The Wallace Collection cafe

An old favourite revisited

I’d meant to go and see the Wallace Collection after its refurbishment for some time. A day off in May afforded the opportunity.

The collection looked splendid as ever and has something for all tastes from armour to ceramics. Plus plenty of well known works of art with Poussin’s A Dance to the Music of Time being a personal favourite. It’s the knowing expression on one of the dancer’s faces that I particularly like.

I enjoyed seeing the much photographed suit of Gothic armour. A professional photographer friend always claimed one day it would disintegrate from being photographed so much!

That suit of Gothic armour at the Wallace Collection

The new cafe

In the best museum professional tradition I tried the cafe.

It’s a lovely space in a covered courtyard and all the staff are really pleasant.  I just had coffee and a croissant which was served beautifully. The jam was very impressive and came highly recommended.

Even if you don’t have time to enjoy the collection the cafe is an oasis worth popping into.

Down memory lane

While in Marylebone I went down Chiltern Street where my father had his printing business in the 1960s and 70s.

The corner shop is long gone and it’s all a bit bijou now. The biggest surprise was seeing the fire station is now a cafe bar. Apparently catering for the likes of Kaye Moss. Happily the building remains complete with its Marylebone Fire Brigade plaque.

Watching the firemen maintaining the engines and gear was a regular childhood treat!

Chiltern Street Fire Station in 2015