Coventry city centre (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter sylus
- Start date
Corrado
Well-Known Member
could be worse - at least money is being spent improving the city, bars, restaurants, shops etc while trying to attract the students.
Doesn't bother me at all
rupert_bear
Well-Known Member
Coventry City town centre is an urban doss hole, nothing to do with students either, in fact you don't see that many to be fair. Tripping over beggars and their well nourished dog is becoming an art, one doorway has a make up double bed in it ffk sake !!
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Hobo
Well-Known Member
It's up to the businesses to come. You can't say the council has given up because the developments student and otherwise have improved the profile. For years Coventry and Wolverhampton missed out as most of the available funding was thrown at the Birmingham.
Broken Hearted Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
You're right they can now go shopping in Birmingham surrounded by split bin bags rotting food and a stench that masks it's normal smell.
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
I will always defend my city as it get some undeserved stick but the state of the city centre is indefensible.
I think one of Coventrys major plus points is it's convenient location but I also think that gives the city centre a problem because it's just too easy to get somewhere better quickly and easily.
I work in Brum and spend much more money in their town centre than in Cov, having said that, Brum town centre is really on the decline so maybe there's more to it.
I think one of Coventrys major plus points is it's convenient location but I also think that gives the city centre a problem because it's just too easy to get somewhere better quickly and easily.
I work in Brum and spend much more money in their town centre than in Cov, having said that, Brum town centre is really on the decline so maybe there's more to it.
Broken Hearted Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Correct I have never seen beggars anywhere else in the country.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
The council refused to drop its rates and I know in a couple of instances have actively encouraged businesses to move out where accommodation has been built.
It's zero to do with funding. Cities such as Nottingham and Leicester are thriving.
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
I know a couple of people who have tried to get things going in the town centre and let's just say they have been less than complimentary about the council. I didn't know for sure about their refusal to drop business rates but suspected it.
They don't seem to have a strategy for attracting companies into the centre.
Esoterica
Well-Known Member
Tell us what you think is good about the city centre then instead of your sarcastic sniping at anyone who has a different opinion than you. At least then there can be a debate.
Otis
Well-Known Member
You are being very sarcastic, right?
Otis
Well-Known Member
I was in the city centre Tuesday and go at least twice a week. Usually 3 or 4 times.
Where are all these beggars?
Try going to Manchester.
Think on Tuesday I saw 3 or 4 beggars in Coventry. In Manchester and this is probably a vast understatement, there were at least 200. It was every 10-12 steps. Many many more than I have even estimated.
I go all over the country and see beggars everywhere. Loads in Birmingham, Northampton, London, everywhere.
Where are all these beggars?
Try going to Manchester.
Think on Tuesday I saw 3 or 4 beggars in Coventry. In Manchester and this is probably a vast understatement, there were at least 200. It was every 10-12 steps. Many many more than I have even estimated.
I go all over the country and see beggars everywhere. Loads in Birmingham, Northampton, London, everywhere.
letsallsingtogether
Well-Known Member
Correct they have no students or beggers ether.
well there are a few changes coming soon so hopefully they will help the local economy.
And as a local landlord in this area the students help me watch my local football team.
Nick
Administrator
If you park in the swimming baths, expect to see a team of beggars working together to try and hassle you for money. Same as by the Sainsburys by the cash point and Motor Museum where they usually sleep in the day.
Don't really bother with the city centre unless it's something that can't be bought elsewhere, there are no beggars hassling you when you have a small kid with you at Gallagher or Airport retail and you can just park up, get what you need then go. Pretty much everything you can get in town is available at those types of retail park anyway.
Don't really bother with the city centre unless it's something that can't be bought elsewhere, there are no beggars hassling you when you have a small kid with you at Gallagher or Airport retail and you can just park up, get what you need then go. Pretty much everything you can get in town is available at those types of retail park anyway.
letsallsingtogether
Well-Known Member
Well instead of picking out the obvious faults in the city centre, which you see in every town in the country why don't you look at the good points.
some people just pick out the bits they want and egnore everything else. Just look at the poster who gave you a like .........
say no more.
Otis
Well-Known Member
I don't usually venture down by the swimming baths.
I would suggest though that people go to Manchester. You will be absolutely stunned.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
To suggest there aren't any is a bit silly. The area by the swimming pool has targeted beggars by all pay stations.
There are others around that dire bit by the old arcade and some in the walk up bit where you appear by the library.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
I gave him a like because instead of debating the issue all you get is a juvenile response.
What are the positives in your view?
Nick
Administrator
Otis
Well-Known Member
Please tell me where I said there aren't any. I most very clearly haven't said that.
I see beggars. I see no more beggars though than I see anywhere else, so let's not just pretend this is a Coventry problem.
Always find there are very lazy stereotypes thrown about when it comes to Coventry city centre.
We all know it has problems and I agree with the OP, it has been too overloaded on the student front.
There are at last though going to be some very upmarket apartments in the old Co-op building and I believe the Telegraph office is going to be become a hotel (part of it anyway).
The opening up of the River Sherbourne is now happening too.
Hopefully all the new restaurants at Cathedral Lanes will help as well (9 in total)
Esoterica
Well-Known Member
That's exactly what I asked isn't it? Tell me what the good points are and provide some balance. I'm abroad, 12 years since I've been in the city centre and genuinely interested in real opinions on it. Your mate whose defence you were so quick to jump to obviously has a different opinion but hasn't shared it. Really no idea what Grendel liking my post has to do with anything, he's actually offered some theory on what it is that he thinks is wrong with the centre and given examples of places he thinks are working well. The best we've had in support so far is that Coventry is alright because there's beggars in every city.
Nick
Administrator
Upmarket apartments won't make people who live around here want to or even need to visit
The only real decent things are the Herbert to go to when they have different things on and the Motor Museum but again not something you would need to go weekly for. Shopping wise you can get everything from a Gallagher or Pro Logis type place that are open later, have free parking and are less hassle.
Otis
Well-Known Member
Lovely old cathedral and two great museums. St Mary's Hall is great too and Fargo is lovely. The Old Grammar School is nice, as is the old Ford's hospital.What are the good points?
Where successive councils have gone wrong over a number of years is in building around all the nice places and not including them by making you walk through them, so people therefore tend to walk around by the cathedra rather than through it to get to town.
Whitefriars is lovely too, but is now redundant and has the thundering ring road built right next to it.
Otis
Well-Known Member
I have just mentioned some stuff that is happening if you care to have a look.
There is also the water park opening next year in New Union Street and that should be a big draw.
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Nick
Administrator
The cathedral and museums are really good, but it's not something you need to go weekly for. Every few months when they have different exhibits and the Herbert although is decent you are out of there within 25 minutes most of the time.
West Orchards shuts at 6 weekdays and is hassle to park and get what you want, Gallagher is open until 8 with free parking the same as Central 6 etc and the rest and you can just park your car, walk into the shop, come back again and go.
People who live here would only go there for necessity so it's different to somebody coming for a visit who wants to see everything, there's no real need where people need to go there.
Otis
Well-Known Member
Upmarket apartments won't make people who live around here want to or even need to visit
The only real decent things are the Herbert to go to when they have different things on and the Motor Museum but again not something you would need to go weekly for. Shopping wise you can get everything from a Gallagher or Pro Logis type place that are open later, have free parking and are less hassle.
So why open 9 new restaurants? They are saying that the 3 there already at Cathedral Lanes are all doing well and that is why 9 more are happening.
Why build them if hardly anyone is going to the city centre?
Otis
Well-Known Member
Nick
Administrator
People will be going to the city centre, a lot will be students though. Of course people who live in Coventry will use restaurants, but at night time it's nothing like it was even 10 years ago.
hill83
Well-Known Member
I like a beer. That's well documented. Night club wise there's not as much choice as there used to be, but I'm too old for that these days anyway. But as for actual places to drink, I find it better now than 10 years ago.
Cathedral lanes is always buzzing now. Incomparable to when it was a sports shop and a Waterstones.
Otis
Well-Known Member
That's where the restaurants and new water park should help.
Oh and on the museum front, I think I hold the world record. Took my daughter to the Science Museum in London last year and we were literally in there for 12 mins. Walked in one end, walked straight through and back out again.
She didn't care for it at all.
letsallsingtogether
Well-Known Member
Well if you haven't been back in so long but are quick to jump on the shithole band waggon.
I have read many reports about the City from so called experts who like yourself have probebly not visited the City in many years.
You obviously haven't seen any of the new developments that have happened in this beautiful City of ours.
People brought up the beggers this is seen in every city town in the country at the moment go into Leamington, Warwick Brum, so that is just a lazy way to put your point across.
Just take a walk from the train station into the City centre an you can see what a cracking job they have done so far in that area.
Look at the new restaurants that will be opening soon in Cathedral Lanes, that will be even better when Wilkinson move to there new store.
The opening up of the old entrance into Hertford street will help with the flow of the Town once Nationwide move to there new premises and they knock it through.
There are many changes going on can't mention them all but to just say things like they have given up is just utter shite.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
The restaurants are standard chains used predominantly by students in the evenings.
Nick
Administrator
A lot of the places seem to be the trendy, upmarket bars / restaurants. I hate going in Millsys for example as it's too pretentious whereas find the City Arms OK. Although I am going to try the town wall tavern since you mentioned it as never been in there.
Nick
Administrator
That's where the restaurants and new water park should help.
Oh and on the museum front, I think I hold the world record. Took my daughter to the Science Museum in London last year and we were literally in there for 12 mins. Walked in one end, walked straight through and back out again.
She didn't care for it at all.
The water park sounds promising and will use that when it opens and see what it's like.
Haven't tried that museum, only the natural history one but were in there for hours.