Today, the idea of a coffee house usually brings to mind coffee chains such as Costa Coffee, Starbucks and Cafe Nero that server gourmet coffee and espresso drinks.

But these are not a modern phenomenon

In 17th and 18th century England, coffeehouses were also popular places for people from all walks of life to go and meet, chat, gossip and have fun, whilst enjoying the latest fashion, a drink newly arrived in Europe from Turkey – coffee.

Dating back 365 years located in a muddy church yard in the heart of the city, London’s first coffeehouse was opened by an eccentric Greek named Pasqua Roseé in 1652. Roseé developed a taste for the exotic Turkish drink and decided to import it to London. At the time Pasqua Roseé was the servant of a Levant Company merchant Daniel Edwards, who we believe assisted Roseé in setting up the establishment, known in some accounts as The Turks Head.

The new coffeehouses became fashionable places for the chattering classes to meet, conduct business, gossip, exchange ideas and debate the news of the day..

However it wasn’t until the late 20th century that coffeehouses were ‘re-invented’ by companies such as Starbucks, Coffee Republic and Costa Coffee – although who knows what 18th century gentlemen would have made of skinny lattes, cappuccinos and espressos!