Dreadful news from the Independent on Saturday. The New Piccadilly restaurant, the cathedral of caffs, run by Soho character Lorenzo Marioni, has lost it’s last attempt to keep the bulldozers from its doors. It will close for good on September the 22nd.
Such a damn shame. The place is an absolute gem, and has always been a joy to eat in, chipped formica tops, see-through coffee mugs and all. Since 1951, it’s been a place for everyone from Soho gangsters to stars of stage and screen to sip froffy coffees and enjoy the spag bol and chicken. I’ve eaten there many times, always with friends, and it’s always been a bit of a treat. Somewhere to go when we want to feel that all is right with the world.
And now the landlords, Windmill Developments have decided to knock it down to make way for a “mixed-use block.” Another mall-type mash of cafes, offices and stationers. Another chunk taken out of Soho’s soul. If there’s a Starbucks in there, I swear to God, I’ll be so mad I could just … leaflet or something.
Calls for the New Piccadilly to be listed, like it’s compatriot in East London, Pellucci’s have fallen on deaf ears. English Heritage, having no interest in it’s unspoilt interior, have looked only at the shabby bricks and mortar that encase it and deemed the place unworthy of saving. Even Westminster City Council have deemed the cafe’s architectural quality as not good enough to be preserved. Once again, profit shouts louder than history. Adrian Maddox, author of the book and website Classic Cafes says, “Very individual places run by characters like Lorenzo are an irritant in the way of turning our streets into huge, faceless malls.”
I’ll be making a point of going there at least a couple of times before Lorenzo shuts off the big neon EATS sign for the last time. I’ll be having the usual. Steak pie, chips and beans, strawberry milkshake.
Funny how sometimes even a simple thing like lunch can make you sad.
Incidentally, the article that inspired me to write this in The Independent On Saturday seems to be unavailable on their website. Straaaange. Have a browse round the Classic Cafes website I’ve linked to above. Plenty of nice pics. If anyone’s interested, I’ll scan the article and post it on the blog.
EXCUSES AND HALF TRUTHS 
the new picadilly is worth saving for the signage alone! It has a charm unlike any I could find across the windy expanses of norfolk (aka stephen fry country – oh yeah, we have great talent here you know) but sadly no genuine vintage signage genuinely distressed. Think of me next time you frequent, when you’ve got thoses smakers round a hot see-through mug of tea, builder’s stlye -charming!
Like we need another Starbucks etc. I can’t understand this urge to homogenize everything – so sad it’s closing
If you could scan the article that would be great, as I seemed to have missed it in the Independent.
It is beyond sad that this wonderful cafe is closing.
Sadly it seems nothing was saved – not even the signs above the door.
As Lorenzo said if he couldn’t run it no one should have anything from it..