Coventry city centre (18 Viewers)

[Otis]

I always get confused between the two. It's Lidl we use. Their fresh bread is lovely. Do Aldi have fresh bakeries in their stores?

Yeah, used to love the fresh bread and rolls etc. They suddenly though stopped individually packing them and started displaying them loose. Haven't touched them since.

Might sound a bit anal and picky, but have always been put off after seeing a bloke with very dirty hands (black under his fingernails and looked like he'd been working on a bike or car) come into the store, look at a roll, pick it up, sniff it, poke it with his finger, then lick it and then put it back again.

Now I never select anything that hasn't been wrapped. There's some dirty, scummy people about.

Seen it loads of times in Tesco people picking up loose bread and cakes and rolls with their hands and then put them back again.

 

---

[Nick]

The other thing with the loose stuff is that it usually goes stale, the best way to test is to pick them up and put your finger in and lick it to see.

 

[Otis]

The other thing with the loose stuff is that it usually goes stale, the best way to test is to pick them up and put your finger in and lick it to see.

Ahh, thought I had come across you before my SBT posting days!!!!

You washed your hands yet?

 

[Nick]

Ahh, thought I had come across you before my SBT posting days!!!!

You washed your hands yet?

 

[fernandopartridge]

I always get confused between the two. It's Lidl we use. Their fresh bread is lovely. Do Aldi have fresh bakeries in their stores?

The only Aldi that I'm aware of that does is the one in Manchester Arndale.

 

[pusbccfc]

I moved away from Coventry over three years ago, but I regularly return, mostly for the football. Arriving by train it always surprises me how different the city looks every few months. The walk from the station was arguably the worst part of the city centre 3 years ago, but now it is very pleasant until you reach the Bull Yard. The station itself certainly needs updating with better cafe's and eateries.

A lot of people slate tall buildings, especially if they are student blocks, but for me it makes the city look more like a 'big city'. Whenever I picture other big cities in my head the thing I see is taller and more imposing buildings. The new council building by the station is actually a fairly good design compared to some of the terrible buildings I see sprucing up in London each week.

For me the most important thing needed over the next 10 years is keeping the newly graduating students. A lot of people move away from their homes for uni and stay there, but this doesn't seem the case with Warwick and Coventry. With a new business district being built, jobs will come for the university educated students. This means more money spent in the city.

 

[Otis]

I think there is another new restaurant or food outlet happening shortly at Cathedral Lanes. Notice up on the doors with an application for an alcohol and drinks licence until 2am.

Obviously Cosy Club, Wagamama and Las Iguanas will already have theirs in place.

As per usual, doesn't say who it is, other than New World Trading. Quick Google search and I see they have some canalside places in Birmingham and another place at Liverpool One.

Also Basement Brown's due to open in the High Street too soon. Very popular pizza place from Leamington.

Need more places to eat and drink and be entertained.

 

[hill83]

Revealed: This is the latest restaurant coming to Cathedral Lanes

Clickety click.

It's a restaurant/bar called The Botanist

Image of the one in Brum.

 

[Covstu]

Revealed: This is the latest restaurant coming to Cathedral Lanes

Clickety click.

It's a restaurant/bar called The Botanist

Image of the one in Brum.

Hanging kebabs!!

 

[fernandopartridge]

Revealed: This is the latest restaurant coming to Cathedral Lanes

Clickety click.

It's a restaurant/bar called The Botanist

Image of the one in Brum.

These are usually in quite upmarket places so this is a catch for Cov.

Cue the whining about it having special offers for students.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[Otis]

These are usually in quite upmarket places so this is a catch for Cov.

Cue the whining about it having special offers for students.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Remind me which poster that was again, I forgot.

 

[Grendel]

Remind me which poster that was again, I forgot.

Don't know anyone who was whining.

Perhaps the clientele from the Wing Wah will migrate to an all you can eat buffet in the town now after its interesting way of attracting staff has come to light.

 

[chiefdave]

Not for me, I'm weird and prefer my drink in a glass rather than poured into a plant pot from a watering can. Also like my food on a place not a trowel.


At least they won't have far to go to Wilkos when they run short of watering cans.

 

[Grendel]

Not for me, I'm weird and prefer my drink in a glass rather than poured into a plant pot from a watering can. Also like my food on a place not a trowel.
View attachment 7928
View attachment 7929
At least they won't have far to go to Wilkos when they run short of watering cans.

I think their franchise manager will have some serious questions to answer in a couple of years.

 

[chiefdave]

I think their franchise manager will have some serious questions to answer in a couple of years.

Agreed. It seems the whole business is based on a gimmick that is currently fashionable with the hipster crowd when it goes out of fashion the business has had it.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Agreed. It seems the whole business is based on a gimmick that is currently fashionable with the hipster crowd when it goes out of fashion the business has had it.

It isn't a hipster place, certainly not the Manchester branch.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[Nick]

Don't know anyone who was whining.

Perhaps the clientele from the Wing Wah will migrate to an all you can eat buffet in the town now after its interesting way of attracting staff has come to light.

Nothing wrong with Ian, Michael, Kevin and Keith at Wing Wah.

 

[pusbccfc]

I wonder if they are still considering redesigning the front and the roof to allow for views of the cathedral?

 

[Otis]

I wonder if they are still considering redesigning the front and the roof to allow for views of the cathedral?

Dream on.

Lovely notion, but not going to happen now I don't think.

The Cathedral Lanes complex is fine, just not where it is located. Shame they can't just uproot it and stick it somewhere else.

 

[dutchman]

Not for me, I'm weird and prefer my drink in a glass rather than poured into a plant pot from a watering can. Also like my food on a place not a trowel.

Railwaymen used to cook and eat eat off a shovel, they swore it tasted better that way too!

 

[Otis]

Agreed. It seems the whole business is based on a gimmick that is currently fashionable with the hipster crowd when it goes out of fashion the business has had it.

It doesn't matter though if it's a gimmick or not as long as the food tastes good surely?

And the concept is obviously working and popular. They have 14 restaurants now open, 2 more opening shortly and Coventry will then be the 17th.

It's clearly just a bit of fun.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

These are usually in quite upmarket places

Will be why I've never heard of them, then.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Don't know anyone who was whining.

Perhaps the clientele from the Wing Wah will migrate to an all you can eat buffet in the town now after its interesting way of attracting staff has come to light.

Go on...

 

[Grendel]

Go on...

The slavery story in he news.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

The slavery story in he news.

Just Googled.

No wonder it was cheap!

 

[scubasteve]

I have been to botanist in Leeds and Birmingham, have to say it is a coup for the city centre, a bit more up market than your usual chain restaurant. food was very good both times and they do a good selection of drinks. It will be interesting to see what the other bars/resturants they get in cathedral lanes over the next few months, I think another 5-6 are due to be announced.

 

[Otis]

I have been to botanist in Leeds and Birmingham, have to say it is a coup for the city centre, a bit more up market than your usual chain restaurant. food was very good both times and they do a good selection of drinks. It will be interesting to see what the other bars/resturants they get in cathedral lanes over the next few months, I think another 5-6 are due to be announced.

Excellent! Very pleased to hear. Won't stop people knocking it though, cos it's Cov innit.

Seems slightly more upmarket, so hopefully will attract people with money to the city centre.

Think there are 7 new places, so 6 still to go after that.

 

[Grendel]

Excellent! Very pleased to hear. Won't stop people knocking it though, cos it's Cov innit.

Seems slightly more upmarket, so hopefully will attract people with money to the city centre.

Think there are 7 new places, so 6 still to go after that.

Can't see it working myself - poor network planning I think. The demographic they seem to be targeting will not come to the city for the reasons I have already mentioned.

 

[scubasteve]

Can't see it working myself - poor network planning I think. The demographic they seem to be targeting will not come to the city for the reasons I have already mentioned.

why does no one in Coventry and the surrounding areas like nice places to eat, drink and socialise?

 

[Grendel]

why does no one in Coventry and the surrounding areas like nice places to eat, drink and socialise?

They do. They just wouldn't consider the city centre as a place that ticks those boxes.

As I've said if you look at the top 20 retail brands considered by AB demographic bands I actually do not believe any are located in the centre.

 

[scubasteve]

They do. They just wouldn't consider the city centre as a place that ticks those boxes.

As I've said if you look at the top 20 retail brands considered by AB demographic bands I actually do not believe any are located in the centre.

Give the city chance to reinvent itself, we all know the city centre was neglected for years, its starting to attract better bars, restaurants and shops. For years people have moaned about the city centre, and then gone to Birmingham as it has a better selection, so clearly the demand is already there. Add to the fact Coventry uni is expending massively and now in the top15 in the UK, don't think it was in the top 50 when I went 15 years ago, plus Warwick uni students and lecturers. The city needs to now work on keeping those students here after they graduate, having JLR expanding here is a start.
Im pretty sure the 2 new stores which are very likely to be coming to Coventry in the very near future (from what I have been told by someone in the loop) and are probably in your top 20 retail brands, will definatly attract people from the more Leamington, Kenilworth, Warwick, Rugby etc as they wont need to go Birmingham to visit them.

 

[hill83]

Give the city chance to reinvent itself, we all know the city centre was neglected for years, its starting to attract better bars, restaurants and shops. For years people have moaned about the city centre, and then gone to Birmingham as it has a better selection, so clearly the demand is already there. Add to the fact Coventry uni is expending massively and now in the top15 in the UK, don't think it was in the top 50 when I went 15 years ago, plus Warwick uni students and lecturers. The city needs to now work on keeping those students here after they graduate, having JLR expanding here is a start.
Im pretty sure the 2 new stores which are very likely to be coming to Coventry in the very near future (from what I have been told by someone in the loop) and are probably in your top 20 retail brands, will definatly attract people from the more Leamington, Kenilworth, Warwick, Rugby etc as they wont need to go Birmingham to visit them.

"Nah"

Grendel 2017

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Chains are taking over the world :hurting:

 

[Deleted member 5849]

It doesn't matter though if it's a gimmick or not as long as the food tastes good surely?

Diners still want to eat off plates, not shoes or boards

 

[hill83]

Yeah I'm not one for eating food of wacky bollocks, I'll give this a place a look though as they sell beer. I like beer. Beer.