Coventry Pubs

Hi all The landlady of the Festival is appealing for information about the date when the pub opened in 1962. This is not a quiz, she really wants to know, making an appeal on Coventry & Warwickshire Radio this morning. The prize for info is a free meal for two. Can anyone help from our history site, please. ps. Pam & I have visited the Festival for Sunday lunch today & have been delighted. Landlady Jane, eagerly awaits help regards the date in 1962 when the pub opened its doors for the first time. The prize is very worthwhile, Pam & Philip approved.

Hi all, Today, I have a result for the question regards the date of the opening of the Festival pub. It was opened 27th November 1962. The date is recorded in the Coventry Evening Telegraph, second picture on the right. An odd quirk is that other than the brands & prices, the news items on this page of the Telegraph could have been today. Not a lot changes with human nature, it never has, or does. Only in our own minds! I hope that the results of my next post, whatever the subject is, does not see me reduced to a blob of jelly. That was often the concern of Peter Sallis (Norman Clegg). He says that I will have to keep my eyes shut or not look!

How do! Anyone one know of any photos of the old Golden Fleece in Bell Green? Peace, Jim

I'm afraid I don't have any photos but I have so many memories of Armfield Street and the Fleece. I hope someone does have a picture. I lived in Proffitt Avenue. My pals and I had our first pint in the Fleece in 1964 at the tender age of 16 and a few months old. We would go early doors really just to listen to the juke box rather than to get a drink. We also went to the Weavers just round the corner on Bell Green Road for the same reason. As very young kids we would go to the outdoor of the Fleece for cigarettes and with a couple of pop bottles to fill with mild for Dad. No nanny state then. The Fleece was a very large, imposing building and it was quite a surprise when I heard it had been demolished. There was a non-conformist church hall opposite where mum and dad made us attend Sunday school - and we are Catholic !

Hi Walrus, Thanks for your memories. interesting stuff. Let's hope someone finds some photos! All the best, Jim

Hi all, My travels today took me to Cheylesmore, where I recorded the only remains of this pub in Daventry Rd.

Gosh Philip, they bring back memories. They were outside the (now demolished) Cheylesmore Pub, where there were two of these sodium lamps in the front car park, and one round in the back garden area. The garden was divided (in the early fifties) into two with a laurel hedge down it's centre. The far side, which was lawn, had another of these lamps - which could still be seen from Cecily Road, but is now hidden by the overgrown hedge bordering the back of the pub. It was always very eery when they switched the lamps on at dusk as they took a while to "warm up" and once they achieved full brightness the light they gave off was quite intense and cast very dark shadows - quite scary to a young child.

I can remember a story once about the old "large" pubs around Coventry having a built in off-licence to the side that sold barrel beer if you took your own bottle or jug. I believe the Red House on Stoney Stanton Rd had one. Part of the story was the dads could send the kids down with the empty jugs to get them filled up. I think the old Pilot pub on Burnaby Rd also had one, and The Wheatsheaf on the Foleshill Rd.

Lots of pubs had separate entrances where you could buy off-sales. It was usually called the 'outdoor' and they sold draught beer in your own containers, as well as bottles. Pub licences were usually for 'sale of intoxicating liquor on or off the premises.' I grew up in Ernesford Grange and the Bear & Staff had an outdoor which we used as kids for crisps, lemonade etc. Many of these outdoors have disappeared now, I believe.

That is very true. They are reopening it on Friday night after after a makeover and having a big "relaunch party". My daughter has won a Free Radio competition with a prize of a free meal for 5 people I am being "forced" to go along as one of the party in order to test the food which I am looking forward to immensely.

The Wheel in Sewall Highway had one, The Kings Head in Blackberry Lane also had one, as did The Courthouse.

Also the Devonshire Arms and the Painted Lady.

Hi all Growing up in Sewall Highway (if I have ever grown up) as I did, it was a common site to see jugs of beer being carried home from the Devon, close to Sunday lunch time.

Hi Philip i was born in Sewall Highway, and i can remember the short cut to the Courthouse pub that was situated in the cresent my dad used to drink in it before The Wheel opened, happy days.

Hi Bernie, Hi all I cannot ever remember either my mum or dad ever going to the pub. Neither were big drinkers, but they both liked a drop. Davenports used to deliver to our home (they delivered to our home here in Holbrooks until the service stopped), anyway, they both liked stout or a brown ale. Dad even brewed his own ginger wine & ginger beer. The ginger wine was drunk as a 'cure all' medicine which I was allowed to drink & I really liked. What I would give to taste a glassful now.