The Hangover Cafe E11

[Rafa Ostermann]

Mytypical M.O. is to then spend New Year's Day lying in a dark room until I finally drag myself out of bed to track down a burrito or a Bloody Mary, only to return to the couch and nap the afternoon away. I don't get totally wasted that often, but when I do, I pay dearly, with hangovers that last about 24 hours.

I was shipped a sample of Drinkwel, a little capsule developed by some biomedical science Ph.D. in California. The pills are chock-full of vitamins and minerals that supposedly combat the effects of drinking by replacing all the nutrients your body loses during consumption.

I didn't spend too much time reading the ingredients, and I was pretty sure the thing was a farce, like vitamin E making your hair silkier or vitamin B boosting your metabolism. Maybe that stuff's actually true, but I've never noticed a difference.

On the first night, I drank to excess, giving special credence to whiskey and red wine, since those things make me particularly miserable. Predictably, I spent the next day riding the hangover train of misery.

A week later, I was poised to start all over. Drinkwel instructs you to take three tablets with food and a full glass of water before imbibing. You take three more tablets with a full glass of water before you go to bed. Not drinking on an empty stomach (not that I ever have an empty stomach) and hydration already put me one step ahead of the game, but I decided to really give the stuff a good run for its money.

How? Three words: Mike's Hard Lemonade, a lethal combination of sugar and terrible liquor that punches me in the temples every time I suck one down. And I drank a six-pack on top of a fair few of my usual whiskey-ginger order at a local dive bar.

Except that I woke up the next morning, head clear, stomach strong as steel, ready to embrace the day. I could do some work! I could go for a run! I could even build a financial model for no reason at all! All of the bad decisions and none of the terrible aftereffects! I was feeling great.

I realize that the whole water-and-food thing may have had more of an effect than the capsule itself, but, hey, this was science. And I will never drink heavily without the supplement again. Plus, I like the warning that comes with it:Remember, this product does not prevent intoxication, alcohol poisoning, alcohol abuse, or utter stupidity.

My parents met at Cafe des Artistes on Fulham Road in London in 1968. In fact, my father worked there at The time. Can you please refer me to any resources that might help me find someone familiar with the club at that time, or with photographs and other memorabilia?

Just a update our anniversary of 59 years today when we first met in the early hours of Valentines Day at the Cafe she was 21 and I was 19 she has just turned 80 and up coming up to 79

So Thanks once again from Me and all the Family

Cafe Des Artistes

Ray

Hi Alan,

I think I worked with you at Sam Cooke Ltd in Covent Garden. We spent many a lunch hour going to the Cafe Des Artistes. If You fancy lunch or a beer to talk about the good old days give me ring on 07795096895 and my name Graham.

I visited the club in 1977. It was in the basement of a large building. I remember it being a very smokey place. It was a lot of small rooms opened up in to one large expanse. all the doorways were doorless with arches, the plaster was white and not smooth, like a continental / Mediterranean effect.

It felt very Bohemian and exclusive, as in fact I later learnt was so. I was just 17 at the time, and up from Kent for the evening and didnt realise then what I had stumbled upon in looking for late night entertainment, after a party Id attended.

Was on corner of both underground. Entered Redcliffe Gardens opposite pub. Wonderful! Sent twice week 1962 to 1968 with Brenda Young Malcolm Pollock, John Maynard. John McGowan. Knew everyone. Safe and great place. Met and

married Melvyn Kyte. Augusta Kyte formerly Bernard

Hi,

I thought the cafe des artiste was not actually on the Fulham Road but just round the corner on Edith Grove where you go downstairs in the sixties which went on till the early hours on the other side of the road from St Stephens hospital the Rolling Stones had a flat in Edith Grove and used to practise in the Wetherby Arms at the Worlds End.

Hi Alan,

The Caf entrance was just around the corner on Redcliffe Gardens, which becomes Edith Grove after Fulham Road. It was just under a Department of Work and Pensions, which I thought was very amusing.

I was introduced to this oasis of joy and music in 1961 when it seemed

be a basement in a bomb site with no structure finished above ground.

I and good pals visited usually Friday nights about 10 for most of the sixties .Fantastic groups.Once found someone picking my pocket ,unsuccessfully.

Knew three Aussie brothers who were bouncers there who tried to recruit me,unsuccessfully.Once saw the lovely singer of Je Taime non plus dancing away there

The Stones and the Beatles did not play the Cafe des Artistes. I went to the club off and on through the early to mid-Sixties. It was a smokey and crowded cellar and was originally a beatnik jazz club. They had a jukebox and no alcohol on sale. It was bring your own, pour into their Coke and smoke your own herbs. The Stones and the Beatles were both on the national tour circuit by 1962/63 and would not have been playing in such a small venue.

Hi There,

I used to go there in the sixties, my girl friend lived in Edith Grove, I lived in Islington london, when I left my girl friend I never went home, I went to the Cafe des artiste instead (naughty) I can never remember how I got home.

Hi, I went to this Club, very early 1970-71, it was the first Club in town I had gone to, with a School friend, and his big brother

Can you believe it, I was 13 years old,

I remember seeing a set of twins, (guys) they where made up like David Bowie, it was all very new and amazing. The start of my Club life.

I worked in the Cafe in 1977 as a doorman. George Nicolas was the owner and Delma the Manageress. It was a nightclub by then so no live music.

Alec Buxton former British Light Heavyweight champ.Ben Kopieczk Paul Kelly and myself John McDonald were the doormen. The staff were a mix of Arabs Poles and Scots.

The most famous Celeb would have been Davie Jones of The Monkees,who was a great wee guy and down to earth.

Anyone who recognises any of the names please comment

Hey John

Wow. Little history for me especially the names and gosh I remember everyone especially Ben as was great friend to me

I worked there as all rounder and ended up being DJ and shared with George who lived in his leathery trouser

Cheers and really good to read you here

Zuber Sameja

Hi Mate

If my memory is still intact were you an Asian/Indian lad,5 ft 7 ish and always smiling?? I am still in regular contact with Ben,he,s one of my best mates.Big Paul sadly passed .

If so,I remember you DJing,I remember George,old David behind the bar and the Polish waitresses. Delma tried to get me to marry Christina so she could stay in the country!!

Did you get the same line ?

Fun days with our ticket for pizzas

I remember being saved once by Mike Marino and was fun time

Delmar tried to match me up with Maria and her sister (name deceives me For now

Say Hi to Ben please and so very sad to hear about Paul but wow he lived on the edge always

Yeh I did DJ few nights and then went and blew the cash at up all night restaurant

Good old days and Nick even trusted me to take his French naughty girls to look after who were in the flat near High Street Kensington

All the best mate and thanks for sharing your memories

Zuber but also called Sam short for my surname Sameja

Cheers

Zuber

Sam

I remember you well mate. Delma tried to get me to marry Christina,I think she may have been Maria,s sister??

I have just checked in to this page to see any replies.

I speak to Ben regularly and will pass on your good wishes

Take care Sam

1966-68 it was still pumping, the discovery of this club and the music that reverberated off the walls and vibrated into the body was something we never forgot, Reflections of Charlie Brown come to mind, awesome organ and sax. Only sold soft drinks but that was ok, we went for the music. Working 9-5 in St James and dancing till 3.00 am took its toll in the end, but what an era.

Mike, nice to have some background.

From memory,Nick made his money being the photographer at all the big wrestling events which were sold to the newspapers. When I worked for him he lived in Cheyne Walk next to one of the Stones.

He was friends with Mike Marino the famous wrestler and also the actor Lance Percival. He always appeared slightly narky but I got on well with him.

He drove a Rolls Royce Corniche convertible,white with a black roof.

It had a private reg GN 9. In 77 he also had a beautiful German girlfriend half his age. Lucky sod.

I used to sing in a band, Purple Dream (also known as Stack earlier ) and played there often .It was handy because if we were playing somewhere locally in London we could double book and get down there ,the band were not always as happy as me to do two gigs in a night but the Cafe was special in many ways . The Hammond organ fixed to the stage had our organist (Chrissy Bush ) in raptures . Our era would have been 68/69 i think . Great memories

Hi Bob ,

Really sorry to hear about Bushy i spend al ot of time recalling those special days which were to be the basis of my future life . I was hoping that some of the band would be a Big Micks wake a few years ago but sadly i was the only one who turned up . Please pass on my best wishes to Chris when you next see him

Hi Dave, The group was called the Satins

Ben was my 2nd elder brother he played the base Guitar

Robert was my Eldest brother he play rhythm Guitar & singer

Brian was the lead Guitarist and Singer

Clive was the drummer.

Sadly Ben, Robert & Brian have passed away. Clive is in the only one that is alive. We loved the club and had some great times. We were very lucky.

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