Whitefriars Olde Alehouse, Coventry

Parts of this wonderfully restored timber framed building date back as far as the 14th century and represent a style of building that was once commonplace in Coventry. The premises was used as a butchers shop until 1976, at which point it fell into a state of disrepair. A lengthy restoration project saw the building re-open as Whitefriars Olde Ale House in late 2000, thereby preserving this piece of the city’s history for the foreseeable future. You enter into a corridor which leads you past a seating area to the left with muted lighting and mixed seating options. To the right, a doorway leads into a small room with benches around the edge, a large fireplace, some stained glass windows and a small serving hatch to the bar. These two front areas were quieter than the rest of the pub and seemed like the ideal spot to relax over a quiet pint. The pub opens out a bit past these rooms, with the servery in a recessed space to the right and some seating on the left hand side that runs all the way down to the back of the room. The servery has been decorated with countless pump clips and some photo collages, whilst there are a few interesting objects in the rest of the room, including a nice old clock and an antique cash register. The historic feel is enhanced by a mixture of stone and wooden flooring, loads of ancient looking beams and struts and plenty of crumbling brickwork, especially towards the front. Music was playing quietly throughout my stay and there was a diverse crowd in, including students from the nearby university buildings (the pub is at the end of a road lined with depressing student orientated bars and theme pubs). If you’re going to call yourself an ‘Olde Ale House’ you need to back it up with a good range of beers, so I was pleased to find Bakehouse Liquid Bread, Wood Farm No 8 and Union, Blindmans Joker, Clarks Traditional Bitter, Warwickshire Kingmaker and Wytchwood Hobgoblin on the bar. I tried a pint of the Union (£2.80), which was in good condition and served by a cheerful barman. This pub will impress the ale drinker and pub traditionalist alike and it should be the first pub on your list when planning a visit to Coventry. I would have preferred a bit more time to fully appreciate the place (like Quinno, I also failed to notice a well or an upstairs room), but train times meant I had to make the 10-15 minute walk back to the station after just the one pint. Definitely one for a revisit.

Great ale house, doesn't seem like it can stand its own feet as the roof is warped to buggery! The food at lunch is extraordinarily good. I had double egg, double chips, double bread for £4.10. Three and a half pints too which were all acceptable if a little cold. The only beer place to go in Coventry.