Andre Armanda-Markovic at the shelter

FOLLOWING 20 years of service, Andre Armanda-Markovic is serving the last ever bowl of his celebrated Dalmatian fish soup from his cabmen’s shelter today, March 14, on the 150th anniversary of the hut’s construction.

The shelter in Wellington Place, St John’s Wood, has been run since 2005 by Mr Armanda-Markovic and his mother Lidija, who sadly died last year.

A farewell party is being held this afternoon, Friday, for Mr Armanda-Markovic, a musician who is hoping to be selected to sing for Croatia at the Eurovision contest next year.

He told Extra: “When we came it was in a dilapidated state, half of it was rotten.

“Now all the characters of London come here, from the super-rich to super-poor.

“We had Stephen Fry over the other week.”

Lidija

Rising utility costs, the imposition of a one-way, and booming competition from chains in and around the St John’s Wood High Street has driven down business, he said.

“I’ve got bills to pay. As much as I love this place, I can’t live off just love.”

The Cabmen’s Shelter Fund – the organisation (established 1875) that manages and lets London’s 25 remaining shelters – is to offer it to new tenants.

Mr Armanda-Markovic credited his mother, who worked in the Stockpot restaurant in Knightsbridge before taking over the shelter with him, for teaching him traditional dishes from Croatia, including his specialist soup a regional delicacy in his homeland.

A guitarist and singer for indie-rock band, The Fishcakes, he said he would use the new chapter of his life to focus his efforts on his musical career.

He said: “Sometimes the universe tells you to follow another path.

“My guitarist is very famous in Croatia. This summer we’re recording our album.

“Croatia’s quite a small country, all musicians know each other.

“My music got to the head of Eurovision Croatia, and the guy goes, ‘can we have a listen?’

“So they’ve asked me to submit a song for Eurovision next year.”

‘Looking forward’ to the next – musical – chapter

“It’s a compliment that these people have taken an interest, and begged me to write them a song!”

Mr Armanda-Markovic compared his workplace to “musical shelter”, a “little creative studio” and “a daytime pub without alcohol”.

He said: “This is where I used to work over the years, write my little songs and they’re all coming to fruition now.

“A lot of the taxi drivers, I’ve written songs with them. Some are going to be released on my album.”

The shelter’s glossy exterior is lovingly decorated with snippets of newspaper obituaries to Andre’s late mother, as well as a poetic tribute to “Lidija – sweet lady of St John’s Wood”.

“These are not just customers,” he said. “They’re my extended family.”

In the shelter on Monday was business studies lecturer Paul Langley, who has taught Mr Armanda-Markovic how to fly a plane.

“We’ve all helped each other out. People don’t talk enough about men’s mental health. We help each other out by having a chat, having a laugh, and having a joke.”

Mr Armanda-Markovic’s community of regulars also sought refuge in the shelter from the loneliness of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

“I’ll always be part of the community,” he said.

The actor, broadcaster, and writer Stephen Fry, left, dropped by the shelter ‘the other week’

And he told Extra that he would be taking a piece of the community away with him.

A black-painted horseshoe that has adorned the entrance to his shelter since its opening in 2005 will be joining him on his next adventures.

“That’s my lucky horseshoe. I’m going to take that with me, because that was from when my mum was alive. We found that together, underneath the shelter, it’s bad luck to leave it here.”

He said that before he closes his doors for the last time, he was looking forward to the “big street farewell party” this afternoon.

“We’re going to have a last hurrah, have a few beers, say goodbye, have a little singalong. It’s the London way.”

“I’m looking forward to the next chapter,” he said.

“The next novel, I should say. Every story has an end. And this is a good end.”