[1] Like the El Rio before it – a coffee bar run by Crichlow at 127 Westbourne Park Road in the early 1960s that attracted attention in the Profumo affair[2] – the Mangrove was a meeting place for the Black community in the area, as well as for white radicals, artists, authors, and musicians.

[3] Famous customers included Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone, Bob Marley, C. L. R. James, Lionel Morrison, Norman Beaton, Vanessa Redgrave, Colin MacInnes, Richard Neville and Tony Gifford.

[3][2] A small newspaper, The Hustler, was published on the premises, underlining the community aspect of the restaurant,[3] which also served as an informal head office for the Notting Hill Carnival.

[4] The restaurant was raided twice in 1988, once by 48 police officers in riot gear, and Crichlow was charged with supplying heroin and cannabis, despite being known locally for his strong anti-drug stance.

[8] The Little Yellow Door, a late-night cocktail bar and restaurant, now operates from the Mangrove's former address, outside which a blue plaque to honour Crichlow was unveiled on 4 December 2011 by the Nubian Jak Community Trust.