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

Drinking in an Old English Town

Vine Cottage, 8 Cross Street

These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
	c1881	1940	VINE COTTAGE
	1896	1913	BEERHOUSE
In 1881 Henry Francis, previously landlord of the Junction Arms, which had closed and become a private dwelling, moved to a new pub, the VINE INN, at No.8 Cross Street. The pub was part of a row known as the "Hitchings Buildings" It had an on-beerhouse license from 1896 to 1913 From 1924 to 1932 it is occasionally listed as just the Vine Inn. The pub continued to trade as the Vine Cottage until February 1940 when renewal of the license was refused due to redundancy - four licensed houses within 200 yards. A compensation offer of £4,650 was turned down by the pub owners and the case referred to the Customs and Excise authorities. This was formerly a far more common name than it is today and was already in use in the fourteenth century. Vines do grow quite readily in England and can be trained to cover buildings.
LICENSEES: 1881 - 1886 Henry Francis 1890 - 1907 Sarah Francis 1907 Fanny Emma Poole 1911 - 1912 Frank Poole 1912 - 1922 Arthur Henry Thompson (commited suicide Sat. 23rd Dec. 1922 - Cov. Herald) 1924 - 1934 John Louis Bayliss 1934 - 1938 Harry Hollick 1938 - 1940 Frank Moore Pritchard
Street plan of 1851