Ace Cafe London - the Legendary Rock Cafe
You may have heard of the cafe racer tradition - a mortorcycle road race from one rock cafe to another - born in the '50's and now experiencing a rebirth. But where did it all begin? The Ace Cafe, London's legendary rock cafe, has been revived as a piece of living history. Built in 1939 as a roadside cafe catering to the hauling business on London's then-new highway network, the future rock cafe soon began to attract motorcyclists from all over the countryside. The spot became a gathering place for bikers from all over England to meet and share their interests. The rock cafe experienced an evolution, expanding from its origins as a small eatery to include a service and fueling station. Destroyed during WWII due to the bombing of a nearby rail yard, it was rebuilt in 1949. The post-WWII generation, with its disdain for the old social order, began at this time to experience the rock 'n' roll revolution. As rock music could not then be heard on the radio, jukeboxes at roadside cafes were the place to gather and listen to the new wave of sound. The rock cafe was born, and with it the legendary black leather motorcylce culture and cafe racing.
Rock Cafe Reunions: After the closing of the Ace Cafe in 1969, it seemed that a tradition was gone for good. But then rock cafe and biker enthusiast Mark Wilsmore set his sights on reviving the Ace Cafe culture. He arranged for an Ace Cafe reunion, a series of bike runs to converge on the original building; the reunion instantly became an annual event. The reunion film, "An Ace Day," featuring a rock 'n' roll soundtrack, received worldwide acclaim.
Rock Cafe Events: The Ace Cafe London, in its new incarnation, is now a wildly popular venue for music, bike and vintage car events, rallies, even film viewing. The Ace Cafe reunion remains an annual event, drawing tens of thousands of attendees. The cafe also hosts a variety of meets and bike rides each year, attracting motorbike enthusiasts from around the world who make their pilgrimage to the Ace with near-religious zeal. Come and see what it's all about at the Ace Cafe London!
Ace Cafe Music: The Ace Cafe was the place to go to hear the new rock 'n' roll on the jukebox, and it inspired an entire culture - the youth of the 1950's and '60's adopted this new and ever changing music as the voice of their generation. The Ace Cafe inspired the formation of many a new rock 'n' roll band, some of which when on to enjoy considerable success. The tradition continues, with live bands and a house DJ to keep the rock cafe alive.
