COFFEE

Coffee Bars

The 2i s

The 3i's snack was opened by the Yuranis who were three Persian brothers. One of them decided to leave. The remaining two renamed the business The 2i s. They acquired a Gaggia machine but found it hard to make any money. They sold on the business to two young Australian heavyweight wrestlers Ray Rebel Razor Hunter and Paul Dr Death Lincoln (1932-2011). The Soho Fair was an already extant street fair. One was held in 1956. Numerous skiffle bands played it. The Vipers, who already had a modest reputation, performed outside The 2i s. However, it started to rain. The Ozzies invited the band to continue to play in their establishment s basement. The group did so. The proprietors appreciated that they might be able to increase their turnover if they turned the basement into a music venue.

Tommy Steele performed only twice at the 2i s.

In 1957 the B.B.C. Television's 6.5 Special music programme broadcast an edition from The 2i s. Among the performers was Wee Willie Harris, who presented himself as a wild man . Subsequently, questions were asked in Parliament about the Corporation fostering teenage decadence.

There is an annual 2i's Reunion at the 100 Club

Location: 59 Old Compton Street, W1D 6HR (turquoise, purple)

The Moka Bar

Pino Riservato opened an office at No. 10 Dean Street. Importation restrictions meant that gaggia machines could not be imported directly from Italy. He found a route via Ireland and the Isle of Man. However, when he started to try to sell them, he found snack bar and caf owners were resistant to a device that produced so little liquid. The entrepreneur responded by opening the Gaggia Experimental Coffee Bar in the building's basement. Morris Ross bought one and set up London's first coffee bar The Moka Bar. It was opened in 1953 by the Italian film star Gina Lollobrigida, who was then working at Shepperton Studios. Within three years there were 400 coffee bars in London. However, because most people drank only one or two, the margins were extremely low, which meant that there was a high closure rate.

Location: The Moka Bar 29 Frith Street, W1D 5LG (pink, brown)

Coffee Stalls

Syd's

Syd s coffee stall was established by Sydney Tothill. During the Second World War he was traumatised by a bomb that exploded close by. The War Office arranged for his son Syd to be released so that ambulance and fire officers could be served with coffee

Location: 6 Calvert Avenue, E2 7JP (red, blue)

Coffee Stores

Algerian Coffee Stores

Location: 52 Old Compton Street, W1D 4PB (orange, blue)

Website: https://algeriancoffeestores.com

The Camden Coffee Shop

Location: 11 Delancey Street, NW1 7NL (purple, grey)

W. Martyn

One of the few remaining traditional small grocery chains in London is W. Martyn (established 1897) of Crouch End, Highgate, and Muswell Hill. The business remains within the founder's family and specialises in tea and coffee.

Location: 135 Muswell Hill Broadway, N10 3RS

Website: www.wmartyn.co.uk

Festival

The London Coffee Festival

The London Coffee Festival is held in the Truman Brewery.

Location: Serendipity House, 106 Arlington Road, NW1 7HP

Website: www.londoncoffeefestival.com

David Backhouse 2024