Well it had to happen – I parked up in the Multi Storey Carpark (Next to the Casino and the West Yorkshire Playhouse) and was able to walk through the John Lewis Store into the swanky Victoria Gate shopping area without needing to go out into the moonlit air at all.
There it was – the great and the good – assembled at Caffè Concerto, Victoria Gate Mall, Harewood St, Leeds, LS1 7AD on Thursday, 21st November 2024.
As you know, I rarely break cover, but I had to see, feel and taste this “baroque style” restaurant / café in all its Northern glory.
I always hang out in Caffe Concerto in London or the one in Birmingham for that matter when “I doth venture south”.
I just like getting away from the hustle and bustle of the world and spending time – quality time to re-focus and reset…you can do that here.
As the unobtrusive jazz player confidently hit his full ensemble of notes, I reminisced about the old days on the Christmas party / matrimonial surveillance scene…We honestly don’t bother anymore as the hassle is incredible – how many times did the subject of the enquiry have prior knowledge that he or she was being tailed – often, the clients family members had tried before a pro was called in…the results were predictable – people driving into cul-de-sac’s trying to block you in and the rest!
We used to do a lot of surveillance from the Old Police Station on Dewsbury Road in Beeston / Hunslet (Burton Regan Detective Bureau) – we made sure we didn’t do anything too local as there was often “Fall Out” from the aggrieved party when our report and the surveillance evidence was presented.
Fortunately for me a local myth had spread that I was Eddie Burton’s son who was one of the top Cops at the station, back in the day…we all need a break now and then.
As I sat in Caffè Concerto I had a big smile on my face.
We were tasked with following a female around Leeds around Christmas a few years ago. We were situated around the main party areas in the city centre and I followed the cab into Leeds. I was directing the team and we all converged on the bars around Greek Street as the cab stopped near there…we managed to stay with the subject of enquiry and she ended up in a club.
Our instructions were to follow her into the toilet as she was suspected of “Stuff” – it was an all-female surveillance team.
All good. She was with a mixed party of people (Male and Female) and things were going textbook style. I was updating the client and was parked right outside the club…
Oh dear, the client arrived on the scene and sneaked into the club. He was going to stand in a corner, to observe matters himself, but, as soon as he entered the club the subject of enquiry spotted him and rumbled the surveillance team. The first I knew was when one of the team ran out of club and disappeared out of sight. As the team manager was telling me what was happening (She was hiding in the toilet) the subject of enquiry came out with the client and a door man – just mayhem…that is funny now but was not at the time.
Anyway, back to the review.
I suppose, it is an “Up market” crowd that will enjoy Caffe Concerto – a bit like the people that you meet on the Queen Mary 2 Ocean Liner at the tea dance. It’s a special occasion place. You sit back and the fantastic, club sandwiches, pastries, cakes are the entertainment. There is something about precious moments that can only happen in magical places.
If its early, the breakfast options are to die for (Not served in all restaurants). In the early days I always went to Caffe Concerto just off Trafalgar Square for the breakfast experience. I actually believed there was only 1 branch.
One day I called an uber from my hotel and put in Caffè Concerto – I jumped in and ended up at the Caffè Concerto in Long Acre – have since learnt that there are about 20 branches in London and that they have expanded to France, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
I am a good judge of people – I have to be in the game I am in. I started in London in 1988 with Associated Detectives. The directors of the Restaurant, senior management had all taken time out to mingle with their customers on opening night – genuine, humble, decent hardworking people.
Indeed, every member of staff was faultless and full of good cheer – great people make great places.
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