Glyn on 16 Jul 2003  •  Link

The Half Moon was a very common name, and there is a dispute as to this particular one's location.

In his book "Taverns and Tokens of Pepys' London" (published in 1976) George Berry identifies it as being the Half Moon in Cheapside, on the north side next to Gutter Lane. That Half Moon burned down in the Great Fire of 1666, but was soon rebuilt, and a lot of the City Guilds held their ceremonial dinners there. A century later John Wilkes, the radical politician and harasser of the Government, was a regular visitor. The Half Moon receives a special mention in his diary for 29 May 1771 - can anyone provide a link?

Glyn on 29 Mar 2004  •  Link

However, Latham and Matthews believe this Half Moon to be a large tavern that was on the north side of the Strand and on the south-west corner of Bedford (later Half Moon) Street. This Half Moon was kept from 1642 to 1662 by John Doe, vintner and churchwarden. In 1664 he employed 5 male and 3 female servants. Henry Henderson took over in 1664.

JWB on 11 Jun 2006  •  Link

Will this do?

"Half-moon tavern, noted as the place of resort of the most celebrated wits of the sixteenth century..."
Thomas Allen, The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark and Parts Adjacent: Volume 3
http://nils.lib.tufts.edu/cgi-bin…

Terry Foreman on 8 Jun 2008  •  Link

ALDERSGATE STREET
Nearly opposite Lauderdale House, which was north of Shaftesbury House, stood in 1830 the "Half-moon Tavern," a place of resort for the wits of Charles II.'s time, Wycherley and Congreve being among the habitués. The fireplaces were ornamented with curious grotesque carvings in wood.

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…

Bill on 15 Jun 2013  •  Link

Half Moon Tavern, Cheapside,—north side by Gutter Lane, from which there was also an entrance,—a famous feasting house. In March, 1682, when Elias Ashmole presided at a great Masonic festival, he says "We all dined at the Half Moon Tavern in Cheapside, at a noble dinner prepared at the charge of the new accepted masons." It was also the scene of great rejoicings in commemoration of the Battle of Culloden. It ceased to be a tavern in 1817, having for some time been known as the New London Tavern. The name of Half Moon Passage, which led to it from Cheapside, was changed to Cooper's Row.
---London, Past and Present. H.B. Wheatley, 1891.

Terry Foreman on 25 May 2015  •  Link

Pepys says (22 Feb 1664) the tavern was over against the (New) Exchange (where the Durham House is); in the NE corner of this map is Half Moon Street.
http://www.motco.com/map/81002/Se…