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

Drinking in an Old English Town

Royal Hotel, 60 Cross Cheaping

These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
	1836	1843	WINE AND SPIRIT VAULTS
	1843	1880	LIQUOR VAULTS / LIQUOR SHOP
	1880	1896	BOARD
	1896	1911	ROYAL HOTEL
	1911	1936	ROYAL VAULTS
This pub stood on Cross Cheaping, facing Broadgate, by the entrance through to Butcher Row. The first directory to record the name The Royal was Kelly's in 1896, who still listed Bradley Keen as licensee, although he'd handed that over to Edward Townson in October the previous year. For 15 years, from April 1896, the Royal Hotel was run by W. F. Lane (whose name was famously emblazoned on the side facing Broadgate), and then from 1900 his widow, Emily, after William was sadly killed in action on the 28th May 1900 in the Boer war, aged only 47 years. He had served in the army for 23 years. When Frederick Henry Wells Moore took over the tenancy from Emily Lane in 1911 he changed the name to the ROYAL VAULTS, which continued until its doors closed for the final time on Monday 11th May 1936, after which it was demolished for the building of Trinity Street. This name is a simple statement of loyalty to the monarchy.
LICENSEES: 1896 - 1900 William Flower Lane (Killed in action 28th May 1900 in the Boer war, South Africa, aged 47 years) 1900 - 1911 Emily Victoria Lane (widow of William. Moved to the Lamp Tavern, Market Place)
Street plan of 1851