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

Drinking in an Old English Town

Nugget, Coundon Green

These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
	1861	1926	BEERHOUSE
	1879	1966	NUGGET INN
	1966	1979	SKY BLUE TAVERN
	1979	present	NUGGET
The Nugget, a very large art deco styled building from 1938 which was built in anticipation of housing development on Coundon Wedge, which never happened, so the pub seems something of a white elephant. Between 1861 and 1926 this was the BEERHOUSE, Coundon. In the 1861 census Thomas Green is a labourer and beer house keeper in Coundon. In 1871 he is a labourer publican, Coundon Green The Coventry Times of 19 June 1889 records that 'It is said that the name was given to the house by its late owner and landlord, Thomas Green, some thirty five years ago, after returning from a visit to the Australian goldfields'. However, since it was a beerhouse between 1874 and 1926, it is difficult to see where a nugget could have been of any use. It is also said that the pub was a starting point for drovers on their way to Coventry. The present very grand public house was built a short distance from the Nugget's original location opposite Northbrook Road. In 1966 it was renamed SKY BLUE TAVERN for a while (after the Coventry FC team) and then returned to the NUGGET in 1979. Right: The Nugget in March 2012. (Photo courtesy of Cliff Jones.)
LICENSEES: 1854 - 1888 Thomas Green & farm manager 1892 Mrs Elizabeth Green 1900 Henry Green 1904 - 1908 Edward William Cowpe Pendleton 1912 Mrs Edward William Cowpe Pendleton 1926 John Shirley 1935 J. G. Shirley 1938 John Leslie Kimberley 1938 George Henry Harding c1942 - 1944 Albert Arnold (also at Three Horseshoes, Stoney Stanton Road, and Windmill, Spon Street) 1957 - 1960 and onwards Leslie Wilson (see also Raglan Tavern, Raglan Street) 1982 The Tarbotton family 1990 - 1993 Chris Archer 1993 - 1995 Dawn Hawkins 1995 - 1998 Ian Martin (also Assistant Manager to the two previous licensees) 2014 Phillip Burford