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Posh Coffee Bars in Brum

bobsummers

Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
I have read quite a few threads, but I cannot find references to the vogue coffee bars of Brum that thrived when I was young.
Places that come to mind was places such as the Kardoma Coffee bar on New street, it used to be rammed in the 60's by the dudes that flocked to town for entertainment.
The GiGi in Moseley Village where the hippy's hung out in the flower power days.
I also went to "The Scorpion" in the High St. in Kings Heath, Great times when I was a young mod.
Whats your revelations of Great Coffee Bars of Brum?
Has anyone got photos of these historic places where our culture was cultivated and Brum's youth blossomed!!??
Great times have you any stories to tell we need some new exciting nostalgia on the BHF
 
Hi Bob: There are threads on BHF about Coffee Bars in Brum back in the late 1950's. The Kardomah on New Street had posts and also the Kardomah opposite Snow Hill station at the end of the Great Western Arcade. Type Kardomah into the Search box.
 
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I wouldn't call it posh by any means, quite austere really, but El Torro in the late 1950's behind the Forum Cinema, was always packed solid with cistomers.
You could make a cup of frothy coffee last an hour in there. Sometimes people stood outside on the pavement drinking it because there were no seats avilable.
 
hI GUYS
THE ONLY POSH COFFEE SHOPS I EVER KNEW WAS JOE LYONS TEA AND COFFEE SHOPS
WHOM WAS IN THE BUSSINES IN THE ARCADES AND AROUND BRUM
WHERE THERE WAS TABLE CLOTHS AND GOOD LOOKING WAITRESS.S
WEARING A LINNEN APRON DRESS IN BLACK AND WHITE
I NEVER RECONISD THE KARDOMA AS A POSH ONE IT WAS AN OPEN PLAN SHOP
IT WAS ALWAYS LIKE NEWS STREET STATION THE MEXICANA WAS BETTER
BEST WISHES
 
La Boheme by the Central Fire Station was posh compared to most in the 1960's. It was run by Andre Drucker who served behind the counter and went on to set up the pattisserie chain still going today. It was the only place I knew with only classical music on the jukebox.
 
Lots of info on here about La Boheme and Andre Drucker.My mother worked in a travel agency in the Fire Station building across the road from Drucker's. She used to come home and tell us all about her visits over there. I wouldn't call La Bohemme posh. To my mind La Bohemme was innovative for Brum at that time. If you wanted "posh" it wasn't in a coffee bar as such. You visited places like the dining rooms in Lewis's, Grey's, Rackham's where they had what we called "Silver Service".
 
During the very late 60's/early 70's there was an antique shop come coffee bar. I can't recall its location, but it was pretty central. It was THE place to be seen; unless, that is, someone wanted to buy the chair you were sitting on! Does anyone remember its name???
 
Hi,

I have joined the forum on behalf of my friend's mother who is now 86 and doesn't have internet access. She has very fond memories of the Kardoma on New Street and was one of the Kardoma Cowboys!! Her name at the time was Gwen Wilkes and she went to the Kardoma in the 1940s and 50s, they also used to go to the Casino at night for dances. We would love to find anyone who remembers Gwen, especially any fellow Cowboys.

Thanks.
 
I spent many hours in these places around 1963-5!The GI-Gi in Moseley was my local.I have an old menu and some photos somewhere!I also frequented The "Stage Door" in town which was the Mod hang out".The Scorpion" in Kings Heath was handy for the nearby Ritz Ballroom but in the mode of "lookin for a fight moight!" ambience.All these a places had local characters even gangs.In Moseley it was more genteel.. but Kings Heath had a cinema and a dance hall.Many memories of these places dominated by the 48/50,1a and Outer circle bus routes.Andre Drucker owned several places just ask for details!
Bernie
 
Good photo but deceptive! as I recall in was in quite a narrow passageway the wall opposite, most interestingly had about 50 years of graffitti on it from World War 11 victory signs to CND anti- Polaris and fascist BAP!At the top was a branch of CIVIC Records which had listening booths"You gonna buy the record then mate?"There were also odd folk guitarists.The top floor was often packed out
In the early sixties it was a beatnik joint later Mods who could park scooters in the passageway.Another posh coffee place was the Art Gallery Coffee bar which did toasted sandwiches.It was decorated with the now very valuable Martin Bros Ceramics(not rated then).I talked to the following people who visited there... a young David Hockney,Peter Blake,Pauline Boaty, Max Moseley (then supporting his dads British Union of Fascists),Bill Tedder a local fascist nut,Many beatniks and media people gathered there.
Birmingham had a bohemian culture not just around Moseley and the many second hand bookshops in the Horsefair but also "The Diskery" in Hurst Street run by Morris who played Boogie Woogie Piano The shop was covered in rare LP jackets and sold imported labels like SUE, Atlantic and old Rock n,roll 78 rpmrecords... many memories.. but hard to recognise the place now!
 
there were some photos of "Cindys and "The Gigi" on facebook a few months back.I will try and check. Bernie
 
When I was a student it was our treat (bit of luxury if we could afford it) - coffee at that Druckers + a shared slice of gateau.
 
When I was a student it was our treat (bit of luxury if we could afford it) - coffee at that Druckers + a shared slice of gateau.
I cannot remember the year but I think that the first Druckers coffee bar was opened in Aston Street.
Andre Drucker and his wife took the ground floor in a bookshop whose owner was persuaded to move all his stock upstairs. I worked immediately across the road from 1953 until 1973. I have spent the last few days trying to remember all the other shop premises in Aston Street with some success. Does anyone remember the sweet shop called 'Bridges' in the Central Fire station building?
It was run by a gentleman names Charlie Foulds but those who didn't know his real name always called him Mr Bridges.
He had a lady who helped him called Betty who I seem to recall was being courted by a Birmingham City player.
I would be happy to share some memories
 
I read on facebook that the Druckers in the Great Western arcade has closed. Sad day!

Yes, shame isn't it - the branch in the Bull Ring too.
Druckers had become part of the Patisserie Valerie chain which is now in liquidation.
 
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