The Spon Gate (Lloyds No. 1), Coventry

The Spon Gate is an open plan Lloyds No. 1 with a mirror backed bar counter up the left that faces a row of high tables before a sea of standard tables up the right. At the rear is some raised seating and there was some very low, hardly audible, background music playing during a recent late Monday afternoon visit. The two banks of five hand pumps were drawing the usual three suspects alongside Brain’s SA Gold, Adnam’s Ghost Ship, Burton Bridge’s Bitter, Wolf Brewery’s Coyote and a couple of ciders, Snails Bank’s Raspberry Ripple and Moonshine.

Decent enough Spoons. At least 4 guests on including Old Dairy Copper Top, Sadler's Boris Citrov and Milestone Hammerhead Stout. We had a breakfast in here and it was pretty decent. I would call again.

Dating from Summer 2010 this place looks absolutely hideous from the outside but isn't that bad inside with a good use of different lighting and a comfortable modern interior. It wasn't that busy on my Thursday lunchtime visit but the whole complex in which it is situated seemed fairly dead. Of course this is a Lloyds so no doubt does most of it's business later in the day with a younger crowd (according to the JDW web site it's open until 03:00 on Friday and Saturday). Although the bar has ten hand pumps there wasn't that much available as the two GK beers and Doom Bore were doubled up and two were available soon. This left Lionheart Dark Ruby and North Cotswold Shagweaver which at least were local brews. I went for the Dark Ruby (£2.40) but had to send it back as it was sour. It was replaced with good grace and change by the Shagweaver (£2.05) which was in reasonable condition. I get the impression that this one is struggling as a daytime venue being set in a complex away from the City Centre, the Harvester next door I suspect is in the same boat. I have to mark it down for the sour beer and poor choice which is a shame as if you're in the area in the day it's not that bad a place for a drink or bite to eat.