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

Drinking in an Old English Town

Royal British Sailor, 145 Far Gosford Street

These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
	1862	1872	ROYAL BRITISH SAILOR / ROYAL SAILOR / BRITISH SAILOR
	1872	1927	CRICKETERS ARMS
The building in 1988-89 as Plastows Fish, Game & Poultry. William IV (1765-1837) was the third son of George III. He joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman in 1779 and was soon a captain. He frequently disobeyed the orders of his superiors and violated the rules of discipline, so he was not allowed to command a ship. He was nevertheless promoted by 1801 to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet. The name to which this pub is referred changes several times during its short 10 year reign. It would appear that its correct name was the ROYAL BRITISH SAILOR. However, as explained below, newspapers often referred to it as either just the Royal Sailor or, on one occasion, the British Sailor. The earliest found mention of the Royal British Sailor is from the Coventry Standard in August 1862, with William Kimberley being granted the license. The following month he was charged with allowing two thirsty men to have half a pint of beer each on a Sunday morning, but being a first offence was let off upon putting 2s. 6d. in the poor box plus expenses. In January 1864 Kimberley was charged with the same offence yet again. Despite being a second time, he once again got away with the exact same fine! Strangely, however, the newspaper named the pub as just the British Sailor. From December 1864 onwards, with a report in the Coventry Standard the name appears to have dropped the "British" and become the Royal Sailor, although in August 1866 the name Royal British Sailor appears again, but To Let. Ellen Short takes over the license from William Kimberley at this time, but in November that year the pub is To Be Let once again, and appears to be up for sale during most of 1867 and again in September 1870. In the 1871 census Thomas Smith, Publican, is living with his family at 145 Far Gosford Street, confirming the location to be the same as that occupied the following year by the CRICKETERS ARMS. The last mention of the Royal British Sailor is the transfer of license from Thomas Smith to Arthur Friswell in the Coventry Herald and Observer in May 1872.
LICENSEES: 1862 - 1866 William Kimberley 1866 Ellen Short 1866 William King 1868 J. H. Gardner 1871 - 1872 Thomas Smith (moved to the Hare and Hounds just up the street) 1872 Arthur Friswell