Ace Cafe facts for kids
The Ace Cafe is a famous cafe located near Wembley, North West London, England. It's a very important place in motorcycle culture. The cafe first opened in 1938 on the old North Circular Road. It closed in 1969 but then reopened in 1997. Today, it's a popular spot for events and entertainment.
Contents
Where is the Ace Cafe?
The Ace Cafe is found on the western side of the North Circular Road. This is a main road in London. It's located near the Alperton area. The cafe is also close to Stonebridge and the Park Royal industrial estate.
The History of Ace Cafe
The Ace Cafe first opened its doors in 1938. It was built to serve traffic on the new A406 road, also known as the North Circular. The cafe was open 24 hours a day. This made it a popular spot for motorcyclists. It became especially famous in the 1950s and 1960s. This was when the Rockers, a youth group, would meet there.
Rebuilding After the War
The cafe was damaged during World War II by an air raid. It was rebuilt in 1949. After the war, many things helped the Ace Cafe become even more successful. More teenagers were around, traffic increased, and the British motorcycle industry was booming. Young people gathered at the cafe to hang out. They showed off their motorcycles and listened to rock'n'roll music. They played music on juke boxes. Many bands and motorcycle groups started right there.
Closing and Reopening
The Ace Cafe closed in 1969. The building was then used for other businesses. The ground floor became a tyre shop. The first floor was used by a vehicle delivery company.
The Rocker Revival
Years later, people became interested in the Rocker culture again. In 1994, the first Ace Cafe reunion was held. This event was organized by Mark Wilsmore. It brought back many original members of the 59 Club.
The cafe finally reopened in 1997. It was fully renovated by September 2001. Now, Rockers and motorcyclists from all over the world visit for special events. The cafe is no longer open 24 hours. But it has a busy schedule of events for both motorbikes and classic cars. It also hosts live music and DJs every week.
Ace Cafe in Movies and TV
The Ace Cafe has been a filming location for many TV shows and movies. It was used for the Channel 5 TV show Fifth Gear. It also appeared in the ITV programme Used Car Roadshow.
The cafe was featured in the BBC series By Any Means. This show starred Charley Boorman. It was also mentioned in the documentary, Long Way Down. The 2008 film Freebird also used the cafe.
In 2012, the cafe was part of an episode of Car SOS. This show is on National Geographic. The episode showed a restored Ford Zodiac Mk1 being given to its owner at the cafe. Motoring TV presenters Edd China and Mike Brewer also filmed there. They were working on a Wheeler Dealers episode in 2014.
Awards
The Ace Cafe won an award in 2009. It received the "Best Bar None" award from the London Borough of Brent. This award recognizes great local bars.
See Also
- 59 Club
- Rocker (subculture)
- Ton-Up Club
