Song and Supper rms

The Coal Hole

It was located in Fountain Court, Strand. Why it was so called nobody knows. It was replaced by Terry's Theatre, which in turn vanished for a multiple store. In its time had been a rough place, where Edmund Kean helped in drunken orgies. It had no platform, commenced proceedings at eleven p.m. and was conducted by a chairman: It was very well patronised by all the celebrities and all the best people.

It gained fame under the direction of John Rhodes, who had a passion for silver plate and boasted that more silver tankards, goblets and flagons, loving cups and the like could be seen there than in any of the big hotels in London.

He ran it successfully on the lines of Evans's and was himself Chairman. He was a big man with a fine presence, an excellent baritone voice and was one of the most popular turns. He was another who had been a professional singer at Drury Lane.

When he died, his son improved it but when Rhodes Junior died in 1850 his widow tried to carry on but without success, likewise John Bruton, of Vauxhall Gardens, and so the glory of the Coal Hole departed, one of the first of the Song and Supper Rooms to go down before the onslaught of Music Hall.

Condensed from The Melodies Linger On by W Maqueen-Pope

Edward Lee in Thirteen Guided Walks to the Fascinating Music Landmarks of London suggests that the name came as a result of its use by coal heavers. He also indicates the existance of a memorial plaque that states that the original song and supper room was located nearby.