Coventry Pubs

Anyone remember The Gas Tavern at the bottom of Mill Street and Cherry Street.

The Hill Cross Tavern was closer to the two streets mentioned:

Does anyone know what is happening to the Diplomat, is it still staying open or what?

I believe it has been re-opened as 'The Roadhouse' and will feature live music according to the adverts and Facebook.. Acoustic sessions sometime in the week, a jam on Sundays and bands on Fridays and Saturday nights. As far as I know, it's a 'replacement' for The Shakespeare, Spon St which has changed hands. The Roadhouse I think has the manager/owner/tenant from there (he used to have The Longford Engine too). There aren't enough music venues in the city so this venture is welcome.

Hi all I did a bit of my own tourism today, calling in the Town Wall Tavern (the pub behind the Belgrade). I downed a pint of Bass, very well kept, but was too full-up to eat, but eating there is now on the cards marked urgent.

I'm glad to hear that the old Town Wall Tavern is as good as ever. We are planning to dine there next Wednesday before going to the Belgrade. I've looked at the online menu and it does look quite appetising. I used to be a regular at the TWT years ago. Their lunchtime pies were legendary. There was a different one every day, made in individual pots that were an entire meal in themselves. You had to be early to get a seat, lots of CET staff used to be in there as I recall. The Draught Bass was legendary even then. The landlord then was something of a 'character' and you never knew what mood he would be in. I've seen him throw someone out for asking him to make a shandy with Bass, an act of vandalism against his perfect beer in his eyes. I'm really looking forward to next Wednesday now, the pub and the gig!

Hi all This is what happens to a pub! Pub loses license This used to be a good business lunch pub, often full to the brim with dining customers.

I agree, Philip. I haven't been in there for a few years now, but I recall it as being one of the best venues for a fine pint of Bass in years gone by. The old landlord was a bit eccentric (as many gaffers were) and refused to have any coin operated machines in the pub. So no juke box and no fruit machines. Even 'something for the weekend' was in a sweet jar behind the bar, labelled something like 'Sporting Goods'. (Was his name Hayden??) Sad to see the loss of what used to be a good old-fashioned boozer. Edited to add: Just searched and found my old post from 2011. It was indeed Wally Hayden who ran it.

News update, Appeal in progress

There may have been a very good reason for that. As a tenant rather than a manager, Wally would have been liable for the full rate of income tax on any earnings from the machines. I know other landlords who refused to have them for that reason.

We used to use the Cottage for food when it first re-opened, as they did good food at lunch time. The last time we went was about 5 years ago and it was absolutely awful. Haven't been in since, even though we live in walking distance. There are so many other places in Earlsdon to choose from these days.

Same as us flap - I used to go there in the late 80's when Tony 'Nobby' Kennedy used to compere the open mike nights. As you say full of character and characters and those open-air gutter toilets! I was brought up in Earlsdon and live there again now and welcome the cafe-bar scene at the moment. It's a real sub-city culture - almost like a London Borough. But the cottage is too far - the place does not need a nightclub and its associated problems. Bring back The Cottage of old.