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The Gatehouse Tavern, Coventry
Coventry
CV1 4AN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Gatehouse Tavern
A revisit many moons on during a blazing summer’s day found a place pretty much unchanged from previous from what I could recollect and has been kept well. This time I was able to sample the garden, which was very pleasant. Good ale selection, I went for Bass (NBSS 3) and M&B Brew XI (3). 7.5
November 2011
Housed in the former Leigh Mills gatehouse, this is a large single room pub with a high roof ceiling. The interior was lit dimly red like a knocking shop, with the bar an oasis of light at the far right hand side. A large TV at the front of the pub was showing anodyne evening programming, which seemed a bit pointless. As mentioned below, there are some lovely modern stained glass windows fitted, some with a rugby theme. There were also a large range of miniature spirit bottles lined up around the walls. Six ales were on the go, with a good spread. I had one from a Coventry based brewery with a picture of an elephant on it but I’m damned if I can remember what it was called – it came out well though and I was a little gutted not to have time to try another. An odd touch was seeing a number of glasses in the fridge alongside the bottled ciders. Hearty-sounding food was advertised with the competitively-priced doorstep sarnies sounding particularly good, I would have eaten here if I’d had more time. Too dark and wet to sample the beer garden, but I hear it’s impressive (for Coventry!). A lot of effort has gone into this place. Rated 7
On 16th September 2026
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6341 recommendations about 6319 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Gatehouse Tavern
After a late start for me, I caught up with my companions on our pub research trip in this unusual pub, which I think was not open when I was in Coventry four years ago. It's an odd looking building, but quite publike, once inside, with a bar counter on the right with a number of hand pumps, of which I went for M&B Brew XI - well, someone's got to drink it, haven't they? My companions seemed very pleased with their Bass, but the Brew was ok, though a little underwhelming (call it "good enough", £4.20/pint). Others included Twisted Barrel and North Cotswold. I didn't pay much attention to the surroundings, with catching up with my mates, but the emblems of the "Six" rugby union nations were easy to spot on the windows, which suggests that a visit here in February is not a good idea if you're not an enthusiast.
On 12th August 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4910 recommendations about 4493 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Gatehouse Tavern
Another backstreet boozer in Coventry that looks more like a chapel than a pub/bar. Nevertheless, it has the feeling of a traditional local and was very busy with locals watching the rugby on multiple screens on our Saturday afternoon visit. Many had spilled over into a pleasant outdoor patio to the side of the pub.
6 real ales were on - Church End Brewer's Truth, M & B Brew XI, Phibbs NBC Red Star, Bass, Brunswick Railway Porter & Fuller's London Pride. Lilley's Rhubarb Cider was also on handpull.
Much busier than on my last visit, I scored it a 7/10 last time and I think it just about warrants that again almost 4 years on.
On 4th July 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3596 recommendations about 3594 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Gatehouse Tavern
High ceiling sports bar - with the volume on a touch too loud. For darts, at least.
All the furniture is around the outside, leaving a barren space in the middle. Tv mounted above the door, so on entrance and if you sit under it, you feel that everyone is staring at you.
The bass was in perfect condition, alongside several other hand pulls.
Looked like it was staffed by enthusiasts who love their job. Always a good sign.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2P0EwkX
On 1st October 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1911 recommendations about 1872 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Gatehouse Tavern
Promising exterior, apart from the Caffrays sign, the main door leads into a mainly stripped back single room. Three corners retain some plaster but otherwise it's just plain brick. 7 pulls of smaller locals including a scrumpy. Profusion of screens in spite of being a small place. Friendly enough and there's a Camra discount.
On 26th April 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 4214 recommendations about 3874 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Gatehouse Tavern
A respectable pub this one and is well worthy of a visit. There were six ales, on our visit and one cider. We went for a London Pride and Purity Mad Goose, both were in good shape and prices were reasonable. You are made welcome in here and when leaving you receive a courteous thank you and goodbye.
On 18th July 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3766 recommendations about 3766 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Gatehouse
The Gatehouse Tavern, as the name suggests, is a former gatehouse to the Leigh Mills textile factory that operated on this site until its closure in 1963. It now appears as a simple, single room community pub focusing on good beer and sports coverage. The room is carpeted with the servery occupying the majority of the right hand wall, whilst bench and low stool seating lines the remaining perimeter of the pub. The sporting theme is evident before you even open the front door, as the windows have stained glass inserts depicting the logos of the six nations rugby teams. Several TV screens, including one particularly large one, were showing Sky Sports speedway coverage to a rapt audience and further evidence of the owner’s sporting preferences could be seen above the servery where a collection of rugby balls can be found. High shelves are lined with trophies, jugs and an impressive collection of miniature spirit bottles. A partially covered patio is accessible through a side door and this leads to a grassy slope with a number of picnic benches.
There were six ales on the bar when I entered – Fullers London Pride, Bass, Cottage Lord Nelson, Purity Mad Goose, Rugby Webb Ellis (£2.90) and Springhead Roaring Meg. Whilst I was stood at the bar, a customer returned a pint of the Roaring Meg, complaining that it was off and the barman promptly exchanged his pint and removed the pump clip whilst apologising profusely. Food is available and a quick look at the menu suggests that main meals come in around the £6.00 mark, which seems very reasonable.
Whilst this might be a fairly basic pub, I thought there was a nice community vibe in here and that the locals seemed to really appreciate the place. This pub is worth consideration for a good number of reasons and deserves a place on any crawl around town.
On 19th October 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Gatehouse
Strange building which looks rather like a barn inside. There is a patio to one side but its most appealing feature is the pleasant little beer garden that lies beyond. Slightly less appealing was the almost comically disinterested barmaid whose attention was focused on one of the large TV screens. Five of six handpumps operational, offering a good selection of beers including Bass, Doom Bar, Byatt's Coventry Bitter, Rev James and Warwickshire Ball Stitcher IPA (2.80). Staff attitude apart, this one is worth a visit if in the area. (NB - Review dates from October 2011.)
On 24th November 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 9226 recommendations about 9226 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Gatehouse
An undressed brick build in what does appear to be an old Methodist chapel but is in fact the gatehouse of the North Warwickshire Weaving and Spinning, Worsted and Woollen & Co factory which closed in 1963. Has a large beer garden and is in the GBG 2010.
The interior is a one-roomer with the serving bar to the right on entry. The decor is undressed brick with a red ceiling and a nice wooden trussed roof. There is a stained glass window, depicting the 6 Nations rugby teams and there is other rugby memorabilia dotted about - along with old Guinness adverts. Rugby was also on two of the three TVs, with an X-Factory programme on the other. The place did a reasonably cheap menu - but we just had a round of crisps. Service was fine and the place was busy enough with a mixed crowd. There was no background music.
Beer; tap stuff with 5 handpulls; Bass, London Pride, Robin Hood Bitter, Warwickshire Moustache and a decent Church End Bottom's Up
Another decent place, with a decent beer range - again, worth a try and i would more than happily return
On 29th November 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3175 recommendations about 3170 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Gatehouse
A conversion of a small chapel ,the stained glass window now depicts the six nation rugby teams.The interior is oblong with the bar running most of the length of the right hand side with tables and chaires arranged around the otherside walls ,leaving a central vertical drinking area.The pub is very committed to televised sport,a good calm place in Cov to watch and there is also a focus on real ale with 5 handpumps operating on my visit serving London Pride,Bass,Springhead Roaring Meg,St Austall's Tribute and Dorothy Goodbody's Summer Ale which was refreshing on a sweaty evening.Food is served and seemed typical pub grub from sandwiches to main meals and pies around £5-£6 and there is a large exterior paved area with benches where smokers gather and a raised grassy area,great for good weather drinking.The customer base was mainly middle aged and the yoof pub crawlers tend to pass by.I thought the ale selection wasnt too adventurous for a GBG regular but the overall package at The Gatehouse means it is worth a visit,especially as Hill Street contains some fine old buildings.Friendly welcome.
On 9th August 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3252 recommendations about 3252 pubs]