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

Drinking in an Old English Town

Bear, High Street

These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
	1572	1811	White Bear
	1811	1971	Craven Arms
	1971	1981	Bear
Previously the CRAVEN ARMS On the 18th July 1977 the Coventry Evening Telegraph published a list of the current planning consent requests, which included: "MITCHELLS and Butlers Ltd., of Camp Hill Brewery, Birmingham, have applied to demolish The Bear Inn in High Street, Coventry, and erect offices suitable for building society, banking or insurance company purposes." Coventry City Council actually opposed this request initially, attempting to persuade the brewery to retain the pub, but in the end commercial pressures won the day, and in mid-November 1980 the Bear's demolition was begun, in readiness for the new "ultra modern" Barclays Bank premises. With sincere thanks to Laurence Benjamin Arnold for permission to use this photograph of The Bear.
LICENSEES: 1978 Jack Cole