Cathedral Lanes

That's what I was saying - restaurants NEED destinations to be viable. There are none, so why would this work when the previous attempt at a restaurant quarter LITERALLY round the corner failed? People aren't going to get in the car, travel to the city centre, park in an over priced car park about half a mile away and walk to a restaurant with view looking at some dilapidated brutalist architecture JUST for a meal. It just isn't going to happen. And Broad St is a great example of why you DON'T want an area solely filled with places to eat and drink. It may be busy, but it's mainly full of people just out to get incredibly drunk. The place often looks an absolute state afterwards and frankly isn't a place late at night many people would care to visit, and certainly not those we would like to attract to our city centre.

They do in Birmingham, along with other major cities. This is why I say we need a proper music venue in the centre. Coventry desperately needs decent restaurants as well, not just more burger bars and shabby boozers. Give people a reason to go and they will, just as they did in Brum. Places like Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham all manage to do what Coventry fail to do. There is a huge amount of prejudice against Cathedral Lanes, mostly because of the long-gone canopy. But it has great potential in the right hands, which I hope they have now found.

In the week that the annual RIBA Stirling Prize was awarded for the 'best' building of the year, I wonder why many people regard a medieval building with more favour than a modern one.

The main problem with Cathedral Lanes is . . . . its location

Coventry doesn't really seem to understand what makes a 'city' square. Four sides of cheap shops and student flats and a tacky statue really doesn't cut it. People avoid these enclosed areas at night anyway. These London based developers... do they really understand the problems this city has? Good luck to them. I have nothing against this building, and this obsession with 'vistas' that never existed is just irritating. Personally, I prefer Broadgate pre-WWII with good links to arterial routes and an interesting and impressive urban character - it's now nothing more than a downmarket shopping ghetto, not really on the way to anywhere, and not really the sort of place you'd stop in. Maybe this time they'll succeed... as all the previous attempts to bring some life into the city have been spectacular failures!

I certainly agree that the centre of Coventry has been neglected for far too long. As a shopping centre it is terrible. We are there for the match tomorrow and I'm meeting an old friend (from this forum, as it happens) beforehand. She will go shopping in the meantime but says there is no way it will be in Coventry as there is nowhere worth going. What an indictment! As for evenings, the situation is worse. There is no proper entertainment venue except the Belgrade, and when I visited there a couple of weeks ago, we noticed afterwards that the streets were deserted, save for a few drunken stragglers. There are no decent places to eat that aren't Indian restaurants. If the new owners of Cathedral Lanes can attract some serious venues, people will come, although it may take a bit of time. Harvesters, Wetherspoons and Ask are not going to be the answer. Maybe it will work, maybe not. But at least I would applaud them for trying. Anyone who wants to see what can be done with a previously derelict area should perhaps go and look at a city like Bristol for inspiration.

I'm not sure if we're agreeing on the same point, but from slightly different angles. I'm all for a music venue (although preferably more multi-functional and cover other forms of performing arts too). I don't think we need more burgers and bars and need more stylish eateries, but the moneymen in charge will tell you it doesn't, because they look to take advantage of demand, not try and create it. And again the demographics would suggest the burgers/pizzas will succeed here better than a restaurant at this time, hence why they open up. I think if you did put in a venue then yes, people would go and use the restaurants. But if you don't they won't. That is the point I was making - people aren't going to go there specifically JUST for a meal, unless it was an exceptional restaurant by a big-name chef, which isn't going to happen given Coventry's demographics. Earlsdon has restaurants, but it has an above average demographic and parking is available very close. The places you talk of all have a large venue(s) which are used very regularly for very large performances by very big names. The arena tours rather than concerts. I don't believe everyone wants to stand in Broadgate looking at the churches. But I think if they had the option of sitting down to have a meal it would be a very popular choice of background in the city centre compared to other locations. It would add more value than sitting in CL looking at the precinct area. I largely disagree with your assertion of the unpopularity of CL being down to the canopy. It was certainly unpopular but if it were the case then the criticism of CL would be waning now - it isn't. If anything it's intensifying. And that may well be because now it has gone the actual building cannot hide behind it anymore. It may also be that people were willing to voice concerns over it has they felt getting a tent removed was a lot more achievable than an entire building. I know a view of the churches from Broadgate hasn't existed before - I've never said it has - but that does not mean it would not prove a good and positive thing to have. The last CDP had an entire section on views of the spires and protecting them, with vast swathes being denied redevelopment for them. But when you look at the views they provide, most of them are extremely poor with a glimpse here or there. Having looked at it I think there are two views which although they don't exist would be of far greater value than the current ones added together. This is one, the other is potentially from the station, with all three potentially visible and the different elevations, depth perspective and heights of the spires making them almost perfectly aligned. Quality not quantity. I believe the structure, or at least the non-residential part, will eventually go, though probably not for a few decades. I just hope when it does they don't make the same mistake again.

Mike H - on another site the potential location of a venue has been going on for some time, with many locations mentioned. Some have got nostalgic and suggested the old Locarno or Pool Meadow as it's near the old Hippodrome. Others have said on the vacant land behind the Belgrade, or behind Christchurch Spire. In fact there aren't many areas where it hasn't been suggested. I can see why you would choose this space, although personally I wouldn't favour putting it slap bang in the middle. It's a bit too much like the towers at the ends of the precincts blocking views and routes. The weird thing is how this city still works via the E-W route which has been the traditional main route for people through the city centre, but has not been since the ring road was put in and largely cut this route off. I'd suggest the main route should now be considered as N-S given the locations of the train and bus stations. I think the area between Hales St, Trinity St and Burges could be a good choice, as it is along this main route but would see people journey across a decent stretch of the city centre to get there and provide businesses the chance to benefit from this footfall. My other choice was Brindley Place/NIA inspired and would see the venue on the corner of Foleshill Road between the canal basin and the ring road. Very visible and accessible. Nice location and would be another excellent place for restaurants etc to spring up as view of the water would add value. The walk from the train station to it is the same as that from the NIA to New Street.

Surely that was already the case since the closure of Smithford Street to through traffic circa 1950?

I no longer reside in the city either but after the war there was so much thought that went into Broadgate and the Precinct. Sadly the large retailers have a hold over the council, as indeed they do everywhere. They had so much support from the labour government, especially when Prescott overruled planning authorities. So many towns and cities have been affected by this. We should demolish the Cathedral Lane development and re-instate the green area as it was in the 50's. A beautiful setting for our historic centre.

I am one of the people who think Cathedral Lanes should be demolished, to correct the bad decision of it ever being built. The income to the city instead generated by re-establishing Derby Lane, same layout but with new discreet tasteful pleasant shops - a shoppers haven from the concrete monstrosities that city centres suffer from. Also this would show that Derby Lane exists despite the bombing Hitler's boys unleashed upon it.

They stuffed up Cathedral Lanes by not making the 'through' route clear. They put a restaurant at the back which made it unclear that you could get through, and I suspect many people wouldn't go through anyway. Wasn't there also a side door? If it had been a proper 'Lane' leading down to Broadgate it might have stood a chance. I don't recall many retailers on the top floor. There was an excellent record shop called Wayahead, but I seem to recall it was surrounded by empty units. Unfortunately, the 'rip off' Coffee chains are generally better than independents, who are mainly rank. I went to a place in Coventry recently that was the same price as Costa, but the coffee disgusting - watery and too hot. The Urban Coffee company (Fargo) and Cafe Kawaha are both excellent.

I suspect the majority of people don't give a stuff about Cathedral Lanes. There are far worse buildings in the city centre than that, and some even bigger howlers in terms of location. The Cathedral doesn't generate enough footfall for tourists - Cathedral Lanes and Priory Place are both clear evidence of this. Coventry needs to forget about tourists and the Cathedral and start doing things to bring the residents and people from the 'Economic sub region' back in to use it. Most of us don't visit the cathedral or the museums as we've been to them already and they're not really up for repeated visiting (Maybe the Herbert is when it changes exhibitions, but that's a couple of times a year.) Look at Birmingham - retail, theatre, live music, city centre jobs, convention centres and hotels all in the same area and it's busy. Coventry has a 2nd rate provincial theatre that can't handle large shows, no city centre music venue, few city centre jobs and nothing for business use... thirty years ago Birmingham was considered the 'Black Hole of Britain'. Coventry just has a inward looking precinct that's half empty and a few historical fragments knocking around. Failed developments like Priory Place weren't mixed enough and poorly planned, repeating the same mistakes they made back in the 1950s, and the council appear to have such a low regard for the people of the city the city itself they allow anyone with a bit of cash to throw up what they want (Although the council here has a record itself with throwing up putrid stuff.) It might help if people stopped voting the same lot in. It might help if the local politicians weren't of such low quality.

When it opened there was a way through the Lanes building and a proper entrance leading out to where the outdoor café was. There were businesses in that part although I don't recall what they were. There were certainly businesses on the top floor too, a full complement at one time. I seem to remember a gaming/modelling shop, an electrical retailer of some sort, a shop selling embroidery supplies, and other specialist businesses. Sadly most didn't last long enough to become established. Once Wilkinsons moved in and rejigged the place it was never the same again. It did not need a giant tat shop, nor did it need to become a dead end. Interesting point about the Belgrade. A friend of mine is a lifelong theatre-goer and has bemoaned its demise for a long time, explaining that it is now not on the top list of provincial theatres so doesn't get the best shows. He has to go to places like Northampton for those! It is, literally, second rate, which is a shame. It could be a decent live music venue but again it doesn't attract the big acts any more. Birmingham has the advantage of size over Coventry but is by no means perfect. Its main entertainment area around Broad Street & Brindley Place is largely awash on a sea of booze rather than anything cerebral. But they have made an effort. Coventry should aspire to match cities like Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Bristol that have completely reinvented themselves. I don't think it makes a great deal of difference if you vote in a different council either as most local politicians are useless self-servers. You need visionary chief officers, they are the ones who actually run cities.