Coventry Pubs

bowchaser, The Malt Shovel has only just disappeared. Nigel Ashby was the last landlord I believe and it's now been turned back into a house. This was it not long ago - note the 'For Sale' board.

Thanks for the info. I was only 14 in 1963 but I don't suppose the police will come knocking at my door now. The inside of the pub was unchanged from the time it was built when I was there, I wonder how old it actually is. Some years ago the landlord found a ledger in the attic with names of royalist soldiers from the English civil war. According to the article in the Coventry Evening Telegraph he sent the Queen the unpaid bill, of course she didn't pay up. Regards, Dave

According to John Ashby's book "The Character of Coventry" the earliest mention of the pub in official records is from 1808. Soldiers were often billeted there from the cavalry barracks in the centre of town. The landlord was paid a fixed sum for each soldier billeted which was very miserly and deeply resented by all the pubs in the city.

The space to the right was originally a saddle-makers workshop. It was gradually displaced by a funeral parlour and is now home to a completely unrelated business. The shop to the left was for a long time a gents outfitters but is now incorporated into the Railwaymen's Club.

Can anyone offer me any ideas on how I could search for the old landlord? x

In tracing my ancestors I have located my great great grandad, Benjamin Jones, as still being a fishmonger in Much Park Street in 1911 aged 70. However, it was one of his sons that I have been trying to find, my great grandad Charles Henry Jones. I have tracked who I think to be him as being the publican of the Green Man Inn on Much Park Street with his wife Lizzie in 1911. My Charles Henry Jones had a wife (Jane) Elizabeth nee Heath born in Birmingham. Is there anyone who can supply any information as to this pub as I know it would have disappeared long since as much of Much Park Street has.

The earliest record of the pub is from 1756 and it is known to have traded up until 29th December 1926.

I'm not sure if I can add anything you don't already know, but the Spennell's Directory of 1912 definitely lists a Charles Henry Jones as being the publican of The Green Man at 145 Much Park Street, as well as Benjamin Jones, Fish Fryer, at 130 Much Park Street. In the 'residents' listings also, however, is a second 'Charles Henry Jones' living at number 4 Villiers Street. I hope this is useful in some way.

Wow what can I say but many many thanks!! Especially Rob ... interesting on the 2nd Charles Henry, I'll follow that one up just to cross check I'm looking at the right one. Just too many Joneses!!!! And I wonder what happened to our fish shop millions ha ha!! And now checked out the Villiers Street address on the 1911 Census and it's definitely not my Charles Henry. Appreciate the information Rob, thank you.

Ok. So what is this famous Coventry pub?

A debate at work started this one and I can't find any information on the web and I'm guessing that you marvellous folk will know the answer! In the Coventry arcade where Argos currently sits there used to be a pub tucked in between the shops, it was certainly there during the 1980's and early 90's and I'm convinced it was called 'The George' but no-one I know appears to have any memory of it. Tell me I'm not going mad and it isn't a Harry Potter platform 9 3/4 memory!

Wasn't The Climax somewhere down there ?

The Thistle?

Ah! That name rings a bell!

The one at the Argos end was indeed The Thistle and if I remember correctly could only be accessed via a staircase at the end of the arcade? It opened in 1962 and closed in 1991.