Young Man's Coffee House

Young Man's [Coffee-house], on the other side of the way [from Man's Coffee-house was established] in the reign "Of William III., afterwards known as the Green Man.³

…

The Scots go generally to the British [Coffee-house] and a mixture of all sorts to the Smyrma. There are other little Coffee Houses much frequented in this neighbourhood. Young Man's for officers, Old Man's for Stock Jobbers, Pay-masters and Courtiers, and Little Man's for Sharpers.—Macky, A Journey through England, 8vo, 1722, vol. i. p. 168.

At Young Man's Coffee House at Charing Cross, there is a back door into Spring Gardens.—Advertisement in London Daily Post of February 7, 1737–1738.

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¹ Chamberlayne, 1692, p. 135.
² London Gazette for 1674, No. 875.
³ Daily Gazetteer, October 2, 1739.

1579. Young Man's Coffee House, near Charing Cross. Not only its origin, but the location of this house appears to be obscure. Young Man's is variously described as 'at Charing Cross',' 'near Charing Cross',' 'in the Tilt- Yard'; 'in Buckingham Court',' 'in Scotland-yard' and elsewhere. The L.CC. Survey Vol. xvi, places Young Man's at Naunton House, which, soon qfter 1670 'was divided into three, two facing the street and the other having afrontage to Spring Gardens'.      Mr. Macmichael in 'Charing Cross' suggests that 'possibly Bromefield's Coffee-house was identical with that which was known later as Young Man's Coffee-house'. Bromefield'sfrom a contemporary notice is known in 1689; is variously placed 'in Buckingham Court near Wallingford House'; 'Buckingham Court, Spring Garden' and 'Spring Gardens'.      In 'Penny Universities' Mr. Ellis connects du Vall with Young Man's Coffee-house; but du Vall was executed 21 Jan. 1670. Hayward's edition of Tom Brown's 'Amusements' (1927) carries a footnote that Young Man's Coffee-house was 'founded about 1690, and a notorious resort of card-sharpers'. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I find no contemporary mention of Young Man's Coffee House in the seventeenth century. Hayward's note is not documented.      It is generally supposed that the establishment of Young Man's Coffee-house apparently in competition with nearby Man's, or the Royal Coffee-house, caused Alexander Man the Proprietor, to adopt the title of Old Man's Coffee House, which first appears about 1700.

1700

Young Man's is mentioned in Tom Brown's 'Amusements' first separately published in 1700, and evidently written earlier, so that the date of 1690 may not prove inaccurate. Tom Brown gives a description of the house when he was in danger of becoming embroiled in a street affair. He relates: ' ... when Young Man's Coffeehouse threw itself in my way, and very kindly offered its protection. I acquiesced there, knowing myself secure from more dangers than one, and immediately upon my entrance mounted the stairs, and mingled my person with the knights of the round table, who hazard three months' revenue at single cast, and run the risk whether they shall be luxurious one week, or starve in a garret for a dozen ....'

1700

Morley in his 'Memoirs of Bartholomew Fair' mentions under date 1700, at Young Man's Coffee House, Charing Cross, was exhibited a Little Man, Fifty Years of Age, Two feet Nine Inches high, and the Father of Eight Children, who 'when he sleeps, puts his Head between his two Feet, to rest on by way of a Pillow, and his great Toes one in each Ear.'

1701–02

The 'Postman' for 28 Feb-3 March, 1702, advertises: 'Lost ... between Charing-Cross and Norfolk-street ... on Friday night last, a Diamond Ring ... Whoever gives notice so as it may be had again, to Mrs. Man at Young Man's Coffee-house at Charing Cross shall have four 'Guineas reward.' (L.C.C. Survey, Vol. xvi.)

1702–14

Ashton lists Young Man's Coffee House as Charing Cross.

1703

Ashton remarks that Ned Ward 'is disgusted with the superfine air of the place' and gives a long account of the house, which I am unable to trace in the works of Ward available to me. Probably in the 'London Spy' 1703, which throws much light on the times, especially on the life of taverns and coffee-houses.

1704

'London Gazette', 24 April, 1704, carries an advertisement: 'Whereas the late Anthony Rodrigues (famous in his Life-time for preparing snuff) did for valuable Considerations impart his Secret of mixing and preparing the said Snuffs to Mr. James Peuch: These are therefore to give Notice That all the said sorts of Snuff are carefully and exactly prepared by the said James Peuch, and sold by him at the House Orange Tree, opposite Young Man's Coffee-house at Charing Cross.'

1705–08

In 1705, says the L.C.C. Survey, one of the front portions of Naunton House property 'is shown in the occupation of Hester Man and three years later the amount paid by her in rates rose suddenly from 40s. to £5 apparently by reason of the addition to her premises of the house in Spring Gardens ....'

1707–08

Mentioned in 'Daily Courant' 8 Jan. 1708.

1708

An original letter in my possession dated from Penrith, 8 Nov. 1708, is addressed to 'Colonell Vans at Young Mans Coffee house near Chearing Cross London.'

1709

Young Man's is mentioned in the 'Tatler', No. 31,20 June, 1709. In the same year is advertised a 'man-milliner' who dwelt 'within three doors of Young Man's Coffee-house (against the horse) at the sign of the Olive Tree'. The expression 'against the horse' is intended for the statue of Charles I.

1710

The 'Tatler' , No. 166, 1st May 1710, advertises: 'The Pastoral Masque composed by Mr. Clayton ... will be performed ... in the great room at York-buildings. Tickets are to be had at White's Chocolatehouse, St. James's Coffee-house in St. James's Street and Young Man's Coffee-house.'

1711–17

Stephen Margrove, described as a notorious criminal, indicted with others on 18 Jan. 1718-19, for assault on the King's highway, had been 'a servant at Young Man's Coffee-house near Charing Cross in which station he served six years'.

1714–28

Hester Man was succeeded as Proprietor in 1714 by Bridget Parker 'who stayed until 1728'. (L.C.C. Survey.)

1719–20

Press mention-'Applebee's Weekly Journal' 30 May, 1719; 'Daily Courant' 31 Oct. 1720. Mention of 'land officers at Young Man's in the Tilt-yard' is quoted from MS of the Southmele family, about 1720. 'The Weekly Journal' 21 Oct. 1721, advertises: 'At Mr. Evan's, Glover, over against Young Man's Coffee-house at Charing Cross, were sold Cornaro's Drops.'

1724

In Letter IX, Mackay describes the coffee-houses in 'Journey through England': '... There are other little Coffee Houses much frequented ... Young Man's for Officers, Old-Man's for Stock-Jobbers, Pay- Masters, and Courtiers, and Little-Man's for Sharpers ...'

1725

'Daily Post' Feb. 1725, advertises: 'Masquerade Habits to be Let ... at Tom's Coffee-house, next door to Young Man's Coffee-house, Charing Cross.' (Macmichael—Charing Cross.)

1728–36

According to the L.C.C. Survey, Vol. xvi, Bridget Parker was the Proprietor until 1728 'but the title of the house seems to have remained unchanged until later than this, for in the rate-book for 1736 is a note that William Beddell, the occupier of the Spring Gardens portion ... Young Man's Coffee House belongs to this House ....' In an article contributed by Hoole Jackson in 'Country Life' 19, Feb. 1959 is mentioned: 'The Young Man's Coffee House in Charing Cross where Everett and his band left gold watches and jewellry which the victims of a highway robbery on Hounslow Heath had agreed to redeem for Twenty guineas ....'

1737–38

'London Daily Post' 7 Feb. 1737–38, is quoted by Wheatley for an advertisement that mentions: 'At Young Man's Coffee House at Charing Cross, there is a back door into Spring Gardens.' Macmichael quotes the same paper in support of his reference to 'Young Man's Coffee House in Buckingham Court'.      The end of Young Man's Coffee House appears to be just as obscure as its beginning. Macmichael refers to the 'Daily Advertiser' 4 Feb. 1742, for stating that 'The "Green Man" at Charing Cross, next door to which was the Lottery Office where the Swedish Giant was exhibited in 1742, was known earlier, in the reign of William III, as 'Young Man's Coffee-house'" in Buckingham Court.' And the L.C.C. Survey, Vol. XVI, says that before 1751, the house was known as The King and Queen.      From the above we glean that Young Man's ended its existence between 1738 and 1742.