Sent to Coventry
It's now 30 years since the Specials wrote their signature song Ghost Town describing the situation in Coventry following the decline of industry, but what has changed in the city that people just don't want to be sent to?
In those 30 years Coventry has had its ups and downs. From having a reputation as the Detroit of Britain, with Jaguar, Triumph and Peugeot all producing cars in the city, Coventry now finds itself almost completely devoid of heavy industry.
Coventry has been forced to reinvent itself. Education and the service industries are now the big employer and Coventry can now be seen as a varsity town.
Sadly, the pub trade in the city seems to have been left behind. Empty pubs are easy to come by in the city centre and remaining licensees are worried for the future.
In a city centre with three Wetherspoons houses within a 10-minute walk of one another, independent licensees struggle to attract the big-spending student market.
Martin McKeown, owner and licensee of the Gatehouse Tavern, has spent 30 years running pubs in and around Coventry. He said: "We just can't compete with Wether-spoons with their buying power and have to try to do our best to provide a good service."
This point was echoed by Michelle Gilmour, licensee of the Windmill. Trade at the pub has suffered since the arrival of a new-build Wetherspoons. "We are a real ale pub and we used to rely on the student trade but with the new Wetherspoons open till 3am around the corner we're losing them as we can't compete on price for either beer or food," she said.
With a relatively small city centre confined within its ring road it suffers from a disjointed feeling. Bars, pubs and restaurants are scattered throughout the city centre and it lacks a dedicated bar/restaurant quarter.
Neighbouring cities such as Birmingham and Leicester offer areas where trade can circulate between venues, but with no such place in the city, Coventry is found lacking.
To combat this, and problems such as rising business rates, CV One, an independent company, has been charged with "managing Coventry's city centre and promoting the city and its surrounding region as an attractive place in which to invest, work, live and to visit". They clearly have their work cut out.
All this is not to say that Coventry has not achieved its successes. Local bar Inspire, recently nominated as one of the top 50 bars in the UK, and local pubs such as the Gatehouse Tavern and Browns, have illustrated that there is potential to succeed in Coventry, but there is an obvious need for improvement.
With Coventry hosting football for the Olympics in 2012 and the Rugby World Cup at the Ricoh Arena, the city must up its game to provide the high levels of amenities expected and to stop making being sent to Coventry a punishment.
Martin McKeown is the owner/manager of the Gatehouse Tavern, which has a strong local following and a reputation for great food.
How much will a pint cost me?
Real ales are £2.85 across the board and we offer a selection of lagers from £2.85 to £3. We also offer premium beers.
Do you do food?
We do a great homecooked menu with locally sourced produce.
Who are your customers?
I have a great following of customers from both this pub and previous pubs who come for the quality and service.
What are the issues affecting trade in Coventry?
The main problem is the supermarkets. They sell beer at low prices without responsibility for the drinkers. The city has no variety in terms of pubs and there does not seem to be any encouragement from the council to create it.
What attracts people?
People feel safe and comfortable in the surrounding. We offer local ales and reward customer loyalty with our loyalty cards.
Ken Brown is owner and licensee of the independent Browns bar, which is popular with students and professionals alike.
How much will a pint cost me?
German pilsner is £2.80 and we offer a selection of premium products at varying prices.
Do you do food?
We offer at least 20 homecooked dishes daily made with fresh produce and catering for all people.
Who are your customers?
We get a lot of professionals from the city and a variety from bankers to students. We also do well from visitors to the city.
What are the issues affecting trade in Coventry?
There is a culture in the city and the country in general to encourage volume drinking. Supermarket ideas are dominating pubs and they seem to stack them high and sell them cheap.
What attracts people?
We offer a great selection of food and drinks and I think people enjoy the friendly ambience that we have here.
Mark Gill is the assistant manager at Inspire, a converted church spire now known for its wide selection of Continental beers.
How much will a pint cost me?
We offer premium beers from £2.60 to £4 and carry a lot of specialist beers ranging between £3.25 and £6.
Do you do food?
We run a sandwich/panini menu at the moment but aim to move to a new homecooked menu shortly.
Who are your customers?
Beer aficionados and a lot of local trade. We tend to attract people with a good understanding of beer and have a friendly crowd of all ages. We also attract a lot of barstaff who appreciate their beer.
What are the issues affecting trade in Coventry?
We are suffering with the closing of bars that used to attract a similar clientele to ourselves. People are now choosing to drink in the suburbs or just stay at home.
What attracts people?
The fact that we are based in a church spire and are classed as the city's third spire helps. We carry more than 80 beers and offer a unique environment and a knowledgeable staff. It's a great place to enjoy a beer.
Mary Wingfield is manager of freehouse Whitefriars, a historic pub known for its real ales and beer festivals.
How much will a pint cost me?
Between £2.60 and £3.00 for real ales, with lagers and ciders anywhere between £2.80 and £3.10
Do you do food?
Yes, we offer homecooked fresh food throughout the day.
Who are your customers?
Our main customers are the lecturers from the university and some students. We are very popular with the ale drinkers and people travel here for our beer festivals.
What are the issues affecting trade in Coventry?
We struggle with prices going up. Whilst we are lucky that we can shop around due to us being a freehouse we are still feeling the effects of price rises.
What attracts people?
We offer an always changing selection of beer which keeps the customers coming back. This is combined with a family friendly and relaxed atmosphere, which helps us.
The Publican also visited: The terrace + the Golden Cross + the Royal Oak + Rosie Malones + Escape Bar + Maison + the Town Hall
