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

Drinking in an Old English Town

Wine and Spirit Vaults, 52 Cross Cheaping

These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
	1812	1866	WINE AND SPIRIT VAULTS
	1866	1880	GRAPES
	1880	1910	CRITERION
Cross Cheaping 1892. The Criterion can be seen on the right. The Coventry Standard in November 1866 advertised that C. J. Nutt, of the Wine and Spirit Vaults, 52, Cross Cheaping, was relinquishing his business in favour of J. Clarke after fifty years. In Kelly's 1868 P.O. directory the wine & spirit merchant is erroneously listed as John Clarke. His name can been confirmed in the 1871 census as Josiah. It appears to be Josiah that gave this pub the name the GRAPES. In August 1879 the Coventry Times reported the liquidation of current licensee Henry William Wigham, and in January the following year the premises re-opened as the CRITERION.
LICENSEES: c1812 - 1866 Charles James Nutt 1866 - 1874 Josiah Clarke
Street plan of 1851