Chatelaine's

Chatelain's, a famous ordinary in Covent Garden, established in the reign of Charles II., and much frequented by the wits and men of fashion of the latter part of the 17th century.

March 13, 1667–1668.—At noon all of us to Chatelin's, the French house in Covent Garden, to dinner; Brouncker, J. Minnes, W. Pen, T. Harvey, and myself; and there had a dinner cost us 8s. 6d. apiece, a base dinner, which did not please us at all.—Pepys.

April 22, 1668.—To Chatelin's, the French house in Covent Garden, and there with musick and good company ... and mighty merry till ten at night. This night the Duke of Monmouth, and a great many blades were at Chatelin's, and I left them there, with a hackney coach attending him.—Pepys.

When he [Lord Keeper Guildford] was out of commons, the cook usually provided his meals; but at night he desired the company of some known and ingenious friends to join in a costelet and a sallad at Chattelin's, where a bottle of wine sufficed.—North, 8vo ed., vol. i. p. 95.

Sparkish. Come; but where do we dine?
Horner. Even where you will.
Sparkish. At Chateline's.—Wycherley, The Country Wife, 4to, 1675.

Stanford. One that but the other day could eat but one meal a day, and that at a threepenny ordinary, now struts in state and talks of nothing but Shattelin's and Lefrond's.—Shadwell, The Sullen Lovers, 4to, 1668.

James. Sir, your father bids me tell you he is sent for to Chatolin's, to some young blades he is to take up money for.—Shadwell, The Miser, 4to, 1672; and see his Humourists, 1671.

Sir Arthur Addel. Come prettie, let's go dine at Chateline's, and there I'll tell you my whole business.—Caryl, Sir Salomon, 4to, 1671.

Nor is he one you call a Town-Gallant,
That at Jero's or Sattlin's goes to dinner
And thence repairs to th' Play to meet a sinner.
Ravenscroft, Epilogue to the Citizen turned Gentleman, 4to, 1677.

Next these we welcome such as firstly dine
At Locket's, at Gifford's, or with Shataline.

D'Urfey, Prologue to the Fool turned Critick, 4to, 1678.

See also Otway's Friendship in Fashion, 1678 (Works, vol. i. p. 217).

1. Shatelaine's or Chatelaine's in Covent Garden. Described as 'the French House in Covent Garden' variously given as Shatelaine's, Chatelaine's, Chatelin's and Chatolin's.

1667–68

Samuel Pepys records in his Diary 13 March 1667–68: '... to Chatelin's the French house in Covent Garden, to dinner ... and there had a dinner cost us 8s. 6d. a-piece, a damned base dinner, which did not please us at all, so that I am not fond of this house ... but do rather choose the Beare....' Yet on 22 April, 1668, Pepys relates: 'This night the Duke of Monmouth and a great many blades were at Chatelin's, and I left them there....'

1672

The house is mentioned in the Prologue to Covent Garden Drollery, 1672. 'The French Coffee House near Charing Cross' is known in the second half of the following century, and a 'French-house' in Wardour Street, but it is very unlikely that either had any connexion with Chatelaine's. A water-colour drawing entitled 'Au Chatelain' decorates an envelope in my collection, postally used to France, bearing postmark London W.C. Ja. 10, 1898. See French Coffee House, No. 430.

1919 Chatelaines or Shatelaines in Covent Garden 1667–78.