Cyberia, London

Cyberia, photographed in summer 1995

Cyberia, London was an internet café founded in London in September 1994, which provided desktop computers with full Internet access in a café environment. Situated at 39 Whitfield Street in Fitzrovia, the cafe was founded by Eva Pascoe, David Rowe, Keith Teare and Gene Teare, and the space served as an early hub for those with an interest in computing and the Net. The Cyberia franchise expanded to encompass a range of cafés in the UK and around the world.[1]

Cyberia was intended to be a women only venture, providing a space in which women could learn and play with new technologies in their own space. After launching the space however, Cyberia soon became popular and this was no longer feasible. The internet café offered training sessions in key digital skills.

Cyberia London basement spaces were also a thriving hub of activity. Ivan Pope's Webmedia, one of the first web design and build companies, was the first tenant occupying part of the basement. Subcyberia, home to the post-rave Sunday morning breakfast club and the café's gamer space, was frequented with gamers 24/7 such as Richard Bartle. Transcyberia, a "semi-nerd lab room creative technology centre" for software developers and designers, played host to a range of organisations including Michael Gurstein's Community Informatics Research Network.[2] Kylie Minogue held a press event at the venue.[3]

Cyberia enjoyed superfast internet access as a result of their partnership with the Easynet ISP founded by Rowe and Teare, who operated from the same building as the internet café. In turn Cyberia marketed Easynet products and services and were often the first port of call for Easynet customers looking for support for their new systems. Other early investors in Cyberia included Mick Jagger and Maurice Saatchi. [4]

The Fitzrovia premises are now occupied by the Michelin-starred restaurant and bar, Dabbous.[5]

Franchise

Cyberia window decoration, 1994

Around a dozen branches, some of which were franchises, were opened both in the UK and abroad, including Manchester, Edinburgh, Dublin, Rotterdam, Bangkok, Manilla, Tokyo and Paris. Cyberia Paris is of particular note, having been the first and last British enterprise to have leased space within the prestigious Pompidou Centre. By 1996, some 200 cybercafés had opened around the world, emulating the success of Cyberia.[6]

By 2001 the Cyberia brand had been sold to South Korean interests, rebranding as "Be The Reds" after a Korean football slogan. [7]

References

  1. ↑ - Wired.com All About Eva
  2. ↑ - Wired.com All About Eva
  3. ↑ - Is it appropriate to expect a modern warrior to display social polish, like a kind of martial Rex Harrison?
  4. ↑ - Telegraph, Ten Years of Cyberia
  5. ↑ Michelin Guide 2013: Winners leaked week early. Retrieved 2014-03-07
  6. ↑ - Independent, Watch This Cyberspace
  7. ↑ Fitzrovia - Be The Reds / Cyberia cyber cafe (currently shut), London CyberPunk Tourist Guide. Retrieved 2010-06-20

Coordinates: 51°31′12″N 0°08′06″W / 51.5201°N 0.1350°W / 51.5201; -0.1350

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