::::::::::::::::  |
| Feb 7 2005 |
|
 |
Never
Let Go: John Guillerman's
lost 1960s neo-noir Brit flic (set in the two-bit ganglands of
postwar London) will have classic cafe fans slavering over extended
scenes in the murky Victory Cafe (evidently an actual location,
a la West Brompton's 1940s-style Corner
Cafe) with Adam
Faith and moll, Carol 'Battersea
Bardot' White ...
Never Let Go |
|
| Jan 18 2005 |
|
 |
John's
W1: "It's bloody marvelous that John's
has stayed the course; nearby Charlotte Street is full of wanky
Starbucks, and Soup Kitchens frequented by twat media types gabbing
into their Nokias. You really do lose
the will to live when you see what they are doing to Fitzrovia...
Maclaren Ross would be whirling in his grave ..."
John's
Special |
|
| Jan 17 2005 |
|
 |
Dante's
W1: There was something perfect about Dante's:
the location, just off the swarming hell of Bond Street; the
stone mouldings outside; the gothic sign; the arched, den-like
entrance; the impressive array of proper-caff kit... counters,
lights, tables, chairs. A real hole in the wall. One of a kind
...
Dante's
Special |
|
| Jan 14 2005 |
|
 |
Redchurch
Cafe E2: Original shop
pilasters and consoles; ornate 50s wallpaper; proud Thonet chairs;
pegboard menu... ambience readings that sputter into the red
on the Pinter-meter... the Redchurch is sublime! Beleaguered.
Decayed. Dingy. Enfeebled. Gimped. Ramshackle. Spavine. Weather-beaten...
But beautiful ...
Redchurch E2 Special |
|
| Jan 13 2005 |
|
 |
Don's
E5: Chirpy whistling waiters... a lovely
caff cat... great tea made to a non-stop soundtrack of 1940s
French accordion music... There's something terribly classy about
Don's at Clapton, even taking into account the nicotine-stained
walls, ratty furniture and faintly grubby atmosphere - Pure Pinteresque genius ...
Don's
E5 Special |
|
| Jan 12 2005 |
|
 |
Au
Soleil (Nice): "one of the oldest cellars niçoises...
siroter between friends... a cosmopolitan environment and good
child... a halation of light diffuses d'une window and animates
l'obscurity... unpleasant small bar has a noble soul... precision
and love l'esprit precedes this place... simplicity, force, passion
of l'humain..." (!!!)
Au Soleil Special |
|
| Jan 11 2005 |
|
 |
Valoti's: the tenth anniversary of Valoti's
closure is fast approaching (sort of). Vic Valoti set up his brilliant cafe
in the 1940s, and for nearly 50 years this banquette-clad retreat
was a celebrated stars' bolt hole - Audrey Hepburn, Albert Finney,
John Gielgud, Sid James, Tommy Steele, Tom Conti & Rupert
Everett were all regulars ...
Valoti
Special |
|
| Jan 10 2005 |
|
 |
Marylebone
Cafe WC1: "My
parents John and Alma Negri were proprietors for many years from
the late 50s to the late 60s. I remember seeing my auntie Brenda
on the evening TV news in 1963, crossing Wigmore Street, with
a tray of tea and biscuits: they were for Christine Keeler and
John Profumo when they had just been arrested ..."
Marylebone Cafe Special |
|
| Jan 8 2005 |
|
 |
| The
Punch and Judy Man:
Piltdown Bay (Bognor Regis) at the end of the season is slowly
decaying in a welter of inclement weather, plastic macs, end-of-the-pier
entertainers... and old ice cream parlours. Tony Hancock's gently doleful study of lower
middle class malaise-on-sea is by turns darkly depressing and
breezily comic ... Tony Hancock
Special |
|
| Jan 7 2005 |
|
| Couple
of new picture specials: Sunsnacks
in Lisson Grove is still standing but, like the old Clash-bolthole
The Metrolpolitan nearby, it probably faces a wretched makeover
soon. The Parma, hidden just
north of Marble Arch, vanished without warning last year, despite
its beautiful Edwardian shopfront probably qualifying it for
listing status ... |
| Jan 6 2005 |
|
 |
Beppe's
EC1: Nice red leatherette
booth seating, brilliant box signage, pretty awnings, beaten-copper
counter surrounds, family picture and notebook displays... The
tables may be slightly altered but the locals relish this family-run
place with its engaging sense of Italian-Clerkenwell history,
and legendarily frosty counter service ...
Beppe's Special |
|
| Jan 5 2005 |
|
Major
updates, rewrites and additions to the Music
& TV/Film pages. A new Cafe
Graphics section. And also the first ever explication of
Municipal Lite Jazz; alongside
the Dudley Moore Trio material,
this is the best kind of background music for the appreciation
of those few classic cafes still remaining. Be the first in your
lifestyle demographic to pick up on, and brag about, this exciting
new genre-in-the-making!
:: |
| Dec 23 2004 |
|
 |
| Music
for classic cafes: Dudley
Stuart John Moore was a musical prodigy. From his early youth
he had shown a remarkable ability on the piano and an impressive
facility at improvisation. On leaving Dagenham High School he
went on to perform as part of the Johnny
Dankworth Seven and tour the United States with the Vic Lewis
Band... Dudley Moore
Trio Special |
|
| Dec 21 2004 |
|
 |
| A
bitter end to a year of classic cafe ruin: Centrale - where Malcolm McClaren used to dragoon
1980s Burundi pirateers Bow Wow Wow - closes on 29th December
2004. It re-opens at 7 Archer St Feb 05. A notice in the window
says: "The food will be exactly the same. So will the staff
including the 21 yrs veteran chef of Centrale, Manulo. The decor
will be familiar also." |
|
| Dec 19 2004 |
|
 |
The
National Milk Bars:
Mid Wales dairy farmer R.W. Griffiths opened the first National
Milk Bar in Colwyn Bay, Wales in 1933 with the idea of selling
the milk and cream from his farm directly to the public. It was
a big hit; Griffiths then went on to open a grand total of 17
bars in Wales and North West England ...
Welsh Cafes special |
|
| Dec 18 2004 |
|
 |
| Pure aural Formica: set
in the lowering docklands of 1950s London, All
Night Long is a hugely neglected English film treasure. The
great Harkit
Records have re-issued
the soundtrack: an amazing swathe of aural Formica that should
be added to your iPod Classic Cafes Themes playlist right now!
(Click LP cover for Benny Green's original sleeve notes) ...
Harkit Records Special |
|
|
::::::::::::::::
 |
