The Aardvark, on The Butts, is due to close on 20 July, while The Town Wall Tavern, on Bond Street, has confirmed its final day will be Sunday 26 July.
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The Lion’s Inn, a former pub turned Indian restaurant in Coundon, has also closed after eight years of trading.
‘Given everything’
In a post on social media, The Town Wall Tavern said the closure was “not the ending we wanted” and said the team had “given everything” to keep the pub going.
The post said: “We have given everything we could to keep the pub going, but sadly we can no longer continue under our agreement with Stonegate.”
The pub said it would hold a final weekend of music, karaoke and open mic events before handing back the keys.
The Lion’s Inn also confirmed its closure on social media, stating: “Our Lion’s Inn journey has come to an end. Thank you for your continuous support over the last eight years.”
The venue directed customers to its sister restaurants, Sonargaon in Cheylesmore and Le Raj Spice in Kenilworth.
‘Not surprised’
Graham Paine, from the Coventry and District branch of CAMRA, told the BBC he was not surprised by the closures, citing wider pressures on operators including higher employment costs, beer duty, VAT and reduced consumer spending.
He also raised concerns about the impact of tied pub agreements, arguing operators tied to pub companies can face higher beer prices than free houses.
Stonegate, which owns The Aardvark and The Town Wall Tavern, told the BBC the two pubs would close for a short period while it prepared them to reopen under new management.
A spokesperson said: “We look forward to reopening the doors to both pubs and welcoming guests back very soon.”
The closures come shortly after the Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) opened a formal investigation into Stonegate’s treatment of tied tenants between July 2021 and July 2026.
The regulator said it would examine whether Stonegate gave current and prospective tenants clear and accurate information, including around pub condition, planned works, financial forecasts, rent information and communication during negotiations.
The PCA stressed it had not reached any conclusions on whether Stonegate had breached the Pubs Code.
Stonegate has previously said isolated case studies do not represent the success of its wider estate and pointed to record investment in its properties, record tenant applications and longer publican tenures.
