Coventry Pubs

Having left Coventry about 45 years ago, but still returning frequently to visit family and friends, need some information / recomendations please. Need a pub, for lunch, on a weekday, that will seat 10/14 people on a round table. Any suggestions please. Many thanks. Slash1

The Cocked Hat, Rugby Road, Binley Woods (next door to B&Q) were very accommodating recently - we had a family get together of about 20 people which wasn't a problem for them (not a round table though). However we were in a separate room from the main bar which gave us privacy to chat and catch up.

Thanks for that, will investigate.

I'm hoping you lovely people can help me. I had two gg aunts who ran pubs in Cross Cheaping at the beginning of the last century. One ran the Royal and after a trip to Coventry buying a book and a massive domestic outside the Orchard Place I think we were able to guess where it was. The other pub though was the Queens Arms, 18 Cross Cheaping, try as I might I'm clueless where it was. Can anyone shed any light?

Hi Sorcha Welcome to our friendly forum Have a look on Real Ale Rambles - click "Pub History" tab - which you should find useful

Hiya Red, thanks for the welcome

18 was on the west side about half way to the Burges. Best place to see the numbers are the fire insurance maps. Link to all older maps The Queen's Arms belonged to the Bablake School charity.

Here's Cross Cheaping in 1912-13 Spennell's Directory

Thankyou so much! There's so much info here! Could you recommend any books that would be useful too? Many thanks xx

There is a recent book about Coventry's pubs but I've only seen it at the Herbert and I haven't got a copy yet. There is a painting of the Queen's arms in Bunney's book. It's on a picture labelled Mattersons in Cross Cheaping and the pub has Welton across the front. Bunney book

Hi I've pm'd you too. You are right about William Flower Lane the landlord who died in the boer war. His wife continued to run the pub until 1913 and he's buried in London road cemetery.

Thank you so much. What's the Herbert?

Sorry, I meant the Herbert Art Gallery and specifically the History Centre connected to it. I've not seen a copy on Amazon.

Ooh I wish I'd known, I was in there earlier in the year when we were trying to find the pubs. I should have joined this forum sooner

This memorial was erected to the quaintly named William Flower Lane, one time landlord of the Royal Vaults in Cross Cheaping. He also had connections to other Coventry pubs. William was a serving soldier most of his life, his service records describe him as 5' 10'' tall with brown hair and hazel eyes. Whilst stationed in Sheffield he met his wife Emily. Emily's life was marred by tragedy, one of 18 children, only 7 saw adulthood. Even then her older sister Adelaide died young leaving a husband and 7 small children. On William's discharge from the Army in 1896, his given address was The Peeping Tom Hotel in Hertford Street. Maybe William didn't adjust to civilian life as he re-enlisted and was sadly killed in the Boer War in 1900 whilst saving a wounded comrade. Emily and her brother Ernest continued to run The Royal and were joined in Cross Cheaping by their sister Tryphena and husband Richard Moore. The Moores ran The Queens Arms at number 18. Tryphena was widowed in 1911 but ran the pub until 1918. I'd like to think the Lanes' marriage was a happy one. William's Army records note he was of exemplary conduct, good humour and temperate habits - whatever that means! They sadly had no children but her two of Adelaide's children moved to Coventry and married there. Sarah Pett married John Idiens, a man of means and 36 years her senior! Basil Pett married Theresa Nauen who ran a shop in Spon Street. He was decorated for gallantry in WW1 but the marriage didn't last. Whether it was the death of brother Ernest in 1913 or her own failing health, Emily left the Royal that year and took a house in Meriden Street but developed cancer and returned to Sheffield to die 5 years later. One of the executors of her will was a Jonathan Hewitt who ran the Old Stag Inn. I only learned of my Coventry connections quite recently and came to visit this year. Although there is little left of anything connected to my family I discovered Coventry's unique charm and now a little piece of my heart will always be there. If you've managed to get to the end of this without losing the will to live, thank you for your patience