My Pub: The Botanist, Coventry

The Botanist, part of the New World Trading Company (NWTC), boasts an evergrowing expansion of its business with 24 venues dotted across the UK – most recently in the city of Coventry.

The operator

We have been named as one of the fastest growing businesses in the UK by The Sunday Times​ Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100, which highlights the most successful private companies with the fastest growing sales over the past three years. We appreciate that no movement can genuinely flourish from individuals. Unified teams achieve tremendous things. Together, we have fun, we have high standards, we work hard, we innovate relentlessly and we smile, a lot.

The pub

The Botanist started with a seed; an idea to create a secret garden of food and drink for all to enjoy, with the first venue opening in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, in 2012. A further 16 Botanists have since opened, with more planned for the rest of 2019.

Our pubs boast a selection of world famous beers and ales, curious cocktails handcrafted by our bar-tists, classic and contemporary cuisine created by our chefs and vibrant live music played by local artists in each of our venues. We cater for all guests and occasions; whether joining us for a casual meal, for late-night drinks, celebrations or some family time with the children. We have menus and a dedicated team ready to tailor the Botanist experience to each and every occasion.

The venue

Our latest Botanist is located in the heart of Coventry’s Cathedral Lane

s Shopping Centre, looking out onto Lady Godiva’s iconic monument. 

The pub is adorned with trinkets, while plants climb the walls and palm trees reach our magnificent glass roof. Fairy lights cover the two elegant bandstands in the centre of the venue, while a lazy river flows around the room between tables and beneath ornate footbridges. 

Our stunning restaurant mezzanine floor has the historic spire of the old cathedral and the equally beautiful holy trinity spire as its backdrop.

The staff

Our staff are the driving force behind everything we do. Our aim is to find and develop like-minded people and to create experts that deliver unrivalled customer experiences.
We offer our staff fantastic career progression opportunities within the business. This is evident as many of our managers started in the positions that they now oversee.

Our creative bartenders strive to offer drinks with theatre, which surprise and delight our guests with every order. They also undergo intensive training within the bartending team to ensure their cocktail, gin, ale and beer knowledge is tip-top.

The food

Our team of chefs keep up to date with the latest trends within the food industry to ensure we meet the desires of our target market. Our chefs use a menu that contains influences and flavours from all over the world. Guests are served an array of delicious food from the deli, grill and rotisserie, which includes hanging kebabs, hearty Sunday roasts, a range of vegan and vegetarian dishes, as well as a breakfast menu.

In 2018, NWTC launched a chef academy to ensure we provide opportunities and training to the youngest chef talent, and awards for Chef of the Year on offer each year.

Difficulties 

The environment in which we live is fast-paced and ever changing. Our teams challenge themselves daily and work tirelessly to keep up to date with all the latest trends and innovations within the food and drink sector.

Our customers are our inspiration and, ultimately, we want to ensure that we offer our guests an exceptional drinking and dining experience that they deserve.

Perspective

With our venue, food and unrivalled drinks section being so unique to Coventry and its surrounding areas, it’s no surprise customers come to us for some real escapism. Coventry is on the up after winning the bid to become City of Culture 2021 and we are heavily involved in as many aspects as we can be to add extra appeal. With all that being said, we are immensely proud to have a site in such a diverse and historical city.

We are evolving all the time to keep our offering current and we enjoy listening to our guests about what events they would like to see, in turn, firmly keeping a finger on the pulse of this nourishing city in which we are so fortunate to be based.

The future

With growing desire for the Botanist experience, NWTC will be opening a collection of new Botanist venues in 2019, with our next adventure due to crop up in Bath, Somerset. Looking ahead to the future, we will continue to innovate in everything we do. We’re always evolving; never standing still. The individuals in our teams will continue to grow and strive to be the very best, delivering a unique experience for each of our guests.

As for our Coventry branch, we want to be more than just the best new venture in town. We will continue to work hard in order to maintain being the best indefinitely.