Home » Best of Brighton » Ace Cafe Reunion: Brighton Burn-Up

Ace Cafe Reunion: Brighton Burn-Up

40,000 Bikers in Town

2007: Burn Up Photos

Ace Cafe in 2006

The Ace Cafe Reunion Run, or the Brighton Burn-Up as its known, in September is one of the biggest, perhaps the biggest, motoring events to fill the tarmac along Madeira Drive – this year on Sunday, 10th September. Some claims put the total number of participants as high as 40,000. But whatever, the city is certainly heaving with motorcycles of all shapes and sizes on the day.

Ace Cafe is the famous bikers’ cafe on London’s North Circular Road. Built as a cafe for road hauliers in the 1930s it became the favourite haunt of Britain’s motorcyclists, part of teenage culture and post-war rock ‘n’ roll. It closed in 1969: end of an era.

But in 1993 Mark Wilsmore had the idea for the Ace Cafe Reunion, an annual event at the old Ace Cafe site. And so it’s gone from there and in 1997 the old cafe itself was reborn.

The Ace Cafe Reunion is for both Mods and Rockers – young and old – bikes and scooters – young and old.

Bikers come from all over the country; in fact, all over Europe – and maybe even further afield.

It’s a sight worth seeing!

Custom-built motorcycle, September 2000
© David Gray imagesbrighton.com
Bikes along Madeira Drive in September 2002
© David Gray imagesbrighton.com

Marlena Jagoda

After graduating from university with a degree in Marketing and Management, Marlena joined the content team in May 2023. Her passion for writing led her to self-publish two poetry collection to date. She enjoy writing about things she loves, Brighton being one of them, as well as food and all creative aspects in life. From day one, Brighton felt like home, and she can't wait to share its wonders with you!