Comments on: The Cabbies’ Shelters Of Old London

By: Brian Wright

Brian Wright — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 19:49:12 +0000

I got my badge in 1974 and used to eat at Kensington Pk Rd run by Spanish Joe who was also a green badge driver. The shelter ran on gas, not electricity, lighting was by gas mantles. Joe made a fabulous paella on a Friday night which had to be pre-ordered. There were a couple of much older Jewish drivers who were great characters and taught us a lot about life and the trade.
Joe left it and I moved to eat at The Pier by Albert Bridge, again full of characters. Happy days. Thank for the posting.

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 21:10:44 +0000

I always loved the Cabbies shelters, and they are elsewhere in the country too, with an especially nice one on the market place on Ripon, North Yorkshire.

By: Cherub

Cherub — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 08:55:30 +0000

I love small buildings like these. In Basel we have stone ones that were originally for the trams, they are Swiss Art Nouveau period and very pretty. Most have been turned into kiosks selling newspapers, soft drinks, confectionery and other goods. One by the tramlines along the street from me is a small clubhouse. The police boxes in Edinburgh became coffee stalls years ago.

By: John Campbell

John Campbell — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:24:22 +0000

I used to stop at the one by the Royal Free NW3 very early in the morning for a cup of tea.

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 16:53:59 +0000

They are super ! We went for a drink in the Prince Alfred which is just down the road from Warwick Avenue, and thought we would go and say hello to the shelter! As we stood there our popped Paul Weller to put his rubbish in recycling!! Bonus x

By: kate Bacon

kate Bacon — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:20:44 +0000

I’m not sure why but I’ve always loved these structures – I think it makes me nostalgic for when I first moved to London in my late teens. Thanks for giving us a sneak peak inside too!

By: Milo

Milo — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:43:57 +0000

I don’t think I ever noticed the one on Kensington park road. They really blend in don’t they?

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 06:43:17 +0000

I remember the original cabbie shelter by the rank on Haven Green, close to Ealing Broadway Station, London W5

From an online search: “H-B Designs were engaged to re-design and build a new replacement for the defuncabman’s shelter on Haven Green in Ealing London in 2012”

https://uk.pinterest.com/teamhb/london-cabmans-shelters/

By: James Williams

James Williams — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 05:49:34 +0000

What happened to the one on Whitechapel Road that I remember?

By: Baden Smith

Baden Smith — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:31:24 +0000

One of them is featured in this old Marty Feldman sketch which screened about the time “The Battle Of Britain” was released…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wE-iE4l3Js