Firebox run by Counterfire: Champagne socialism.

[Ian Townson]

Fuck me ragged. I happened be in Counterfire's new cafe, Firebox on their opening night.

Be-suited uber trots swigging champagne and scoffing canapes. I kid you not.

One chumrade cheekily enquired if it was a workers co-op which, was shot down immediately

Why do they do this shit?

I get tired of reversed snobbery. I presume

 

[DrRingDing]

I get tired of reversed snobbery. I presume

Counterfire?

 

[barney_pig]

A quick google shows an 'ian townson' commenting in favour of the 'coalition of resistance'

 

[rekil]

The counterfire kommando drinks in The Boot apparently, I used to work there, If I'd hung on for a few years I could have met John Rees, makes you think. Anyone been in there lately? I had wages withheld by a cunt I worked for so I asked Packy for advice, expecting some legal options or something, but he just thought for a sec then went "throw a brick through his window".

 

[Sue]

The counterfire kommando drinks in The Boot apparently, I used to work there, If I'd hung on for a few years I could have met John Rees, makes you think. Anyone been in there lately? I had wages withheld by a cunt I worked for so I asked Packy for advice, expecting some legal options or something, but he just thought for a sec then went "throw a brick through his window".

Very occasionally. Was only cause I was going there a while back that I'd any idea where Counterfire was.

 

[Idris2002]

That's because you're not invited to the SEX PARTY!!!

The story of my life.

 

[barney_pig]

PFC still going strong

Though it must be reported that the branch in the broad street butts was damaged after a chip pan fire.
Obviously an action of sabotage by embittered counterfire activists; we're watching you,Ian Towson

 

[barney_pig]

Very occasionally. Was only cause I was going there a while back that I'd any idea where Counterfire was.

All over the fucking shop

 

[equationgirl]

FIrebox's website is still up and running. Are we sure they have shut down or have they just moved premises?

 

[The Pale King]

where now will the advanced layer get their chickpea fritters and bengali chai?

Where will Asturian Miners have breakfast?

 

[DrRingDing]

Captions please!

 

[butchersapron]

No

 

[butchersapron]

Neither of them are in control.

 

[DrRingDing]

Captions please!

View attachment 44362

I think it's time they stopped rolling out Benn. Let him have some dignity.

 

[butchersapron]

More on the closure from Mr Bone:

Last week Firebox was locked and empty, with a bailiff’s notice pinned to the door, threatening criminal proceedings against anyone who re-enters, and what looked like £1,000′s worth of books, decorations, furniture and utensils scattered over the floor of this by-now clearly defunct enterprise.

 

[DotCommunist]

someone should go and grab all the books, there might be good ones

 

[DrRingDing]

Someone should squat it and do a people's kitchen.

 

[The39thStep]

Aren't they supposed to be launching a perfume range to coincude with May Day 2014?

 

[DaveCinzano]

Aren't they supposed to be launching a perfume range to coincude with May Day 2014?

What's it called, LA PLAGE?

 

[DotCommunist]

Someone should squat it and do a people's kitchen.

burgers and book groups

 

[ska invita]

Is that Tony Benn? I'd heard he'd been ill....

 

[DrRingDing]

Is that Tony Benn? I'd heard he'd been ill....

Not entirely there by all accounts.

 

[ska invita]

thats sad

 

[toblerone3]

someone should go and grab all the books, there might be good ones

There are some very interesting ones there. I spotted Amos oz,s "In the Land of Israel", for instance.

 

[ska invita]

Firebox has closed down now. "Due to emergency extensive building works, we can no longer operate from this building. T

Is this definitely the case? The website is still up and doesnt mention closing http://fireboxlondon.net/

 

[butchersapron]

Is this definitely the case? The website is still up and doesnt mention closing http://fireboxlondon.net/

Does.

Also says they are now operating on a neo-liberal a pop-up basis.

 

[DaveCinzano]

Presumably Clare Solomon would have known how flaky or otherwise the landlord was, seeing as FireBox was located in the same premises as her previous café, which closed down ten years ago (and which one may presume was owned by the same landlord)?

Or is it the identity of the landlord - and said landlord's cooling off - which is of particular interest in this?

 

[butchersapron]

Are we thinking...SWP?

 

[DaveCinzano]

I'm skint at the moment but a £3 check of the Land Registry might be useful

 

[tufty79]

Since we opened over 18 months ago the landlords have been promising to repair leaks from the pavement into the basement. More recently the water mains beneath the building has burst. The landlords have refused to agree compensation while this extensive work is carried out. This has made it impossible to sustain the project.

i can't work out whether 'extensive work' refers to sorting the water main or the leaks; if it refers to the water main, it's the responsibility of the water company to sort it out. my initial reading was that they're expecting compensation from the landlord for this as well as leaks?
(don't get me wrong; i'm not into shoddy landlords, and eighteen months of waiting for leaks to be repaired is shit, to say the least)