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King’s Rd café to Clapton and Stones is shut by recession
Sri Carmichael, Consumer Affairs Reporter7 Jul 2009
London's favourite celebrity café has been forced to close by the recession.
Picasso, a small Italian coffee shop in the King's Road, boasted the same decor as when it opened 50 years ago.
It served everyone from rock stars Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones in the Sixties to recent regulars Bob Geldof and Gordon Ramsay.
TV chef Ramsay, who often visited with his children, raved about its lattes and fried egg on toast, while Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole was a regular visitor with his new wife Carly Zucker.
But the café closed last Wednesday after serving a final breakfast crowd.
Owner Alberto Barbieri said dwindling passing trade on top of a recent rent rise, competition from nearby coffee chains and the congestion charge had killed his business, which has been in the family for half a century.
He said: “I've had to put the trading company into administration to protect my staff and my own livelihood.
“I went on as long as I could, putting all my savings — hundreds of thousands of pounds — into trying to keep the café going, but there has to be a point when you say that's enough.
“I'm still hoping I can find a partner to help me revive the business, but in these times I don't know. I've had to put the lease on the market.”
Peter Thomas, of West End commercial estate agents Thomas Davidson & Partners, said the site may prove popular as it has a full restaurant usage licence, which is hard to acquire in the King's Road. Mr Barbieri, who has a 16-month-old daughter, said: “The last few months have been incredibly tough. I have a family to support.
“When I read last week about Mr Ramsay selling his possessions and putting up his own money to save his business I knew how he felt.
“The King's Road got much quieter after the congestion charge and then the recession. We just don't see the custom and the chains take what there is.
“Picasso's is a piece of history and I hated closing it but business is business and it has to make economic sense. We had regulars coming to drink a coffee and watch the world go by, but that doesn't pay the bills. We needed to modernise the café to get more people in but I didn't have the money.”
He said Geldof last week told staff how sad he was at the closure.
Customer Derek Barlow, 89, said everyone was talking about the end of an era: “It was such a shock to find it closed. It has been my local café for decades, a great little place to sit, meet people and drink good coffee.
“The King's Road is changing for the worse and losing its character. I certainly won't be going to Starbucks.”
Gail Steele, who runs opticians Auerbach & Steele next door to Picasso, said: “They served till 1pm on Wednesday and then shut. A notice went up saying it's being refurbished but we all know that's unlikely. It's terribly sad. So many shops have closed on the King's Road this year.”
Along the King's Road there are seven boarded-up shops. Mr Thomas, whose firm is trying to re-let several empty shops on the street, said: “The King's Road is in a period of real change. Small businesses and boutiques are struggling to survive.”
Reader views (16)
I had lunch in the new Picasso today and it was a huge improvement on what went before both in terms of food and service and not too expensive.
While I'm sorry to see the demise of the old regime the writing has been on the wall for years and a failure to adapt led to it's downfall
- Tom Halpin, London, 30/05/2011 16:59
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This cafe has gone the way of a number eateries in the area, Oriel, Chelsea kitchen, and Flamenco. Places that have been open for years. And the main reason for closing? Greed from titled landlords who have raised the rents/leases so much it is uneconomical to stay open. These sites can now be refurbished and leased out to companies who will change the whole feel of the place, turn it into an expensive eaterie. Still wating to see what will become of Oriel. Picasso has reopened, but is completely different, now owned by Black and Blue chain
- Jean, Lonodn, 28/03/2011 09:59
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...I cant believe this story, its so sad!. I used to work on Kings Road as a student 10 years ago for 4 yrs on a Sat Job to help with Uni costs. This cafe was the best cafe I have been to and always really buzzing and great food. Now Kings Road is very different - the shop I worked in is Lloyds Bank.
I guess the Chelsea set prefer to dine in more upmarket eateries to show how posh they are and many residents cant afford their children to live there now due to the ridiculous property prices.
- Kings Rd Lover, London, 01/09/2009 12:17
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Then news about the Picasso does not surprise me. It follows the Chelsea Kitchen and other small and much loved institutions. I was born and grew up in Chelsea. I lived there for 40 years until the 90's. The whole of Chelsea is just a bland toy town for Russian millionaires, bankers. celebs and footballers. There is no character, charm or sense of community. All the interesting cafes, pubs have gone and replaced with over hyped chains and restaurants. The new Chelsea is a ghetto with nothing whatsoever to offer anybody with an income of below £2M.
- Jules Lyne, London, 01/09/2009 11:17
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Picasso served the best coffee in London. And their all-day breakfast was wonderful. What a sad event, truly the end of an era. I am very very sad that Picasso is closing.
I went there for thirty-five years.
RIP.
- Sidney Marks, London, UK, 01/09/2009 11:17
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Tragic. Let's pray another boring chain cafe does not take its place.
- Derek, London, 01/09/2009 11:17
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The King of King's Road is a close friend of mine and introduced me to the Picasso years ago upon my first visit to SW3. Ever since, upon arriving in London, I looked forward to having the Picasso's English Breakfast to start my day. What a wonderful place to enjoy a great meal with great people. An important bit of London's character is gone and will be sadly missed!
- Joe H, New York, 01/09/2009 11:17
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The Kings Road got quieter when it became just another shopping street . All the character has gone and been replaced by boring chain shops. People used to travel from all over the world to visit the Kings Road but what's the point if its fully of Marks & Spencer, Waterstone and Boots. Greedy soulless property developers have destroyed Kings Road just like they destroy everywhere.
- Desperate Dan, London, UK, 01/09/2009 11:17
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Not sad at all but just typical.Close it down and open a Starbucks.London's lost it's sense of character and history.Even the people are rude,violent and self centred.
I'd flatten St.Pauls for affordable housing too.
- Steve, London, 01/09/2009 11:17
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Really shocked to read this. I had a few coffees there last Wednesday so unwittingly was one the last few customers to be served. I've been going there for 30 years - ever since I was an art student. What was wonderful was you could just sit down and strike up a conversation with complete strangers at the outside tables as if you met there every week. I'm really sad to see it close especially as the congestion charge is being lifted soon. Thank you Mr Barbieri for some wonderful happy memories that will stay with me forever.
- Andrew Ellis, London, UK, 01/09/2009 11:17
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I used to work in the shop next door when it was jones back in 88/89 it never ceased to amaze me that people like bob geldof & paula yates or the designer joseph would just come and sit next to you and ask you to pass them the sugar, its a real shame whats happening to the kings road, the rents and rates and congestion charge have ruined it.
- Andre, sidcup, 01/09/2009 11:17
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Absolutely gutted. The Picasso was an institution.
I've been going there my whole life. My parents took me as a child, I had my first cappuccino there as a teen and used to sit for hours with friends as we got older.
Chelsea changed but The Picasso always stayed the same.
I thank Mr. Barbieri for all the memories, I apologise for not spending more money and I hope beyond hope that he is able to find a partner and re-open at some point.
- Anna, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 01/09/2009 11:17
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The Kings Rd in Chelsea died around 1980 after Punk became corporate. Its just another st now like any other high rd in modern England. The 5 B's
BURGER BARS
BOOTS
BANKS
BUILDING SOCIETY'S
BUILDING SITES
The council has a lot to answer for.
- Kevin, London, 01/09/2009 11:17
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I am constantly amazed when people frequent the chains when many independents offer better quality and value for money. If people keep using chains, large supermarkets, etc. they will get what they deserve - a dull bland experience!
- Man U Fan, London, 01/09/2009 11:17
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This is terrible news and such an iconic cafe!
Local communities - not just the King's Road - are all in a period of change and local businesses face a tough time. It's a shame too that our new site, www.kingsroad.co.uk could not have done something to help Alberto drive more custom.
- Jonathan, London, UK, 01/09/2009 11:17
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with some many people saying how wonderful this was, it's a wonder that he has to close.
Perhaps if people stoped buying their coffees from Starbucks, their lunch from Marks and Sparks, etcetera, the independents would be ok.
This is capatalism doing what it does at its best - the large, rich companies can undercut the indys and put them out of business.
- Ollie, London, UK, 01/09/2009 11:17
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