One of Coventry’s three spires is being turned into a continental café bar in time for UK City of Culture after a deal was agreed with a local craft brewery.
Dhillon’s Brewery has taken a 20-year-lease on Christchurch Spire, beside The Wave waterpark in Coventry city centre, and will be serving its own beers on tap as well as offering hot drinks and food daily from 9am.
Dhillon’s, which has been in business for six years, will keep its main base near the Ricoh Arena where it brews a range of beers and attracts customers from across the region.
It has agreed the deal on Christchurch Spire through property agents Holt Commercial as part of the company’s expansion strategy.
Dal Dhillon, who runs the brewery, said it had always been his ambition to open a location in the city centre, but he wanted a building with character in a special location, so he could create something unique that stands out in Coventry.
“Christchurch Spire gives us exactly that opportunity”, Dal said.
The café bar is undergoing works in preparation to open in the New Year, though no concrete date has been set yet.
“With City of Culture coming and so much investment in the city centre this is a great opportunity for us”, Dal added.
The all-day continental café aims to be an attractive location for families in the day time, with coffee and muffins on hand as children enjoy the newly opened play area in Bull Yard, while in the evening as the sunsets the venue will transform into a craft bar.
The venue is in talks to create an outdoor space that could be utilised all year round, working with independent street food providers to offer different foods to customers.
It will also benefit from the recent transformation of Bull Yard, with new resin-bonded gravel surfaces and bespoke Terrazzo furniture.
During such a difficult time for the hospitality industry, Dal said he hopes the investment will be “a good chance to grow” as the brewery recovers.
Chris Hobday, from Holt Commercial, called the brewery a “great addition to the city centre’s leisure and hospitality offering”.
Chris also spoke to Coventry’s recovery from the economic turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying despite the difficulties, him and his colleagues have managed to attract “several new lettings over recent months even during lockdown.”
