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Tuesday 15 May 2012

The Hindostanee Coffee House

From The Times:

HINDOSTANEE COFFEE-HOUSE, No. 34 George-street, Portman square - MAHOMED, East-Indian, informs the Nobility and Gentry, he has fitted up the above house, neatly and elegantly, for the entertainment of Indian gentlemen, where they may enjoy the Hoakha, with real Chilm tobacco, and India dishes, in the highest perfection, and allowed by the greated epicures to be unequalled to any curries ever made in England with choice wines, and every accommodation, and now looks up to them for their future patronage and support, and gratefully acknowledges himself indebted for their former favours, and trusts it will merit the highest satisfaction when made known to the public.


Spelling is subjective, though the plaque makers might have referred to the coffee house name as in Mahomet's original advertisement (above). That said, I have retained the first version of his name as published in the 1780s book (the T for a D) throughout. 34 George Street became 92 in 1872 and was completely re-built in 1957. The green plaque resides at 102 for practical reasons! The picture below was taken in the 1950s before the terrace was re-built. The Hindostanee Coffee House was in the property to the far right, on the corner.






Nearest tube Marble Arch.

2 comments:

  1. Did Josiah Harding die in Hindostanee Cofee House, as you have described in your book? And did Dean Mahomet and Jane's cousin actually try to solve the mystery, as mentioned there?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Did Josiah Harding die in Hindostanee Cofee House, as you have described in your book? And did Dean Mahomet and Jane's cousin actually try to solve the mystery, as mentioned there?

    ReplyDelete