cafe miscellania

  • from Kieran

    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

  • from Clare

    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!

  • from Lambros

    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

  • from The Shropshire Cafe

    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.

  • from Dave

    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.

  • from Abby

    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.

  • from Emma

    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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The Islander, 5 The Maltings, Uttoxeter

Islanderfront

Finding The Islander was like coming home. This is what I remember the East Midlands being like. This is the sort of place Shane Meadows would use as a setting and tug at your heart strings and make you laugh. Fantastic place.

Islandertea

A strong, stirring, no-nonsense cup of tea. If this doesn't cheer you up you're Morrissey.

Islandersign

What a brilliant sign. What else do you need to know?

Islandersmoker

I took these pictures ages ago, May 2007, pre-smoking ban. I wonder how they're coping now? The Islander was a place that didn't mind a proper smoker. It was part of the atmosphere.

Islandertablesashtrays

You can probably see the enormous ashtrays on the tables, smoking wasn't just part of the atmos, it was part of the furniture.

Islanderfurniture

Fantastic utilitarian furniture. This isn't about nostalgic design, this is a working cafe. It's about decent grub, reasonable prices and being able to take your time over a cuppa. Brilliant.

January 04, 2008 in midlands |

Comments

jeena

Hi there you have a lovely blog. :-)

Posted by: jeena | January 06, 2008 at 01:16 AM

David Brand

It's good to see that you're back in action!

May we have a picture 'post-smoking-ban', to see what, if any, difference the ban has made?

I always feel so sorry for smokers huddling outside in the cold, desperate for their gaspers. Whay can't they be given their own corner inside?

Posted by: David Brand | January 15, 2008 at 03:37 PM

dan heaver

hey russell. came across your blog through the guys at big al's creative emporium.

I went to school in Uttoxeter, and have just written a song about the place. How the hell did you end up in the maltings?

dan.

Posted by: dan heaver | April 04, 2008 at 03:20 PM

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