Eleanor Crow’s East End Cafes
Syd’s Coffee Stall, Shoreditch High St
Illustrator Eleanor Crow made this set of watercolour portraits of cafes as a tribute to those cherished institutions which incarnate the essence of civility in the East End. “It’s because they’re individual concerns, often owned by families across generations who get to know all their customers,” admitted Eleanor, revealing the source of her devotion to cafe culture ,“I like the frontages because each is designed uniquely for that café with wonderful sign-writing or lettering and eye-catching colours. Some of these cafés have been here for a very long time and everyone in the area is familiar with them, and is very fond of them. They make the streets into a better place and are landmarks upon the landscape of the East End.”
E. Pellicci, Bethnal Green Rd
Savoy, Norton Folgate
Time for Tea, Shoreditch High St
Dalston Lane Cafe
Paga Cafe, Lea Bridge Rd
Lennies Snack Bar, Calvert Avenue
Marina Cafe, Mare St
Kingsland Cafe, Kingsland Rd
Grab & Go, Blackhorse Lane
Gina’s Restaurant, Bethnal Green Rd
Copper Grill, Eldon St
Billy Bunter’s Snack Bar, Mile End Rd
Beppe’s Cafe, West Smithfield
B.B. Cafe, Lea Bridge Rd
Savoy Cafe, Graham Rd
A.Gold, Brushfield St
Arthur’s Cafe, Kingsland Rd
Cafe Bliss, Dalston Lane
Cafe Rodi, Blackhorse Lane
Rossi Restaurant, Hanbury St (Gone but not forgotten)
Eleanor Crow at E.Pellicci
Drawings copyright © Eleanor Crow
Portrait copyright © Colin O’Brien
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At Syd’s Coffee Stall, Shoreditch High St
I loved this post! The drawings have such warmth and humour and really give a sense of the cafes’ place in their communities
Nice to see someone has made it past the Lea into Walthamstow!
( Or even Leyton )
Eleanor, these are beautiful. I love the colours you see! All the best, Pete.
What lovely drawings…and such a good portrait also of a multi talented designer and typographer
These are fantastic, you’re an inspiration. When I visit I will take the print out so that I can try to get the gist of where you’re coming from with your art. Thank you.
Simply enchanting – more please.
These are great Eleanor. I can hear the doors clanging shut and see the winter condensation on the windows.
Beautifully painted!!! 🙂 Thank you!
I really love these! Congratulations!
Big wallchart poster please so we can compare/contrast and admire.
If you are thinking of bringing out a book of these cafe drawings do please let me know as I will be the first on the scene to own one.
We can’t take for granted these lovely old cafes will stand much longer. I still mourn the passing of Centrale in Soho….
Absolutely lovely work, Eleanor.
Love these! I’ve eaten in most of them, especially Arthur’s Cafe on Kingsland Road where they do the best sandwiches in London IMHO. Lennie’s is another fav, Mama Jean makes her own hot sauce and it’s goooood.
Beautiful, I would second the request for a book of these, Eleanor… or at least some postcards?
I loved these beautiful illustrations, I have been in many of these cafes, how delightful to see them captured like this because who knows how long they will last
I loved these. Marvellous collection – I hope there will be more, captured before they go. Their closures are coming thick and fast.
Lovely gorgeous illustrations. Please bring out a book.
Go to Lennies people – especially Thurs-Say evenings when the secret Tai trout with make you a very happy bunny indeed. She’s in Calvert Avenue and facing fierce rent rises as the area becomes more interested in shops selling ceramic pig trotters for thirty quid than the original traders.
Eleanor, you have captured all the cafe’s with such great detail and great colours. Its fab to see these wonderful buildings being drawn as well as photographed. Is there a way to buy prints? I want the one of my mother and father’s cafe if possible?
Thanks Helen Tomolillo, I’m looking into getting prints and cards made. If you drop me an email via my website, I can let you know when they are ready.
A great collection. Such a different world to to a country cousin (brother) but the way you illustrate it I can see the attraction.
I’m very proud, hon, and utterly delighted that these are being so treasured and well received. I’ll buy a book; they’re a marvellous collection!
Wonderful watercolours! Now I want to visit the real cafes for tea and a fry up.
Wonderful! And so lovely to see some from my neck of the woods Lea Bridge Road way……
Just Brilliant. Love these Eleanor!
I was just searching for pictures of Billy Bunters snack bar and came across your picture, my late father owned it along with his friend in the 80’s and early 90’s. Really lovely to see someone taking notice of it. Thank you.