By Steve Kimberley
August 11 2019
A short guide, mainly for visitors to our fair city's real rugby club, to some of the pubs etc in the vicinity of the Butts Park Arena. Roughly split into three areas: Spon End and the 'Craven Run', City Centre (west), and Earlsdon.
Map Links (Zoom in or out as required as some pubs may not show in the linked view)
Spon End and Craven Run - Link
City Centre (west) - Link
Earlsdon - Link
Of course, we'd always advocate that you should try the bars and beers (and food) at the Butts Park Arena first, but sometimes we all fancy a change, and depending on the size of the crowd it can be a bit of a scrum (or ruck, maybe), hence this list giving nearby alternatives.
Note: In the descriptions below, all 'walk' times are taken from Google Maps, and are timed from the main entrance of the club at the rear of the grandstand.
Spon End and the Craven Run
The area surrounding Cov's Butts Park Arena home is blessed with many good pubs and eateries, even if, like in the rest of the UK, some have closed over the past few years, sadly.
Remaining outside of the city's inner ring road, and within a few steps of the main car park at the front (Butts Road end) of the ground are a couple of real favourites with both Cov supporters and visiting fans: The Broomfield Tavern, and the Old Dyers Arms.
Both of these establishments are traditional Coventry 'boozers', but have quite different attributes and atmospheres.
The Broomfield Tavern (14-16 Broomfield Place, CV5 6GY), or 'Broomy', as it's affectionately known, is a real hidden gem. If you travel from Coventry city centre along the Butts Road (or indeed from Spon End and its railway viaduct: reverse the following basic direction/location), you'd never know it existed, yet if you swing left just past the BPA main entrance and follow the narrow dead-end lane to the park, and keep your eyes peeled on the right, you'll get there quickly enough.
The Broomy is renowned locally for its quirky, basic, yet welcoming surroundings, its fantastic array of ales and real ciders, and in the evenings, regular music events. Four minutes walk. Whatpub.com Facebook page
If you made it to the Broomy from the ground, then there's a fair chance that you passed quite close to the;
Old Dyers Arms (4 Spon End, CV1 3HB) too.
The Dyers is also a traditional kind of place, much loved for its easy-going vibe, good cask beers, and good company. You'll find it on the main drag just round the corner from the BPA entrance. Four minutes walk. Whatpub.com
A little bit further away from the ground along Spon End and over the pedestrian crossing, is the Railway Bar and Grill. A former railway workers' club, it's now a large bar and restaurant serving a variety of food including curries and baltis, and is very popular with Cov supporters after the match. Five minutes walk. Website Trip Advisor Facebook
Back over the crossing and heading slightly further west along the B4106, just after it becomes the Allesley Old Road (but still within easy walking distance of the BPA) is the;
Four Provinces. (19 Allesley Old Rd, CV5 8BU). This, as you might have guessed by the name, is an Irish pub, and is well known for 'the craic'. Regulars will tell you that the Guinness is great, as are the staff and the regular crowd. You'll usually find footy of some description on the telly – Association, GAA and rugby. Eight minutes walk. Facebook page Whatpub.com
Step out the front of the Provinces, turn left and you'll very quickly come across Craven Street, the centre of what is popularly known as The Craven Run among the drinkers of Coventry. There may not be so quite many pubs left in 'the run' nowadays, but those which remain are well worth a look. Walk up the slight hill and you'll come across the;
Hearsall Inn. (45 Craven St, CV5 8DS). This is another Irish-run pub, but with a very different atmosphere from the 4P, but definitely none the worse for it. This is a very traditional Cov boozer serving superb Guinness along with draught Bass and other regular real ales, and also showing the usual selection of sports on the box. Nine minutes walk. Website Whatpub.com
Further up on the same side of Craven Street is the;
Chestnut Tree. (113 Craven St, CV5 8DT). Good food, a large patio area at the rear, and several real ales available. Eleven minutes walk. Whatpub.com
Back out onto Craven Street, and turning right and crossing over, you'll soon come to the left turn into Lord Street, on the corner of which is the;
Craven Arms. (58 Craven St, CV5 8DW). Another atmospheric old pub, serving craft ales, and 'Barrel Top' freshly made pizzas. Ten minutes walk. Website Whatpub.com
Lord St (same side as the Craven Arms) is also the home of the always-excellent;
Nursery Tavern. (38-39 Lord St, CV5 8DA). Stuffed with rugby and motor racing memorabilia, and of course good cask ales and food, this is another not-to-be-missed pub on the Craven Run. Eleven minutes walk. Facebook page Whatpub.com
Once you've had your fill, turn left out of the Nursery, proceed to the bottom of Lord Street, turn right, and you'll shortly arrive back at the Butts Park Arena (eleven minute walk), in time, maybe, for a pint in the Jon Sharp Suite or at the Purity Real Ale bar on the west side of the ground.
That gives a flavour of some of the pubs to the western side of the BPA. However, if you choose to turn right out of the front of the ground and head east into the city centre , there are some delightful venues awaiting.
City Centre (West)
The Aardvark (2 The Butts, CV1 3GR). Closest pub to the BPA in this direction, and theoretically not in the city centre, as it's 'this' side of the inner ring road. However... a 'studenty' sort of pub in a traditional sort of pub building. It describes itself as a place for 'beer, burgers, and TV sport with a great choice of drinks and food'. Seven minutes walk. Trip Advisor Website
The Town Wall Tavern. (Bond St, CV1 4AH). This place is almost legendary among the drinking classes of Cov. A genuine survivor, surrounded by modern developments, yet retaining its old and characterful ambience. Regularly frequented by the thespians from the nearby Belgrade Theatre, the pub is charming, and serves good ales and food. Fourteen minutes walk. Facebook page Whatpub.com
The Gatehouse Tavern. (44-46 Hill St, CV1 4AN). A proper pub, serving proper ales and ciders, and good food, and always showing rugby, football, and speedway. Thirteen minutes walk. Website Whatpub.com Trip Advisor
The Old Windmill. (21 Spon St, CV1 3BA). Plenty to be said about this hostelry: The Oldest Pub in Coventry, dating back to 1451. CAMRA Coventry pub of the year 2015 & 2017 . Most Haunted Location Award recipient. Great selection of ales and good food. Entertainment (music) on occasion. Nine minutes walk. Trip Advisor Whatpub.com
The Town Crier. (Corporation Street, CV1 1PB). Just the other side of the IKEA building. A modern pub serving a good range of cask ales. Twelve minutes walk. Website Whatpub.com
Fancy something different? What about...
Samoan Joe's Tiki Bar? (Spon St, CV1 3BB). Cocktails, specialized rums and much more. Compact and busy, which tends to ensure polarized opinions, but most seem to find it a good night out. Ten minutes walk. Website Whatpub.com
Earlsdon
The New Albany, Albany Road CV5 6JU. A recently refurbished pub with live entertainment at the weekends. No real ales so far as I know unless that's changed recently. Eight minutes walk. Whatpub.com Facebook
City Arms (Ma Cooper's), Earlsdon Street CV5 6EP. A large mock tudor Wetherspoon's pub carrying the usual stock of ales & ciders, and food. Fifteen minutes walk. Whatpub.com Website
Beer Gonzo Taproom, 3A Earlsdon Street CV5 6EP, right next to Ma Cooper's. A small Tap at the rear of a craft beer shop in a modern row of shops the heart of Earlsdon. Huge international range of bottles, cans, kegs and casks, and even vintage Lambics on offer, and an online subscription service if you wish to carry on with the good times at home. Fifteen minutes walk. Whatpub.com Website
The Royal Oak, 22 Earlsdon Street CV5 6EJ. Excellent street corner pub a few steps further along the road, serving a good range of ales and draught cider. Quiet, but with sport on the TV. Sixteen minutes walk. Whatpub.com Website
Millsy's Cafe Bar and Bistro, Earlsdon Street CV5 6EJ. A cafe bar in a former newsagent's shop. Good food with a range of real ales, and draught cider. Sixteen minutes walk. Whatpub.com Website
The Earlsdon Cottage, Warwick Street CV5 6ET. A classic old Cov pub, recently neglected but now refurbished and reopened as a Charles Wells house, serving pizzas. Not yet shown on Google Maps (at time of writing), but look for its previous iteration, The Watchmakers. Eighteen minutes walk. Coventry Telegraph
View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.
Quote:allthegear
The Hearsall is a great pub, run by great people. Well worth a visit.
Quote:I’ve not been in, so don’t know, sorry.timdouglas1
Nick, at the Quids Inn, are all beers a quid? Asking for a friend, obviously