Ace Cafe

The Ace Cafe is a former transport cafe located in the Stonebridge area of north-west London, England, on the old North Circular Road. It is historically a notable venue in motorcycle culture which originally operated from 1938 until 1969 when it closed. It re-opened on the original site in 1997 as a cafe, functions, and entertainment venue.

A BSA rider at an Ace Cafe gathering in 2007
The Ace Cafe in 2004
Interior of the cafe, 2008

History

The Ace Cafe opened in 1938 to accommodate traffic on the then-new A406 road, locally known as the North Circular. Because the cafe was open 24 hours a day, it started to attract motorcyclists in the evening and at weekends, becoming popular in the 1950s and 1960s with the Rockers, whereupon Reverend Bill Shergold initially visited to invite them to join the 59 Club.[1]

The cafe was rebuilt in 1949, after an air raid on the nearby Willesden railway marshalling yards caused damage during World War II. Events in the postwar environment made the Ace a success – the emergence of the teenager, an increase in traffic, and the British motorcycle industry at its peak. Young people started to meet at the cafe to socialise, gather their motorcycles, and listen to rock'n'roll on juke boxes. Bands and motorcycle enthusiast groups formed there.

The cafe closed in 1969, shortly after the opening of the Scratchwood Services at what was then the southern end of the M1 motorway. The ground floor of the building became a tyre sales and fitting shop.[2] The first floor was occupied by a vehicle delivery company.

Rocker revival and refurbishment

With increasing popularity of the Rocker revival and discussions with original 59 Club members,[1] the first Ace Cafe reunion was organised by Mark Wilsmore and held in 1994.[2]

The cafe reopened in 1997, with complete refurbishment completed by 2001. Rockers and motorcyclists from all over the world attend themed meetings. It is no longer open 24-hours but the cafe now has an extensive calendar of events for both motorbike and classic car owners.

It also hosts weekly live music and DJs, and is approved for weddings and civil partnerships.[3]

Film and media
Customised Lewis Leathers motorcycle jacket with Ace Cafe details

The Ace Cafe was used as a location in the 1964 film The Leather Boys, Sidney J. Furie's British gay-interest kitchen sink drama, starring Rita Tushingham.[4]

In the past it has been used for the Channel 5 TV programme Fifth Gear in the seasons 10 to 13 (September 2006 until March 2008), and for ITV programme Used Car Roadshow. It has also featured in the BBC television series By Any Means with Charley Boorman; mentioned as a favourite for Ewan McGregor by his wife in the documentary, Long Way Down; and the 2008 film Freebird.

The cafe also featured in an edition of Car SOS – Season 1, Episode 9, presented by Tim Shaw, filmed during 2012 and shown in the UK on at least one TV channel – National Geographic. The episode depicted the secret restoration of a decaying Ford Zodiac Mk1, which was then unveiled and presented to the unsuspecting owner in the car park, close to the building entrance.[5][6]

Motoring TV presenters Edd China and Mike Brewer filmed at Ace Cafe on a Hot Rod night in early 2014 during a sequence to sell a Chevrolet Camaro, part of Wheeler Dealers series 11.[7][8]

Awards

The Ace Cafe won London Borough of Brent's "Best Bar None" award for local bars in 2009.[9]

See also

Notes
  1. The Rev William Shergold: biker priest, The Times, 23 May 2009 Archived 24 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Motor Cycle News 23 March 1994, p.48 Ace Cafe to open for rocker bash. "Famous rockers' haunt, the Ace Cafe, is to "re-open" 25 years after its closure for an anniversary meeting...Triumph fan Mark Wilsmore has arranged for an exhibition and all-day party at the site in September. The cafe closed in 1969 and now houses a tyre depot on London's North Circular Road". Accessed and added 2014-10-05
  3. The Ace Cafe on Brent council local authority website. Retrieved 2013-12-24
  4. Raymond Murray, Images in the dark: an encyclopedia of gay and lesbian film and video, TLA Publications, 1994, ISBN 1-880707-01-2, p.414
  5. "Mustard Video: At last, I'm ready to hit the road in my restored Zodiac". Norwich Advertiser. March 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  6. "Film production crew and Ford Zodiac at Ace Cafe" (JPG). farm9.staticflickr.com. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  7. Discovery TV stills showing purchase and refurbishment of Camaro Retrieved 2014-04-23
  8. Amateur video of Wheeler Dealer presenters at Ace Cafe Camaro sale Retrieved 2014-04-23
  9. "Ace Cafe wins top prize at Brent's Best Bar None awards 2009". bbnuk.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-24.

References
  • Ramsey, Winston. The Ace Cafe Then and Now, 2002. ISBN 978-1-870067-43-0
  • Stuart, Johnny; (1987). Rockers!. Plexus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-85965-125-8
  • Duckworth, Mick, (2011). "Ace Times". Redline Books. ISBN 978-0-9555278-6-9

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