coventry

Coventry, a thriving and vibrant city, famous for Lady Godiva

Steeped in myth and legend and surrounded by breathtaking Warwickshire countryside, Coventry offers a rich choice of culture and history, with a range of museums and galleries including a world famous cathedral, one of England's finest mediaeval guildhalls and a museum holding the world's largest display of British road transport.

Coventry is also a place where visitors can relax, enjoy themselves and have fun with excellent shopping facilities, a bustling bar scene, a variety of entertainment venues and a truly global offering of some of the world's finest cuisines.  Coventry's unique position within the heart of England provides visitors with fantastic air, road and rail links into the region.  With both Coventry and Birmingham international airports close by, direct access to five motorway links and an impressive rail network linking Coventry with many of the UK's major cities including London, getting here couldn't be easier!

Recent developments

IKEA comes to Coventry

IKEA's first city centre store in the UK opened on 16 December in Coventry's city centre. Spread over seven floors, the new store, built using environmentally sustainable building materials, provides shoppers with iconic IKEA products in a unique urban setting.
Once inside, visitors to IKEA Coventry will benefit from four shopping floors featuring over 9500 products, 50 room sets and three full size homes showcasing IKEA products in inspirational real life settings.

http://www.IKEA.co.uk/coventry

The Belgrade reopens

The Belgrade Theatre opened it's doors once again in September 2007 after undergoing a major redevelopment project.  The redevelopment saw the introduction of an impressive new entrance and downstairs bar, 850 seat air-conditioned main auditorium and a 250-300 seat second auditorium.  The main auditorium is host to a fantastic programme of well known touring productions; whilst the creation of the new intimate performance space B2 allows the Belgrade to host some of the most original and ground-breaking touring companies in the country.

The theatre also houses a newly established permanent exhibition space run in conjunction with the Herbert Art Gallery.  Catering facilities are provided by The Restaurant and Cornerhaus.

http://www.thebelgrade.co.uk

Greyfriar's Walk

The retailers of City Arcade, Market Square, Bull Yard and Shelton Square have come together to create Greyfriars Walk; a newly rebranded retail quarter on the south side of the city centre.  Greyfriars Walk is host to a diverse range of reputable independant retailers as well as some nationally recognised names.

Shops include Skud Clothing, The Gadget Shop, Silver Glade Jewellery and Garb.  Refreshments and meals are available from Fishy Moore's, Liquid Cafe Winebar and Flames Cafe Bar to name a few.  Other retailers include cake decorators to furniture suppliers and costume hire to game shops.

http://www.greyfriarswalk.co.uk

The Isle

Las Vegas has come to Coventry in the form of The Isle casino and entertainment complex.  Located within the £113 million Ricoh Arena, The Isle houses the UK's largest casino with blackjack, roulette and poker tables, as well as a 'high rollers' room.

Explore the bars, starting with a drink in the lively Bar 87 or savour a cocktail at the stylish Isle One while overlooking the 35 metre high waterfall and tropical lagoon.  Later check out the live music or entertainment at the show bar, Lady G's.

Visitors can also enjoy a delicious meal at Farradays' restaurant or sample the tasty variety offered at the Tradewinds Marketplace foodcourt.

http://www.theislecoventry.co.uk

Old Fire Station

The Old Fire Station overlooks Millenium Place and the Whittle Arches.  This Edwardian building, formerly Coventry's city centre fire station, was closed in the 1980's and left vacant for many years until a redevelopment programme began in 2006.

Having reopened in December 2006, the building has been extensively refurbished and converted into an up market Asian fusion restaurant and cafe bar called MYO and Escape Bar.


MYO
Indian, Thai, Chinese, Mediterranean and Italian cuisine are all on offer at this fantastic buffet style restaurant. The open plan kitchen allows diners to choose their own individual dish. There's an extensive salad bar plus a chocolate fountain for those diners not looking to count the calories.

Escape Bar
Escape Bar is a modern classic melding textures like wood, stone, marble and stainless steel with glass to create a unique drinking and live music environment - a favourite place with the chic and cosmopolitan - quite the perfect place to blend in with the natives.

Still to come ...

The Herbert. Arts. Media. Museum. History Centre.

The Herbert is at the cultural heart of Coventry and, whilst still open to the public, is under going a major redevelopment and extension programme.  The work is due to be completed early-mid 2008 and the new Herbert will house the existing art gallery and museum along with creative media studios, an arts information centre and a history centre for the city's archives.  Its aim is to work with the people of Coventry to explore and celebrate the creativity and cultural heritage of all it's communities.

http://www.theherbert.org

Belgrade Plaza

Complementing the multi-million pound improvements to the Belgrade Theatre, Belgrade Plaza will feature two hotels, including the five star Radisson Edwardian Hotel, more than 85,000 sq.ft. of leisure and retail units including Gala Casino and Metro Bar & Grill and around 400 apartments.

The £100 million development will be a lively, vibrant entertainment and living quarter, which will bring major benefits to the city centre and operators.

Phase 1 has been completed with the opening of the award winning Belgrade Plaza Car Park and work on phase 2 began during 2007.  The scheme is due for completion in 2009 and will form part of a very attractive and vibrant gateway to the city.

http://www.belgradeplaza.co.uk