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Colin O’Brien’s Pellicci Portraits (Part 4)

December 22, 2012
by the gentle author

Roast turkey with all the trimmings was the special of the day at E. Pellicci, 332 Bethnal Green Rd, all this week. In the midst of the pre-Christmas melee, Contributing Photographer Colin O’Brien & I dodged the fry-ups and plates of pasta to bring you another set of portraits of the lucky diners at London’s best-loved family-run cafe. Colin had his favourite ham, egg & chips again but Nevio Pellicci persuaded me to have the scrambled eggs with smoked salmon for a change, then we both finished it off with syrup pudding & custard as usual.

Teresa Kerry “I’ve been coming to Pelliccis for twenty years but I don’t come as often as I should. When my friends get together, this is where we meet.”

Eric Hall of BBC Radio Essex’ Eric Hall’s Monster Memories – “I am told I was brought here in my pram, so I am probably the longest-running customer.”

Mandy Martin – “I first came to Pelliccis when I was fifteen and I come at least twice a week. I’ve been coming with my mum who’s eighty-eight, it’s a real community here.”

Josh Weller “I live next door to Maria Pellicci and I’ve been eating at Pelliccis for a year.”

Sequin Tan – “This my first time at Pelliccis. It was recommended on Anthony Bourdain’s website.”

Alex Georgou – “For the last five years, I’ve been coming to Pelliccis at least once a week and sometimes I come every day – Monday to Friday.”

“Trendy Wendy” Rolt “I first came here three years ago, since I started working with Arch 76.”

Darren Knotts “I’ve not been coming to Pelliccis that long but I come twice a week – it looks good!”

Suraya Klein-Smith – “I’ve been coming to Pelliccis nearly every day since I was about nine.”

Ric Prescod – “I’ve been coming to Pelliccis every Wednesday for three years, since I started training regularly at the Repton Boxing Club.”

Peter Smith – “I come to Pelliccis twice a day – that’s ten times a week – ever since we started the contract with Hackney Council six months ago.”

“Birthday Girl” Hannah Voller – “Nevio’s wife Nicola is my best friend and I’ve been coming here every week for five years.”

David Robinson – “I’ve been coming to Pelliccis since I was four, that’s over sixty years. I remember Nevio’s grandfather Primo. My mum used to bring us along when she did her weekly shopping.”

Graeme Walker “This is my second time at Pelliccis.”

Silvia Pascalau – “I’ve been working at Pelliccis two years at Easter.”

Photographs copyright © Colin O’Brien

You may like to take a look at

Colin O’Brien’s Pellicci Portraits ( Part One)

Colin O’Brien’s Pellicci Portraits (Part Two)

Colin O’Brien’s Pellicci Portraits (Part Three)

and read these other Pellicci stories

Maria Pellicci, Cook

Pellicci’s Celebrity Album

Pellicci’s Collection

Maria Pellicci, The Meatball Queen of Bethnal Green

Colin O’Brien at E.Pellicci

and see these other Colin O’Brien stories

Colin O’Brien, Photographer

Colin O’Brien’s Clerkenwell Car Crashes

Colin O’Brien’s Kids on the Street

Gina’s Restaurant Portraits

Travellers’ Children in London Fields

Colin O’Brien’s Brick Lane Market

Colin O’Brien Goes Back To School

At Colin O’Brien’s Flat

5 Responses leave one →
  1. December 22, 2012

    Eric Hall ?

    Surely another Cambridge & Bethnal Green old boy ?

    Compliments of the season to all

    Ron Goldstein

  2. Ros permalink
    December 22, 2012

    More marvellous pics, all of them. Like the captions too. Everyone in Pelliccis is so full of life.

  3. December 22, 2012

    Wonderful (as usual)!

  4. Ellen permalink
    December 22, 2012

    Wish I lived close by so that I could visit. Sounds like a wonderful and friendly place…

  5. andrea permalink
    December 22, 2012

    Digging Josh Weller’s elevator-shaft look!

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