58 replies to this topic

[Jackie]

Watching Monaco made me decide to research Rosie's a bit, and what better place to start than here!

I'm hoping that someone can let me know if my memory is correct or faulty - and fill in lots of gaps.

I first went there when I was about ten years old - in the sixties. The bar was very dark inside and the walls were covered with signed photographs. The only staff that I recall being there were Rosie and her father. My only other real recollection was that you had to travel through the backyard to get to the 'bathroom'! It was an outhouse without a proper toilet - just those porcelain footprints!

The last time I was there, about twenty years ago, I think it was much the same. (Although I was older by this time and the red wine consumed clouded my memories!)

A year or so later, my sister was in Monaco and told me that Rosie's had moved to a new location.

What happened then? The TV leads me to believe that there is NO Rosie's Bar any more, anywhere. I'd love to know more about the old days of Rosie's and what eventually happened.

Look forward to hearing from you!

[33 route d'orleans]

Well, Jackie, do you remember where that Rosie's bar was located ?
Was it nearby the circuit ?
There is a famous bar called Tip Top between le Casino and Mirabeau, wellknown for that fact : Graham Hill was reported to buy there his cigarettes.
Would it be possible that this bar might be the one you look for ?

[Jackie]

Hey 33,

It was on the circuit - going up the hill towards the casino. But as I said, it was a long time ago!

I thought there might be someone here who could tell me more about it though.... maybe no-one's old enough to remember!

[Jackie]

Searching the Internet, I found this:

"Another small part of Monaco's history to be demolished is
"Rosie's Bar", the Chatham Bar on avenue d'Ostende, right on the Grand Prix circuit, where the racing community has met together during the Monaco Grand Prix for half a century. This world-famous bar is the victim of necessary extensions to the Centre Cardiothoracique.

However, Betty Hill (mother of Damon Hill), Tim Taylor (son of racing driver Henry Taylor) and Trevor Baines have bought the rights of "Rosie's Bar" and created the "Adventure Club". They plan to put a "Rosie's Bar" at every Grand Prix racetrack, a home away from home for the racing fraternity. The original interior, decorated with hundreds of famous names, caps, photos, and the windows covered with stickers have been dismantled and will probably go into the Silverstone Museum in England."

That was at www.riviera-reporter.com/_molly/59/text.html

Anyone know more?

[Michael Müller]

I was there the last time in 1995, when our crowd - all participants of the Monte Carlo Challenge classic rallye - found the Hotel de Paris too boring. It was an unforgettable night! Btw, the interior was not only "Grand Prix influenced", but shared the memories with the Rallye Monte Carlo. 2 or 3 years ago unfortunately I heard that Rosie had died, and the bar isn't anymore. Really a pity, because Rosie's Bar was the last place in Monte Carlo where you could meet normal ordinary people.

[Jackie]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for your reply and for the information.

The rally aspect is one of the reasons Rosie's Bar interests me. My father used to take part in the rally in the late fifties and early sixties and amongst the mass of GP photographs were several of him and his car and team. (He also did the Classic in recent years, but not as recently as 1995 as far as I remember).

I'd love to know what happened to all those photographs!

[ry6]

Was this the bar where Harry Schell used to act as "mine friendly host"?

[David McKinney]

No, Schell's place was in Paris - L'Action Automobile?

[Mike Argetsinger]

Rosie's Bar was much loved at least in part for its lack of pretension. I will never forget Rosie pulling the plug on the jukebox to provide an electrical outlet for my brother Peter to charge the batteries on his F-3 car. This was at the height of arguably her busiest day and the place packed. She was just like that. Like many great establishments it was the proprietress who supplied the magic that made the place a legend. You can't package that.

[Jackie]

Quite right Mike.

It's just a shame I don't remember her well - as I said, I was just a kid. I wonder where she came from and how she started the bar? Or was it started by her father?

People refer to the bar as 'world-famous' and 'legendary' but no-one seems to know much about it.

[tombe]

From "MONACO GRAND PRIX - PORTRAIT OF A PAGEANT" published by MRP 1989:

- There are too many bars in Monte Carlo to count or remember, but if there is one which the Grand Prix has virtually immortalized, it must be the Chatham Bar, owned and run by Rosie and Jean-Louis Bernard. A refreshingly unsophisticated social landmark on the climb to the Casino Square, Rosie's Bar, as it is affectionately known, is one of Monaco's most enduring - and endearing - traditions. Rosie's is not a glamorous nightclub; it is essentially an all-day bar, characterized by a constant, easy-going bustle. Inside, the walls are lined with photographs of the drivers and other racing people who have returned time and againg to this friendley oasis, its long slim bar always crowded with spectators, journalists and - when the race is over for another year - sailors from all over the world. It is not hard to imagine the outcry which attended a 1969 demolition order placed upon the Chatham Bar. The bar, it was decreed, would have to go in order to make way for a new road. Princess Grace and Prince Rainier were inundated with protest letters from as far away as Nihon University in Japan, the Caribbean and the United States. The British Automobile Racing Club and BBC commentator Raymond Baxter appealed on behalf of British motor sporting interests, and the Pretoria Motor Club also pleaded for the survival of this most cherished of trackside institutions. The House of Grimaldi listened and sympathized and, 20 years on, the crowds still flock to Rosie's Bar. -


Bette Hill (left) with the Bernards.



Tom Berge

[Jackie]

That's great Tom!

Thank you so much for the information and the photograph.

[Pascal]

Aaaah, this picture of the late Jean-Louis (he died a few years ago, but I think Rosie is still alive) is reminiscent of my childhood.

The Chatham (as Rosie's Bar was better known among locals) was the first place where I got to try alcoholic beverages. The atmosphere was unique at any time of the year, though I would in general avoid getting near that place during the Grand Prix weekend, as it became a real zoo.

[Jackie]

Pascal, if I'm right you live in Monaco? (It's been a while since I posted here until this thread!)

Can't you tell us more about Rosie's???????

[Barry Boor]

When I walked the circuit in August 1998 the bar was still there but totally boarded up.

Being driven around last summer I forgot to point the camera that way, but I'll look through my video of the 'lap' and see if I caught anything when passing by.

[Keith Booker]

Rainer W. Schlegelmilch's bookGrand Prix de Monaco, published in 1998 states that Rosie Bernard owns a small souvenir shop in the Rue Comte Felix Gastaldi in the old town of Monaco called Rosie's Memories. I didn't have the opportunty to follow this up when I was there for the Historique last May but did walk by the boarded up Chatham Bar, which I fondly remember as other do too. Hope this helps.

[Jackie]

Thanks for the info. But how sad to think that it's boarded up. I wonder what happened to Bette Hill's plans? Anyone know?

[Vitesse2]

At the time the bar was closing the Daily Telegraph ran a feature on it in their motoring section, including a photo of the wall of photos. I've got the artlicle somewhere ....

[Jackie]

WOW Vitesse! I would LOVE to see that

[Vitesse2]

I had horrible feeling you'd say that Jackie! Like I said, I've got it somewhere ... it's just a matter of finding it, which may take a while. I'll pm you as and when I find it ... don't hold your breath though!

[Dennis David]

"It's difficult to say why he was so special, but he had such a charisma, you know, with his cap, his moustache and his sense of humour. He would sit in the sun, enjoying a beer and when the fans came he would listen to them all and have a joke with everybody. Even the French were charmed by him, and you know sometimes we are not so good with humour."

Rosie Bernard, proprietor of the legendary Rosie's Bar, Manaco

[Vitesse2]

I presume that quote is about Graham Hill, Dennis - you seem to have neglected to mention that ...

[Jackie]

I would think so too...

[Dennis David]

It is of course about Graham Hill!

[Vitesse2]

Sorry David , only pulling your leg!!!

[Jackie]

Does anyone have any more Rosie info?

You can search the Internet until you're blue in the face

[Jackie]

I guess not ...

[Pascal]

The Chatham, now boarded up, was meant to be teared down to make way to an extension of the neighbouring "Centre Cardio-Thoracique", Monaco's heart hospital. A group of British fans decided to help save the spirit of the place by removing everything inside and recreating the place somewhere near Silverstone. I think the place was stripped down from its memorabilia, as I read several articles about it in the local press, but I don't know what eventually happened. If Rosie's Bar has not been reborn yet in England, there's a good chance that its many treasures are still in storage somewhere...

[Jackie]

Or lost....

[Jackie]

I know this is an old topic but I'm still interested! Someone posted on the My Motiv BMW site saying that Damon Hill bought the entire interior of Rosie's Bar.

Does anyone know more?

[Graham Gauld]

As was mentioned earlier Rosies Bar has totally gone and is now part of the Monaco Heart Hospital on the way up the hill to the Casino Corner. It is true that Tim Taylor - Henry Taylor's son had obtained all the permissions, photos etc with a view to creating a series of "Rosies" bars around the world starting in London but all the plans fell through. Henry is not at home just now but will try and find out what has happened.

[Jackie]

Hi Graham,

Good to hear from you again. I'd be very grateful for any information you can discover.

Thanks!

[James L. Kalie]

I remember seeing something about a book on Rosie's Bar that was promoted in MotorSport magazine not to long ago. I wanted to buy a copy but couldn't find it for sale. Does anyone know anything about it?

[Alan Cox]

Here it is:

http://www.amazon.co...r/dp/0955662206

http://rosiesbar.blo...ydrography.html
Various newspaper articles posted here, including the Telegraph article referred to above:
http://rosiesbar.blo...bel/Graham Hill

And here is a picture of Rosie taken at the GP this weekend
http://bp2.blogger.c...9McNab 2008.jpg

[Ewan]

Hello to all

Rosie is still with us and very well indeed.
She can be found up in Monaco-Ville (Where the Palace is), rue Conte Felix Gastaldi.
She now has a small gifts shop called "Memories"
The bar closed back in 1996, shortly after Jean-Louis her husband died.
You'll find a book by Rosie and Lorie coffey in print called "Rosie's Memories" at Red Mist Books
http://www.loriecoffey.co.uk/pub/
and a few of us over here in Monaco stated a blog dedicated to Eugène (Rosie's father), Rosie and Jean-Louis early this year for a special Rosie's Bar get together in january
http://rosiesbar.blogspot.com
You'll find quite a few bits and pieces there, and i'll be adding more as soon as i can (there are some press cuttings as well). there is a mixture of french and english, a bit like the bar itself...
there is also a contact mail for Rosie, which i'll pass on to her a quickly as possible
rosiesbar@monaco.mc
It's great to read all your questions and comments, and it's great to see how so many people still remember the Chatham Bar, and it's lovely Lady... Rosie

All the best to you all

[Jackie]

Hello Ewan,

I've seen your site and it's very informative. I am very pleased to hear that Rosie is still with us. My dad will be pleased too - he was speaking about her just the other day.

If you are in contact with Rosie, please let her know that Eric Jackson (Ford Monte Carlo Rally driver from the sixties) still speaks warmly about her!

[Ewan]

Ok Jackie, will do
I should be seeing her tomorrow...

[Jackie]

Thanks Ewan! My dad will be 84 this year and is currently writing his very fascinating memoirs of his rallying and endurance career. He sends me he manuscript in installments

He hasn't written anything about the Monte Carlo Rally yet, but to give you an idea of the sort of thing he's writing, I just typed up this from his handwritten manuscript:

The Congo: We left our passports and our documents in the car; she said they would be safe, so we went across without our passports. When we got to the other side, we were met by two beautifully uniformed police with pale blue uniforms with Central African Republic Police badges in gold; they had more medals than Field Marshal Goering. If we'd had our passports, I think we would have been OK even though it was after four o’clock and the ferry was supposed to be closed, but with not having passports all they did was to lock us up for the night till somebody came and sorted it out. So they put us into jail; it was not the worst African jail I had been in.


Which makes me wonder - how many African jails has he been in????

[element89]

Jackie, as you will see below I fell upon this site while researching people, places and things in anticipation of a trip to Provence soon. I hope I can re-energize this thread and obtain some up to date information. The last reference that I have found to Rosie was last year, 2010. I sent the message that I include below to her blogspot address and it bounced back as undeliverable, which does not bode well. I hope, also, Jackie that this might add a little to the data that you were collecting.

********************************


WOW! I can’t believe I stumbled onto this blog. Indulge me here for a couple minutes, please. In 1956, ’57 & ’58 I was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Salem, U.S. 6th Fleet Flagship, as a radarman. Our home port was Villefranche sur Mer. Throughout this period I frequently went to Monte Carlo while on liberty and dropped into Rosie’s Bar. Whenever I walked in Rosie would throw a bar rag at me and say “Mac, get back here and work”. I was always dressed in locally purchased civilian clothes so patrons frequently weren’t sure just who I was. I recall one evening, when the U.S. submarine fleet was in the basin, a few crew in uniform dropped into Rosie’s for a brew. From behind the bar I was aware of being watched by one sailor. Finally he called me over and said in careful, halting English “You speak very good English. Where did you study?” “Hell”, I said. “I grew up just north of Boston”. He nearly fell off his stool. As an 18 and 19 year old I was in awe of the Grand Prix and its drivers, which I was fortunate to watch from The Circuit in 1957 or 1958 but I had no appreciation of the international respect and recognition that Rosie and her father and husband had earned.

I returned to the U.S. in July, 1958, re-entered university and got on with my life. I’ve had the good fortune to travel frequently and I have lived and worked in Bangkok for 2 years, but that two-year experience in the Mediterranean, and especially France and Monaco is often in my mind.

In 1974 or 1975 I found myself in Paris working with my sales staff and visiting hospitals and pathologists. Jean Luc and Dennis asked if I had been to France before and I recounted my experience of 20 years earlier. At the end of the day I asked about our itinerary the next day and they informed me, with a wink, that we would be calling on Hospital Louis Pasteur in Nice. We flew to Nice, met with the laboratory administration, and had some excess time before returning to Paris. They asked where I would like to go and I immediately responded “Villefranche and Monte Carlo”. We stopped briefly in Villefranche and proceeded to Monte Carlo. I stopped at the Casino to replace a chip that I had carried as a talisman. Then down the hill. As Rosie’s came into view I called out “Stop here”. Dennis said we don’t have much time for drinking. We have a flight to catch. I said not to worry. Follow me. We entered Rosie’s and sat at the bar. I motioned to the pleasant young lady behind the bar to come over. I asked “Do you remember, back in … blah, blah, blah?" Rosie’s eyes lit up and she immediately gaveled the bar to silence while she explained to her many patrons who her guests were. Everyone stood with raised glasses in a toast. Drinks were on the house. I have never forgotten that moment.

I now find myself, at 73, returning in August to Bordeaux for a few days and then to Provence for a week or so on holiday. Of course, Rosie, Eugene, Jean-Louis, Villefranche are all on my mind and I have just begun to research these important chapters in my life. My wife has heard the stories so perhaps now I can share the experience.


Art McEvoy
Portland, Maine
Element89@maine.rr.com

Jackie, Pascal et al can you add anything?

Thank you.

Art

Edited by element89, 06 June 2011 - 02:37.

[element89]

Rosie update for anyone who is still researching Rosie's or The Chatham. Not having heard anything from my prior post, and having my email attempts returned, I did not hold out much hope of seeing Rosie again. Last Saturday, 21 August 2011, I found myself in Monaco once again after 36 years. I inquired about Rosie and the bar with the Tourist Information Office and with a couple of small shop owners and no one had any information. Finally, I stopped a porter at the Hotel de Paris who responded " Rosie's? Sure, she up on the rock. Of course I remember the bar. I used to drink there.". To the rock (La Roche) I went, close to the palace. A couple more inquiries and I found myself standing inside Rosie's Memories. After a couple of good hugs, during which Rosita, her very protective mini pinscher wanted a piece of my ankle. we had a great reunion. She'd kill me if I revealed her age but she's a very few years older than I, just as I remembered when I was 18. She looks terrific and her spirits seem high. Her shop is small, one among many small gift shops, and probably provides more mental health than financial benefits. We talked at length about the old days and I bought her a glass of wine and she gave me a couple mementos. She said the bar had been moved to the UK where it was set up with too much investment and too high expectations. It has since failed. We traded contact information and sadly I left.

For anyone who would like to contact her, and I'm sure she would enjoy hearing from you, here is her address:

Rosie Bernard
MEMORIES
21, rue Comte Felix Gastaldi
98000 MONACO

and tell her Mac sent you.

Her book, Rosie's Memories, is currently out of print but will be available again in October. She will benefit from our purchases.

Bon chance.

Art

Edited by element89, 28 August 2011 - 14:22.

[Jackie]

Art,

That is great to know! And thank you for the address - I'm going to pass it on to my dad and knowing him, he'll get in touch with her.

Now, just for nostalgia purposes, I hope I can remember how to post photographs here...

[element89]

Jackie, on Aug 28 2011, 17:29, said:

Art,

That is great to know! And thank you for the address - I'm going to pass it on to my dad and knowing him, he'll get in touch with her.

Now, just for nostalgia purposes, I hope I can remember how to post photographs here...

Jackie,

Good job with the photo. Thanks.

C:\Documents and Settings\Art\My Documents\My Pictures\2011-08-21\P8210265.JPG

Let's see if I do as swell.

I'm glad you found this post.

Art

[Paul Parker]

element89, on Aug 28 2011, 15:21, said:

Rosie update for anyone who is still researching Rosie's or The Chatham. Not having heard anything from my prior post, and having my email attempts returned, I did not hold out much hope of seeing Rosie again. Last Saturday, 21 August 2011, I found myself in Monaco once again after 36 years. I inquired about Rosie and the bar with the Tourist Information Office and with a couple of small shop owners and no one had any information. Finally, I stopped a porter at the Hotel de Paris who responded " Rosie's? Sure, she up on the rock. Of course I remember the bar. I used to drink there.". To the rock (La Roche) I went, close to the palace. A couple more inquiries and I found myself standing inside Rosie's Memories. After a couple of good hugs, during which Rosita, her very protective mini pinscher wanted a piece of my ankle. we had a great reunion. She'd kill me if I revealed her age but she's a very few years older than I, just as I remembered when I was 18. She looks terrific and her spirits seem high. Her shop is small, one among many small gift shops, and probably provides more mental health than financial benefits. We talked at length about the old days and I bought her a glass of wine and she gave me a couple mementos. She said the bar had been moved to the UK where it was set up with too much investment and too high expectations. It has since failed. We traded contact information and sadly I left.

For anyone who would like to contact her, and I'm sure she would enjoy hearing from you, here is her address:

Rosie Bernard
MEMORIES
21, rue Comte Felix Gastaldi
98000 MONACO

and tell her Mac sent you.

Her book, Rosie's Memories, is currently out of print but will be available again in October. She will benefit from our purchases.

Bon chance.

Art

Great news, perhaps those TNFers who are going to the Monaco Historique next year should visit her.

For the record there is a b/w pic of her in the famous Bar with Mike and Liz Cooper on p228 of RACES FACES PLACES.

[element89]

Jackie, on Aug 28 2011, 16:29, said:

Art,

That is great to know! And thank you for the address - I'm going to pass it on to my dad and knowing him, he'll get in touch with her.

Now, just for nostalgia purposes, I hope I can remember how to post photographs here...

https://picasaweb.go...999859053904418

Jackie, let me know if this worked.

Thanks.

Art

[Jackie]

It did - thanks, and what a great photograph! Do you mind if I send it to my dad? He'd be delighted to see it.

Thanks!

[element89]

Jackie, on Aug 31 2011, 13:55, said:

It did - thanks, and what a great photograph! Do you mind if I send it to my dad? He'd be delighted to see it.

Thanks!

Of course. I'm sure Rosie would love to hear from him, and see hjm for that matter. Just tell him to keep an eye on Rosita.

Art

[element89]

element89, on Aug 31 2011, 14:04, said:

Of course. I'm sure Rosie would love to hear from him, and see hjm for that matter. Just tell him to keep an eye on Rosita.

Art

Here's an up to date photo of Rosie in good spirits, in good health.

Paste this link into your browser. There must be a better way but I haven't figured it out yet. Life is too short.

https://picasaweb.go...748809390099170

Art

[element89]

element89, on Sep 3 2011, 15:25, said:

Here's an up to date photo of Rosie in good spirits, in good health.

Paste this link into your browser. There must be a better way but I haven't figured it out yet. Life is too short.

https://picasaweb.go...748809390099170

Art

well, looks like I just did. This photo was taken outside Rosie's Memories in the old city on August 21, 2011.

Art

[Vitesse2]

That link is direct to your Picasa album, Art. The picture will have shown up only on your computer because it was in your cache. But here it is for everybody else:

[element89]

Vitesse2, on Sep 3 2011, 15:38, said:

That link is direct to your Picasa album, Art. The picture will have shown up only on your computer because it was in your cache. But here it is for everybody else:

Vitesse2, Thanks for the assistance. I'll have to work on that. And Bob Marley is a fellow Mainer.

Art