Syd's coffee stall

Syd's Coffee Stall is a wooden mobile structure with a serving hatch, internal counter, and original electrical fittings dating from 1922. The small unit was fixed in one London location for many decades, serving as a classic example of British street commerce.

Sydney Tothill established the stall in 1919 using his First World War disability pension to start the venture. The business continued for over a century as a family operation, becoming embedded in the local community.

The stall became a meeting place where workers, firefighters, and local residents gathered daily to share food and conversation. It served simple, traditional British refreshments that brought the community together throughout its long operation.

The restored stall is now on display at the Museum of London at its Smithfield Market location. You can view the structure closely and examine the original wooden construction and period fittings from this distance.

When the street underwent repairs, the stall remained in place rather than being moved, so the council simply built kerbs around it. This unusual solution turned the structure into an odd landmark that puzzled many passersby over the years.