The Partisan Coffee House
By Antony Clayton
The Partisan Coffee House in Carlisle Street became a meeting-place for a predominantly left-wing clientele, whilst also putting on live music. Noticeably more design conscious than many of its neighbours, the Partisan had called in an architect to effect its transformation. Customers sat on tubular steel chairs at glass tables and played chess or debated the latest political developments. Later, in 1964, after the skiffle boom was ancient history, the Partisan hosted Pete Brown and Michael Horowitz’s ‘New Departures’ poetry and jazz experiments.