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Kardomah New Street and Colmore Row

Kardomah Colmore Row RIBA 1930s photo shows the rolling shutter at the rear of the building. Looks very state of the art. Viv.

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That is so very 30's Viv, by the time we were all going there in the 50's it had been bombed, the photo on 73 shows 'our' KD. I think the entrance to the basement was through the door on the extreme right.

Thanks for bringing this thread forward, I have enjoyed reading it and seeing posts from old friends.
 
I have really enjoyed rereading this thread also.Thanks for bringing it forward again Viv. The Kardomah's in Brum in the l950's were a big part of the social life of so many people.Handy locations and great coffee. It really was a special place. Many of us remember later on when
the espresso coffee places opened up in town and Andre Drucker opened his special coffee cafe called La Bohemme which started life on Aston Street before moving to Moseley going forward from there to create a coffee chain that still run's today.
 
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There were two Kardomah's. The photo in #73 of the one in Colmore Row, and the other was in New Street. It was a big part of social life in the late 50's as JennyAnn says.
 
Kardomah Cafe.jpgThe building in New Street was on the corner of Cannon Street, now Ted Baker's. The photo is the original sign over the doorway. You can still read it but it is very faint now.
 
Di, the Kardomah Café was actually on the corner of New Street and Needless Alley. I have searched my photos in vain I'm afraid and the only one I can find of the Kardomah New Street is this that was taken some time after it closed.
 

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Good news! The building on Colmore Row, which was the Kardomah is opening up again as a coffee shop.
 
That's great news Oisin. I have good memories of the Kardomah in Colmore Row, it was a great meeting place as was the one in New Street.

Judy
 
Happy Memories, Gee we thought we were with it going to the coffee bars.
Anybody remember "The Phoenix" in Moor St. they seemed to be open until 2.00am in the 50's and 60's and did a great Spanish Omelette.

Sorry going a bit off thread.
 
Hi, we are trying to find out if anyone remembers there being a mosaic wall in the Kardomah cafe on New Street and if so if anyone has any further information as to who designed it etc. would love to hear from anyone who has any memories! Thank you in advance!
 
If you walk down New Street next to the Tesco supermarket is Needles Alley next to that is a shop (at one time in its history it was a Kardoma Café, ) inside this now empty shop is an what looks like an open Fire Place is it real or is it a Shop Prop? to be honest I just wanted to get home for a nice cup of tea, so I was unable to see if there was a chimney or not, so is it real if so how old is it? discus
https://flic.kr/p/29CzLfd
 
Based on the age of the building I would say that it was real but had probably been boarded up for many years. If the shop is now empty it is likely that the boards might have been removed to find out what was behind.
 
I used to go to the one near Snow Hill Station……..

The bus from Handsworth would stop at the top of the hill. We would meet there mid afternoon on Saturday and decide which pubs/clubs we were going to. I would get back on the bus sometime after mid night if they were still running!
 
I along with quite a few young ladies and gents used th KD in New St , that was where you made your plan of action for the weekend over a coffe maybe a sarnie Saturday afternnon , good old days
 
Pomgolian said:
:D I also went to the La Boheme, in fact it was Alberta's sister in Law Valerie who first took me there around 1963/4. If I remember right it had a red fluorescent sign and was not far from the Mail & Dispatch offices at the bottom end of Corporation St .

Chris :)
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Just noticed this post , it must have been later than you say I worked on the P&M and to my knowledge it must have opened about 65/66 because I started work on that site in 1964
 
Georgia said:
Hi, we are trying to find out if anyone remembers there being a mosaic wall in the Kardomah cafe on New Street and if so if anyone has any further information as to who designed it etc. would love to hear from anyone who has any memories! Thank you in advance!
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I seem to remember tiles on the wall , I couyldn't say whether or not it was a mosaic or not
 
I’d always associated the Kardomah with coffee. But it seems to have sold teas since 1845. Also the New Street address was an ‘exhibition’ depot - exhibition of what, coffee and teas ? Viv.
 

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Vivienne14 said:
I’d always associated the Kardomah with coffee. But it seems to have sold teas since 1845. Also the New Street address was an ‘exhibition’ depot - exhibition of what, coffee and teas ? Viv.
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Vivienne an exhibition of fine clothes of mens suits leisure wear etc . Plus not firgetting the young ladies wear , if you'd strolled past the KD Saturday pm you would certainly have seen some tasty clothes if not people
 
And there was a ‘mosaic room’ on the first floor of the New Street branch in 1906. So there probably was a wall mosaic. Viv.
 

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viv
Don't know whether there are still Kardomah teas, but there certainly were when it was bought by Cadbury Schweppes in around 1970. When the food division was later split off to make Premier Brands , this included Kardomah.
 
Welcome Lorenzo. Thanks for posting the info about the mosaic. I agree with ASparks - beautiful ! The fact that it had been covered over has probably helped to save it. Looks to be in good condition.

Maybe some of our members can help to uncover a bit more about the mosaic ? I know some of our members would have visited the premises when it was the Kardomah. So fingers crossed we find out more.

Viv.
 
My post #99 shows an advert for the ‘New Mosaic Room’ in 1906. So presumably the mosaic dates to that time. Also, the advert in post #97 (also dated 1906) describes the Kardomah as an ‘Exhibition Depot and Cafe” Not entirely clear as to what that actually meant. Viv.
 
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When the premises were used as a “Shoppers Shop” in 1976, the Council was well aware of the mosaic on the wall. So it must have beeen covered over after that time. This cutting is from the Birmingham Daily Post (British Newspaper Archive). Viv.

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Vivienne14 said:
My post #99 shows an advert for the ‘New Mosaic Room’ in 1906. So presumably the mosaic dates to that time. Also, the advert in post #97 (also dated 1906) describes the Kardomah as an ‘Exhibition Depot and Cafe” Not entirely clear as to what that actually meant. Viv.
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Hi, The Art Nouveau style would support this date. The listing information also mentions the possible existence of earlier interior decoration behind contemporary fittings. Would be nice to see it.
 
I believe the Kardomah in New Street was owned by the brothers Tony and Phil Woodward during the 1960s. I also believe that one of them was a DJ. If anybody has any information about Anthony Woodward or Philip Woodward I would be delighted her hear about it.
Jason
 
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