Bonnington Cafe in Vauxhall - closed down, 29/11/21

[editor]

Some dodgy shenanigans going on at this brilliant cafe

Petition launched as the wonderful Bonnington Cafe is threatened with closure

 

[planetgeli]

I lived in Bonnington Square from 1987 to 1990. Loved that cafe, so when they say more than 20 years they actually mean 30. Looks like it’s been tarted up a fair bit mind. And I wonder how these new members suddenly came to the management committee.

Good luck to them, but there’s always been dodgy politics going on in that square along with all the good stuff that’s happened there.

 

[krtek a houby]

Oh that's a shame. We went there years ago for a really decent cheap vegetarian meal. Real sound people.

 

[gaijingirl]

So many good memories of meals there - at least one with urbanites.

 

[editor]

So many good memories of meals there - at least one with urbanites.

Yes, it's a nice, non-corporate old school place. Good to see the Buzz article has really boosted the petition (for what it's worth).

 

[Orang Utan]

So many good memories of meals there - at least one with urbanites.

me too

 

[ddraig]

went once many years ago and had one of the best meals i've had out
would like to go again, hope they stay open

 

[ska invita]

who owns the building that the caf and centre are in?

 

[blossie33]

Oh no
Been there a few times, though not recently, great place.

 

[Crispy]

Fingers crossed they can come to an agreement.

Lesson to all co-ops, non-profits of this kind: Make sure your legal structure and ownership is 100% watertight. It's just a matter of time before some arseholes figure out how to take advantage of well-meaning people's good will.

 

[Brainaddict]

Fingers crossed they can come to an agreement.

Lesson to all co-ops, non-profits of this kind: Make sure your legal structure and ownership is 100% watertight. It's just a matter of time before some arseholes figure out how to take advantage of well-meaning people's good will.

Indeed. I'm really curious to know all the structures behind this and why a new bunch of people can decide to make such a decision. The petition doesn't really explain - does anyone understand what's going on?

 

[oryx]

who owns the building that the caf and centre are in?

I believe it's the community centre themselves.

I used to live in Bonnington Square in 1983/4 and (to the best of my knowledge) the buildings in Bonnington Square and Vauxhall Grove were originally owned by either the GLC or the Inner London Education Authority. There were plans to build a school on the site which never happened and the empty houses became squatted. Many of them were eventually bought by housing associations (including I believe the café/community centre building which was sold or gifted to the community centre).

Like Brainaddict, I'm really curious to know more, especially as an ex-resident and someone who's enjoyed the café a fair few times. Not when I lived there - that was before it started and Bonnington Square was seriously not for the fainthearted.

 

[editor]

Good to see them trying something new.

(From the Mail so I've copied the man bit)

Woman accidentally stumbles across a meeting of SATANIC SEX CULT members clad in black robes on her way to the toilet at a vegan cafe

• Anya Driscoll was having brunch at the Bonnington Cafe in Vauxhall on Satuday
• Her brother went to the toilet, and on return told her to go to the bathroom too
• On her way there, she came across a group dressed in black robes with daggers
• Discovered they are members of satanic sex cult Order of Oriental Templars

A woman has claimed she accidentally stumbled across the meeting of a 'satanic sex cult' while having brunch at a vegan cafe in south London.

Anya Driscoll, who works as a copywriter, was dining with her brother at the Bonnington Cafe in Vauxhall on Saturday when she ventured to the toilet and came across the meeting of 20 people in floor-length black robes with ceremonial daggers eating pork pies.

After taking to Twitter to share her story, she discovered it was likely a meeting of Order of Oriental Templars, or OTO - a group which was brought to Britain in the early 20th century by infamous occultist Aleister Crowley, who was widely believed to be a satanist, and was dubbed 'the wickedest man in the world'.

Anya told how she was enjoying her mid-morning meal when her brother went to the toilet and came back urging her to find the bathroom.
He won't tell me what's up, so - suspecting I'm going to look at some really bad art about veganism - I go,' she wrote.

'I was so wrong. I step through a signposted door that takes me into the terraced building next door. The toilet is apparently on the third floor... It feels I'm walking up the stairs in a private home. At the top of the first flight of stairs is a landing room.

'It appears to be a kitchen. On a table, a Classic British buffet of scotch eggs, breadsticks, cheese etc is laid out. The room is full. A party! Except...
'All the people - and there are at least 20 of them - are wearing floor-length black robes. Some have ceremonial daggers. They're making polite conversation and chomping on mini pork pies. It's like Eyes Wide Shut meets Keeping Up Appearances.'

Anya added that she tapped one of the alleged 'cult members' on the shoulder, and he pointed her in the direction of the toilet.

If you absolutely must https://www. dailymail. co.uk /femail/article-7986495/Woman-reveals-stumbled-meeting-SATANIC-SEX-CULT-having-brunch-vegan-cafe.html

 

[ska invita]

Daily Mail comes with the goods once more.

I went for some food for the first time in years last autumn. Portions were way too small, left hungry.

 

[blossie33]

Daily Mail comes with the goods once more.

I went for some food for the first time in years last autumn. Portions were way too small, left hungry.

Shame, it used to be a nice place to go.

 

[Reno]

I’ve only been there a couple of times. I enjoyed the experience as a throwback to the 70s but the food was terrible.

 

[blossie33]

I must admit I haven't been there since the first half of the 00's

 

[gaijingirl]

There's a picture somewhere of an old urban meet up there.

Used to love going here.

Love the fact that the Daily Mail is frothing about the pork pies. Is it because it's a vegan cafe? Were they really pork? Intrigue!

 

[DJWrongspeed]

It's like some through back to the 70s, vegan-lefties are corrupting us. Some friends used to run a music night there and recalled the cupboard full of the wardrobe and kit used by a gay Morris dancing group....

 

[Sue]

Pickman's model..?

 

[Pickman's model]

Pickman's model..?

A.'. A.'.?

 

[Sue]

A.'. A.'.?

Kippers aplenty no doubt too...

 

[editor]

Tonight Tonight! Film screening about the long running cook’s collective, The Bonnington Cafe – Tues 26th Jan 2021

 

[editor]

Help the Bonnington! Just three days left to donate to the Bonnington Cafe crowdfunder

 

[dtb]

I like the concept of this place and want to feel motivated to support it but the meal we had there was awful and way overpriced. Maybe we had bad luck with the cook that night but we haven't felt the urge to return.

 

[editor]

They've just been kicked out by their landlord

 

[editor]

More info here: Breaking: Bonnington Cafe in Vauxhall closed down by landlord without warning

 

[wemakeyousoundb]

Yep, just heard from friends involved in it earlier.
The "landlord" aka community centre "committee" or whatever it is called has been trying to do this for a good few years now.

 

[RileyOBlimey]

I bloody love that cafe :-(

I hope they squat it.

 

[MSJ]

The committee should be disbanded and a new one formed that has the community interests at heart. The café users group has supported the vulnerable by providing meals locally. They delivered workshops to the community. They supported local events too. The metal grills and security is aggressive and not needed in the Square. The intention of the Committee was to get rid of the café users group. The situation was made untenable as the BCCA committee would not liase with the café users group. The community has asked for minutes but none has come to light as yet. Minutes required and who attended the meetings. No community Consultation. The BCCA purports to represent us. This was a shock to the community as to what was happening. Shame on the BCCA with agendas. Money spent on the security comes out of the funds for the community. The BCCA that is meant to be about community recently censored photographs from recent photo exhibition as they may have had pictures of the Café! Discriminatory Yes. Not in line with Lambeth councils discriminatory policies No. Why! No minutes given on why except an email of denial.
The Café users group should not be side-lined. Shame on the committee of the BCCA..