auto cafe in London? In town on "bidness"....

I must be putting in the wrong keywords because google is not helping. What is the name/location of the most famous auto club/cafe in London? I read about its collection of memorabillia, atmosphere, and the fact that it is open to the public.
I will be in London from Jan 29 to Feb 3. I hail from northern california, where I play with cars throughout the seasons: a vintage Ferrari, classic Cadillac, and a modern Maserati.

Thanks in advance
Luke

 

Hmmm - not sure about this - nothing is currently coming to mind

The Steering Wheel CLub shut about 20 years ago

The Grand Prix Cafe in Mayfair went bust a couple of years ago

Anyone anything else ?

Enjoy your trip anyway !

 

Hi there,

The only one I can think of is the Ace Cafe: -

http://www.ace-cafe-london.com/

Regards

Tim

 

Try searching on Pistonheads
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/search.asp

using the phrase Ace Cafe and you will get plenty of results - mainly of past meetings but there will be news of future meets too...

 

Maybe the RAC Club on Pall Mall. I am not sure whether or how much of it is open to the public as I have only ever been there once and that was as a guest of a member.

 

theres the michelin building too... not much memorbila, good car spotting location though

http://www.bibendum.co.uk/michelin-house.htm

 

I think its pretty impossible to become a member of the Club let alone wander in and have a look around. I have been there once, like you, as a guest. It was for a Le Mans Dinner hosted by Simon Taylor.
The RAC Club has little or no connection these days with the RAC Motoring Organisation - even so, flash your AA Membership around and you will exit the building without your feet touching the floor

 

I used to eat there occassionaly (when I lived in East London + was rich...), as I recall the ground floor has a noticeable slope on it towards the road. A throwback from when they used to roll the tyres from the back of the shop for fitting.

 

Thanks for the pointers, much obliged.
It was the Mayfair one....too bad it is shut. The Ace Cafe bills itself as a bit of a biker bar, but with plenty of car events, so it should be worth a visit. One of the lawyers I am meeting is a car nut. I will drag him there...

 

I think you need to be nominated by 2 existing members to be eligible and persumably there is an overall limit on numbers as well.

 

I would expect it to generally be a case of 'dead mans shoes'. They have the Pall Mall Club plus a place in the country if my memory serves me correctly. The facilities are superb.
I think it got sold off a few years ago. A colleague had been a member for years but did not rejoin for personal reasons. 3 months later the sale was announced - the club members all got a substantial cash payout (as they were deemed to be shareholders). My colleague frantically tried to convince the RAC that his membership had lapsed due to an oversight on his part... - they were having none of it.