The Rock Cafe Returns - Experience the Original at the Ace Cafe

Biker enthusiasts, rockers, and those who are nostalgic for a simpler time have found a new home at the reincarnation of the rock cafe - the Ace Cafe London.  It all started back in the 1950's, when the post-war generation of youth began to reject the customs of the past and to look toward a new life of freedom and personal expression.  With the birth of rock and roll, the voice of a new age was heard, and the youth of England flocked to the rock cafe venues around the countryside to listen to the music that spoke for them so well.  The Ace Cafe, originally built as a roadside diner to cater to travelers and the trucking industry, soon became a mecca for kids in black leather with motorcycles who came for the camaraderie and the jukebox.  The rock cafe gained a reputation as wild and disorderly, and "decent" people could not be found here.  But the rock cafe was more than a bawdy joint full of criminal types - these kids were  looking for fun and compansionship, but also for the freedom of the road.  The rock cafe became the focal point of the phenomenon known as "cafe racing," where motorcycle clubs stage road races from one cafe to another.

The rebirth of the rock cafe ride - the Ace Cafe London reunion ride.  In 1993, biker enthusiast Mark Wilsmore had a vision of restoring the renowned Ace Cafe to its former splendor.  He organized the first Ace Cafe Reunion ride, which drew tens of thousands of riders and supporters from all over England and throughout the world.

The Rock Cafe Resurrected:  The Ace Cafe project inspired a great deal of interest.  A film entitled "An Ace Day"  became the official Reunion Ride theme, and the ride itself became an annual event.  The Ace Cafe was re-opened on holidays and weekends for a time, and in 2001, Mr. Wilsmore officially reopened the cafe in its original location.

Shows and Events at the Rock Cafe:  Today, the Ace Cafe London sponsors scores of meets, rides, and rallies, as well as motorcycle and antique auto shows.  Millions of boke enthusiasts from all across the globe make the Ace Cafe a vacation destination, to relive a bit of their past or to discover the history they were too young to experience.

The Beat of the Ace Cafe:  The heart and soul of the Ace Cafe London has always been rock and roll.  The music that informed a generation and inspired thousands of musicians has always had a home here.  The cafe boasts a house dj, as well as regular live music events.  The Ace Cafe has truly returned to its origins as the rock cafe.