pippickedupfromthewww
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."
