Spire Bar, Coventry

Facebook page of Spire Bar - www.facebook.com

Official site of Spire Bar - dhillonsspirebar.com

Facebook page of Spire Bar - www.facebook.com

Official site of Spire Bar - dhillonsspirebar.com

This outlet seemingly belonging to local brewery Dhillon's was the worst of 13 pubs we visited in Coventry on a Saturday afternoon. Set in part of an old church, with the spire above, most seating is outside to the front. There are a few tables inside, which our party of 6 practically filled, due to the small seating area. There are a couple of unisex toilet cubicles off to the left side, with the high ceiling from the spire itself covered in what looked like fake foliage. The only handpull I could see was covered in a kitchen roll. So, just 3 Dhillon's keg beers were available (Bright Eyes, Ghost Town Lager & Brut IPA), alongside Blue Moon, Asahi, Peroni & Cornish Orchards Golden Cider. I had the Bright Eyes, which was pretty awful. However, the friendly barman did give us a rather large taster of the Brut IPA. A fairly unique setting, but not one I will be rushing back to.

Spectacular building, with a surprisingly small bar under the eponymous pinnacle and most of the seating out in the square. I managed to get one of the few indoor tables (mostly due to the bad weather, because I imagine that this place is normally full on a Friday evening). In addition to a few Dhillon's craft beers on the keg taps, two cask beers were available on gravity: Bright Eyes GPA (£4.50) and Red Rebel IPA.

One of the more bizarre drinking experiences. Apparently belonging to Dhillon's brewery, this is situated in the base of a former church spire, which just holds the bar counter and a couple of tables, but extends out to a batch of tables in the square outside. The atmosphere within was slightly amusing, with a peculiar ceramic fronted counter and a wall holding plastic foliage and some strange artwork, contrasting with the original church tower. It was certainly not helped by some specie of what I take to be 'drum 'n bass' music. The pointless 'one way system' on entry was not a good omen, and so it proved with a ludicrously complicated QR code ordering system, demanding everything from your birthsign to your inside leg measurement (ok, not quite). Finally gave up and persuaded the server to take payment. Beerwise, has tinned craft stuff from Dhillon's, plus their lager and a bit of other fizz on keg. Food is of the burgers/wings variety. Frankly a waste of time.