Bar Italia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bar Italia |
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1949 |
| Food type | Cafe Style |
| Street address | Frith St |
| City | Soho, London |
| Postal/ZIP code | W1D 4RF |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°30′48″N 0°07′53″W / 51.5133868°N 0.13134839999997894°W |
Bar Italia is a famous Italian café found on Frith Street in the lively Soho area of London. It's a popular spot that has been serving delicious coffee and snacks for many years. This café is known for its long history and its special place in London's culture.
Contents
What Makes Bar Italia Special?
Bar Italia first opened its doors as a café in 1949. The Polledri family started it, and it's still owned by Veronica and Anthony Polledri today. This means it has been a family business for over 70 years!
Where is Bar Italia Located?
The café is at 22 Frith Street. This address is very important in history. On January 26, 1926, a Scottish inventor named John Logie Baird showed off his new invention here. It was the very first public demonstration of television! A special blue plaque (a sign that marks important places) is above the front door. It reminds everyone of this amazing event.
Bar Italia in Pop Culture
Bar Italia has inspired many artists and creative people. It has appeared in songs, plays, and paintings.
Music and Musicals
The famous band Pulp wrote a song called "Bar Italia." It's the last song on their 1995 album, Different Class. The song talks about the café as a place "where other broken people go." This shows how Bar Italia is a comforting spot for many.
In 2010, two creative people, Dave Stewart and Ian La Frenais, announced they were writing a musical about the café. It will be called Bar Italia. Dave Stewart said, "This coffee shop is very small but what goes on in there is as big as the world." This means even a small place can hold many interesting stories.
Art and Paintings
In July 2011, British artist Ed Gray created a painting of Bar Italia. It shows famous people like Rupert Everett and John Hurt as customers. You can see this painting hanging in the café's window.
Another artist, Carl Randall, painted a portrait of movie producer Jeremy Thomas in 2016. Thomas is standing in front of Bar Italia in the painting. He chose the café because he likes being there and feels comfortable. He said it has a "bohemianism" (a relaxed, artistic feeling) and many memories for him. A print of this painting is also on the café's wall.
Awards and Recognition
Bar Italia is not just popular with artists; it's also won awards! In 2010, it received the London Lifestyle Award for London Coffee Shop of the Year. This shows it's a top spot for coffee lovers in London.
