Page 95 - Ian Marshall - London Coffe Houses - Standing Display January 2016

Piazza Coffee House
Covent Garden
(1756 - 1865)

The Piazza Coffee House was also known as the Great Piazza Coffee
House and was located on the North East comer of Covent Garden
Piazza, the Northern side being known as the Great Piazza. This coffee
house was on the site of an earlier, short-lived enterprise named
Macklin's Coffee House which opened in 1754 and went bankrupt 2 years
later when the Great Piazza Coffee House opened its doors. In 1763 there
were complaints about the manners "of a certain group of Young
Fellows" using the coffee house. Various clubs used to dine there
including the Beef Stake Club and the Portland Club. In 1803 it is
described as "A well conducted house. Good soups, dinners, and beds".
The Drury Lane Theatre was destroyed by fire in 1809 and the platwright
Sheridan reached the scene to find all hope of saving his property
abandoned; he proceeded to the Piazza Coffee House for a bottle of wine,
and replying to a friend who praised his philosophical calmness, said
"Why, a man may surely be allowed to take a glass of wine at his own
fireside". By 1818 masonic lodge meetings were being held there And in
1833 its name was changed to Piazza Coffee-house and Hotel. Charles
Dickens stayed there in in 1844 and the premises were demolished in
1865 to make way for the "Floral Hall".

A letter written in the Piazza Coffee House on lOth November 1829 J.
Henley ho was entitled to the free postage, probably as a peer. He
writes a~ologising for the delay in settling monies due to Mr. Attree but
advising ~hat he will be able to do so "in about 10 days". The letter is
addressed to Cooper Esq. OfMessrs Attree & Cooper.