Independent shops, bars, restaurants or cafés are often the best-loved establishments in a neighbourhood - but at the same time, they can be most vulnerable to financial insecurity and redevelopment. Following on from our piece on San Francisco protecting its historic restaurants and bars with "Legacy" status, we asked our readers to share the local establishments that meant the most to them. Here's a selection of the contributions - from a "counterculture" Tavern in Seattle to a community pub in Liverpool that used to be a watering hole for The Beatles. If you know of more great local establishments, share your comments below.
Cafe Lento, Headingley
We're spoilt for choice when it comes to independent cafes in Headingley but cafe lento is my longtime favourite with friendly service, interesting conversation, reading material, games and of course great coffee.
The Blue Moon Tavern
"The Blue Moon is a tavern located on the west edge of the University District, Seattle, Washington, that has been visited by many counterculture icons over the years. It opened in April 1934, soon after the repeal of Prohibition in December 1933, as the first and oldest remaining tavern in the U-District. It was an instant hit with students (together with the still-thriving Duchess Tavern in Ravenna); under state law, students had to trek one mile from the campus to purchase drinks. The Blue Moon was one of the rare bars outside of the Central District to serve African American servicemen during World War II. The tavern also provided a haven for UW professors such as Joe Butterworth who were caught up in the McCarthyist purge.[1] It had further heyday in the 1950s and 1960s. Regulars included author Tom Robbins, poets Theodore Roethke, Richard Hugo, Carolyn Kizer, Stanley Kunitz, and David Wagoner, and painters Richard Gilkey and Leo Kenney. Visitors included Dylan Thomas, Ken Kesey and Allen Ginsberg..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_moon_tavern
The Railway in Cottingham East Yorkshire
Great pub well within dog walking distance. Planned venue for my sons first official pint. Only 5 years to go. Will be visiting in Father's Day
1st co-op pub on housing estate in UK but so much more than just a pub
Forget the bright lights of Brighton, Moulsecoomb is in the bottom 5% of deprivation in country. We have over 600 community share holders, and have raised over £200,000 transforming the inside of the building into an amazing, multi-functional space with a bar, cafe, community kitchen, meeting room and edible pub garden. We still need a few more pounds to open so buy some shares! www.thebevy.co.uk
LOCAL CHIPPY - THEY'RE THIS FRIENDLY ALWAYS
FRESHLY MADE FISH AND CHIPS, FABULOUS STAFF AND DELICIOUS FOOD
Save The Priory Action Group
We are the Save The Priory Action Group. Our pub, originally The Litherland Hotel is over 200 years old. Once a meeting place for the local parch prayer meetings, the original meeting place for local councillors and also a known place for The Beatles to drink in after performing at The Litherland Town Hall.
Last year the pub was bought by a housing agency who wanted to demolish the historic building and build flats and small houses. We wanted our pub back. We fought the housing agency in the planning meeting and they have now offered to sell the pub back to us for an amount exceeding £400K.
We are just about to launch our share offer so we can be the first community run pub in merseyside .
We want to make the pub 100% for the community, a place to meet, eat, drink, socialise, learn, educate, share, receive, donate and be a part of.
LA is a city that is in a continuous cycle of destroying its own history and it needs to stop it. Musso & Franks is a glorious old spot so evocative of the days of film noir, down to the telephone booths in which suited and behatted men would whisper into the handsets, while their blousy dame sipped from a classic martini glass and nervously made eyes at a thug down the bar.
- maxunit/GuardianWitness
Have you started to see the closure of these much-loved places where you live? Share your images and stories of vacant shops in your city with GuardianWitness and we'll feature the best on Guardian Cities.
