In the early 1950s on the outskirts of London, a transport cafe called ‘The Ace Cafe’, became the hang out for a newly emergent British youth subculture, better known as the Ton-Up Boys, Cafe Racers, Leather Boys or Coffee Bar Cowboys – and latterly Rockers.
Not exactly welcomed by venues such as pubs and dance halls, largely due to their clothing styles and perceived dirtiness, they'd hang out at transport caff's and listen to rock’n’roll whilst drinking sweet beige teas at places like The Ace Cafe, Chelsea Bridges tea stall, Ace of Spades, Busy Bee and Johnson’s.
(picture still from the 1964 film The Leather Boys)
Not exactly welcomed by venues such as pubs and dance halls, largely due to their clothing styles and perceived dirtiness, they'd hang out at transport caff's and listen to rock’n’roll whilst drinking sweet beige teas at places like The Ace Cafe, Chelsea Bridges tea stall, Ace of Spades, Busy Bee and Johnson’s.
(picture still from the 1964 film The Leather Boys)
