When coffee was introduced in early modern England, it was accompanied by the rise of a social place dedicated to its consumption: the coffeehouse. Coffeehouses grew in importance in the 17th century as places of exchange and discussion amongst people of all ranks. These discussions were often seen as dangerous and seditious to the normal order in a century of repeated political crisis. In London, they flourished. In Sunderland, we know of one coffee house being licensed in the 1680’s – heyday of the coffeehouse.

In this session, Dr Delphine Doucet will explore coffeehouses in the 17th century in the setting of a modern coffeehouse – Cole Cafe in Sunderland. The audience will be encouraged to reflect upon the differences between modern coffeehouses and their first embodiment in England.

This event is part of the ‘Canny Sunderland: Discover the History of Sunderland’ series, by University of Sunderland.