Wandering around Islington on Wednesday evening I chanced upon this cafe in Essex Road. I am now relieved to know that 'S&M' stands for 'Sausage & Mash', having initially thought that a cappacino might be accompanied by a good thrashing. Or, tantalisingly withheld. But what of course really took my attention was that lovely panel advertising ices at post war (or even pre war) prices. And that marvellous mosaic entrance with 'refreshments' underfoot. I'd bring all my luncheon vouchers here.
Phew! a nifty intervention to stem the Minor madness. Thank goodness this shoppy stuff still exists...just seen a fine old fascia revealed on a shopfront in Rottingdean whilst preparing to apply some garish confection over the top. Scrape away the layers and a lot are still there. Mosaics are fortunately more difficult to erase so there quite a few around. Lovely lettering in the window.
Mosaics are good. Thanks to it appearing to be impervious to easy eradication, there's still a Hepworth's in Dartmouth. See my Everyman Pocket Book Letters from England.
I especially like those chrome window frame strips too. Isn't it brilliant that the sign and the mosaic doorstep are still in-situ after possibly suffering the ravages of WWII and those post-war shopfitters.
Does the replacement of the Luncheon Voucher sticker by the WiFi one mean that Madame Cynthia Payne is alive, well, and plying her trade in cyberspace these days ?
Ah, this is the caff that I used to know as Alfredo's when I lived down the road in 1992. Back then it was mostly famous for being the coffee bar in Quadrophenia. It was boarded up for at least a year before it became the first S&M, after Alfredo (or his kids) jacked it in.
Thanks TIW, just the sort of info I need. Oddly enough, I was going on about Quadrophenia to my 13 year old only today, he having just bought a best of The Who CD.
Haven't knowingly heard the King Crimson album, and only know that the lead bloke is married to Toyah Wilcox. (Isht a mishtery.)
Full agreement on Stanley Road. Hood down, M4, Hatchet Inn at Lower Chute. Various girls shouting "I like this" as Weller pounded out against the wind.
I am a designer, writer and photographer who spends all his time looking at England, particularly buildings and the countryside. But I have a leaning towards the slightly odd and neglected, the unsung elements that make England such an interesting place to live in. I am the author and photographer of over 25 books, in particular Unmitigated England (Adelphi 2006), More from Unmitigated England (Adelphi 2007), Cross Country (Wiley 2011), The Cigarette Papers (Frances Lincoln 2012), Preposterous Erections (Frances Lincoln 2012) and English Allsorts (Adelphi 2015)
"Open this book with reverence. It is a hymn to England". Clive Aslet
Preposterous Erections
"Enchanting...delightful". The Bookseller "Cheekily named" We Love This Book
The Cigarette Papers
"Unexpectedly pleasing and engrossing...beautifully illustrated". The Bookseller
Cross Country
"Until the happy advent of Peter Ashley's Cross Country it has, ironically, been foreigners who have been best at celebrating Englishness". Christina Hardyment / The Independent
More from Unmitigated England
"Give this book to someone you know- if not everyone you know." Simon Heffer, Country Life. "When it comes to spotting the small but telling details of Englishness, Peter Ashley has no equal." Michael Prodger, Sunday Telegraph
13 comments:
Ah, but the old, familiar LV sticker has been usurped by that really ugly Wi-Fi sticker!
Phew! a nifty intervention to stem the Minor madness. Thank goodness this shoppy stuff still exists...just seen a fine old fascia revealed on a shopfront in Rottingdean whilst preparing to apply some garish confection over the top. Scrape away the layers and a lot are still there. Mosaics are fortunately more difficult to erase so there quite a few around. Lovely lettering in the window.
Mosaics are good. Thanks to it appearing to be impervious to easy eradication, there's still a Hepworth's in Dartmouth. See my Everyman Pocket Book Letters from England.
mmmm...conjures up thoughts of toasted teacakes, scones and fish paste sandwiches.
I especially like those chrome window frame strips too. Isn't it brilliant that the sign and the mosaic doorstep are still in-situ after possibly suffering the ravages of WWII and those post-war shopfitters.
Does the replacement of the Luncheon Voucher sticker by the WiFi one mean that Madame Cynthia Payne is alive, well, and plying her trade in cyberspace these days ?
Bucks: Yes
Wonderful place, this. And I could just do with a threepenny ice.
Ah, this is the caff that I used to know as Alfredo's when I lived down the road in 1992. Back then it was mostly famous for being the coffee bar in Quadrophenia. It was boarded up for at least a year before it became the first S&M, after Alfredo (or his kids) jacked it in.
Thanks TIW, just the sort of info I need. Oddly enough, I was going on about Quadrophenia to my 13 year old only today, he having just bought a best of The Who CD.
Quadrophenia, now there's an album. Top 3 for me, along with King Crimson ITCOTCK and Paul Weller's Stanley Road. Sorry.
Haven't knowingly heard the King Crimson album, and only know that the lead bloke is married to Toyah Wilcox. (Isht a mishtery.)
Full agreement on Stanley Road. Hood down, M4, Hatchet Inn at Lower Chute. Various girls shouting "I like this" as Weller pounded out against the wind.
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