The Ace, on the North Circular Road, became popular, as it was the last eating place and lorry stop for the traffic coming from the North, down the A1, before they hit London. The Ace was wrecked by a bomb in 1940 and rebuilt after the war ended. Because it was open 24 hours, it became a popular haunt for rockers in the 50s and 60s, as it gave them somewhere to meet, and access was easy.
It closed in 1969, and became a tyre depot.
In 1994, Mark Willsmore decided to 'borrow' it for a day, and hold a Rockers Reunion to mark the 25th. Anniversary of it closing. The response astounded everyone. Thousands of bikers turned up, most of them only knowing of it from stories told by their parents.
Mark began to wonder if there was still a need for a good old fashioned cafe-racer society. The tyre depot was shortly coming up for sale, and he put into motion a scheme for raising the money to buy it back and restore it as a cafe.
The outcome has been remarkable. As someone who used to regularly go to the original Ace in the 60s, I can vouch for the fact that it is indeed very similar to how it was, (no jukebox in a cage though!) with only minor concessions having to be made to modern health and safety requirements.
The Ace goes from strength to strength, with bikers from all over the world making almost a pilgrimage to the spiritual home of British biking.
It's a great place for a meet. They have good old fashioned rock 'n' roll bands there on a regular basis at weekends - including some of the great old names, such as Wee Willie Harris. Almost every weekend day, one club or another hosts a day for their particular model, make or style of bike, and it is popular with car clubs too.
Brent Borough Council have also marked the importance of the rocker culture and the Ace, by putting railings along the gardens opposite, which depict bikes from the 60s racing under the railway bridge. (of course, that never happened for real, did it? ;) )
Long may it continue.
In 1994, Mark Willsmore decided to 'borrow' it for a day, and hold a Rockers Reunion to mark the 25th. Anniversary of it closing. The response astounded everyone. Thousands of bikers turned up, most of them only knowing of it from stories told by their parents.
Mark began to wonder if there was still a need for a good old fashioned cafe-racer society. The tyre depot was shortly coming up for sale, and he put into motion a scheme for raising the money to buy it back and restore it as a cafe.
The outcome has been remarkable. As someone who used to regularly go to the original Ace in the 60s, I can vouch for the fact that it is indeed very similar to how it was, (no jukebox in a cage though!) with only minor concessions having to be made to modern health and safety requirements.
The Ace goes from strength to strength, with bikers from all over the world making almost a pilgrimage to the spiritual home of British biking.
It's a great place for a meet. They have good old fashioned rock 'n' roll bands there on a regular basis at weekends - including some of the great old names, such as Wee Willie Harris. Almost every weekend day, one club or another hosts a day for their particular model, make or style of bike, and it is popular with car clubs too.
Brent Borough Council have also marked the importance of the rocker culture and the Ace, by putting railings along the gardens opposite, which depict bikes from the 60s racing under the railway bridge. (of course, that never happened for real, did it? ;) )
Long may it continue.
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