Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Does anyone know exactly where Clito’s tavern was, somewhere in the streets behind the old harbour? Mentioned in Bitter Lemons and fondly remembered by people who knew Kyrenia in the 50s and 60s. Would love to track it down.

I’ve read it was demolished for a Supermarket which I am assuming was in Bellapais. He also had a shop in Kyrenia. Maybe ask locals.

Here’s a photo of him

http://www.oldphotosofcyprus.com/photo_ ... b1090e83f6

Was it not n the harbour ? You went down some steps to get in I think it was opposite or near the mosque.

Hi carobmill,

Found this... Clito’s Bar was situated in a warehouse in the old harbour area which was very quiet in those days with nothing much going on and I think the only other business there in the early 1970’s was Chimera Restaurant who put out a few tables and chairs for their visitors.

https://cyprusscene.com/2015/03/27/nico ... the-1960s/

The photos at the bottom of the Navek’s link are so good. Seeing how it was at the harbour. So different now.

Thanks for the photos and suggestions everyone. I guess the exact location is now lost in the mists of time...

Found it I spoke to some grown ups ie Gunesh Mentesh and Jimmy Ketcho and they remember it" if you walk along the harbour and at Canli Balik go up the steps there it's the blue and white one just before the alley.

Well researched!

I'll look out for it.

Thanks for that!

Navek wrote:Hi carobmill,

Found this...

Clito.JPG

Clito’s Bar was situated in a warehouse in the old harbour area which was very quiet in those days with nothing much going on and I think the only other business there in the early 1970’s was Chimera Restaurant who put out a few tables and chairs for their visitors.

https://cyprusscene.com/2015/03/27/nico ... the-1960s/

Enjoyed reading that and looking at the old photos at the bottom of the page. Thanks

Max Frost
Poetry and Short Stories

Bitter Lemons

One afternoon we decided to seek out Clitos tavern.
This had featured in the book as the place where Durrell had passed many hours at the bar.
He had written about the characters that frequented it, and there was a photo of Clito, the owner,

It turned out to be quite small and very primitive.
Blinded by the sunlight we carefully stepped down into the dark interior.
The walls were lined with large barrels of wine and brandy, the bar little more than a narrow benchtop.
We recognised Clito from the photograph, thin and with a smiling face he welcomed us into his tavern.

More...
http://emfrost.tripod.com/id24.html

I bought bitter lemons but couldn’t really get into it. The style it was written in was not my cup of tea. On reading a bell in Bellapais now which is a much easier read imo.

Bitter Lemons was compulsory reading at my school back in 1963. It became more difficult to read as the book progressed. Have read it twice since and still had the same problem although I could connect with it a bit more as I had more understanding of the Cypriot factions.