Black Armband Day

[Annette Curtain]

Great institutions of London that close their doors for the last time.

Today I wear a black armband for the majestic and much lauded...

Wong Kei in Wardour Street W1

http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/restaurants/rude-awakening-at-wong-kei-7431958.html

Doors closed on Friday

*quietly mops a tear*

I've been going here for 20 odd (and at times friggin mad) years. I'm genuinely heart broken, as this place has been a base line of comfort in this city

God blees ya !

Edited to ad link

[KidKruger]

I was there a couple of weeks ago and didn't really notice any difference, yeah the decor was a bit upgraded and i didn't get hassle, but i had no impression of anything having changed drastically. It's the same, reallly.

[holloway]

is that the famously rude one where they ask you to move tables even on different floors mid-meal?

[Salsaboy]

Noooooo. Been there loads. Always an experience!

[Annette Curtain]

It's closed, went past at mid-night to pay my respects

It does say it will open under 'new management' though, after a refurb

My heart has that sinking feeling

*dons second black armband*

[Mustard]

Closed for refurbishment only.

[Mick Mac]

My recollection is being shouted at:

Apsters

Apsters

Apsters

Dawsters

Dawsters

Eventually you get to sit down somewhere.

[Annette Curtain]

Ok mourning its loss aside (it WILL be back)

I've been eating here regularly since 1995 (I think) and through all my life changes since then, it's been an odd kind of joy, a constant.

If i'd been away when I was single, i'd return to London and eat here. It confirmed I was home. Nothing beat the anonymity of sitting on the ground level, eating and gazing at the passing human traffic. Tea & food along with the constant buzz of the place.

I also had some very odd, almost kafkaesque experiences in there.

One day, whilst eating alone, the pay phone on the wall above my table rang. It was the one on the mirrored wall, pre refurb 1 days

The waiter answered (leaning over the table) listened and grunted the same 'uhh' repetitively, he then put down the phone and walked briskly outside. He returned, took up centre position at the service counter and stared ahead, without any expression

The phone rang again, this time he was rather more animated "UHH..UHH..UHH" with a few added high speed barks down the phone. Again he hung up and this time, with another member of staff he sped outside. The thought that someone had gone without paying crossed my mind, but with the meat BBQ area by the door, I feared for their chances

Both returned, both stoney faced and I ate on. The phone rang yet again, the waiter answered, only this time it was like a mad scene from The Pink Panther. The waiter became flushed red and highly animated, barking further down the phone. Again hanging up and with other members of staff in tow leaving the building. Only to yet again return, place himself centre as before and hold it together

The tension was palpable, but nothing yet slipped through his stoney exterior. I was best positioned to watch the whole event unfolding and I was intrigued

What broke the silence was a black uniformed man walking into the front lobby area. Not a notable uniform, just plain black. It could have been a private security or a similar type, but as it turns out he was a fire officer.

"Who's the manager here?" he enquired

The animated but keeping it together waiter/manager looked and paused, but just as he went to speak, the uniformed man spoke again

"No matter, Ladies and gentlemen please gather your belongings together quietly and leave THIS BUILDING IS ON FIRE"

To which the waiter/manager replied "No is OK...FIRE ONLY UPSTAIR"

It was divine, I nearly choked laughing. We left and as I did so I offered up and was relieved of a fiver.

The fire brigade had by then pulled up & a scene from a movie ensued, all high tech gadgets and fire officers, remote water cannons and cameras taking over

I stood in awe as flames and smoke licked off the roof, even gulping a little of that smoke unwittingly. Choking but somehow smiling as I made good my escape from the chaos

It closed for over a year after that, but like the Pheonix it was reborn. Pinker, smarter and with some irony, staff sporting "UPSTAIRS-DOWNSTAIRS" Tiger sponsored t-shirts

Lets hope it comes back, all pimped and glam but still with the soul it's always possessed

"HOW MANY, UPSTAIR" will be music to my ears

[Dopamine1979]

That's quite a story.

:)

[LadyNorwood]

We were a party of four, the waiter snarled "I suppose you want to sit together"???? We ended up on the top floor, one on one table, three on the other, eating with the staff... Best 'ro-duh-noo-doo-soo" I've ever had - happy times...

[KidKruger]

I also like their "bar boo por" version of that dish.

[Applespider]

Wong Kei's was fun...but there's another closure up there that made me reminisce.

I found out today that the Trocadero is closing next week and re-opening as a Japanese pod hotel.

Admittedly, I thought it had closed years ago but have fond memories of hanging around there with friends a couple of decades ago and playing on the 'so cool' simulators and games etc.

My aunt crashed its opening VIP party and danced with Duran Duran and Wham... I had the commemorative signed postcard on my wall for years.

[Dopamine1979]

I miss The Gardening Club nightclub in Covent Garden which is now an Apple store.

Had some good times there as a student. Used to be ?1 per drink on Tuesday nights.

[????]

"YOU WANT FIGHT WITH CHINAMAN?"

[Dopamine1979]

I think these bad impressions of the Chinese waiters might be offensive.

[????]

verbatim, including the CAPS

[????]

PS always very dark in the Gardening Club....i used to also go before it was the GC (can't remember name but band venue, I think U2 debuted there)

[Jah Lush]

Am I right in thinking it used to be the Rock Garden?

[????]

Thanks Jah, that's it!

[Dopamine1979]

Rock Garden -> Gardening Club -> Apple store

Apples grow on trees. Trees grow in Gardens.

There is a reason for everything, friends.

[LadyNorwood]

???? Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> verbatim, including the CAPS

ditto my post...

[Jah Lush]

Wonky update from the Evening Standard.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/end-of-the-line-for-londons-rudest-chinese-restaurant-wong-kei-due-for-friendly-revamp-9148765.html