the main attraction of this place is the vibrant yellow, well, everything - counter, walls, the lot. it's not beautiful but it'll probably cure seasonal affective disorder. you can't really sit here and nurse a long pot of tea. but if you're in town, perhaps book browsing down the charing cross road it's the perfect place for a quick cuppa.
oh blimey, they've just put a new sign up. admittedly the old one had fallen apart, but it was lovely. this new one is horribly generic. look -
Thanks for the great photos of the "101" before it was refurbished earlier this year. All the counters and stools have gone, and it's lost virtually all its charm. You can still get great bread pudding, or at least you could on my last visit about 7 weeks ago.
The old place used to have a motley clientele. At night, there were times when it made Hogarths's "Gin Lane" look like tea and sandwiches at the vicarage!!!
Posted by: Patrick | October 02, 2004 at 08:12 PM
Oh goodness me, you should see the state of this place now. Utter vandalism. They have left the yellow formica on the wall there but it has now been almost completely covered by tacky posters, as if they are ashamed of it. And it's not just subjectively wrong but objectively ugly: cluttered, messy and cheap like the sort of kebab shop where you daren't eat anything. And if the intention was to get more customers packed in, it doesn't seem to have worked. What a shame and what very silly owners.
Posted by: James | January 04, 2005 at 11:08 AM
I know, depressing isn't it. I walked past the other day. At least it's redeemable, they've not torn anything out yet.
Posted by: russell | January 04, 2005 at 09:27 PM
If you want a fix of yellow Formica ( or Vitrolite),and you're in this part of south-west London, try Pete's Mini-Bar in Upper Richmond Road, Putney. Turn left out of East Putney tube, and cross over the road - it's about a minute's walk away.
It's a small, hole-in-the wall place, with a few booths, and a counter and stool area, like the 101. It's open 7am-3pm weekdays, till about 2pm on Saturdays. With Caffe Nero and Subway opening yards away, within the past few months, I can't see it being here this time next year.
You'll kick yourself for not checking out the "River Cafe" opposite Putney Bridge tube-station.It's one of Adrian Maddox's top 10 classic cafes, and deservedly so. It also got rave reviews in "London Caffs". The Italian family that run it are probably some of the most decent cafe owners you'll ever meet. The food's good, and pretty cheap. It's open 7-5pm weekdays, Saturday till about 3pm. Try to avoid 12.30-1.30pm weekdays, and the same time on Saturdays, especially when Chelsea and Fulham are playing at home - the place gets jam-packed.
Posted by: Patrick | January 24, 2005 at 05:21 PM