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 A BSA rider at an Ace Cafe gathering in 2007 | |
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  Location within Greater London | |
| Restaurant information | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1938 (1938) |
| City | London |
| Coordinates | 51°32′28″N0°16′40″W / 51.5412°N 0.2778°W /51.5412; -0.2778 |
| Website | https://london.acecafe.com/ |
TheAce Cafe is a historictransport cafe located nearWembley, North West London, England. Situated next to theNorth Circular Road, it is historically a notable venue inmotorcycle culture. The original cafe opened in 1938 and closed in 1969. It re-opened on the original site in 1997 as a cafe, functions, and entertainment venue.
The Ace Cafe is located on a leg on the western side of the North Circular Road, off the junction with Beresford Avenue. On the A406 it is between theHanger Lane gyratory and theWembleyA404 junction. It is east of theAlperton neighbourhood, close byStonebridge and thePark Royal industrial estate, just west ofStonebridge Park station and theBrent Viaduct.
Apart from the cafe on the original site in London, Ace Cafe London have opened cafes in other countries: Ace CornerLahti, Finland (opened in June 2011), Ace CafeLucerne, Switzerland (opened in June 2015), Ace CafeBeijing, China (opened in July 2015), Ace CafeBarcelona, Spain (opened in April 2017), and Ace CafeOrlando, United States of America (opened in May 2017).[1]
The Ace Cafe opened in 1938 to accommodate traffic on the then-newNorth Circular Road. It was built on an area between theGrand Union Canal andStonebridge Park Depot. Because the cafe was open 24 hours a day, it started to attractmotorcyclists in the evening and at weekends, becoming popular in the 1950s and 1960s with theRockers, whereupon Reverend Bill Shergold initially visited to invite them to join the59 Club.[2]
The cafe was rebuilt in 1949, after anair raid on the nearbyWillesden railwaymarshalling yards caused damage duringWorld War II. Events in the postwar environment made the Ace a success – the emergence of theteenager, an increase in traffic, and the British motorcycle industry at its peak. Young people started to meet at the cafe to socialise, gather their motorcycles, and listen torock'n'roll onjuke boxes. Bands and motorcycle enthusiast groups formed there.
The cafe closed in 1969, shortly after the opening of theScratchwood Services at what was then the southern end of the M1 motorway. The ground floor of the building became a tyre sales and fitting shop.[3] The first floor was occupied by a vehicle delivery company.
With increasing popularity of the Rocker revival and discussions with original 59 Club members,[2] the first Ace Cafe reunion was organised by Mark Wilsmore and held in 1994.[3]
The cafe reopened in 1997, with complete refurbishment completed by September 2001.[4] Rockers and motorcyclists from all over the world attend themed meetings. It is no longer open 24-hours but the cafe now has an extensive calendar of events for both motorbike and classic car owners. Hosting events such as monthly meets for both bikes and cars. The location also hosts special event nights for certain styles and builds, such as german, or EV night.[5]
It also hosts weekly live music and DJs, and is approved for weddings and civil partnerships.[6]
The Ace Cafe was used as a location in the 1964 filmThe Leather Boys,Sidney J. Furie's Britishgay-interestkitchen sink drama, starringRita Tushingham.[7]
In the past it has been used for the Channel 5 TV programmeFifth Gear in the seasons 10 to 13 (September 2006 until March 2008), and forITV programmeUsed Car Roadshow. It has also featured in theBBC television seriesBy Any Means withCharley Boorman; mentioned as a favourite forEwan McGregor by his wife in the documentary,Long Way Down; and the 2008 filmFreebird.
The cafe also featured in an edition ofCar SOS – Season 1, Episode 9, presented byTim Shaw, filmed during 2012 and shown in the UK on at least one TV channel –National Geographic. The episode depicted the secret restoration of a decayingFord Zodiac Mk1, which was then unveiled and presented to the unsuspecting owner in the car park, close to the building entrance.[8][9]
Motoring TV presentersEdd China andMike Brewer filmed at Ace Cafe on aHot Rod night in early 2014 during a sequence to sell aChevrolet Camaro, part ofWheeler Dealers series 11.[10][11]
The music video for "You Go Your Way" (released 2024) byPerrie was filmed at Ace Cafe.[12]
The Ace Cafe wonLondon Borough of Brent's "Best Bar None" award for local bars in 2009.[13]
