For over a century, the district of Clerkenwell in London served as the vibrant heart of the Italian community, affectionately known as “Little Italy.” Beginning in the 19th century, Italian immigrants established businesses and built lives within its streets. While gentrification and demographic shifts diminished its prominence in the latter half of the 20th century, a renewed sense of community and cultural revival is taking hold, centered around a historic social club and fueled by a new generation seeking connection to their heritage.
At the heart of this resurgence is Casa Italiana San Vincenzo Pallotti, founded in 1960. Located on Clerkenwell Road, between St Peter’s Italian Church and the long-established Terroni & Sons deli, the club has long been a focal point for the Italian diaspora in London. For decades, it served as a gathering place for first-generation immigrants, offering a space for socialising, playing cards, and maintaining traditions. However, as the original community aged and younger Italians moved away or assimilated, Casa Italiana faced an existential threat.
The club’s decline accelerated in recent years, exacerbated by the challenges of the pandemic. Unable to attract a younger crowd and struggling with operating costs, its future appeared uncertain. A turning point came with an article published in in the Guardian, which brought renewed attention to the club’s plight. This sparked a wave of interest from a new generation of Italians residing in the capital.
Responding to this momentum, a group of volunteers formed Casa Italiana Lab, a youth-focused initiative dedicated to revitalising the club and fostering a sense of community. They began organising a series of events designed to appeal to a broader audience, including Italian language exchange evenings, film screenings, and, most recently, a “Briscola Night” – a popular Italian card game tournament. These initiatives aim to bridge the gap between generations and ensure the club’s continued relevance.
One particularly successful event has been the annual watch party for the Sanremo Music Festival, Italy’s most-watched television event. The festival, a cultural touchstone for Italians worldwide, has gained increasing popularity internationally, fueled by the “FantaSanremo” fantasy league and the proliferation of memes. In , Casa Italiana hosted approximately eighty attendees for the Sanremo finale, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a local bar in Italy, complete with Aperol Spritz, Crodino, Peroni beer, and San Carlo crisps.
The success of the event has prompted organisers to plan a repeat performance this year, hoping to establish it as a new annual tradition. “We launched it – we thought that, just like us, other Italians would happily spend the evening together having an aperitivo and watching the final,” explained Fiorenza De Filippo, a volunteer with Casa Italiana Lab.
The revival of Casa Italiana is inextricably linked to the historical presence of Italians in Clerkenwell, an area that once constituted the core of London’s “Little Italy.” The area’s Italian roots date back to the mid-19th century, when Italian immigrants began arriving, finding work as musicians, artisans, and street vendors. By , an estimated two thousand Italian immigrants resided in Clerkenwell, many working as frame makers, mirror builders, and itinerant musicians. They often played the harp and organetto, with children frequently recruited – and sometimes exploited – to perform on the streets.
Later, Italians became prominent in the ice cream trade, delighting Victorian Londoners with their frozen treats. By the turn of the century, they had also gained control of the ice trade, importing ice from Norway and distributing it throughout London for food preservation and ice cream production. The two World Wars and subsequent bombing raids significantly altered the landscape of Clerkenwell, but the Italian presence endured.
Today, the Italian community in London is more dispersed, with significant populations in the City of Westminster, the London Borough of Islington, and southern parts of the London Borough of Camden. According to recent estimates, these three boroughs are home to approximately 21,000 Italians. However, Clerkenwell remains a symbolic and cultural anchor for the community, and Casa Italiana serves as a vital link to the past.
“Casa Italiana exists especially for the young people,” said Alberto Minghetti, another volunteer with Casa Italiana Lab. “But there is a lot of respect for the old guard and for what they left behind. On Sundays, you sit at the bar with those who have been here for generations, with those who have just arrived, and with those who stop by out of curiosity. It’s always interesting to observe the reaction of those who taste Chinotto for the first time.”
The story of Casa Italiana San Vincenzo Pallotti is a testament to the enduring spirit of London’s Italian community and its ability to adapt and thrive in a changing city. It represents a conscious effort to preserve cultural heritage while embracing new generations and ensuring that the traditions of “Little Italy” continue to resonate in the heart of London.
