An Old Rock Cafe Reborn – The Ace Cafe London
If you were part of the old rock cafe scene in London, then surely you remember the Ace Cafe. The original cafe racer staging area began its life as a humble roadside diner, and it eventually evolved into the focal point of a social movement that rocked a generation. The old rock cafe started out in life as one of the first roadside diners, established to garner the business of a growing hauler industry in the late 1930′s. When the cafe owners realized the profit potential of opening 24 hours a day, they earned a reputation as a gathering place and watering hole for the growing motorcycle club scene. With the onset of rock and roll in the 1950′s, the old rock cafe became the place to be to hear the forbidden devil rock, for years only to be heard on the roadside diner jukeboxes and at seasonal fairs. The old rock cafe became a staging area for tumultuous road races, where biker clubs like the Ton-Up Boys (named after the slang term for racing at over 100 miles per hour) roared through city and countryside from one rock cafe to another. Sadly, the old rock cafe tradition lost its momentum late in the 1960′s, when cultural sensibilities began to change.
What happened to the old rock cafe? In the late 1960′s, when the Teddy Boy rockers were giving way to the hippie generation and the Vietnam protestors, the Ace Cafe closed its doors. The last egg and chips was served in 1969, and the legend died out, only to be used as a book shop, and later a tire store.
Who rebuilt the old rock cafe? The biker enthusiast and rock cafe afficionado Mark Wilsmore realized a dream when he first organized the Ace Cafe reunion ride in 1993. The ride became an annual event, which led to the eventual reopening of the cafe in 2001. The Ace Cafe is now a destination for bikers from all over the world.
What is happening today at the old rock cafe? Today, the Ace Cafe hosts frequent biker rallies, meets, motorcycle shows, and vintage car shows. The cafe has regained its status as an eatery and watering hole for the biker crowd, and once again enjoys a lively music scene, with live bands and a house dj spinning the tunes.
Where can I find out more about the Ace Cafe London? If you remember the cafe racing days with fondness, or you want to find out more, the Ace Cafe website provides a glimpse into the past and a window on the future. The online store provides customers all over the world with remembrances of the old rock cafe.