The Ace Cafe A Potted History
The Ace Cafe was established in 1938 on the then brand new North Circular Road surrounding London. It was a simple roadside Cafe catering to travelers, particularly truckers. With its proximity to Britain’s fast arterial road network, and being open 24 hours, the Ace Cafe soon attracted motorcyclists too.
In world war two, the building was badly damaged during an air raid on the adjacent railway marshalling yards.
After the war the Ace Cafe was reopened in temporary accommodation and subsequently rebuilt in 1949.
Changes in the social order, the growth of the car market at the expense of the motorbike industry, and the expansion of the motorway network saw the Ace Cafe serving its last egg and chips in 1969.
The Ace Cafe Reunion is the brainchild of Mark Wilsmore. In 1993 he shared his ideas for an annual event to mark the closure of the original Ace Cafe, a book and film, documenting the history of the Ace Cafe and endeavouring to ensure that the original Ace Cafe re-opened, with relevant products being available.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the cafe’s closure, Mark, with friends, formed the organising team for the Reunion and arranged for motorcycle runs to converge at the former Ace Cafe site on Sunday 4th September 1994.
We can do it now!
We got the planning permission, and ACE CAFE LONDON bought the original Ace Cafe site. As from December 7th 1997, a part of the original and legendary Ace Cafe site was re-opened on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Bank Holidays and on the first Wednesday of every month.
The Grand Re-Opening
Today we´ve made it – and the Ace Cafe is alive and kicking.
No – it´s not 1964, welcome back Ace Cafe!
On the weekend from 10th to 12th June 2011 the all new Ace Cafe Lahti celebrated its Grand Opening.
The 75th Anniversary
On the weekend from 19th to 21st June 2015 the all new Ace Cafe Luzern celebrated its Grand Opening.
On Sunday 12th July 2015 the all new Ace Cafe Beijing celebrated its Grand Opening.
On the weekend from 21st to 23rd April 2017 the all new Ace Cafe Barcelona celebrated its Grand Opening.
In May 2017 the all new Ace Cafe Orlando celebrated its Grand Opening.
