Coventry Pubs

It is with great sadness that I tell you all that the Grange pub in Alfall Road is no more as it was destroyed by fire last night, another great pub gone

Sorry I missed your previous one Mickw, just to retract, my bottle would have had a teat on it !!!!!! Another pub gone, isn't that the way in Coventry these days ?

It's the way everywhere, Dreamtime. Pubs are becoming a thing of the past. I guess in the past people worked at 'The Rover' or Herberts and would spill out of work for a pint, go home, and then nip back again after tea... A lot of those big Edwardian pubs in places that once had large factories have slowly gone, and it's cheaper to buy from a supermarket (although I personally have no interest in sitting at home drinking beer, I see it as a purely social thing). Work patterns are different these days. I work in a large office on the outskirts of the city. Everyone drives to work and then goes home at the end of the day. No one lives near the office, but out in Warwickshire or further away. When I worked at Marconi in Stoke we would quite often utilise the local pubs, but even then, most people commuted so there wasn't really much interest in after work drinking/socialising. Oddly, places like Earlsdon and Chapelfields seem to be doing OK. But these areas are an anomaly in Coventry.

Totally agree Flapdoodle. The atmosphere is not the same as 'down at the local' these days. Used to live in Chapelfields and our local was the Three Spires, usually at the weekend. One could enjoy a game of darts or a game of dominoes. It seems as if it's where is the best place to eat these days.

Not quite gone - photos taken this morning

Is the Grapes on the Radford Road still operational, or has that bit the dust too. ?

The Grapes is still there

Can anyone tell me the location of the Kenilworth Castle pub. Its a long time since I have been to the city and memory is failing.. I just saw a photo of it in the 'Coventry We Have Lost ' website but cannot place it. (old age comes to all of us).

Think the Kenilworth Arms was at the bottom of Hertford Street, not heard of the Kenilworth Castle though

Same place, Dean - see this link

Thanks for the reminder folks, I should have known, My interest is in the licensee shown, J.T. Woodward, there may be a connection to my wife's family.

Just noticed that the Three Horse Shoes, corner of Red Lane/Stoney Stanton Rd. is boarded up. Another one bites the dust!!

VERY sad to hear this former Ansells pub has died. I frequented it a lot in the early 1980s, far more sedate and relaxed than the nearby Devonshire Arms. Met up with some former schoolmates from Caludon Castle here as well, laughing about the canings we had. I last visited this place about 3 years ago, and was horrified to see it had become a childrens play centre like Whacky Warehouse. I'll raise a glass tonight and think of bygone memories

It really upsets me every time I see these photos. We had some great times here. My wife reminded me on New Years Eve that in the 80s the doors had to be closed at the Grange by 9 o'clock Christmas and New Years Eve to stop people coming in as it used to get so busy. I don`t suppose it will be too long before the flats start to appear

We have to remember that these so called expert town planners are of a more recent generation than we are and by demolishing all these well built. landmarks will have nothing to show for the old Coventry as we know it. It is their loss. I am not saying that the old pubs are the only distinctive buildings. but they made up a great part of Coventry's character. Shame to see them disappear slowly one by one. (this is where you can get your violins out) !!!