscombe Snails at The Miners Arms in Winscombe
Current affairs 9 mins Location: Winscombe
A slow reception for edible snails at the Miners Arms
Caribbean Restaurant Caribbean Restaurant
Magazine and Review show 1986 7 mins Location: West Bromwich
Bringing the tastes of Montego Bay to a wintry West Bromwich.
Chinese Restaurants in Plymouth Chinese Restaurants in Plymouth
News 1966 5 mins Location: Plymouth
A visit to Chinese restaurants in Plymouth and a chance to get to know the staff.
Chinese Restaurants Chinese Restaurants
Non-Fiction 1967 2 mins Location: Birmingham
Will a dispute between China and Britain over Hong Kong harm sales in Birmingham's busy Chinese restaurants?
Curworthy Farmhouse Cheese Curworthy Farmhouse Cheese
Current affairs 1983 3 mins Location: Stockbeare Fm
Farmhouse cheese production is traditional
Manufacture of Stilton Cheese Manufacture of Stilton Cheese
Non-Fiction 1920 2 mins Silent
Ever wondered how your Christmas Stilton is made? All is revealed in this delectable short produced by pioneer Charles Urban.
Stilton Cheese Stilton Cheese
News 1974 3 mins Location: Melton Mowbray
Can Melton Mowbray really be "a storm centre of international incident" - surely not?
Indian Sweets and Savouries Indian Sweets and Savouries
Magazine and Review show 1982 8 mins Location: Leicester
By 1982 the Indian restaurant was a familiar sight but vegetarian options were still a rarity. Hilary Minster goes in search of the perfect veggie chaat in Leicester.
Mousetrap Is Out! Mousetrap Is Out!
1956 15 mins
Blessed are the cheesemakers! Exploring traditional and mass production methods with John Arlott
Magician's Wife Makes the Christmas Cake Magician's Wife Makes the Christmas Cake
Amateur film 1949 8 mins Silent
There's magical mayhem in the kitchen when the magician's wife makes use of a most unusual cooking utensil - her husband's magic wand.
Nothing to Eat (But Food) Nothing to Eat (But Food)
Documentary 1962 16 mins Location: Norwich
Nutrition primer featuring Norwich market.
Heinz Tomato Ketchup : Fish Patties Heinz Tomato Ketchup : Fish Patties
Advert 1960 1 mins
This 1960 Heinz ad boasts a recipe tip for some tasty flaked fish vol-au-vents.
Findus - Pancakes: Pancake Day (Revised Version) Findus - Pancakes: Pancake Day (Revised Version)
Advert 1981 1 mins
The iconic Findus frozen food, a crispy pancake wrapped around a choice of four different fillings.
Wartime Food Boredom Wartime Food Boredom
Public Information Filler 1946 0 mins
The Ministry of Information plays the guilt card to keep the home front from grumbling at mealtimes
Food for Thought Food for Thought
Government sponsored film 1940 5 mins
Grumpy Grandma is put in her place during wartime food demonstration
Food and War Food and War
Documentary 1943 18 mins
From British Restaurants to American victory gardens, this survey of food rationing in 1943 shows the effect of the war on the eating habits of civilians and soldiers alike.
When the Pie Was Opened When the Pie Was Opened
Government sponsored film 1941 8 mins
Welcome to an obscure but delightful corner of film history where Masterchef, rationing and surrealism meet public information films.
Cheese Mites; Or, Lilliputians in a London Restaurant Cheese Mites; Or, Lilliputians in a London Restaurant
Trick film 1901 1 mins Silent
Discovering an infestation in a restaurant has never been as much fun as in this early trick film
Shippam's Country Pot - Ooh Arr Shippam's Country Pot - Ooh Arr
Advert 1979 1 mins
Seventies nostalgia abounds in this advert for Shippam's Country Pot - for sandwiches with a bit of Ooooh-Aaar
Shippam's Sandwichmakers Shippam's Sandwichmakers
Advert 1981 1 mins
Boring sandwiches get a tasty Shippam's make-over in this classic comedy commercial from the 70s starring the legendary Roy Kinnear
Feeding Time! Feeding Time!
Non-Fiction 1929 2 mins Silent Location: Thame
Street food 1920s style as the people of Thame embark on an "ox-roasting orgy" in the marketplace.
The Story of Our Food Supply The Story of Our Food Supply
Public Information Filler 1928 20 mins Silent Location: Bermondsey
The original foodie city: from bustling Bermondsey Wharves through Smithfield and Billingsgate to London's street markets and general stores.
Helping the Food Controller in 1000 Home Gardens at Bournville Helping the Food Controller in 1000 Home Gardens at Bournville
1918 6 mins Silent
Self-sufficiency in a Midlands garden suburb supports national resilience during WWI
Nation's Food - Meat Nation's Food - Meat
1917 8 mins Silent
Where's the beef? The exotic origins of the British Sunday roast are explored in this short film about meat
Armchair Cookery Armchair Cookery
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent
Masterchef or not, these kitchen gadgets seek to give independence back to soldiers disabled in WWI service
Rooftop Restaurant in Plymouth Rooftop Restaurant in Plymouth
Current affairs 1962 6 mins Location: Plymouth
The city's new sky bar and restaurant opens for business.
The Secret The Secret
Government sponsored film 1918 2 mins Silent
Covert operations on the home front find solutions to shortages just next door
Tommys' Xmas Pudding Tommys' Xmas Pudding
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent
Women factory workers go full steam to make sure troops on the Western Front have a little tradition at Christmas.
Food, Glorious Food!
Peckish? If you're hungry for a snapshot of our changing attitudes to food then dig in.