Building From 1938

Ace Cafe

It originally catered for the traffic on the newly opened North Circular Road. Destroyed in a WW2 air raid, it was rebuilt in 1949 and through the 50s became a haven for the 'ton-up-boys' and then for the 'rockers' in the 60s. One of the regulars here was the neurologist Oliver Sacks. Trade declined, as traffic moved to the motorways and it closed in 1969. Interest was rekindled in the 1990s, following the setting-up of the 'Rockers' Reunions' and it re-opened in 1997. It was the location for the 1964 film 'The Leather Boys'.

2019: Reviewed by Londonist.

2021: An impressively active website gives the history and has some great photos.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Ace Cafe

Commemorated ati

Ace Cafe

Ace Cafe Built 1938 as part of a service area for the new North Circular Road...

Screaming Lord Sutch

David Edward Sutch, Screaming Lord Sutch, Third Earl of Harrow 10.11.40 - 16....

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Other Subjects

unidentified mill in Great Sutton Street

Where there are six millstones surely there must have been a mill?

Building, Food & Drink, Industry

1 memorial

Worshipful Company of Innholders

Taverns and alehouses provided drink and possibly food, whereas inns also provided bed and board for you and your horses. Innholders received their first charter from Henry VIII in 1514

Group, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink, Liveries & Guilds

1 memorial

Julian Metcalfe

Co-founder of Pret a Manger with Sinclair Beecham, who he met at the Polytechnic of Central London. Also founded the itsu chain of Asian-inspired restaurants.

Person, Commerce, Food & Drink

1 memorial

New River

The so-called New River is actually an aqueduct built 1609 - 1613 from near Ware, Hertfordshire, to Islington to bring fresh water from country springs to the City. It required a 1602 charter from ...

Place, Engineering, Food & Drink

8 memorials

Frost Fairs

There are records of the Thames freezing over as far back as CE 250. The piers of old London Bridge were broad and close together, meaning that they could get easily blocked creating a dam which wo...

Event, Commerce, Food & Drink, Journalism / Publishing

1 memorial

Previously viewed

St Augustine statue

EC2, Austin Friars, Augustine House, 6a

Note the bee on the wall below his feet. Bees are associated with Saint Ambrose who had a notable influence on Augustine. That's the only...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

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Transport for London / London Transport

This organisation has been a bit of a political football, often having its name changed, as follows: 1902 - 1933 Underground Electric Railways Company of London 1933 - 1948 London Passenger Transpo...

Group, Industry, Transport

45 memorials

Fawcett frieze - 01, McLaren x 2

SW1, Parliament Square

Most statues have plinths, which often carry the identity of the statue but little more. The plinth for this Millicent Fawcett statue is ...

2 subjects commemorated

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