London's iconic Regency Cafe is up for sale - everything we know so far

London’s iconic Regency Cafe has come up for sale for £170,000.

Located in Westminster, at 17-19 Regency Street, it has been serving hearty, no-nonsense meals since 1946. The retro café is famous for its cooked breakfasts, no-nonsense service, and old-school décor.

It has been featured in numerous movies such as Layer Cake, Pride, and Rocketman. It was also the backdrop for an advertising campaign for Volkswagen and a front cover shoot for Vogue Japan.

Beyond its fame, the café remains a beloved community hub, frequented by regulars who appreciate its consistency and charm.

It is renowned for its traditional English breakfast, complete with bacon, sausage, eggs, beans, hash browns, and toast. The portions are generous, and the quality is excellent, making it a favourite among locals and tourists alike.

The Cafe is listed with Christie & Co, a property advisor that specialises in pubs and restaurants. It says the sale ‘presents a fantastic opportunity to take over a well-established, iconic establishment’.

‘The Regency Cafe has a loyal customer base, including local workers, politicians, and celebrities,’ the listing adds. ‘Due to a popular social media following, the cafe also attracts tourists looking for a traditional cafe experience.’

Understandably, people have been shocked and upset by the news, but Westminster Council has promised it won’t be sold to developers and will continue to operate as a caff.

Westminster Councillor David Bothroyd told The Standard: “The Regency Café has been a well-loved institution by the local community for over 40 years, and has become an iconic location to visit having been featured in various TV programmes and films such as Layer Cake. To be clear, we won’t allow the site to be developed into something different as we want to preserve the spirit and heritage this iconic café brings, which aligns with the current owners wishes.

“As the freeholder and landlord of the Regency café, we have agreed that whoever takes on this site next needs to carry on the tradition of this being a local restaurant or café as the lease is protected as such. While improvements may need to be made by whoever takes on this site, such as the installation of toilets on the premises, we don’t want to see this café and its history disappear – we want it to continue to be an iconic cornerstone for local residents and visitors to enjoy for years to come.”