Old Mans, Charing Cross, St Martins in Fields WC2
St Martins pub history index
Hartshorn lane, Charing Cross in 1746 -
John Rocque map
Other places of public resort on this spot besides the " Rummer " had convenient back entrances into Spring Gardens.
" Old Man's " was so called after the proprietor, Alexander Man, " Coffee, tea, and chocolate maker " to William III. It was sometimes also known as " Man's," or the " Royal Coffee-house," and was a favourite resort of " Stock-jobbers, Paymasters and Courtiers."
"To be Lett or Sold. Almost opposite to the Admiralty, near Charing Cross, A Large new-built Brick House, late Old Man's Coffee-House, five Stories high, elegantly finish'd. Also a back House and Kitchen, commodiously fitted up, with good Cellaring, and other Conveniences, fit for a Tavern, Coffee-House, or other publick Business, and with a little Alteration may be fitted up for a private Family. Enquire at Mr. Millan's, Bookseller, near the said House."* The " Old Man's " Coffee-house probably had its origin in an earlier Coffee-house known as the " Royal," which is always described as being situated either "at Charing Cross" or "near Whitehall."
This was about 1684-7, as will be seen by the references given to the " London Gazette " of those years. The " Royal " appears to have been a well-known resort ; for tickets for the County Feasts, so much in vogue through the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries, were frequently advertised as obtainable there :
"All persons Bom in the County of Warwick and the City of Coventry, are desired to take notice that there will be held a County Feast on Tuesday the 25th inst. November, at Merchant Taylors' Hall Tickets to be had at the Royal Coffee House, Charing Cross, &c."
Mack/s Journey, ibid, Ned Ward, in his London Spy, describes " Man's Coffee-house " as the "most Eminent Coffee-House at the end of the Town " - This was in 1709.
"On Monday last died Mr. Edmund Man, Master of Old Man's Coffee-house at Charing Cross, a very noted and reputable Person of the Profession. He succeeded his Father in the said Coffee-house, which was the Second that was set up in the Cities of London and Westminster " - (Daily Post, May 15, 1728).