Real Ale Pubs and Bars in Coventry, England

The city of Coventry in England’s West Midlands is famous for is gorgeous new cathedral – built after the old cathedral was bombed in World War Two – and being the venue of the infamous horse ride by Lady Godiva. In fact, much of Coventry is new as it suffered heavily during the war but some old building survived, including the first of the bars listed below.

All the pubs covered here are either in the city centre or within easy reach of it. The city has a league football club called Coventry City that play at the modern Ricoh Arena, which also hosts conventions and other events.

Whitefriars Olde Ales House, 114 Gosford Street

A grade two listed timber-framed building that dates back to 1335, this lovely pub has only been selling beer since 2000. From 1850 till 1976, it was a butcher’s shop and then it was left empty and was in danger of falling down until renovations that preserved its character saved the day. There is a small snug to the right as you come in. The pub is narrow with the bar about half-way along serving up to nine real ales. There is a small beer yard at the back. Sadly, the large screen showing sports and the fruit machine spoil the ambience a little.

Phoenix, 122 Gosford Street

If you fancy somewhere a little brighter, just a few doors up from the Whitefriars is the Phoenix, an airy pub with four real ales and five craft beers on keg. There is a back room with a large screen for showing sports, though the main bar also has smaller screens scattered around. There is a beer yard with artificial grass and the bar is geared up for serving hot meals.

Old Windmill, 22 Spon Street

Spon Street is short but full of timber-framed buildings, not all genuine, hosting pubs, shops and restaurants. There is even a traditional butcher’s and the Coventry Watch Museum. One of the pubs is the Old Windmill, which used to claim to be the oldest pub in the city but has since amended that to “one of the oldest”. Locals call it Ma Brown’s after a former landlady. Up to seven real ales are available – Camra members get a ten per cent discount – and there is a traditional fire to warm the cockles in winter. There are three small snugs at the front and another little room at the back. The main room is comfortably sized – not too big and not too small – and can be warmed nicely by the fire. On food, they are famous for their pork pies.

Town Wall Tavern, Bond Street

Between five and eight real ales are available from this pub just off the city centre. Split into small rooms, the tavern has a traditional snug at the front. Children are not allowed in at all. The food menu claims to contain the best pub food in Coventry, and they may have a case. Food is only available though from noon to 2.30pm on Mondays, apart from a couple of months in the summer, from noon to 3pm and 5.30 to 8pm from Tuesday to Thursday and from noon to 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday lunch is available from 12.30pm to 3pm, again apart from the summer. As well as main meals, they do hot filled ciabattas and freshly made sandwiches.

Flying Standard, 2 Trinity Street

This is a largish Wetherspoon pub with up to ten real ales available. The large split-level downstairs bar includes a separate family area. There is also a small bar upstairs with an outdoor beer yard for smokers. This is handy pub for city centre shops and the Lady Godiva statue, and it does the normal Wetherspoon cheap-but-filling food range.