Coming Of Age At The Ace Cafe

3 June - 2 October 2011
General

This Summer, the Rockers return as Coventry Transport Museum and Ace Cafe London present a new exhibition telling the story of how a London transport cafe became an international icon, and how the cafe's customers redefined what it meant to be a teenager in the 1950s and 60s. 

Planned as a transport cafe for lorry drivers during the 1930s, the Ace Cafe on London's North Circular Road quickly became a place where motorbike riders gathered.  In the 1950s the Ace became the destination for a new breed of motorcycle riders; teenagers who met there to listen to rock 'n' roll, and to burn up the road doing The Ton - the magic speed.

They were daring and dangerous, and their lifestyle has influenced fashion, music and motorbikes ever since.

For Coming Of Age At The Ace Cafe, the cafe itself is lovingly recreated inside the Museum, filled with bikes, clothes and stories from the 1950's and 60's - it's going to be a long hot summer of motorbikes, speed and rock 'n' roll!

Click here to see images from the launch & the gallery itself, by Haydn Bailey.  Photo above by David Woodings.

List of motorcycles on display (pdf)

List of musical instruments on display (pdf)

Read what other visitors think of the exhibition

You can also win a full size Pinball Machine by entering our competition which is running concurrently with the Ace Cafe gallery. Simply answer the question...the answer is inside the gallery and then hand your entry into the Reception desk. The winner will be drawn and notified after the closing date of the Ace Cafe gallery on Sunday 2nd October. 

TICKET PRICES

£2.50 per person
Family Ticket (up to 5 people, no more than 2 adults)     £8

Enjoy a 20% discount on any Esquire's Coffee Menu beverage with a valid Ace Cafe Gallery ticket - Redeemable on day of visit

If you like this you'll also enjoy:

Ton-Up/Classic Bike Ride-In Day

Scooters 'n' Rockers Day

Triumph Motorcycle Owners' Club Day

1950s Ford Classic Consul & Capri Day

Rock 'n' Roll Night

Related Information:

An interview with Len Francis, owner of the two Triton motorbikes in the exhibition.