King's Arms Tavern

9370 “Kings Arms Tavern in the Little Piazza Covent Garden” 1726.

1675 Bedford Arms Tavern Covent Garden probably “under the Piazza” c1730s-80s.

The King's Arms Tavern, later the Bedford Arms Tavern, in the Little Piazza at what would later be numbered 1 Tavistock Row.

 

Benjamin Baudowin, Druggist, at the King's Arms in Henrietta street, Covent Garden, sells Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, Caraco Nutes, the true German Spaw Water, with Portugal and Spanish Snuff and likewise Neat French Brandy.

—Post Man and the Historical Account, 19–21 May, 1715

 

Books.
A Catalogue of the Libraries of Edward Baynard, M.D. a curious Gentleman, and an eminent Surgeon in the City, deceased. Being a valuable Collection of Greek, Latin, Italian, French, and English History, Divinity, Antiquity, Mathematicks, Architecture, Voyages, Travels, &c. several of ancient Date, and by the most celebrated Printers; chiefly gilt Back and letter'd, and all in a very good Condition. Which will begin to be sold cheap (the lowest Price being fix'd in each Book) up One Pair of Stairs, at the King's-Arms Tavern, at the South-End of the Piazza in Covent-Garden, on Tuesday next, being the 27th instant, at 8 in the Morning. Catalogues may be had at the following Coffee-houses, Waghorn's, near the Court of Requests; Thomson's, Hanover-Square; Adam's, Red-Lion-street; Batson's, Cornhill; Child's, S. Paul's Churchyard; Mountague's, in Shear-Lane, near Temple-Bar; S. James's, in S. James's-street; Tom's, Will's, and Button's, Covent-Garden; and at the place of Sale.

—Post Boy, 22–24 June 1721

 

To be Sold by Auction,
All the large Burial Stock of Mr. Edward Evans in the Strand, deceased; Consisting of black and grey Cloth, Beds, Hangings, and Chairs, for set Mournings, several Velvet Palls, Velvet Hangings for Rooms, Velvet Coverings for Hearses and Horses, Cloaks, silver'd Candlesticks, Sconces, and all manner of Goods to be used for Funerals; a large Quantity of the Cloth fit for Salesmen or others. The Goods to be seen at the King's-Arms in Henrietta-street, Covent-Garden, next Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday till the Time of Sale, which will begin at Ten a-Clock. Catalogues to be had at the Place of Sale.

—Daily Courant, 11 April 1722

 

To be Sold by AUCTION.

A curious Collection of Original Prints ... will be sold by Auction at Mr. Luffingham's, the King's Arms Tavern in the Little Piazza, Covent-garden; this Day, the 7th of February.

—Daily Courant, 7 February 1722

 

To acquaint all Lovers of the Art of Painting,
That there will be sold by Auction, on Thursday and Friday the 7th and 8th of this Instant, at Mr. Lovingham's, the King's Arms in the Little-Piazza, Covent-Garden,
     All the fine Pictures, Prints, &c. by the best Italian and other Masters, collected by the noted Mr. Anthony Devos, of Amsterdam, lately deceased, which are brought over by his Widow, and to be sold for her Benefit. The said Collection may be view'd, and Catalogues will be delivered till the Time of Sale, which will begin precisely at Eleven o'Clock in the Forenoon.

—Daily Journal, 5 March 1728

 

The Bedford-Arms Tavern, in the Little Piazza, Covent-Garden,
     Will be opened on Thursday next, being the 11th of September Instant; where the best of Wines, Eatables and Attendance, will be constantly provided for the Accommodation of Gentlemen.

By Richard Mitchell,
from the Vine in Long-Acre.

—Country Journal or The Craftsman, 6 September 1729

 

The premises were damaged by a fire that destroyed the Little Piazza in 1769, but were rebuilt and continued under the name of the Bedford Arms until ca. 1800 when the tavern was converted to a hotel called the Imperial. The hotel survived until 1859–60 when the building was demolished to make space for a flower market.—Survey of London Volume 36, Covent Garden, ed. F.H.W. Sheppard (London County Council; British History Online).