Coventry Pubs

Yes it was the "Half Sovereign" when I used to drink in there around 1986..........

Historic pub saved

That's good to hear, it certainly looks grand enough to preserve. I am very surprised the Broomfield Tavern is still up and running. Oh, hope I haven't spoken too soon. It's just in the right place opposite the park.

It is a nice building preserve though and should have been saved, I thought the Smithfield was equally a nice building but it got knocked down in the end. I am surprised the Broomfield Tavern in the Butts is still going, had many a black velvet in there as a kid. Last time I went to Coventry 16 years ago it was heaving, but it wasn't hard to fill the place though was it.

Well, you could hardly swing a cat in the bar and the snug was a snug in every sense of the word. Last time I was in there was when the regulars saw me off to get married, and what a great bunch they were too (1961)

Wealthy businessmen used to take their fancy woman for a drink there because they could park out of sight of the main road. The Canley milk bar was popular for the same reason.

Dutchman, you surprise me, must have been more recent years. Many of the regular locals sat in there most nights and at the weekends, playing darts and so forth. Perhaps it's more upmarket now. I know it has had a makeover more recently.

Nope, 1959-60, I was sat in one of the cars outside. Your mother would have known one of the women very well indeed which is why she never said anything. She was a fellow landlady.

OMG ! now you have my fullest attention Dutchman. It's 'one of the women' I am concerned about, just how many visits did you make. They should have called it 'Shady Lane'. Don't worry your secret is safe with me. A nod is as good as a

Another public house I used to drink in was the Barras Heath hotel, Foleshill/Stoke Heath just down Red Lane over the canal bridge. Is it all open? it was a very big pub.

Arthur, the Barras House Hotel was flattened quite a few years ago and is now housing.

They can knock down the pubs, but they can't destroy my memories. I remember where it was now Swancroft.

Hi all. Yes regarding the Barras House Hotel, we used to call it 'the Bolshy'. I don't know why though. It is at the top of Barras Common, or Mercer Avenue if you find this a more recognisable locator. It was in very large grounds but I didn't go in due to being so young. At the back of it was a field (adjacent Stoke Heath schools field) leading down to the railway line. The field ended up being a steep embankment down to the railway fence, and we used to play there. Here's an image of it's location around the mid-50's.

Not many Dreamtime, only on Wednesdays. Vehicle access to the Broomfield was from both ends in those days, can't imagine why one end was later blocked-off. Can't have done trade any good. Another popular rendezvous for illicit assignations was the Ring O' Bells in Hillfields.

On 30th Jan 2013 5:53pm, Foxcote said [on the "Hillfields" thread]: A photograph of a detective on the scene... Ring o' Bells Murder, 1945 The nearest we shall ever get to seeing the file.. Ring o'Bells murder file