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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I first visited the Rendezvous in the 80s, with Anne and my mate John. It was a bitterly cold winter, and the Rendezvous was the perfect place to watch the sea and warm up. It's right by the beach and those huge windows are fantastic.
The interior signage and accessories and stuff is mostly new, but they've managed to keep an authentic mood to the place without being precious. It's just a beautiful, friendly, functional cafe.
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The Rendezvous is an absolute gem. I moved from Yorkshire to the North East at the end of the 80's and spent a lot of time in this cafe while courting my wife. The Ice Creams are magnificent on a hot day, especially the Sugar Cones. I have spent many happy hours sitting looking at the lighthouse out on Bates Island from here. I'm glad you appreciate it too.
Posted by: Pete Scott | January 07, 2005 at 01:31 PM
Is the Rendezvous still open ? I'll be going up to Newcastle sometime in the next few months, and I'd like to pay a visit.
There's another cafe in Whitley Bay, Italian-owned, more modern, away from the beach. I can't remember its name, but it shone out like a beacon, when I was in the area last February. It was an oasis of light and warmth in the out-of-season gloom, and had the usual spirit-raising Italiana.
Posted by: Patrick | January 07, 2005 at 08:10 PM
Hi Patrick,
I can confirm that the Rendezvous is still open,I think there is some restriction during the winter months i.e. Weekends only and shorter open hours.
I do a lot of walking down the coast usually from Blyth to North Shields and often stop there for most welcome excellent refreshments.
John
Posted by: John Mitchell | January 08, 2005 at 03:09 PM
The Rendezvous is one of the best cafes in the world - the place has terrific views and one of the best atmospheres for relaxing in that I know of. My kids love the icecreams here. Touch of tradional British Seaside with an Italian approach. You can even buy their own postcards and printed mugs now - but you have to visit in person to get your hands on one. Wonderful family run cafe with some excellent customer service. Pay it a visit if you're in town.
Posted by: Paul Trueman | March 27, 2005 at 10:02 AM
the Rendezvous is legendry. Make a trip there on Boxing Day after the Xmas Pudding Run. A large race that attracts over 1000 entrants.
regards
Posted by: andrew lawrence | March 28, 2005 at 06:48 PM
I've been going there since I was a very young child and it's hardly changed. I have a few photos of the rendezvous on my flickr page, starting at the site above.
Posted by: Akuppa | September 02, 2005 at 12:22 AM
great shots. big thanks for sharing.
Posted by: russell | September 02, 2005 at 07:05 AM
The Rendezvous Cafe is one of Whitley Bay`s gems. It has served refreshments to generations of holidaymakers. Why not pick up a copy of The Coastal Walk from any North Tyneside Library or Tourist Information Centre which passes this perfectly delightful seaside icecream parlour.As the poet Julia Darling said in her poem about the cafe.....`I would like us to meet/where the Horlicks is sweet.`
Posted by: Geoff Holland | November 05, 2005 at 04:31 PM
I used to visit this wonderful cafe when I was a teenager in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the perfect place to take a breather on the bracing walk between Seaton Sluice and Whitley Bay. A couple of weeks ago while visiting the area I decided to have a quick look inside. I was astonished that nothing appears to have changed. It was such a blast from the plast I could almost hear Gene Pitney singing 24 Hours To Tulsa. A preservation order should be slapped on this place immediately. Long may it serve frothy coffee to the grateful masses.
Barry Nelson, Darlington.
Posted by: Barry Nelson | May 05, 2006 at 04:55 PM
get a myspace profile as well!
& please produce another book!!
& please do a book on full english breakfast as well
(eggs, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, grilled tomatoe, toast, beans)
Posted by: gus | June 10, 2006 at 10:21 AM
The Rendezvous Cafe - lots of happy memories from when i was a child of 'Mr Venetian' and his van visiting my house in Shields Road, he would sing to us while putting his gorgeous white ice cream into my mams best sunday bowl and covering it in monkey's blood. He still works in the Rendezvous and is still so happy to see us.... lovely people, lovely service, lovely cafe.
Posted by: julie clay | August 26, 2006 at 07:29 AM
As a kid, I was taken to the Rendezvous/Venetian by my grandparents in the 60's. In the 90's, I took my own kids. Soon, I'll take my grandson - nothing changes.
Thanks
Posted by: john | January 07, 2007 at 08:03 PM
The Rendezvous holds very happy memories for me. Hanging out at the beach in the 60's with good friends, making one cup of coffee last a couple of hours! I love the place and visit as often as possible.
Posted by: Tim the Enchanter | May 06, 2007 at 08:19 PM
I am originally from west yorkshire and i have lived in sunderland for 5 years and i cant believe ive missed this cafe. I will certianly be calling in there soon. Is it near the blue reef centre?
Posted by: Adele | June 29, 2007 at 07:52 AM
Some comments about the Rendezvous from the excellent www.ilovewhitleybay.com site about memories of Whitley Bay from the seventies and eighties:
"The Rendezvous Café
If 1970s Whitley Bay reappeared in the mists like a sort of Brigadoon, this seafront temple of the snackular would look pretty much as it does today. A wondrous place and just the same as ever it was, with its wobbly tables and big arched windows looking out onto the panorama of sand and foam, the "Ren-dez-vowse" (as we called it before school taught us how to speak 'foreign' proper like) is sadly the last remaining of the truly notable buildings that stood along the Promenade.
An unspoilt and spotless nostalgia-fest of frothy espresso, wafers by Tunnocks, and toilets you could eat your dinner off. A place to sit and soothe with a mug of milky tea and a cream horn, admiring the original parquet flooring whilst rubbing the dried sand off your legs with a rolled-up sock.
“Woah! Am goan too see me girlfriend...”
I have this lovely memory from 1975, during that scorching hot summer, of walking back from St Mary's Island along the glistening sunny beach to the sound of waves and laughter, and there was the very beautiful (still is) Titsiana, of the family who own the Rendezvous. She (who was in the year above me at Star of The Sea) was playing in the sea and singing 'Barbados'. A lovely, golden snapshot of that time, though it'll mean sod all to anybody else."
Posted by: Clin Hoolihan | January 30, 2008 at 07:33 AM
Do you remember Margaret's Cafe on Maryhill Road across the road from Eastpark Home, around the late '50s or 1960s
Posted by: Joan Fleming | April 06, 2008 at 11:25 AM
i lived in holly ave and i remember the owners they also had ice cream vans.Titssieanna was my friend and im pleased they still have the cafe they where lovely people
Posted by: andrea | May 26, 2008 at 02:12 PM