More Cardiff Memories....

Rebecca has been in touch... as suspected the picture I'm using for the Cardiff branch may not be correct Do you or someone you know have any photo's of the exterior or interior?  If so please get in touch.

......You asked on your webpage if the small pic of a Cafe entrance was of the Cardiff Cafe

I'm pretty sure its not. The entrance in Cardiff was more retro looking, dark wood, dark, small curtained windows. 

I was only 5 or 6 when my mother and Gran used to take me, but the overall impression was of dark, intimate and rather posh - we had a cake stand brought to choose from, and overall the smell of roasting coffee was delicious. To this day, I refer to that smell as being like the Kardomah,  loved it in there but I don't think the Cardiff one is in your pic.

Best regards

Rebecca

Cardiff Memories....

Louise and her farther have opened up a new avenue on the Cardiff branch... do you remember meeting up there with a group of your friends?  If so drop me a line......  
Please find their story below:

Hi,

I've seen your request for Kardomah memorabilia.

I'm attaching a couple of photos of a spoon belonging to my dad, who is now 80.

He was a student at the School of Architecture in Cardiff in the 50's. The architecture students used to meet at the Kardomah. He is still the proud possessor of the spoon which he found in his possession after celebrating graduation in 1959 and it has always been a favourite of his since, bringing back lots of good memories.

Sincerely,
Louise Rolfe

 

Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton

By Chris Welch
Extract from Cream: Strange Brew
Amended Friday, 08 April 2005

I met Eric for the first time in October 1964, not long after I joined the Melody Maker. An interview was scheduled for The Yardbirds and we assembled in the Kardomah coffee bar in Fleet Street. It was the first occasion I'd talked to a full group in-person, and quickly learned it was a bad idea to try and interview five people at once. They distract each other, indulge in in-jokes and badinage, and there is always one who is too shy to talk, and probably has the most interesting things to say, while the noisiest make mock of the whole ordeal. Then there is the usual problem of their insulting waitresses and creating "a scene."
In fact The Yardbirds were generally pleasant and well behaved, although I noticed that Eric was the most sensible and tended to smile at the exuberant prattle going on around him. The band had just released their second single 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl' (a follow up to "I Wish You Would") and The Yardbirds were nervous about the effect having a hit single might have on their credibility with blues fans. The headline on the subsequent piece was "Oh No! Not A Hit Disc" It was just the "angle" the MM wanted, although it probably gave the band's management and record company palpitations.

Do you know any one else how used to frequent Kardomah Cafes’ ……….
If so please drop me a line….

http://www.cream2005.com/theband_ericclapton.lasso

Brief Encounter

The story of what might have been! This British cinematic classic was a ground breaking story at the time, and still continues to be relevant to this day. Their local "Kardomah" proved to be the perfect location for their illicit affair!

Kardomah Chester

The Kardomah in Chester I think this now the building which houses Next. If you can confirm this, that would be great! Again if you have any memories drop me a line.

Story so far??

I have compiled a time line of events which has some gaps & assuptions which I need your help in filling in / correcting. Also I am interested in your memoroies & stories & intersting facts...... please drop me a line if you can help :-)



The Kardomah coffee story

The time line so far....

1845 - The Kardomah Coffee Company founded in liverpool

1910c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Swansea

1915c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in London 186 Piccadilly

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in London 25 Cheapside

1920c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Birmingham

1925c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Hull

1928c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Paris

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Manchester Memorial Hall in Albert Square

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Cardiff

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Manchester ??? Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Southport Lord Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Preston ??? Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Nottingham King Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Leeds ??? Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Newport ??? Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Preston ??? Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Derby ??? Street

1929c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Chester ??? Street

1930c - The Kardomah Gang forms made up of the various artists, musicians, poets and other writers, which frequented the Kardomah Café on Swansea's High Street, most famous member Dylan Thomas.

1945c - Kardomah celebrates its centinery

1947c - Brief Encounter uses a Kardomah Cafe to facilitate this bitter sweet love story.

1950c - A Kardomah Cafe opens in Liverpool Stanley Street

1960c - The Beatles meet Brian Epstine at the "Kardomah"

1981c - The Cherry Boys release a single called "Kardomah Cafe"

1984c - The Kardomah Cafe opens in Sydney

1998c - The Band "Kardomah" from South Wales is formed and Releases their first album

2008c - The Film Edge of love released about Dylan Thomas starring Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley