A London Gutter Hotel.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 September 1910, Page 4

A London Gutter Hotel.

A HUGE SUCCESS

Forty-four years ago a young man of nineteen purchased a small tin urn. invested in half a pound of coffee, and secured six cups and saucers. He next hired a barrow at one shilling per week, scrubbed it well, and covered tho top with plates of bread and butter, set off with cake, f-fc took his stand c-nrh one morning in the Citv road, London, and his total takings before nine o'clock amounted to half-a-crown. The rest of the dav he was idle.

That young man was John Peareeof Pearee and Plenty fame, who was the first to -recognise the extreme difficulty with which workmen could procure good wholesome food early in the morning. For six months his takings only averaged half a crown per morning. Then the tide turned, and he resolved to dispense with the hired barrow and build himself a stall.

He purchased ash logs in the (rough, took thein to the mill to lie cut into convenient lengths and with them const-rucited a stall according t oh is own idea of what- was wanted. After it was built he painted it a bright red, ornamented it with brass rods and motto plates, and named it the "Gutter Hotel."

He left his bed every week day at two o'clock to get ready for tihe early morning business, and at foun o'clock he was on his pitch. His stall became popular, and slowly but surely he laid the foundation of Pearee and Plenty, which ultimately supplied some 70,000 meals a- day to the working classes.

Tt was while he was working in Covent Garden, E.C., that John Pearee first noticed how difficult it was for tho pe>or to get good and wholesome food, and : was led to start the "Gutter Hotel." As time went on, the takings increased from half a crown to £5 per morning. Ultimately Mr Pearee sold the "Gutter Hotel" for £200.

Afterwards he opened a tavern in Aldersgate street, E.C., and soon was doing a big trade. Chops, steaks, sausages', meat puddings, potatoes and greens—there was no such; choice in London, and the public liked him. He sold as many as 600 meat_ puddings per -day. and other articles in like abundance. From Aldersgate street, Mr Pea roe went to Farringdou street, where, lie secured two shops standing side by side.

_ As at Aldefrsgate street, one speciality of the business was the cheap good' food sold, and this brought crowds from tho adiacent offices and work-rooms. Puddings welre still popular—as_ manv as 1200 per day were sold ; indeed, it became necessary to post a policeman at the doo-i to regulate the crowds. As a matter of fact, the trade at Farrinrrdon street grew so rapidly that GOOO'persons a day were served with meals.