Detour Pit Stop #27: Ace Cafe, London, UK
Its location is far from glamorous but the Ace Cafe has a long history, rich in motor oil and leather.
Built in 1938 as a rest stop on London’s new North Circular Road, the Ace Cafe has had a difficult existence. Just two years after it opened it was bombed during the war and would not be rebuilt until 1949.
In the ’50s and ’60s it was the base for ‘Ton Up Boys’ on their motorbikes, where the jukebox played only rock ’n’ roll and the police were in regular attendance to break up fights and illegal road races. But, sadly by 1969 the times were a-changing and the Ace closed its doors for almost three decades.
In 1997 came a third revival for the Ace and today it plays host once again to petrolheads on two and four wheels. There are regular club nights, live music and a classic greasy spoon menu of pies, burgers, eggs – all with chips of course.
Detour last popped in for an early coffee and a bacon buttie on the way to a Sunday Scramble at Bicester Heritage and even at 7.30am it was buzzing to the sounds of two-strokes, V8s and the impressive espresso machine.
If you’re not in London then you can also take in the Ace atmosphere in Orlando, Barcelona, Luzern, Lahti and Beijing.
Words Nik Berg Twitter | Instagram
Photography Ace Cafe Instagram