Coventry Pubs

Hi Radford kid. I am informed by my wife that the Radford carnival started at St Francis church in Links Rd/Treherne Road and finished at the Whitmore pub, she said it was always a brilliant day full of fun and enjoyment for kids and adults alike, plenty of pop and crisps and plenty of beer for the mums and dads.

I lived in Sadler Road near to the Whitmore from 1955 until I got married in 1966 but can't ever remember a carnival finishing there. Obviously memory loss has occurred, but I do remember the off-licence. I didn't know it had been demolished, but then I never have a need to drive through Sadler Road.

Well please tell your wife she is correct and as for memory loss well that's me it would appear, we lived across the road from St Francis Church 117 Treherne Road, I remember it well now, all the floats were gathered outside my house, some of the floats had appeared in the Coventry Carnival. Got one bit right then, it did finish at the Whitmore. And yes you are right, it was a great day out. Thanks all for the response. Colin

Thanks Radford Kid my wife lived in Guardhouse Road and we were married at St Francis Church 45 years ago.

Hi all Lunch today at the Bulls Head in Binley Rd, went down very well. Midland Red adds that the company was excellent, so too the fish, chips and mushy peas

The Whitmore as promised, many happy hours spent in there, funny thing I think of the Whitmore and I think of Tom Thumb Mini Cigars, always remember going in there around Christmas time and buying Tom Thumb from the outdoor (or off sales). A real pub. Colin |

Hi all I try to limit pub lunches to one a week. If I was the neat size that so many of you are on here, I would pub grub more often. I hear conversations about the best pubs, meals, prices, condition of the beer & so on but as I avoid driving, public transport is the big factor with me. The Bulls Head is ace for that. From inside of the pub, I can see up as far as the previous bus stop so I have plenty of warning of the bus imminent arrival at the bus stop outside the Bulls Head. So I now class this pub as very convenient as a wet weather pub. When I did board the bus, the No 13, to Whitmore Park, I was able to stay on it all the way home.

Dutchman, if it is not too much bother, can you tell me roughly where the Fox & Vivian stood. My parents were there in the 30's, so I was told, but I was never exactly sure, although I was always led to believe it was up the Gosford Green end. Also I am sure the front of it was covered in green tiles. I noticed you mentioned it in your post above and I have never seen it mentioned before. If this one has you 'foxed' then I forgive you (excuse the pun).

Dreamtime, the Fox & Vivian pub was in Gosford Street, roughly opposite the building which used to be the tax office, then the DHSS, and is now part of the University. So it stood close to where the ring road flyover crosses Gosford Street.

Hi Mr.D-Di, Thank you for that little bit of nostalgia.

As MisterD-Di says it was opposite the lower of the two William Morris (Coventry University) Buildings, approximately 110 yards below the flyover where a bus stop is now. Not when I lived in Gosford Street. As far as I can remember it had a very plain but solid frontage. There was some discussion about the pub in this thread: Coventry Coffee Bars in the 1950s/early 60s

I was sure that I had seen a photograph of it in one of the history books but can't find it, I did see that is was 48 Gosford Street and its first reference on a map was 1851 and it traded up until 28th November 1971. Was hoping to treat you to the photo but to no avail. YET

This picture from Pictures of Coventry is wrongly captioned. Lady Godiva is passing the Fox & Vivian on her way up Gosford Street and away from Far Gosford Street. The greyed-out tall building to the right is the New Inn. The Co-op stores nos 49-51 had not yet been built just below the pub when this picture was taken.

Morning Dutchman, Thank you, although it was not how I imagined it, but then buildings, places and so on do seem different when you are a lot older, don't you think. As for the green tiles, perhaps it was another building that stood out in my 'child's mind' in that area. Thanks again for looking it up.

Thanks Dutchman, I wouldn't have known the F&V from that shot or indeed any shot just from the shape because unlike yourself and Dreamtime, I have never actually seen the building or have any memories of it. I just think I have seen another image, whether in my books or the web that actually showed the 'Fox and Vivian' pub sign and seemed a clear shot of the place. I'll keep having a check for it. I don't think it's on this forum. Maybe on 'Pictures of Coventry'.