Coventry city centre (4 Viewers)

[Otis]

I'm not so sure.

Personally I've got an idea for a restaurant, and if I could ever be arsed to actually do it (including learning to cook properly I guess), I'd be flogging it ASAP, before everyone caught onto the fact there wasn't much there beneath the surface!

My biggest sound of fury is it's chains all over the place however. And sure, it's not Coventry, it's everywhere.

But that's what's so bloody depressing about it all.

Give us something individual. If Cathedral Lanes ain't the place to do that (it isn't!) then allow Spon Street to become the independents, give it the small town street corner feel rather than the big corporate I am.

And yes, that should apply for all cities. Watched Dave Gorman last night and it seems I wasn't alone in thinking Cafe Rouge was a small independent when I first went to one!

Me too and with you all the way on chains. Would much rather a smaller independent restaurant. You then get a city with its own identity.

 

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[Otis]

You would think they just change it for plates or something else

It would be a novelty to try it, the same as chips in a bucket by the seaside. Don't want to be going to the chippy and them handing them over in a bucket every time though.

I don't mind chips in a basket or bucket, but you seem to get a much smaller portion than normal that way.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Me too and with you all the way on chains. Would much rather a smaller independent restaurant. You then get a city with its own identity.

Yup, and I don't even mean get rid of chains altogether. Some people got to love a Nandos.

But join it up a bit, give it a bit of variety.

Not been for a while btw, but if they're going chain restaurant quarter, are they going to move Pizza Hut from the Lower Precinct (if they haven't already!)? Seemed to be about the only deserted Pizza Hut in the world whenever I went by!

 

[ajsccfc]

Getting beans in their own little dish when you get a breakfast is the one I don't like.

 

[Otis]

Yup, and I don't even mean get rid of chains altogether. Some people got to love a Nandos.

But join it up a bit, give it a bit of variety.

Not been for a while btw, but if they're going chain restaurant quarter, are they going to move Pizza Hut from the Lower Precinct (if they haven't already!)? Seemed to be about the only deserted Pizza Hut in the world whenever I went by!

We were in there last week. Reasonably healthy in terms of numbers, but by no means full.

I feel the same with shops. What's the point going to any other city it every city has the same shops and restaurants?

I love unique identities and it is something Coventry should play on.

 

[Nick]

Getting beans in their own little dish when you get a breakfast is the one I don't like.

Some people are picky, it's the same as curry and rice. Some people have them separate!

I prefer to get straight in and mix it.

 

[Otis]

Getting beans in their own little dish when you get a breakfast is the one I don't like.

Ha!! Had that yesterday at Cosy Club. Exact scenario. Breakfast with beans in a pot.

Can't say I'm that arsed, but had the exact same conversation on preference with three people this morning walking the dog and they all said they wanted and preferred their beans in a separate pot!

 

[Deleted member 5849]

I love unique identities and it is something Coventry should play on.

The furstrating thing is we've got one if we bothered to use it.

We've even got one in the original Precinct, which was groundbreaking, but we seem more embarrassed by it, than making the most of it. The little alleyway by the bird cage would be ideal for highlightin small independent shops, rather than the slightly scummy urine soaked throughfair it is atm, which must ruin any business's chances before it begins.

But, like I said, we're not alone in just bowing to chains!

 

[clint van damme]

I'm not so sure.

Personally I've got an idea for a restaurant, and if I could ever be arsed to actually do it (including learning to cook properly I guess), I'd be flogging it ASAP, before everyone caught onto the fact there wasn't much there beneath the surface!

My biggest sound of fury is it's chains all over the place however. And sure, it's not Coventry, it's everywhere.

But that's what's so bloody depressing about it all.

Give us something individual. If Cathedral Lanes ain't the place to do that (it isn't!) then allow Spon Street to become the independents, give it the small town street corner feel rather than the big corporate I am.

And yes, that should apply for all cities. Watched Dave Gorman last night and it seems I wasn't alone in thinking Cafe Rouge was a small independent when I first went to one!

I'm intrigued!

 

[Otis]

The furstrating thing is we've got one if we bothered to use it.

We've even got one in the original Precinct, which was groundbreaking, but we seem more embarrassed by it, than making the most of it. The little alleyway by the bird cage would be ideal for highlightin small independent shops, rather than the slightly scummy urine soaked throughfair it is atm, which must ruin any business's chances before it begins.

But, like I said, we're not alone in just bowing to chains!

I used to go and visit different cities just to shop. Stopped doing it now for the most part because every high street has all become so similar on the whole.

I remember being really excited in the 1980's to go to Birmingham to go to a McDonald's. There wasn't one in Coventry I really wanted to try one out (wish I hadn't).

Just a couple of years ago I also remember my daughter being so excited to go to Smiggle in Solihull. Now they have one in Cov.

Every high street now has a Wilko and a Boots and a WH Smith and a Top Shop and a Pizza Hut etc. etc. etc.

It's all become a mish mosh on the whole.

I do occasionally go to Solihull and also to Brum and am often in London, but really can't be arsed to go anywhere else.

I went to Reading last year for business and loved all the restaurants down by the river side there, but they were all chains. Every single one I think. Zizzi and Giraffe and Bella Italia, Frankie and Benny, Pizza Express etc.

 

[ajsccfc]

Some people are picky, it's the same as curry and rice. Some people have them separate!

I prefer to get straight in and mix it.

It's crafty too as you clearly get fewer beans. Broken Britain!

 

[Grendel]

I'm intrigued!

It's probably a mega greggs with drive thru.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

It's probably a mega greggs with drive thru.

Nailed it.

 

[clint van damme]

It's probably a mega greggs with drive thru.

Nailed it.

Sounds right up Coventrys street!

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Sounds right up Coventrys street!

tbf, any idea I had would only work in London, with City types going 'yah' a lot, and thinking they were down with it with their mock slumming.

It'd crash and burn if it didn't work

 

[shmmeee]

tbf, any idea I had would only work in London, with City types going 'yah' a lot, and thinking they were down with it with their mock slumming.

It'd crash and burn if it didn't work

We had a cereal cafe in Fargo! (I assume it’s gone bust)

The problem with chains is due to people’s shopping habits. They want chains. You don’t get the footfall you used to to attract enough new trade to an independent before its made its name.

Really think you need to rethink town centres completely. With modern shopping and work practices a hub for all that stuff makes less sense. Fewer bigger employers means offices are more fragile economically, online means fewer shops all round and time constraints and car use mean retail parks do most of the job in a more convenient fashion and convenience always wins in retail.

If you want a city centre, as opposed to just another residential area, I think you’ve got to see it more like a leisure destination than a shopping centre. Make it somewhere people want to be, have activities there, like a giant cross between a theme park a shopping mall and a park. Dunno how that would go down with the traditionalists though.

 

[Otis]

We had a cereal cafe in Fargo! (I assume it’s gone bust)

The problem with chains is due to people’s shopping habits. They want chains. You don’t get the footfall you used to to attract enough new trade to an independent before its made its name.

Really think you need to rethink town centres completely. With modern shopping and work practices a hub for all that stuff makes less sense. Fewer bigger employers means offices are more fragile economically, online means fewer shops all round and time constraints and car use mean retail parks do most of the job in a more convenient fashion and convenience always wins in retail.

If you want a city centre, as opposed to just another residential area, I think you’ve got to see it more like a leisure destination than a shopping centre. Make it somewhere people want to be, have activities there, like a giant cross between a theme park a shopping mall and a park. Dunno how that would go down with the traditionalists though.

Yeah agree. Experts have said that is the way for city centres to go, for them to be centres of entertainment and leisure activities. Hopefully the new water park will bring in footfall.

There's a new escape room place now in Broadgate and of course there still Lazer Quest in Spon St. Needs more stuff like that. I think the old nightclub by the post office sorting centre would make a great venue for bands and concerts.

And the cereal place at Fargo was Spangles and it's still there. Don't think they do the cereals anymore though.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

If you want a city centre, as opposed to just another residential area, I think you’ve got to see it more like a leisure destination than a shopping centre.

A football ground'd be nice...

 

[Grendel]

We had a cereal cafe in Fargo! (I assume it’s gone bust)

The problem with chains is due to people’s shopping habits. They want chains. You don’t get the footfall you used to to attract enough new trade to an independent before its made its name.

Really think you need to rethink town centres completely. With modern shopping and work practices a hub for all that stuff makes less sense. Fewer bigger employers means offices are more fragile economically, online means fewer shops all round and time constraints and car use mean retail parks do most of the job in a more convenient fashion and convenience always wins in retail.

If you want a city centre, as opposed to just another residential area, I think you’ve got to see it more like a leisure destination than a shopping centre. Make it somewhere people want to be, have activities there, like a giant cross between a theme park a shopping mall and a park. Dunno how that would go down with the traditionalists though.

Again you make something up with zero statistical back up. If you bother to look at city centre footfall many cities are showing significant increase with many having significant investment.

 

[wingy]

tbf, any idea I had would only work in London, with City types going 'yah' a lot, and thinking they were down with it with their mock slumming.

It'd crash and burn if it didn't work

Might as well try Earlsdon then.
Second thoughts, have a chat with John Sparp the Don of Earlsdon.
Sozz all you Earlsdon folk, no offence intended.
Now what was the name of that popular old place behind the Jag across the car park.
Stagebite too much like TGIF but before they appeared and independent kind of too.

 

[Gazolba]

<snip>

I feel the same with shops. What's the point going to any other city it every city has the same shops and restaurants?

I love unique identities and it is something Coventry should play on.

I think in the modern mindset, predictability outweighs individuality.
People like knowing exactly what they will get rather taking a chance on something which could be better or worse.
On a recent car trip with my daughters we pulled off the road at a place with a group of restaurants, shops and petrol stations.
I spotted an interesting looking cafe with a name something like 'Rock Springs Cafe'.
I was all excited to try it out, but my daughters insisted on the McDonalds next door.
To me even if it had been terrible, it would have been an interesting memory but who remembers a meal at McDonalds.

 

[wingy]

I think in the modern mindset, predictability outweighs individuality.
People like knowing exactly what they will get rather taking a chance on something which could be better or worse.
On a recent car trip with my daughters we pulled off the road at a place with a group of restaurants, shops and petrol stations.
I spotted an interesting looking cafe with a name something like 'Rock Springs Cafe'.
I was all excited to try it out, but my daughters insisted on the McDonalds next door.
To me even if it had been terrible, it would have been an interesting memory but who remembers a meal at McDonalds.

I think in the modern mindset, predictability outweighs individuality.
People like knowing exactly what they will get rather taking a chance on something which could be better or worse.
On a recent car trip with my daughters we pulled off the road at a place with a group of restaurants, shops and petrol stations.
I spotted an interesting looking cafe with a name something like 'Rock Springs Cafe'.
I was all excited to try it out, but my daughters insisted on the McDonalds next door.
To me even if it had been terrible, it would have been an interesting memory but who remembers a meal at McDonalds.

Kids!!

 

[Otis]

Kids!!

Yep, indeed.

Glad I was never one.

 

[Sick Boy]

Getting beans in their own little dish when you get a breakfast is the one I don't like.

Debatable whether or not they should even be there in the first place.

 

[Otis]

Debatable whether or not they should even be there in the first place.

Yes. Some establishments 'don't do beans.'

 

[ajsccfc]

One day I'm going to open an artisan baked bean speakeasy with exposed brick decor, cocktails served in mason jars made with bean juice, and all 57 varieties of Heinz.

Millionaire!

 

[xcraigx]

Yes. Some establishments 'don't do beans.'

I stayed in a hotel once and the owner said he didn't serve beans with breakfast as he would lose his 5 star Wales tourist board rating!

 

[Otis]

I stayed in a hotel once and the owner said he didn't serve beans with breakfast as he would lose his 5 star Wales tourist board rating!

That's rubbish! !

Surely no establishment in Wales has 5 stars.

 

[xcraigx]

That's rubbish! !

Surely no establishment in Wales has 5 stars.

I got moaned at for requesting a room with a bath and was then lectured about how much more it costs to provide one rather than a shower and then when shown to our room the bloke said there's the bed you will have sex in later. Not sure whether he was insinuating he'd be back to do terrible things to me later or not. If that's 5 star I dread to think what those with less are like...

 

[Otis]

I got moaned at for requesting a room with a bath and was then lectured about how much more it costs to provide one rather than a shower and then when shown to our room the bloke said there's the bed you will have sex in later...

Perhaps he knows his wife all too well.

 

[clint van damme]

Might as well try Earlsdon then.
Second thoughts, have a chat with John Sparp the Don of Earlsdon.
Sozz all you Earlsdon folk, no offence intended.
Now what was the name of that popular old place behind the Jag across the car park.
Stagebite too much like TGIF but before they appeared and independent kind of too.

Too late!!
In all seriousness, I'm led to believe Earlsdon High St rates are extortionate.

 

[clint van damme]

One day I'm going to open an artisan baked bean speakeasy with exposed brick decor, cocktails served in mason jars made with bean juice, and all 57 varieties of Heinz.

Millionaire!

I once saw an English shop in Florida selling all the stuff ex pats couldn't get over there.
One window was just a display of Heinz baked beans! Can't remember the cost per tin but I do remember it was expensive.

 

[Otis]

I once saw an English shop in Florida selling all the stuff ex pats couldn't get over there.
One window was just a display of Heinz baked beans! Can't remember the cost per tin but I do remember it was expensive.

Yep. Ex pats used to yearn for them. My brother lived in the States for about 12 years.

 

[Nick]

Absurd amount of Brits think eating out of dog bowls is 'acceptable'

 

[I_Saw_Shaw_Score]

I once saw an English shop in Florida selling all the stuff ex pats couldn't get over there.
One window was just a display of Heinz baked beans! Can't remember the cost per tin but I do remember it was expensive.

Used to see them in Aus, some prices were x10 what they'd cost here, eye watering!