Coventry Pubs

Daimler Halt

I have some recollections of the Motor Hotel. I first visited there a few times in the 70s for Weights & Measures checks and it always struck me as a decent street corner boozer. I have fond memories of going there in the late 80s/early 90s when it was run by an Asian licensee. They did extremely good curries for little money as well as a quaffable pint. There were a few pubs in Coventry that served curry in the bar around that time. Others we used were the Charterhouse, the Holly Bush and the William IV. They were regular haunts for our office 'curry club' as they combined a convivial pub atmosphere with good food at bargain prices. The trend seems to be disappearing now, sadly.

I remember The William IV I used to live in Sandown Avenue about 200 yards as the crow flies from the pub, my Father used to send me to the pub with a bottle to get a pint of mild. They used to have an outdoor section from where I got served. We were served well with pubs having the William, Wheatsheaf and the ThreeHorse Shoes within a few hundred yards of each other. Alan H

I used to have a girlfriend whose father was born at the Motor Hotel. Eric Pointon was his name.

I once lived in Hillfields, we rented a house from Mrs Sass, a Jew who survived the German death camps. My nearest pub was the Ring of Bells but that was a cheerless, cold place so rarely went in. I was never a heavy drinker but when I did fancy a pint it would be the Leopard top of Primrose Hill or the City Mill in Cox St. Both very friendly and welcoming. I have recently had reason to revisit Hillfields, don't think I would like to live there now. I did notice that the Queens (Head?) was still trading which did rather surprise me. Occasionally had a meal in the Captains Table next door to the Queens and a pint in there afterwards. Norman

This one?

'The Queen' ceased trading in 1996. I thought there was a planning application to turn it into a restaurant but I can't find it anywhere.

Reason I thought the Queens was up and running was because I saw the front doors open on a couple of occasions when passing...Probably builders or tatters nicking the pipework.

A bit behind but only just noticed Annes shot here - Whats that super looking shop to the right on the corner of Corporation Street/Bishop Street. Presumably disappeared in the War...... That piece of land has been 'in the wilderness' for year. Even the temp shops that were there before todays piece of green were just that - temporary...

The sign appears to say "Sports Arcade" Neil. Looking at the newspaper archive there are several of them mentioned in different towns in the 1920's and 30's but as usual the Coventry papers aren't on line yet. The sign above looks like automatic. Quite an impressive building though. Shows there was mire imposing buildings on that corner at one time.

Britain from above shows a whole row of shops in 1931. On the 1946 aerial pictures they have gone. the 1931 shot shows the area starting to be cleared for Corporation Street so I don't know if the buildings were removed then or were bomb damaged.

Thanks Helen/Anne.....forgot about Britain from Above - I think thats my blue tag to highlight my GGGrandfathers Turks Head pub!

Morning Anne, I well remember the (as was) The Wine Lodge on the corner but I am sure there were temporary buildings along side on Corp.St. in my day. Obviously that was taken before they went up. Great picture thanks.

Was it called The Spittlemore (moor) ??