Cyberia, London
Encyclopedia
Cyberia, London was the first internet café
in the UK
, providing computers with Internet
access as well as food and drinks.
The online cafe phenomenon was started in July 1991 by Wayne Gregori in San Francisco when he began SFnet Coffeehouse Network
. Gregori designed, built and installed 25 coin operated computer terminals in coffeehouses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
The concept of a cafe with full internet access, and the name 'Cybercafé', was invented in early 1994 by Ivan Pope
. Commissioned to develop an Internet event for an arts weekend at the Institute of Contemporary Arts
(ICA) in London, and inspired by the SFnet terminal based cafes, Pope wrote a proposal outlining the concept of a café with Internet access from the tables. The event was run over the weekend of 12–13 March 1994 during the 'Towards the Aesthetics of the Future' event.
Keith Teare
, Dave Rowe, Gene Teare (Gené McPherson) and Eva Pascoe founded Cyberia at 39 Whitfield St, Fitzrovia
, London W1T 2SF. It opened in September 1994.
Following the launch of .net magazine
in 1994, Ivan Pope
and Steve Bowbrick founded Webmedia, an early web development company, in the basement. The aim of Webmedia was to professionalise the design and building of web sites, a service that had not been available before that time. Webmedia grew fast over the next two years, gaining early web accounts from the likes of Lloyds Bank
and Lufthansa
.
At the end of 1994 and in early 1995, journalists, entrepreneurs, bankers, chancers, geeks and travellers descended on Whitfield St to find out what was going on, and some became regular visitors. By May 1996, 200 cybercafés had opened around the world, all modelled on Cyberia; the Cyberia brand was represented in Manchester, Edinburgh, Paris and Tokyo, with others to follow in the US and Far East.
In the early 2000s, the Fitzrovia café was run by South Korean interests, rebranded as 'Be The Reds' after a Korean football slogan
. Besides internet-connected computers, the café was mainly used as a gaming parlour
, with a karaoke bar downstairs.
the premises are vacant.
Internet cafe
An Internet café or cybercafé is a place which provides internet access to the public, usually for a fee. These businesses usually provide snacks and drinks, hence the café in the name...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, providing computers with Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
access as well as food and drinks.
History
Sf net
SF NET Coffee House Network was created by Wayne Gregori in San Francisco, CA in July of 1991. The network consisted of coin operated, public access computers installed in 25 Bay Area coffee houses...
. Gregori designed, built and installed 25 coin operated computer terminals in coffeehouses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
The concept of a cafe with full internet access, and the name 'Cybercafé', was invented in early 1994 by Ivan Pope
Ivan Pope
Ivan Pope was involved with many early internet developments in the UK and across the world. He started networking in 1988 while a contemporary of Damien Hirst and the YBAs at art college in London. After graduation he went on to develop an early bulletin board systems for artists . Pope invented...
. Commissioned to develop an Internet event for an arts weekend at the Institute of Contemporary Arts
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
(ICA) in London, and inspired by the SFnet terminal based cafes, Pope wrote a proposal outlining the concept of a café with Internet access from the tables. The event was run over the weekend of 12–13 March 1994 during the 'Towards the Aesthetics of the Future' event.
Keith Teare
Keith Teare
Keith Teare is a British technology entrepreneur.He has founded or co-founded many successful companies since the early 1980s.He is credited with being part of:...
, Dave Rowe, Gene Teare (Gené McPherson) and Eva Pascoe founded Cyberia at 39 Whitfield St, Fitzrovia
Fitzrovia
Fitzrovia is a neighbourhood in central London, near London's West End lying partly in the London Borough of Camden and partly in the City of Westminster ; and situated between Marylebone and Bloomsbury and north of Soho. It is characterised by its mixed-use of residential, business, retail,...
, London W1T 2SF. It opened in September 1994.
Following the launch of .net magazine
.net (magazine)
.net is a monthly Internet magazine published in the UK by Future Publishing. Founded in 1994, .net magazine is published every four weeks . The magazine is aimed at professional and amateur web designers, and a significant proportion of its readers are full-time web developers. The front cover...
in 1994, Ivan Pope
Ivan Pope
Ivan Pope was involved with many early internet developments in the UK and across the world. He started networking in 1988 while a contemporary of Damien Hirst and the YBAs at art college in London. After graduation he went on to develop an early bulletin board systems for artists . Pope invented...
and Steve Bowbrick founded Webmedia, an early web development company, in the basement. The aim of Webmedia was to professionalise the design and building of web sites, a service that had not been available before that time. Webmedia grew fast over the next two years, gaining early web accounts from the likes of Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank Plc was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1765 until its merger into Lloyds TSB in 1995; it remains a registered company but is currently dormant. It expanded during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and took over a number of smaller banking companies...
and Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
.
At the end of 1994 and in early 1995, journalists, entrepreneurs, bankers, chancers, geeks and travellers descended on Whitfield St to find out what was going on, and some became regular visitors. By May 1996, 200 cybercafés had opened around the world, all modelled on Cyberia; the Cyberia brand was represented in Manchester, Edinburgh, Paris and Tokyo, with others to follow in the US and Far East.
In the early 2000s, the Fitzrovia café was run by South Korean interests, rebranded as 'Be The Reds' after a Korean football slogan
Be the Reds!
"Be the Reds!" was a phrase popularized on T-shirts during the 2002 FIFA World Cup by supporters of the Korea Republic national football team. The team's jersey color is red, and its supporters are known as the Red Devils, having similar nomenclature as supporters of the Premier League's...
. Besides internet-connected computers, the café was mainly used as a gaming parlour
LAN Gaming Center
A LAN Gaming Center is a business where one can use a computer connected over a LAN to other computers, primarily for the purpose of playing multiplayer computer games. Use of these computers or game consoles costs a fee, usually per hour or minute; sometimes one can have unmetered access with a...
, with a karaoke bar downstairs.
the premises are vacant.