Restaurants, Cafes, Coffee Bars

Quite a notorious place this one. I can remember at least 2 serious stabbings in the early 1960s.

Super photos Dutchman. Was the Alex cafe over the road from the Crown (Paris) cinema. Anyone remember the Domino cafe where the Herbert gallery is now.

Dutchman, you never cease to amaze me. You mentioned the Fox & Vivian pub As my parents managed that place before I was born surely it is not still standing, or (you must know this) when was it demolished? You will go down as a historiographer for your knowledge (if you don't know then I forgive you!)

This forum is stirring up memories for me! The Sombrero cafe seemed to be the first point of call for kids escaping from borstal, they always wore the same clothes. I was once threatened with violence if I did not supply two of them with a new set of clothes, I supplied the clothes and made the point of never going back there. Also the Alex cafe. As an apprentice painter and decorator that cafe was my very first "foreigner", painted the inside for a whole £4.50, took a week to do at night time. The owner treated me to a few glasses of Plum brandy one night, had to stagger home drunk, lol, never was a drinker. Thanks for the memories I had forgot.

Not directly opposite, it was some distance away. There was another cafe which was almost directly opposite the Paris in the building known as "The Enterprise Variety Stores" and a coffee bean shop next door to it in the same building. It's slightly before my time Adrian, the temporary shops had already been demolished by the time I moved to Gosford Street in 1960.

It closed in November 1971. The space it once occupied is now the frontage of the University building.

In the 50s the Corner Cafe on the corner of Fynford Rd and Radford Rd - opposite the Grapes Hotel was a popular venue. I can not remember the guy's name who owned it, but he also opened a place near Princethorpe which also had live music events--and was very popular. Before the Beaker Cafe opened there was a cafe just round the corner on Radford Rd, it was owned by a Mr & Mrs Farren - Mr Farren had a huge cyst on his forehead so we all used to meet up at Knobby's.

Thank you most sincerely Dutchman. I have always wondered about that pub as it was their first venture after they were married.

Wonderful images, thank you. I don't remember the Sorrento at all, by 1966 I was married and living at Sapcote. Around 1958 it was always a toss up between the Gigi and the El Cabana, both were usually full to bursting. If I remember correctly two rooms at the El Cabana and one long narrow room at the Gigi. When you look at the run down facades its difficult to equate them with what to us was quite a grown up experience. Mind you looking back there is an argument for having preserved some of the three storeyed buildings. Remember the ice cream machine outside the Domino?

It was originally a Payne's electrical showroom and had a couple of other retail owners before becoming a cafe. That's correct. The El Cabana was overpriced in my opinion so I'd often walk to one of the older cafes. According to one source the timber frame of No.10 Gosford Street was preserved for re-erection elsewhere but I've yet to see any confirmation of that. Something which is beyond preservation is the atmosphere which existed in Gosford Street at the time. Once the flyover was built in 1967 I couldn't even bear to look at the street any more

I am too young to remember these places apart from the round Wimpy however I love the evocative names. John

Yes, its interesting how every generations' late teen years are the best. I remember very fondly the late 70s/ early 80s. Lots of playing sport for the Old Wheatleyans, the pubs down Spon Street, Studio 21 on a Friday for the Adam & Eve night (you were each given a sticker with a name on - if you found your partner you won a dodgy cocktail!) & the Cottage in Earlsdon to finish the weekend off. Must also mention copious curries at places that I can't remember any more! I would however have loved to experience the 60s scene John

I can remember a coffee bar in Jordan Well, on the same side as the Gaumont cinema and just before you got to Much Park Street. This was in the 1950's It came complete with frothy coffee and an juke box. Anybody know its name?

Hi DBC, I think the coffee bar you're thinking of was the "Domino". See my entry in the GuestBook section dated 14th April 2009.

The one I remember (in the 1960s) was the 'Godiva Cafe'. It was extremely long and narrow. The juke box selector was one of those wall mounted types as there wasn't room for a floor standing unit.