The Definitive Guide to the History of
Pubs and Beerhouses in Coventry

Drinking in an Old English Town

Festival, Leaf Lane

This pub could have commomorated any number of festivals, but in fact the name was selected by Mitchells and Butlers to commemorate the Coventry Cathedral Festival. The new cathedral was completed in 1962 and the Festival pub opened on the 30th November that year. In 1982 it was called 'a very poular estate pub' and Chris Arnott pointed out that for a building that went up at the same time as the new cathedral, the pub lacked any startling or exciting design features. In fact it is a typical modern red brick box.

LICENSEES: Present - Hugh and Jane McGaffney