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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Gaffers on 15 December 2015, 10:45:30

Title: Coventry?
Post by: Gaffers on 15 December 2015, 10:45:30
Might be starting a new contract, for once in the UK!  It will be good as it will mean no more flying back and fourth to frogland which is slowly killing me.

That said it is in Coventry.  I have never been so looking for feedback as to how nice it is, potential long-term accom or hotels, etc  I may have to give a very quick answer this week after the interview thus better to be prepared.
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: aaronjb on 15 December 2015, 10:58:53
Nobody wants to go to Coventry...
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 15 December 2015, 11:01:57
Ahh, dear old Cov.


I went to Uni there, left at 19, came back at 24. (ok of course came back in summer/hols) I always say I grew up in Cov, because I 'left a boy and came back a man'

If you're used to cities, it's a pretty small, if you're used to towns, it's reasonably big.

Go out on a fri/sat night and there's no trouble. Seriously, they have the place wrapped up so well you never know if round the next corner is a police car - there frequently is. Walked home many a night/morning without feeling unsafe.

All the 'amenities' decent shopping centre; lovely architecture to be seen. After some explosions occurred between the years 1939-45,  they moved the remaining tudor buildings into somewhere called 'Old Spon St', everything you need is within the ring road, the city centre.

A very great many 18-24yr old girls walking around in very few clothes.

One of the best, smallest pubs in Britain, Whitefriars (13th century iirc)

If you get tired of it for a day you've got Birmingham about 12 mins away by very fast train, Stratford upon Avon, Warwick nearby, Leamington for a swanky night out chatting up stone-faced female estate agents, Rugby (with the Dun Cow, Guy Gibson's old fave pub)

Admittedly a lot of the above consists of drinking and talking to women, but as I say, I was at uni, in my early 20s!

Remember, it's a Uni city, so consequentially there's massive demand for cheap cheap cheap. Cheap food, drink, accomodation, clothes, you name it can be had if you look.


Cov is a reasonably grey, hectic city, which is placed in a very beautiful part of England. You may be living in a pretty dull, dingy area, but wherever you are, you'll be no more than 15 mins walk from some nice shops, park, attractive buildings, decent Deli, etc.
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: STEMO on 15 December 2015, 11:40:56
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/city_result.jsp?country=United+Kingdom&city=Coventry
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 15 December 2015, 11:47:07
Looked at it's best after the Luftwaffe gave it a good hiding. :)
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 15 December 2015, 11:53:26
Very interesting site, that, I never knew the existence of such a thing. very good  :)


Also to Monsieur Guffer, the buses use a rather nice system (if they still do!) of short hop, medium and long travel. It used to be 80p, £1.20, and £1.60 or whatever. So just ask for 'short hop' (3 stops or under iirc), and stay on the thing for as long as you need! hehe. Not that any poor students ever did such a thing, of course.  :)

There's a plethora of Indian, Polish, Spanish, every culture and country - owned shops and Delis where you can get food for as cheap as you like. Remember one night we all headed out to the Indian/Bangladeshi 'district', and my mates talked the talk with the guy, and we arrived back with christ knows how much samosas, pakoras, various delicious dishes, we stuffed our faces I could barely move afterward and when we split the bill came to about £3 per head. Happy days!
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 15 December 2015, 11:58:09
Looked at it's best after the Luftwaffe gave it a good hiding. :)


haha, you're not far wrong. The bombing allowed the next generation of architects to literally rebuild the city in the new image of space, neatness, crisp lines. Of course now the pebbledashed flat surfaces and huge slabs of steel-reinforced concrete is looking pretty tired and shabby, but it was literally futuristic at one time. Thing is, Cov regenerates, you leave for just a couple of years, and suddenly on your return find the streets have changed shape there's whole new developments, fresh sandstone paving and fountains, new bars, bistros, clubs, restaurants.


oh, and the Cathedral is one of the finest in Britain  :y
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Gaffers on 15 December 2015, 12:03:00
Sounds good, thanks for the info.  Looks like I will be on the outskirts to the East side of the city.  Found a nice Hotel nearby with a spa that is within the boss' (mine ::)) budget :y

Will certainly be nice sampling the different cuisines, that's something I love doing.  It's one of the few things I like about London and just about makes the travel in to the cesspit worth it.

Thanks again :y
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 15 December 2015, 12:12:43
Very interesting site, that, I never knew the existence of such a thing. very good  :)


Also to Monsieur Guffer, the buses use a rather nice system (if they still do!) of short hop, medium and long travel. It used to be 80p, £1.20, and £1.60 or whatever. So just ask for 'short hop' (3 stops or under iirc), and stay on the thing for as long as you need! hehe. Not that any poor students ever did such a thing, of course.  :)

There's a plethora of Indian, Polish, Spanish, every culture and country - owned shops and Delis where you can get food for as cheap as you like. Remember one night we all headed out to the Indian/Bangladeshi 'district', and my mates talked the talk with the guy, and we arrived back with christ knows how much samosas, pakoras, various delicious dishes, we stuffed our faces I could barely move afterward and when we split the bill came to about £3 per head. Happy days!

It seems that most students have lost the use of their legs. ;D ;D

Too much white cider and 'wacky baccy' perhaps. ;D
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 15 December 2015, 13:04:45
 :y Ooh, noo, sorry, White Cider and the 'creative tobacco' is more the tramps' scene.  :y Us lot were either on the the Real Ale (I converted them), various Bourbons or ludicrously expensive Cocktails at Dogma (sadly no longer there) swanky bar with lots of black leather... that was just the punters  :D

Maybe I'm remembering it rose-tinted. Actually Blue WKDs / VK, Vodka Redbulls, and pound-a-pint night, where the pints tasted like cleaning fluid was more the norm!  :)
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 15 December 2015, 13:14:01
Sounds good, thanks for the info.  Looks like I will be on the outskirts to the East side of the city.  Found a nice Hotel nearby with a spa that is within the boss' (mine ::)) budget :y

Will certainly be nice sampling the different cuisines, that's something I love doing.  It's one of the few things I like about London and just about makes the travel in to the cesspit worth it.

Thanks again :y


That'll be the red light district, then!  :y Haha. It's not that bad, really. Where abouts is the place you've got your eye on? I think if it's outskirts you're well out of it, the main (Antsy-Hinkley) road takes you direct in to the city centre, so bypasses it all, it's only if you start wandering down poorly-lit backstreets of terraces that you're going to meet undesirables, and to be fair you'd not do that in the pleasantest of cities.  :)
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Varche on 15 December 2015, 13:31:40
I used to live at Hinckley 12 years ago. I liked Leicester but never got on with Nuneaton and Coventry. I especially didn't like the new road system in Coventry. Probably changed a lot since I was last there. Most UK cities seem to have, Leicester is no exception.

One plus is it is very well situated for access to the rest of the country. Plenty of airports to hand. plenty of motorways.
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: aaronjb on 15 December 2015, 13:38:57
Plenty of airports to hand. plenty of motorways.

So you can get away! ;D

(This message is of no real value - I've only been there once in recent memory and that was to go to Ikea with the ex.. might have been as a kid as my grand parents lived in Rugby and my mother was born in Coventry, but that's also no help here!)
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 15 December 2015, 13:39:25
Worth checking out www.airbnb.com for accomodation, as you might find something much nicer, cheaper and interesting than a bog standard hotel room.  :y
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 15 December 2015, 13:42:25
Biggest Tesco in the UK (was when it was built anyway, about 5 years back)   :y

Also, I will say there's plenty of independent guest houses, there's also one in the middle of the city centre, about 35 yards from the Transport Museum (well worth a visit, to anyone on here!) which is the most basic, bog standard place I've ever been, but also the cheapest  :). ABC or something like that.
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 15 December 2015, 14:14:16



That'll be the red light district, then!  :y Haha. It's not that bad, really. Where abouts is the place you've got your eye on? I think if it's outskirts you're well out of it, the main (Antsy-Hinkley) road takes you direct in to the city centre, so bypasses it all, it's only if you start wandering down poorly-lit backstreets of terraces that you're going to meet undesirables, and to be fair you'd not do that in the pleasantest of cities.  :)

It's OK. They won't go near him when he's Lycra'd up. ;D
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 15 December 2015, 14:22:23
 :D ;D :D  8)
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 15 December 2015, 14:31:03
Used to work on the East side for three years, I personally hate Coventry but its tolerable if you stay out the centre as much as possible, the first site I was at (New Century park) as well as the associated factory (New Horizon Park) have both been demolished and turned into housing.

At least you will be over Coombe Abbey way which is good for a trot out
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Gaffers on 15 December 2015, 15:27:48
At least you will be over Coombe Abbey way which is good for a trot out

Yup, not far :y
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Gaffers on 15 December 2015, 15:28:46
Worth checking out www.airbnb.com for accomodation, as you might find something much nicer, cheaper and interesting than a bog standard hotel room.  :y

I have fallen out with airbnb in a big way.

NFW I am going near them again.
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 15 December 2015, 16:08:00
Worth checking out www.airbnb.com for accomodation, as you might find something much nicer, cheaper and interesting than a bog standard hotel room.  :y

I have fallen out with airbnb in a big way.

NFW I am going near them again.

Oooo do tell?!  ???
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: TheBoy on 15 December 2015, 17:26:12
Mrs TB works there (and says its a shithole, but I think she's just bitter about being forced to commute further ;D), I can ask her to ask her local colleagues what's good and bad round those parts?
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: STEMO on 15 December 2015, 19:25:45
Mrs TB works there (and says its a shithole, but I think she's just bitter about being forced to commute further ;D), I can ask her to ask her local colleagues what's good and bad round those parts?
Works there every day?  :o Does she stay over?
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Gaffers on 15 December 2015, 21:23:07
Worth checking out www.airbnb.com for accomodation, as you might find something much nicer, cheaper and interesting than a bog standard hotel room.  :y

I have fallen out with airbnb in a big way.

NFW I am going near them again.

Oooo do tell?!  ???

The tinkers pre-auth your card and when the bugger says no because you are foreign/not staying long enough/aapparently unworthy, they take an age to refund.

Cue 5 pr-eauths and 300 quid blocked on your card for 5 days while you are travelling. Give me a hotel anyday.  Stayed in a CitizenM last night and it was rather awesome
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 16 December 2015, 10:45:30
That's interesting, I didn't know that they did that pre-authorisation on your card before the booking is made.  ::)

Hotels do the same though and will keep an 'option' on your card for 7 days after you've stayed to cover any damage or unpaid bills.  Even if there's no damage and you're fully paid up!  >:(
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: STEMO on 16 December 2015, 10:48:37
Amazon do it for every order. They promise you won't be billed until the item is dispatched, but it still goes missing from your bottom line the minute you press the buy button.
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Gaffers on 16 December 2015, 10:55:40
Amazon do it for every order. They promise you won't be billed until the item is dispatched, but it still goes missing from your bottom line the minute you press the buy button.

That I dont mind, because I have ordered and paid for a service.  With AirBnB they pre-auth before the owner agrees or not to the booking and for several days afterwards.  #barstewards
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 16 December 2015, 11:04:27
Amazon do it for every order. They promise you won't be billed until the item is dispatched, but it still goes missing from your bottom line the minute you press the buy button.

That I dont mind, because I have ordered and paid for a service.  With AirBnB they pre-auth before the owner agrees or not to the booking and for several days afterwards.  #barstewards

Yes that's wrong.  They should only do it when the owner agrees to the booking.  :(

There are some great deals on there though.  I got a 3 bedroom cottage in Norfolk for £67 for 2 nights last month!  :y
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: henryd on 16 December 2015, 12:02:00
Long time since I went to Coventry and don't remember much other than this    http://www.transport-museum.com/ is well worth visiting :y
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Gaffers on 16 December 2015, 12:29:13
Amazon do it for every order. They promise you won't be billed until the item is dispatched, but it still goes missing from your bottom line the minute you press the buy button.

That I dont mind, because I have ordered and paid for a service.  With AirBnB they pre-auth before the owner agrees or not to the booking and for several days afterwards.  #barstewards

Yes that's wrong.  They should only do it when the owner agrees to the booking.  :(

There are some great deals on there though.  I got a 3 bedroom cottage in Norfolk for £67 for 2 nights last month!  :y

Fairs dos, but considering I have a healthy budget for a hotel which comes with daily cleaning, gym, sauna, et al I know which one I prefer :y

If it goes long term I can always get an apartment.
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 16 December 2015, 14:13:52
Amazon do it for every order. They promise you won't be billed until the item is dispatched, but it still goes missing from your bottom line the minute you press the buy button.

That I dont mind, because I have ordered and paid for a service.  With AirBnB they pre-auth before the owner agrees or not to the booking and for several days afterwards.  #barstewards

Yes that's wrong.  They should only do it when the owner agrees to the booking.  :(

There are some great deals on there though.  I got a 3 bedroom cottage in Norfolk for £67 for 2 nights last month!  :y

Fairs dos, but considering I have a healthy budget for a hotel which comes with daily cleaning, gym, sauna, et al I know which one I prefer :y

If it goes long term I can always get an apartment.


It's right by the red light district, of course it comes with those ameneties  ;) :D

In all seriousness, that sounds a good place, and you're there to literally 'rest your head' you're not setting up home with a family there, when area/schools/crime becomes much for of an issue. Make a trip to Whitefriars for an Ale and there's a staggeringly beautiful bar that looks like the House of Lords inside, that does every quality drink under the sun, just behind the Cathedral. Also the Phoenix's Guinness tastes like toilet cleaner!

Three pubs across the road from our Uni building. Happy times.  8)
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Gaffers on 16 December 2015, 14:26:25
I am looking at a Mercure out of town, far enough not to be in the red light district but close enough to work to be convenient.

They have come back with some decent fixed rates for long-term occupancy :o
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: aaronjb on 16 December 2015, 14:42:55
Daily cleaning and the occasional massage with happy ending?  ;D
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Gaffers on 16 December 2015, 14:46:48
Daily cleaning and the occasional massage with happy ending?  ;D

 ;D ;D ;D

I can wish ;D
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 16 December 2015, 16:54:49
I can't get when Alan Partridge was in that Hotel for ages out of my head...  :)
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: TheBoy on 16 December 2015, 18:01:48
Mrs TB works there (and says its a shithole, but I think she's just bitter about being forced to commute further ;D), I can ask her to ask her local colleagues what's good and bad round those parts?
Works there every day?  :o Does she stay over?
Commutes daily.
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: STEMO on 16 December 2015, 18:04:48
Mrs TB works there (and says its a shithole, but I think she's just bitter about being forced to commute further ;D), I can ask her to ask her local colleagues what's good and bad round those parts?
Works there every day?  :o Does she stay over?
Commutes daily.
That's too much.  :-*
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: TheBoy on 16 December 2015, 18:10:14
Mrs TB works there (and says its a shithole, but I think she's just bitter about being forced to commute further ;D), I can ask her to ask her local colleagues what's good and bad round those parts?
Works there every day?  :o Does she stay over?
Commutes daily.
That's too much.  :-*
Although double the distance, its far quicker than my commute  :'(
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: STEMO on 16 December 2015, 18:12:20
Mrs TB works there (and says its a shithole, but I think she's just bitter about being forced to commute further ;D), I can ask her to ask her local colleagues what's good and bad round those parts?
Works there every day?  :o Does she stay over?
Commutes daily.
That's too much.  :-*
Although double the distance, its far quicker than my commute  :'(
Oh...where did that kissy smiley come from? And where's me glasses?  ;D
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 16 December 2015, 18:52:19
Coventry has a Cosmo restaurant. ended up doing a 70 mile detour with woman just to go there... Om nom nom.
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Gaffers on 16 December 2015, 20:16:04
Coventry has a Cosmo restaurant. ended up doing a 70 mile detour with woman just to go there... Om nom nom.

Good call!

Might have to have a wander over there for lunch after my interview :y
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 17 December 2015, 06:27:35
Coventry has a Cosmo restaurant. ended up doing a 70 mile detour with woman just to go there... Om nom nom.

Good call!

Might have to have a wander over there for lunch after my interview :y

Timing is crucial, the one in Brizzle tends to run out of food juat after the lunch rush  :y
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Gaffers on 17 December 2015, 15:59:11
Well I got the contract, starting in the new year :y
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 17 December 2015, 16:01:43
Well done! Great news!


Now I have to be honest, Cov is sh!t, don't ever live there  ;) :D
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Gaffers on 17 December 2015, 16:21:14
 ;D ;D
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: 05omegav6 on 17 December 2015, 16:29:44
Nice one :y
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 17 December 2015, 20:41:31
Good news!  Guffer sent to Coventry at last!  :y
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: tunnie on 18 December 2015, 16:34:37
Good stuff  :y
Title: Re: Coventry?
Post by: TheBoy on 18 December 2015, 16:52:35
Well I got the contract, starting in the new year :y
Congrats :y.

Its still Cov though, and Mrs TB still confirms its a shithole.