Coventry Pubs

This is a bit of a brain-dump of the Coventry pubs I remember - I've tried to put a bit of context around it all to make it easier to digest! Remember these memories cover several decades - it may seem as if I've been to a lot of pubs, but, this includes memories as well as visits - all over many years. In the mid-1970s through until the early-1980s, I can remember patronising the following pubs in Coventry's City Centre (not all on the same evening obviously!): The Bear Inn, Water's Wine Lodge, the Golden Cross, the Coventry Cross, the Tally Ho, the Silver Sword, the Alhambra, Ray's Bar at the Leofric (that was quite posh), the Black Eagle at the Leofric, the Three Tuns, the Penny Black, the Hen & Chicks. My now-husband worked part time as a barman at the Rocket in 1973-4, so that was also a pub we patronised. I also remember going to the Climax, the Godiva, the Jaguar, the Thistle, Claret's Wine Bar and Corks Wine Bar (although that may have been later on - it was certainly there in 1995). I can recall going into the Zodiac too, that would be in the mid-1970s. I can also picture the Saracen's Head, but never went into it. Other familiar names, although I don't remember ever going into the establishments, include the Elastic Inn, the Rose & Crown, Dog & Trumpet/Beer Keller, the Old Stag and the Smithfield Tavern. Away from the City Centre, initially coming from Finham I remember going to the Styvechale Arms and the Burnt Post. I attended a day release course at Tile Hill College in 1975-6, and can remember going to the Newlands before trying to cope with learning shorthand! Not a good idea. We got married in 1977, and, lived at Alderman's Green for three years. I used to be on the number 20 bus that went along the Foleshill and Longford Roads quite a lot during that time, and can remember going past several pubs (George IV, Prince William Henry, The Fiesta, The Engine, The General Wolf plus others), along the way. Never went in any of them though, and although it was our local whilst we were in Alderman's Green, I think I only went in the Miner's Arms once. And later, from the early 1980s, the Herald was our local (when we'd moved to Canley Road). And, we often walked into Earlsdon - so the Cottage, the City Arms and the Royal Oak were familiar. Maybe some of these aren't strictly in Earlsdon, but I can remember but never went into the Nursery Tavern and the Craven Arms. I think I went into the Port 'O Call once - when the fair was on Hearsall Common. I also remember driving past the Old Dyers Arms, the Black Horse, the Railway (not sure about this one), and the Summerland Tavern on the way into Coventry from Canley Road. I think there was an explosion or fire there at some point in the 1990s, and a hairdressers' next to the Black Horse was 'destroyed'. There was a story going around about a patron of the hairdressers' whose main concern was that her 'shampoo and set' couldn't be accommodated! We also used to walk from Canley Road to the top part of Tile Hill Lane sometimes, and so can recall the Fletch, the Phantom Coach, the Phoenix and the Light House (a short-lived pub on the 'cock up corner' development (A45/Tile Hill Lane junction) - it's now a fast food outlet). From a work perspective, there was far more of 'going for a lunch time drink culture' in the 1980s, and, working in Banner Lane, Tile Hill, I recall regular 'Monday Moans' at the Hawthorn Tree in Broad Lane, with Friday lunchtime sessions at local pubs such as the Bell, the Peeping Tom, the Poacher's Retreat (formerly the Standard), and the Unicorn. A gang of us always used to go Ten Pin Bowling after work once a week, and I can remember we generally used to have a couple of drinks at the Walsgrave pub afterwards. Where I worked, there seemed to be a lot of 'leaving dos' in the mid-late 1980s, and, we often used to go to the Albany, I can also remember the Old Windmill in Spon Street (plus other Spon Street pubs, now closed I think, for example, the Rising Sun and maybe the Shakespeare (and, I think there were more? but I can't remember). We used to refer to those nights out as 'going on the Spon Street run' - I think the Town Wall Tavern was also included). I can also remember a 'leaving do' at the Leg & Cramp in Walsgrave (I think it had only just opened at that point). There are other miscellaneous (non-city-centre) pubs that I remember for various reasons - these include the Rainbow in Allesley Village, the Tollbar, The Cedars, The Wyken Pippin, the Shepherd & Shepherdess, the Greyhound at Sutton Stop, the Old Hall, the Festival, the Wallace and the Holyhead. I was never one for night clubs, even in the early days, but I do remember going to Mr George's once, and the Pink Flamingo once (I think it was my Hen Do, so that would have been 1977). I can remember the Locarno, but I only ever went there when it was a library. I didn't ever go to any of these, but, can remember Shades, Top Spot, the 40 Thieves and Nellos.

Some great memories in there, Sue. I certainly frequented some of those places at about the same time as you did. The 'Lanch' had bands on at weekends and was a regular Saturday haunt, especially if there was no speedway on. I used the bar there a lot during the week too, especially in the late 70s/early 80s as an ex-colleague used to run it and kept some excellent Davenports Traditional Bitter. Many a work afternoon was written off there. I was never a student there, although I did manage a season playing for the college basketball team for some reason. I was never that struck on the Bear Inn, the Plough was more my scene at the time with Silk Disco, run by Jim Twyneham. This later moved to the Humber Hotel. I did like the Alhambra for a good beer session with mates, Ray's Bar to impress a new girlfriend, and the Black Eagle across the lobby of the Leofric for a good pub atmosphere.

Happy days indeed MrD-Di Very interesting to read your memories of Silk Disco & Jim Twyneham, at the Plough and the Humber, so as you say, the Bear must have been its next location. As I recall, they started to run a 'heavy metal' disco there on Fridays, in early February 1974 (I can remember an advert in the Coventry Evening Telegraph), I think they subsequently expanded it to include Saturdays, and even ran a 'Motown' disco for a few weeks on Sunday nights, again at the Bear. This would have been later on in 1974 though. Interesting that Jim Twyneham's day job at that time was working at the Vehicle Licensing Office in Greyfriars Lane - that certainly explains the '5ILCO' personalised number plate! I did know that he was the PA announcer at Coventry City FC in later years. Lunch time drinking was certainly alive and well in the 80s! In addition to our 'Monday Moans' at the Hawthorn Tree, I recall Friday lunch times at other pubs local to MF in Banner Lane, not always within Coventry's boundaries (The Brickmaker's Arms for example), and others including the Unicorn, the Poacher's Retreat (formerly the Standard I think), the Bell and the Peeping Tom. A gang of us from MF used to go Ten Pin Bowling at the Forum on the Walsgrave Road, once a week after work (again in the mid-80s), and I can remember us always going for a drink in the Walsgrave pub afterwards.

Spent many Sunday lunchtimes in the Styche (Styvechale Arms) with Jim and several Sky Blue players (Cross, Craven, Ramsbottom, etc) - never saw his car number plate, though, 'cos he only lived a few doors away, along Kenpas Highway

I lived in Green Lane! Small world indeed

More food (or drink!) for thought there. The Brickmaker's Arms was an occasional haunt for me. They used to have a quiz there sometimes and, back in my serious quizzing days, it was easy money. I actually visited there a few months ago on the way home from Warwick, first visit in about 20 years, and they still have a proper public bar and decent beer. The Peeping Tom at Burton Green was the first pub I ever went in for lunchtime drinking from work. My first job was at the Highways Depot in Tile Hill and I was a temporary clerk there. Sometimes the contactors would take the boss out for lunch and he would get me to go along in case I was needed, although I never was. Plenty of free food and ale though. Not been in there for over 40 years, is it still there? The Walsgrave was a regular weeknight venue as they often had live bands on. It was all a bit basic but the music wasn't bad and the beer was ok. I believe it all stopped when they decided to make it a carvery type pub. I've noticed you have mentioned some restaurants on another thread and some of those are old haunts too. It sounds like you need to come to one of the forum breakfasts where you can share all your memories with ours!

Wow, SueL, all of them pubs you have mentioned I can honestly say throughout my lifetime I have used every one, I also attended Tile Hill College and studied horticulture in the early 70s and used the Newlands at lunchtime (happy days), I have very good memories of the Locarno and the Top Spot, these would be the last places I would end up before going home.

The city centre pub we congregated at (and one not mentioned in Sue's post) late 60's early 70's was the Mercia in the Burges. The discos we frequented at weekends were at the Mercers Arms next to the football ground and the 'Motown House' at the rear of the Binley Oak, Paynes Lane

I can recall the Mercia now a memory has been triggered, but never frequented the establishment. One more city centre pub I do remember going to in the 70s was the Hare and Squirrel. I think this pub morphed into the Flanker & Firkin (there were several ... & Firkin pubs in Coventry in, what I think would have been the 1990s, I believe they were all part of the same chain supplied by a local brewery (which could have been situated at one of the Firkin pubs)). More recently it's been called the Squirrel - and still is as far as I know.

My in laws ran the Hare & Squirrel briefly in the early seventies handing over to Don Fardon when they left to take over The Grange in Alfall Road which they ran for nearly 20 years.

I wonder if I met them mickw? That's a coincidence! I didn't know Don Fardon ran the Hare & Squirrel - I think he ran the Alhambra at some point in the 70s, but didn't know about the Hare & Squirrel

The one thing I recall about the Brickmaker's Arms, which is in Berkswell rather than Coventry, is that this was the pub Tom Quinn went onto run after he was the licensee at the Herald, on the corner of Sir Henry Parkes Road and Canley Road (our local in the 1980s and 1990s). I'm not sure when this would have been, but I would guess after 1990. I've done a bit of searching on-line, and it looks as if the Peeping Tom in Burton Green is still open - I wonder if the food and drink is as good as it was 40 years ago

You're right Sue he did have the Alhambra but he started his life as a publican at the Squirrel I think the Squirrel must have been a starter pub for new managers as my in laws weren't there very long it was their first pub for Ansells after their initial training. Just checked on Real Ale Rambles and my father in law is listed as running the Squirrel from 1970-1971 unfortunately he is the last listed landlord which is probably when it became a training pub.

Can anyone tell me anything about "The Fob Watch"? I think it is one of the pubs which is scheduled for demolition but I wondered if, judging by the name, it has anything to do with Coventry's watch making trade. Also does "The Three Shuttles" in Howard Street have any historic significance in the ribbon weaving trade? Any help would be so much appreciated. Thanks Frances

The Fob Watch is a comparatively recent name for the Summerland Tavern, which was used when it was rebranded, roughly in the 70s. It has been discussed earlier in the thread and you will find some information if you put 'Summerland' in the search box at the top of the page. The 'new' name was certainly a nod to the watchmaking industry of that area in the past. The Summerland Tavern was one of the haunts of an old uncle of mine who was a train driver who lived in Melbourne Road. He also favoured the Malt Shovel, the Black Horse and of course the Railwaymen's Club in his continual search for refreshment.