Kardomah Coffee House

Kardomah Coffee House on corner of Whitechapel and Stanley Street Kardomah Cafés were a chain of coffee shops across England and Wales, first established around 1900. The Kardomah name was first used by the Vey Brothers, who were tea dealers and grocers in Liverpool from 1844. They were bought out by the Liverpool China and India Tea Company, who created a range of teas and coffees using the name, later expanding into coffee houses. The parent company became Kardomah Limited in 1938 and would change hands several times before becoming part of Premier Foods. In Liverpool, the Kardomah offices were at 42 Dale Street. Over the years there were a number of Kardomah cafés opened across the city centre with locations at: 23 Basnett Street, 30 Bold Street, 37 Castle Street, 20 Chapel Street, 40 Dale Street, 14 Redcross Street, and 1-3 Rumford Place. By 1960 there were also larger Kardomah coffee houses at 21 Church Street, 17 North John Street and at 19 Whitechapel. The latter was possibly one of the later branches, opening around 1950. This particular café became a busy spot on the Merseybeat scene due to its close proximity to NEMS record shop and Hessy’s Music Store, as well as with the groups who played at the nearby Cavern Club on Mathew Street. The site is now occupied by Wong’s Jewellers. (June 2021)

Photo metadata – Former location of Kardomah Coffee House on corner of Whitechapel and Stanley Street. Taken on 19 March 2021 by Vicki Caren.