David Johnson’s Cafes
Tickets are available for my walking tour now
Click here to book your ticket for THE GENTLE AUTHOR’S TOUR OF SPITALFIELDS
Fredson’s Cafe, Alie St
David Johnson took these magnificent photographs of cafes in Kodachrome around 1980.
“When I lived in East London, I started this project to photograph some classic cafes, mainly in the East End – but also elsewhere as I came across them in my travels. I think it was the sign-writing and eclectic typography which were the main attractions. I realised that they were not going to be around much longer. Many were run by Italian families who started up in the post-war period. Annoyingly, I did not make a note of the locations – so if you can help, please leave a comment.”
David Johnson
Aeron Cafe
Bridge Cafe
Corner Parlour
Alfredo’s Cafe, Islington
Sign at Alfredo’s Cafe
Flock-In
Gee’s Cafe
George’s Cafe, Whitechapel
The Happy Fillet
Jim’s Cafe, Islington
Jubilee Cafe
Moon & Sixpence Cafe
Norman’s Nosh Bar
Norman’s Nosh Bar
Phyllis’s Cafe
Silvio Cafe
The Ninety Eight
The Village Rest
Viking Cafe
Magno Cafe
Leslie’s Cafe
Crawford Cafe
Cafe
Empire Cafe
Photographs copyright © David Johnson
You may also like to take a look at
Gorgeous pictures, thank you so much!
I was living in Islington in the late 1980s and treasure these dear mementos.
Karin, Berlin
These photos are very evocative .
Does anyone remember Eisenberg’s cafe which became United Fairies in Whitechapel Road ?
Andy
Fabulous glimpse into the past…
Alfredo’s was for many years in Essex Road, near Islington Green. The Empire Cafe was in Hackney in Cambridge Heath Road (near the canal).
How I miss old fashioned cafés like these. We had a great one on my hometown High St until about 4 years ago, someone bought the building and promptly evicted the café owner. A kebab takeaway moved in, that went west after about 9 months. Now it’s a café again but it’s South American fare. The original café was owned by Italians and had great home cooked food and service, I used to go there for lunch every day in the 70s when I worked in an office nearby, their chocolate cake was fabulous.
Alfredo’s Cafe in Islington, near the corner of Essex Road and St Peters Street, has survived under a new name but the old signage around the lower parts of the windows has been retained!
Can’t help with locations but agree about the fabulous sign writing – every one individual and full of character – thanks for sharing.
They all look like likely subjects for Doreen Fletcher’s paintings.