Comments on: David Johnson’s Cafes https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/07/23/david-johnsons-cafes/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Fri, 19 Dec 2025 06:37:57 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Luke https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/07/23/david-johnsons-cafes/#comment-1883901 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 06:37:57 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=192556#comment-1883901 Gee’s Cafe featured heavily in an 80s Tango advert, obviously without the Pepsi ads!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg3ughVERpc

]]> By: Marcia Howard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/07/23/david-johnsons-cafes/#comment-1478387 Tue, 23 Aug 2022 08:48:16 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=192556#comment-1478387 Wonderful images

]]> By: Nick Harris https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/07/23/david-johnsons-cafes/#comment-1472533 Sun, 24 Jul 2022 10:23:40 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=192556#comment-1472533 I think The Village Rest was/is in Woodford Brige opposite what used to be The White Hart pub.

]]> By: Richard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/07/23/david-johnsons-cafes/#comment-1472422 Sat, 23 Jul 2022 17:25:37 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=192556#comment-1472422 Yes I miss those places where you could just go in and order tea and a custard slice. There’s a cafe at the end of Marchmont street I used to go to in the seventies and I still go there. Get a good fry up.

]]> By: Sigrid https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/07/23/david-johnsons-cafes/#comment-1472392 Sat, 23 Jul 2022 11:45:34 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=192556#comment-1472392 I wish they were still around….
Alfredo’s Cafe, Islington was/is in Essex Road, N1, on the right hand side coming from the Angel, just passed Islington Green on the other side of the road. The outside of it today still retains some of the old wording. It is now a steak house called : The Meat People. ( Sandwich at £9).

]]> By: Cherub https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/07/23/david-johnsons-cafes/#comment-1472388 Sat, 23 Jul 2022 11:20:15 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=192556#comment-1472388 How I miss old style cafés like this. Everywhere in Britain seems to have fallen under the spell of chains like Costa and Starbucks. I never understand the attraction of the latter here in Switzerland as there are so many nicer independent places where you can get a decent coffee and something to eat. The chains have no soul.

]]> By: paul loften https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/07/23/david-johnsons-cafes/#comment-1472376 Sat, 23 Jul 2022 09:03:52 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=192556#comment-1472376 What a great collecion of Cafes. I am sure I have had more than a sandwich and a cuppa in at least one but my memory lets me down on that score. However the very last photo doesnt seem to have a name but please tell I am not seeing a cat with bandages on the counter ! Perhaps i should have reached for my glasses. There is a little verse written by the late, great Allan Sherman that I offer as tribute to this unknown cafe.
Do not make a stingy sandwich
Pile the cold cuts high
Customers should see salami
Coming through the rye

]]> By: Peter Holford https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/07/23/david-johnsons-cafes/#comment-1472368 Sat, 23 Jul 2022 08:11:49 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=192556#comment-1472368 Great memories. I smiled at the sign for Fish & Hips at the Happy Fillet.

]]> By: achim https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/07/23/david-johnsons-cafes/#comment-1472363 Sat, 23 Jul 2022 07:44:39 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=192556#comment-1472363 Superb pictures. Every single café, no matter how “run down”, had its charm, its very reason for being and certainly its guests. I would love to drop in at ANY of them.

The Jubilee is closed due to excessive partying, the Happy Fillet surprisingly serves fish and hips, and the Empire makes a rather understated impression in relation to its big name. — What times!

Love & Peace
ACHIM

]]> By: Mark https://spitalfieldslife.com/2022/07/23/david-johnsons-cafes/#comment-1472357 Sat, 23 Jul 2022 06:51:56 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=192556#comment-1472357 Brilliant!
NOSH BAR!! Love it.
Caff’s as they should be.
Proper working class nosh.

]]>