Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with sheffield hatter
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Old Windmill, Coventry
Coventry
CV1 3BA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Old Windmill
One of two pubs on Camra's list of heritage pub interiors that I visited, this one being of "special regional interest", while the Town Wall Tavern is merely of "some" regional interest in my book published five years ago, though I see now this has changed to "regional importance" and "some regional importance" on the website. Whatever. I found the Town Wall a more interesting pub, and I got the impression that this one had undergone more changes, with areas not part of the original pub brought into use in modern times: "...(an) area further back is a former yard now covered with a glass roof (and a) former outbuilding, containing the remains of an old brewery, has been incorporated into the pub". Although my visit was only brief and my perusal necessarily superficial, I nevertheless found this less of a pleasing experience as a pub, but maybe I just got lucky with the friendly staff and customers at the Town Wall, whereas the customers here seemed less inclined to talk and the staff likewise. Perhaps this is more to do with the layout of the pub, with numerous small rooms, and the bar which is small and doesn't facilitate standing and chatting. There were seven beers and a number of ciders, and my Kama Rama IPA from local Byatts was not among my favourite beers of the day, though in good enough condition.
Date of visit: 12th May 2022
On 9th July 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3470 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Old Windmill
Another fabulous old Coventry pub that oozes character. The entrance corridor passes a room either side at the front, before you find the bar itself on the left-hand side. There are further seating areas to the right-hand side and beyond the bar.
Real ales on were Timothy Taylor Landlord, St Austell Tribute, Morland Old Speckled Hen, Blue Monkey BG Sips, Frothblowers Cloudburst Porter & Bedlam Phoenix. Ciders are listed on a blackboard opposite the bar, which is quite difficult to read, given all of the crossing out. As far as I could tell, the full list was Weston's Old Rosie & Rosie's Pig, Thatcher's Traditional, Lilley's Somerset Scrumpy (it did not specify which one), Rhubarb Cider, Mango Cider, Whisky Cask Cider, Collider, Ginger Bread Cider, Bee Sting Perry & Gladiator, Healey's Flattler & Peach Cider, Snail's Bank Mango Cider & Banoffee Pie, Dudda's Tun Salted Caramel Cider & Cotswold Cider Company No Brainer.
There were a couple of ciders I hadn't previously had on the list. But I panicked and ordered a Flattler. Time was ticking on, with 3 more pubs to visit. So, sadly I didn't get to have a second (or a third)! Still one of the best pubs in Coventry.
On 4th July 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Old Windmill
Superb pub in a historically important street.
Oozing its age inside and out - with the inside a very pleasant experience of individually panelled nooks and crannys.
Several real ales on - at least 5 - most with hand written signs. Hogsback TEA caused confusion as barstaff thought I wanted a cup of tea!
The sort of pub that is a living museum with plenty to explore.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2P0EwkX
On 1st October 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Old Windmill
A pub full of oldness comprising many small rooms, classic sort of place. Sadly rammed on the night I was there and with some pretty rude customers.
On 26th April 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Old Windmill
Lovely olde worlde pub close to the shopping centre down a street of medieval buildings overshadowed by the giant Ikea at the side!
Lots of lovely small rooms & tiny bar area, many beams to hit your head on.
Beautiful building serving 4 -5 real ales.
On 27th February 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about Old Windmill
The interior of this pub has a labyrinth of rooms to choose from. The downside for me was there was only one local ale on out of 6 handpumps, which was a stout from Tunnel Brewery and on such a hot day it didn't interest me in the slightest. Had to settle on a Theakstons Old Peculiar, other choices were TT Landlord, Old Speckled Hen etc.
On 18th July 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Old Windmill Inn
The Old Windmill is a wonderful multi roomed pub on the historic Spon Street and is thought to date back to the 1580’s.You enter into a flagstone corridor, from which a number of rooms can be accessed and which eventually reaches the bar area. The bar was originally located in what is now a snug at the front of the pub and it’s intriguing to learn that the area between the current bar and the toilets was, until the 1980’s, a central open courtyard. There are rooms to suit all moods, from the lively bar area buzzing with a mix of locals, tourists and ale lovers, to the dark, almost mysterious front snug with its pleasant fireplace and range. The rooms on the right hand side of the pub are interconnected and the largest seating area can be found on this side, opposite the bar. The majority of customers were sat in here around the impressive central fireplace. There is a brightly lit room at the front left, which is carpeted with some nice wall panels, a lit fire and a tiny serving hatch. At the back of the pub is the room known as the brew house which is quite well hidden and still has some brewing equipment on display. Music was playing at a fairly loud volume which distracted from the traditional feel of the place a bit, but in the busier, noisier rooms it wasn’t too intrusive.
On the bar there was a choice of Wytchwood Hobgoblin, Oakham JHB, Morland Old Speckled Hen, Greene King Abbot Ale, Sharps Doom Bar, Taylor Landlord and Theakston Old Peculiar. I plumped for a pint of the Old Peculiar which was absolutely spot on and a timely reminder of what an excellent beer this can be. A lone barmaid coped well with a steady stream of customers and service remained prompt and friendly.
If you’re visiting Coventry, it’s worth having a wander down Spon Street to have a look at the lovely old buildings that give you a sense of what the city must have looked like before the war. The Old Windmill is a survivor and you’d be doing the city a disservice if you didn’t go and check it out.
On 18th October 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Old Windmill Inn
Nice old-fashioned pub than somehow survived the war damage and subsequent city rebuilding. The layout comprises a number of small rooms with traditional furniture and decor. Six of the seven handpumps were in operation, offering Hobgoblin, Doom Bar, Old Speckled Hen, Old Peculier, TT Landlord and GK Sun dance (£2.90). Overall, well worth a visit. (NB - Review dates from October 2011.)
On 24th November 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Old Windmill Inn
Located on ‘Medieval Spon Street’ as the tourist literature and signage likes to call it, along with a number of other pubs and bars, this is a GBG-listed traditional pub with quite a bit of character. There are a number of small rooms off the central corridor which leads into the larger main bar area (check out the leaded windows in the ceiling), to the right rear of which is another small room though this was full of pub clutter. The large seat at the rear of the main bar is either ex of a Hansom cab or has been well-made to look like one and I was pleased to plonk myself down here with my beer. Ale-wise, it was a fairly safe selection given there were seven handpulls. I went for Theakstons OP first which was a bit flat (end of the barrel?) followed by TT Landlord which was a lot better. Prices here felt a little higher than the other Cov pubs I did that day. The staff and clientèle during my flying visit were quite a rock/alt crowd which probably accounted for the enjoyably eclectic music being played, though they didn’t strike me as being overly friendly. There was also a large real fire on the go, which made for a nice touch on a wet and gloomy evening. I was also quite taken with faux-Medieval seat covers found on the banquette seating by the fire. Oddly the toilets were exceptionally clean, bar some weird hairy black mould flourishing all over the pipe work. Unless this is a Goth’s science experiment, why not wipe it off, given that the rest of it was all done to a high standard? Weird.
Whilst I found the ambience at the Town Wall Tavern better and the ale selection at the Whitefriars superior, this is still a worthy visit and isn’t a million lies away from the train station.
On 24th November 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Old Windmill Inn
As a building. BF's use of the word 'gem' is more than fitting for this timber framed and now white rendered pub that is in the GBG 2010. Once detached it is now sort of an end terraced build and has been extended at the back to incorporate the former brewhouse into the pub itself - see Gill's pictures.
The interior has a central corridor with snugs off to either side. Half way down, on the left is the serving bar and the room opens out into what was the brewhouse. The decor in the snugs is fine old wood panel. We sat in the first on the left which has a small tiled fireplace and a white ceiling, the one to the right had a red/black chessboard floor and also had a white and wood beam ceiling. There was another little area with a settle in it as well before the bar area. The service was fine, there was no TV that i saw and the background music was quiet. The clientele was small, which surprised me. There was some brass ephemera dotted about as well.
Beer; tap stuff with Sharpe's Doombar, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Timothy Taylor Golden Best, Wychwood Hobgoblin, Spekky Hen, UBU Purity, Theakston's Old Peculiar and a decent Greene King Mild on handpull
A lovely building and, as BF says, despite a lack of microbrewery offerings, i could stay in here all day assuming someone would help me find the station to get home. A delight.
On 12th December 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]