A “Beano” is an old slang term for a feast - or a treat - as in “let’s go out for a jolly good beano!” so the comic was called “the Beano” implying “a feast of a read” -
My father moved from Pakistan in the late 70s and opened one of the first kebab vans in Oxfordshire in the early 80s. It was called Desperate Dan, the kebab van, named after a comic character from The Dandy. Coincidentally, also a Scottish comic magazine around the same era as the Beano.
People used to see my dad around the town and called him Dan. His name is Abdul. 🤣
I'm seeing him this weekend. Thank you for prompting me to ask him why it was ever called that. I never asked.
I loved this light-hearted (and well-written) read about the mystery of the Beano chains in Kent! I’ve never heard of them, never been (but suspect after this some of us might search them out when we’re in the area), but am of the Beano era and this felt like a step back into my childhood, now captured in cheap and cheerful meals in a series of restaurants warmingly connected by family, community and immigrants settling down to build a life. Great read.
Really enjoyed this piece. In a similar vein, I have often wondered why so many Pakistani restaurants have Lahore in their name - Lahore Karahi, Lahore Kebab, Little Lahore, Taste of Lahore, Lahore Spice, Lahore Village and so on. At first I thought maybe they were franchises or run by members of a large extended family, but there are literally dozens and dozens so this explanation doesn't really make sense.
I remember visiting the Cally Road Beano cafe on a trip to London with my Dad when I was probably 10. We were looking for a greasy spoon for a proper breakfast and their 'gutbuster' fit the bill. It's a core food memory for me, great to read a bit more info about it and find that the sprit of the cafe lives on.
I'm from Cliftonville and had always wondered if the Beano cafes were a chain. I loved reading this - it took me straight back home (I no longer live in Thanet). Thank you.
"The Beano magazine, which once circulated several million copies a year, now distributes around 40,000 per issue"
But it's still published every week, so "40,000 per issue" IS "several million a year"!
It's been through ups and downs since it was launched in 1938, but The Beano is currently having something of a resurgence thanks to parental concerns about kids spending too much time on screens, plus an adjacent boom in graphic novels like Dogman. A new partnership with the Tower of London and Hampton Court is also bringing it to another generation in 2026 - ironic it was once very much the mischievous and slightly rebellious comic that your parents weren't so sure about, but it's now a firm part of the British establishment!
I hope that the families find new blood and new faces to keep these places running because even though I don't live in Kent the social role of these kind of places is so important. Forza to the independant Caffs in 2026!
Just to add to the list, there was a terrific vegetarian café in Folkestone called Beano's, which closed I think in about 2021. I'm not sure of the origins of its name, but it was on Tontine Street in the heart of the old town, so I wonder whether it adopted the name of a former establishment on the same site?
A “Beano” is an old slang term for a feast - or a treat - as in “let’s go out for a jolly good beano!” so the comic was called “the Beano” implying “a feast of a read” -
My father moved from Pakistan in the late 70s and opened one of the first kebab vans in Oxfordshire in the early 80s. It was called Desperate Dan, the kebab van, named after a comic character from The Dandy. Coincidentally, also a Scottish comic magazine around the same era as the Beano.
People used to see my dad around the town and called him Dan. His name is Abdul. 🤣
I'm seeing him this weekend. Thank you for prompting me to ask him why it was ever called that. I never asked.
Did you find out? I'd love to know!
I loved this light-hearted (and well-written) read about the mystery of the Beano chains in Kent! I’ve never heard of them, never been (but suspect after this some of us might search them out when we’re in the area), but am of the Beano era and this felt like a step back into my childhood, now captured in cheap and cheerful meals in a series of restaurants warmingly connected by family, community and immigrants settling down to build a life. Great read.
Really enjoyed this piece. In a similar vein, I have often wondered why so many Pakistani restaurants have Lahore in their name - Lahore Karahi, Lahore Kebab, Little Lahore, Taste of Lahore, Lahore Spice, Lahore Village and so on. At first I thought maybe they were franchises or run by members of a large extended family, but there are literally dozens and dozens so this explanation doesn't really make sense.
I remember visiting the Cally Road Beano cafe on a trip to London with my Dad when I was probably 10. We were looking for a greasy spoon for a proper breakfast and their 'gutbuster' fit the bill. It's a core food memory for me, great to read a bit more info about it and find that the sprit of the cafe lives on.
Loved this! Pls bring the Beanos to Sussex!
I'm from Cliftonville and had always wondered if the Beano cafes were a chain. I loved reading this - it took me straight back home (I no longer live in Thanet). Thank you.
"The Beano magazine, which once circulated several million copies a year, now distributes around 40,000 per issue"
But it's still published every week, so "40,000 per issue" IS "several million a year"!
It's been through ups and downs since it was launched in 1938, but The Beano is currently having something of a resurgence thanks to parental concerns about kids spending too much time on screens, plus an adjacent boom in graphic novels like Dogman. A new partnership with the Tower of London and Hampton Court is also bringing it to another generation in 2026 - ironic it was once very much the mischievous and slightly rebellious comic that your parents weren't so sure about, but it's now a firm part of the British establishment!
Loved reading this! Thanks :)
Really enjoyed reading this, was expecting some 'illegal barbershop' twist but there was none
I hope that the families find new blood and new faces to keep these places running because even though I don't live in Kent the social role of these kind of places is so important. Forza to the independant Caffs in 2026!
D.C. Thompson, get the IP lawyers on speed dial!!
Also: Jamie Dodgers were named after a character from The Beano
Fun read, didn’t expect to get so immersed into it haha.
After nearly a decade wondering this and living in Thanet, this article was perfection. Thank you! Need that jacket potato now...
Shhh ... we don't want everyone finding out how good they are.
Just to add to the list, there was a terrific vegetarian café in Folkestone called Beano's, which closed I think in about 2021. I'm not sure of the origins of its name, but it was on Tontine Street in the heart of the old town, so I wonder whether it adopted the name of a former establishment on the same site?