i used to work as a dispatch rider in london and went to hundreds of cafes and i've seen some of my old faves on your website. i wonder if you can help me find a real gem.... it was a small cafe run by an ex-boxer in his late 50's and had old b&w photos of boxers/fights/promo posters all over the place and i mean from skirting boards to ceilings. the food was good but the character of the place and the people there was awesome. all i can remember is that it was in it's own small building in the greenwich area on a desolate industrial estate. it'd be great to re-visit or see a review cheers and thanks for all that dedicated eating
It may be too far out of the west end for you, but I have a haven of greasy spooned-ness at the end of my road. YORK CAFE on Woolwich Road is clean, friendly and with proper chips. It is even licensed I think. Give it a go!
TJ's Cafe in mortlake sw14 open seven days a weeks, big portions!! cheap. you should definatley visit this place won the "best greasy spoon" in london award 2003
Russell how come we have not seen you at our cafe you are missing a treat. We serve the best all day breakfast in the North West We cater for everyone also we are in the process of taking on the title of the Ace Cafe of the Midlands Regards Lynn & Pete.
May I heartily recommend Sues Cafe in Gillingham Road, Gillingham, Kent (almost opposite the Arriva Bus Depot). Great food, great tea............very good prices for such good quality breakfasts and dinners.
The mess in Hackney is much nicer (and admittedly middle classer) than it's local counterparts (nice sausage rather than pig's bum). Some say it's better than Mario's... Alt for a good proper greasy spoon Dilari's on the corner of Mare Street is pretty good. Packed out every lunchtime and they have a non-smoking side of the room. Finally, if you live near Ealing and you've never been to Starvin' Marvins you're missing out. I was cautiously eating my breakfast with the pancake and maple syrup on one side and the bacon and eggs and hash brown on the other. Then absentmindedly I stabbed a bit of bacon onto the end of my syrupy pancaked-up fork… It's manna from lardarse heaven.
I love yr book and website. I have never commented on one or a blog before as I dont know how to. My son got this space for me. I am trying to get info on my favourite old cafe, The Blue Sky, by corner of Westbourne Grove and Chepstow Rd,London W2, between PAddington and Portobello Rd, which was my home from home from 1974-80.I lived in various squats and flats nearby and hung out with various groovy people in those days.... It closed down a few years ago. I wld love to get photos and the name/address of the lovely Irish waitress and Italian boss.... I have tried the Archives at Westminster City Library but no luck. I am doing a Ceramics degree as a v mature student and want to do an installation recreating a table at it, the light coming thru steamy bright plateglass windows, the smells, food, china,plastic menus, etc etc. I have assembled a load of stuff (tables, chairs etc),but they are not perfect. I wonder if you have any ideas on where I cld borrow/hire perfect stuff in one fell swoop, for a few days in early Jan 07? Most of all I want to get hold of a tape/CD of cafe background noises. Any ideas? Many thanks, Emma
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A hugely Italian place in the Brunswick Centre. Festooned with all sorts of Italian football stuff. Signed shirts. All that. Strangely few of which I've taken pictures off. And a lovely, hot, cup of tea.
Not inspiring from the outside, but well worth popping in.
Two bottles of brown. Hurrah.
If those chairs could talk. If patina could speak.
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This is a great place, not a design classic, but it has a good local feel. Thank God for the Italians bringing life to what would otherwise be yet another "award-winning but crap in reality" post-war public-housing scheme. It's handy for the Renoir Cinema, and local bookshops. You can have an "all day full English" before checking out a subtitled art-house movie!
The Brunswick Centre is scheduled for a major refurbishment, as "Bloomsbury's High St." sometime in the near future. I wouldn't take a bet on this place surviving the makeover. If it's "St*rbucked", it will be a real shame.
Posted by: Patrick Turland | September 19, 2004 at 09:42 PM
I was here again today, for a quick coffee, after visiting the brilliant Cartoon Centre in the Brunswick Centre. I'd forgotten how many football-related items the owner had on the wall - well worth a photo-shoot ! It's the base for a group of London-based Italian soccer fans. The owner told me that they'll be given about 2-3 months to vacate when their part of the Brunswick Centre gets redeveloped. He'll be given the chance of a lease of a new shop unit, but seeing that the new scheme will "boast" a Monsoon and Nando's, the rent will probably be three times higher. Enjoy the place while you can.
Check out the nearby Bloomsbury Restaurant, mentioned in "Classic Cafes" and "London Caffs", for that late 60's/early 70's Wimpy Bar nostalgia trip !
Posted by: Patrick | November 27, 2004 at 10:01 PM
Russell,
I was here yesterday. The owner (who's partially visible behind the counter, in the fourth photo from the top) told me that due to the Brunwick's redevelopment,the cafe will close at the end of May.
He's stuck a copy of the review, and comments on the front of the counter.
The football paraphanalia on the wall is brilliant, and should be photographed for posterity. It's a good example of how with a bit of creativity and imagination, a cafe-owner can create interest, in what would be otherwise be an ordinary interior.
If the owner reads this, good luck for the future, and I hope you're able to open a place somewhere else soon.
Posted by: Patrick | May 01, 2005 at 06:58 PM
Sob sob. As noted elsehwhere, the Bloomsbury Restaurant closed on the 30th April.
Posted by: James | May 02, 2005 at 04:32 PM
I popped in here again a couple of Saturdays ago.
Don't quote me, but I think the cafe's now going to close by June 10th. Get there quick to check out the awesome soccer wall- mural.
Bar Centrale next to Russell Square tube, Valtaro in Marchmount St, and the new-ish cafe in Russell Square itself are all worth visiting.
Posted by: Patrick | June 01, 2005 at 08:40 PM
The Brunswick Centre cafe closed in June, but, like a phoenix from the ashes, kind of, the Panino d'Oro is open a few yards away in Marchmont St.
According to the owner, they've always had this place, though it seems to have passed me by. It's a pleasant, snug cafe, but it could do with a bit more jazzing up on the decor front. Perhaps with a few of the Italian football souvenirs from the old place ?
Thankfully, Bar Centrale next to Russell Square tube station has re-opened. It was closed for about 4 weeks after the bomb attack on the Piccadilly line.
Posted by: Patrick | August 12, 2005 at 08:52 PM
Ah, I was just logging on to say about their "new" or "other" place but Patrick's beaten me to it. I wonder effect "Bloomsbury's High Street" (the horribly tarted up and Starb*cked Brunswick Centre) will have on these little cafes in the area, and all the other businesses in Marchmont St, which actually IS Bloomsbury's high street? I think we can guess...
Posted by: James | August 17, 2005 at 12:06 PM