Show 1 early coffee houses the first coffee house la london flaa established in 1652 sir henry blunt Is sometimes called the father f the english coffee hous they were political institutions during the aels ot the stuarts in charles issued a proclamation for the felon of them but it was recalled tea days later they became the meeting of statesmen wits merchant find fashionable illera they did much to and enlarge the mental life of the town in 1708 there were nearly 3 of them in london alone the coffee house resembled the mod ern club but was less expensive less exclusive and not so some of the popular coffee houses were the cheshire cheese a favorite of samuel johnann Joh naon st james the cen ter of political news and discussion buttons where addelson dined and spent five or six hours a day eiery coffee house had its circle of wits and great men |