Salv
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,247
- Location
- Just outside London
The formica heaven that is the New Picadilly Cafe in Soho, London, is to finally close on either the 22nd or 23rd September this year.
The cafe is the last remaining classic 1950s Italian cafe in Soho. It opened in 1951 and has barely changed since; the tables, chairs, light fittings etc. are all original, as is the sign hanging over the front door. The owner, Lorenzo Marioni (whose father started the business), has been hit with increasing rent and rates demands and has finally been forced to sell up. Apparently the entire block where the cafe is situated will be pulled down to provide office space.
There are lots of articles and reveiws on the web about the New Picadilly, and it has fans worldwide. Here are some examples:
http://www.classiccafes.co.uk/new_picc_special.htm
http://www.urban75.org/london/piccadilly.html (photo at the top from this site)
http://www.thegirlinthecafe.com/tag/cafe
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/4487.htm
And a flickr site dedicated to the cafe:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/newpiccadillymemories/pool/
So, it only remains to say that there needs to be an unnoficial Lounge meet at the New Picadilly before it closes for good.
I'm about from Monday to Friday next week, then 20/21/22, 26/27/28 August, 4/5/6 September then any evening from 14th September onwards. Let's set a date and definitely do this, because we'll never have another chance once it goes.
The cafe is the last remaining classic 1950s Italian cafe in Soho. It opened in 1951 and has barely changed since; the tables, chairs, light fittings etc. are all original, as is the sign hanging over the front door. The owner, Lorenzo Marioni (whose father started the business), has been hit with increasing rent and rates demands and has finally been forced to sell up. Apparently the entire block where the cafe is situated will be pulled down to provide office space.
There are lots of articles and reveiws on the web about the New Picadilly, and it has fans worldwide. Here are some examples:
http://www.classiccafes.co.uk/new_picc_special.htm
http://www.urban75.org/london/piccadilly.html (photo at the top from this site)
http://www.thegirlinthecafe.com/tag/cafe
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/4487.htm
And a flickr site dedicated to the cafe:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/newpiccadillymemories/pool/
So, it only remains to say that there needs to be an unnoficial Lounge meet at the New Picadilly before it closes for good.
I'm about from Monday to Friday next week, then 20/21/22, 26/27/28 August, 4/5/6 September then any evening from 14th September onwards. Let's set a date and definitely do this, because we'll never have another chance once it goes.