ONE PUB ONLY? Nursery Tavern  CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND? The ground is in nowhere land, so a crawl and taxi / public transport is needed. Try  Whitefriars, Gatehouse and the Old Windmill SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT? Gatehouse  CHANGES FROM GUIDE Closed - Beer Engine                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Gatehouse Tavern 46 Hill St CY1 4AN   T 02476 256796   W www.gatehousetavern.co.uk G Martin McKeown   F Good selection of main meals, freshly prepared and cooked to order 11 to 2, 6 to 9.30 Mon – Fri, 11 to 3 Sat,. No food Sun   MP   SK   D O 11 to 3, 5 to 11 Mon - Wed, 11 to 12 Fri - Sat, 12 to 10.30 Sun           Martin built this pub so, despite initial appearances, it only dates back to 1995. With that in mind you have to marvel at the design. It fits perfectly into my mind of a perfect beer drinking place. The scale is just right, space to stand or sit, I liken this to the very best rugby clubhouses I have visited without the language or singing associated with that genre. It offers Sky TV and is busy on all matchdays, both for rugby and the Sky Blues. It is not, however, a place for those who prefer lager. The real ale fans have a place of reverence here and as such the atmosphere is like all such pubs, i.e. more reserved than that in the city centre swilling houses. Having said that, my Sunday lunchtime was shared with the not so successful pub footie team, lagers in their hands. Someone should tell them to try some real ale, it might make a difference to the result or at least keep them on the pitch. UPDATE:  The Gatehouse has been hemmed in by redevelopments but remains a great pub with a very friendly atmosphere. BWV 20.2.05 Church End Goats Milk, What the Fox’s Hat, Classic Gold BWV 7.3.06:  Bass Draught,  Church End Drop Goal,  Fuller’s London Pride                                                 Nursery Tavern 38 – 39 Lord St,  Chapelfields,  CV5 8DA   T 02476 674530   G Harry Minten and St. John Berisford   F Sandwiches and chips plus Sunday lunches 12 to 2    SP   TV O 12 to 11.30 Mon - Thu, 11 to 12 Fri - Sat, 12 to 11 Sun           I loved the bar in which I sat. It was a shrine to Coventry and English rugby. Photos, programmes, memorabilia all set me wanting to make a foolish decision to play chase the egg just one more time. The pub is home to the VP Club 92 (rugby supporters) as well as the F1 Racing club. There are three rooms in all and enough choice of ale to guarantee a session for any drinker. This place is always popular, often crowded and you will never be disappointed by the friendliness of it. Add in the July garden real ale festival and the residents of Chapelfields have a local to cherish. It has all this and good pub food. It is a great street local in an area with plenty of rivalry. Now where is my gum shield? UPDATE:  Nothing has changed; it is still a brilliant locals’ pub, very easy going. BWV 20.2.05:  Adnams Broadside,  Courage Best.  Greene King Old Speckled Hen,  Jennings Cumberland Ale,  John Smith’s Cask Bitter,  Wells Bombardier,  York Yorkshire Terrier,  Thatcher’s Heritage Cider BWV 7.3.06:  Cottage Whippet Gold Cup,  Courage Best,  John Smith’s Cask Bitter,  RCH Old Slug Porter,  Theakston’s Dark Mild,  Wells Bombardier,  Wye Valley Hereford Pale Ale Old Windmill 22 - 23 Spon St  CV1 3BA   Telephone 02476 252183 W www.old-windmill-inn.co.uk G Robin Addey        F Good quality traditional pub food 12 to 2.30   MP   JB   D O 11 to 12, 12 to 12 Sun          Some History remains in Spon St. The post war redevelopment managed to keep the area as an island among the concrete. The Old Windmill, by its nature therefore, offers some novelty in the city. It is timber - framed, multi - roomed with flag - stoned areas as well as cosy carpeted snugs “it is a place to take your mother in law during the day and your mistress in the evening.” A good selection of national ales is on offer, including on this occasion Old Peculier that draws in its devotees. I would choose to return to sit in the room nearest the road, all leaded glass and bench seats and tables. From there you could enjoy a quiet lunchtime crossword and ale session. In the evening, perhaps with a group of blokes, set yourself the task of finding a pub in Coventry that has as much history in the walls and windows. The signs of refurbishment are everywhere but the essential pubbiness remains as people come and go. UPDATE:  There is an extra pump added since last year and Robin has enhanced the real ale reputation. BWV 20.2.05 Courage Directors,  Ruddles County,  Wychwood Hobgoblin,  Greene King Old Speckled Hen, IPA.  Theakston’s Old Peculier BWV 7.3.06:  Archers Golden,  Caledonian Deuchars IPA,  Greene King Old Speckled Hen, Ruddles County,  Hanby Cherry Bank,  Theakston’s Old Peculier,  Wychwood Hobgoblin Whitefriars Old Ale House 114 - 115 Gosford St.  CV1 5DL   T 02476 251655   W www.whitefriarscov.com G Matthew Young   F Good quality quick and simple food from monster breakfasts to chip butties 11 to 3   MP   TV   BM   D O 11 to 11.30, 11 to 11 Sun           Whitefriars reopened as an ale House in 2000. Everything about the pub shouts quality and character; the building, the beers, the staff and the customers. Whitefriars is a pub from the top drawer. The pub has four different drinking areas all with odd shapes, slopes and angles plus a beer garden that hosts three beer festivals a year in April, May and August. In fact the building is so quirky that one can imagine it being quite a challenge after a few ales. Those ales are always changing, often rare and always served with enthusiasm by a team that has been here for some time and as a result looks after the beer thirsts of the customers with the care only found in the very best of real ale houses.           I really liked this pub. This was due in part to the chat I had with some new found friends from the University, too conveniently located opposite. They talked about how requests for new ales are satisfied by Paul’s Monday beer searches. They also raved about the food that is simple and appropriate to a proper pub. Another unusual feature is that the pub has upstairs rooms and a separate bar there that is opened when demanded. This is often, especially at weekends when City fans return after the game, old habits die hard even when the team has moved. 6000 beers in five years is a fantastic achievement. BWV 7.3.06:  Archers Billy No Mates,  Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen,  Oldershaw Alma’s Brew,  Scatter Rock Teign Valley Tipple,  Slaughterhouse Black Tan COVENTRY CAMRA RICOH ARENA    LOCAL BREWERY Church End Brewery Ridge Lane, Nr. Nuneaton, Warks CV10 0RD 01827 713080 www.churchendbrewery.co.uk WETHERSPOONS The Earl of Mercia  18 High Street  Coventry  CV1 5RE  Opening Times:  Sun-Wed 9am-1am; Thu-Sat 9am-2am  The Flying Standard  2-10 Trinity Street  Coventry  CV1 1FL  Opening Times:  Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am  The Bear and Ragged Staff  50 King Street  Bedworth  CV12 8JA  Opening Times:  Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am