London Caffs

From the 1940s to the 1960s, London catering was taken over by waves of (often Italian) immigrants. The boom coincided with the first wave of interest in modern design in Britain, inspired by the Festival of Britain. New materials including vinyl and formica, found their way into the new workers' caffs along with gleaming chrome machinery to produce 'frothy coffee' and huge quantities of tea. London Caffs is a document of a fast-disappearing London archetype, the workers' caff, or greasy spoon. It features over thirty establishments with original contemporary fittings, which are still functioning today. The book is lavishly illustrated with evocative photography, specially commissioned from architectural photographer Sue Barr. Each caff is accompanied by anecdotal texts, which pick up on atmosphere and context, as well as design details. Under each entry, the address and nearest tube of the caff is listed, providing an essential guide to the best caffs in London. The scene is set by Edwin Heathcote in the introduction, where he examines the phenomenon of the caff and why it has constituted such a pivotal space in London life.Heathcote, Edwin is the author of 'London Caffs', published 2004 under ISBN 9780470094389 and ISBN 0470094389.