This is the previous building that stood on the Wetherspoons site. Unlicensed for many years until 1999.
Highcross Coffee & Cocoa House was opened in late 1878, in the building previously occupied by a butcher’s. It hadn’t been open long before William Stretton of High Street took a coffee in there, where he added some oxalic acid to the coffee and drank it. He immediately became ill, a surgeon was called and Stretton was taken to St Andrews Institution, Northampton, as an insane patient, where he died in much pain and distress.
Late 19th century coffee houses were an alternative to pubs, although previously coffee houses had also served alcohol.
There is evidence of a Laced Hat Coffee House, in 1751, but the address is only given as Highcross. Even prior to that, in recognizance orders of 1727, it is listed as the Gold Laced Hat. There is some uncertainty on this as a Gold Laced Hat is also recorded near the Cank Well close to the market. It would be surprising if there were two with that name, although the ‘laced hat’ was a popular form of fashion in the 1700-50s, often trimmed in gold to denote class.