COVENTRY.

The pub has recently changed hands and been given a face lift although I was told more work was to be done in the near future. There's an art gallery at the back of the pub, with local work often changing and a piano sat at the end of the pub, a young girl was pottering about on this for a while. Other than this, a wide range of music was offered from behind the bar and my tastes were considered while chatting to the new landlord and lady. The bar is situated on the right as you come in, and toilets were on the left just past the bar. The pub was clean and warm although the toilets were a bit chilly. I thought I'd just missed out on food service, as food is served between 12 and 3, but the landlady rustled me up a sandwich saying I'd only got away with it because the kitchen had only just closed! There is a pub dog called "Mutley", very friendly but seemed to favour sleeping in the most inconvenient places in the pub!Good quality beer, full pint served with a smile! The glass was thoroughly washed before I got my pint. I was even allowed to "try before I buy". The beers are ever changing with the exception of Black Sheep. Although I missed my chance at the full menu selection, and couldn't have the shepherd's pie which sounds great, I had a bacon and egg sandwich for £2. A clean pub and made to feel very welcome, even though it was my first visit.

This apparently is the oldest pub in Coventry and on the cold winters day we visited, it certainly felt that way. Despite the two real fires blazing away in the two drinking areas, the bar staff still needed an electric heater that they could stand in front of between serving. The building is very olde worldy and has the feel of a well worn glove. That said, it has bags of character. The bar is to the left of entrance - you enter via the central door, though there are two others to choose from. The small bar a limited selection of non-alcoholic beverages and the choice for the discerning non-beer drinker is limited. The two beers on at the time were good and were kept and served well. The bar seating is at a bench round the wall and stools at round tables for the rest. The real fire does warm in winter, though you need to be sitting directly in front of it. The other room to the right of entrance has its own real fire and is decorated similarly to the bar room. There is an area towards the back of the pub for 'games' and a further drinking area. No food is served here except for Sunday lunch. For the summer there is n outside drinking area. Access for the disabled is possible, though wheelchair users will find it difficult.

A very busy three rommed pub in the heart of the community. The Nursery hosts regular beer festivals of up to 50 real ales. Usually it has about four guest beers on, Enville White, Everads Tiger, Kitchen Manic Mango and Beowulf Wiglaf on this occasion. Each room of the pub has a theme, the bar to the left has a rugby theme. It also has an open booth system which limits the seating area, but allows for larger groups to sit together. Take a look in the glass cases around the walls. A TV is here too. The bar to the right is thinner, but has more traditional tables and chairs. The bar is longer and wooden. The third room is for sitting only and leads to the toilets which are OK but not good for disabled access. The pub itself is also up four steps. Food is served at lunch times only and is traditional fayre (Sunday lunch is good value) and wholesome. Prices are reasonable, though don't expect a great vegetarian choice. The beer garden is both out front and back - they now hold the festivals at the Coventry Rugby Club. Quite a way from the station, a taxi ride costs about £3 and is worth it for the pubs further up the road.

This is a very old pub/building situated in the medieval Spon Street. It is the last of the surviving buildings of Coventry that are in full working order. The street is full of shops and bars all set within something out of Robin Hood - buildings leaning over, wattle and daub, etc. The pub has a main front entrance - bend if you are tall. You then walk down to the small bar area. This is an 'L' shape and is partly in the small front room to the left. This means it can get busy trying to get served at a weekend evening, but not so at other times. The pub is multi-roomed, all in the old style with boarded ceilings and 'flag' floors. All the rooms are small and cosy with a good feel to them, none are the same shape, nor perpendicular, but that's that nature of the building. There is a wood burning stove in the main bar seating area, along with a mixture of tables, chairs and stools. The other front rooms have bench seating - narrow and one has a beautiful fireplace with gas effect fire that keeps the room warm in winter, even at lunchtimes. The one small matter that might prevent you going back, is that the music on the jukebox is 'metal' and this can put you off your pint if you are a pop fan. The beer served here tends to be from the large regionals, but it is served well - best without the sparkler in my experience here and is about £2.20 a pint on average. They do have a guest ale on and this time it was Breakspear Best Bitter - £2.15. Food is only served here at lunchtimes and they have a special curry night on Tuesdays for about a £5. The back room which is a bit of a store room at present, but you can still sit in there, retains the large brewing vessels that were used many moons ago. Two large barrels adorn the walls and a large brick kiln-type fireplace dominates the centre of the room. Just outside of this room, note the hooded pew seat by the wall. Not that far from the station and worth the walk.

Also try:

Whitefriars Old Ale House - 114-115 Gosford Street, Coventry. Food: 11-3pm & 5-8pm.

The Town Wall Tavern - Bond Street, Coventry, CV1 4AH. (0247) 622 0963. Food: Mon-Sat 11-3, Sun 12-3.

Coventry Accommodation:

Meriden Hotel, 155 Main Road, Meriden, Coventry, West Midlands, CV7 7NH. (01676) 522005. Prices: single from: £42.50, double from: £67.50 per room per night, discount available View. Almar Lodge Guest House, 37 Mount Nod Way, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV5 7GY. (01203) 468841. Prices: single from: £16, double from: £28 per room per night, discount available. View. Chester House Guest House, 3 Chester Street, Coventry, CV1 4DH. (01203) 223857. Prices: single: £18, double: £36 per room per night, discount available. View. Brookfields, 134 Butt Lane, Allesley, Coventry, CV5 9FE. (01203) 404866. Prices: single from: £25, double from: £45, per room per night. View Crest Guest House, 39 Friars Road, Coventry, CV1 2LJ. (01203) 227822. Prices: single from: £25, double from: £48 per room per night. View Gilcrist Guest House, 106 St. James Lane, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV3 3GS. (01203) 302001. Prices: single from: £18, double: £30 per room per night View. Lodge Farm House Bed and Breakfast, Westwood Heath Road, Coventry, CV4 8AA. (01203) 466786. Prices: single: £22, double from: £38 per room per night. View. Falcon Hotel, 13 - 19 Manor Road, Coventry, CV1 2LH. (01203) 258615. Prices: single from: £45, double from: £60 per room per night. Discount available. View. Britannia Hotel, Cathedral Square, Coventry, CV1 5RP. (01203) 633733. Prices: single from: £35, double from: £55 per room per night. Discount available. View. Brandon Hall (0870 4009191 for booking).