Medieval Far Gosford Street - Coventry - Proposed Masterplan

[skybluecity]

Originally Posted by NewTroll

If I hated the place that much I wouldn't stay here. I love living in Earlsdon. We're so lucky to be able to just walk to the War Memorial Park and take daughter for a go on the swings. Simple things like that are far more important to me than having a John Lewis in the city centre these days.

Yes, it really does change your life, in more ways than one... The first six months or so are really hard work, but you get rewarded every day by watching them develop, learn and grow personalities... Daughter is now learning to speak and communicate... Which is fun in itself.

How true is that. My daughter is nearly five and is starting to question everything, Why? How? What for? The other day she asked "daddy, where was I when you were a little boy?", "well you didn't exist then", "oh, like when I die I won't exist too", "err, yeah", "cool, but i exist now though?", "you sure do". And off she skipped. She also goes to school in Mallorca so is learning Catalan. Weird to see your four year old daughter speak to a stranger in a language you don't understand.

[stig1982]

Not sure if this has been posted here before - but the former Hand & Heart Pub is up in scaffolding. Looks like restoration works are about to commence.

[NewTroll]

Originally Posted by stig1982

Not sure if this has been posted here before - but the former Hand & Heart Pub is up in scaffolding. Looks like restoration works are about to commence.

What are they doing to it? I know there was a plan years ago to turn it into student flats with some more student flats behind where the music venue used to be.

[ccfc-4-life]

Originally Posted by NewTroll

What are they doing to it? I know there was a plan years ago to turn it into student flats with some more student flats behind where the music venue used to be.

I think it's being renovated and will be opened again, which I think is very good

[NewTroll]

Originally Posted by ccfc-4-life

I think it's being renovated and will be opened again, which I think is very good

As a pub? Yes, that's good! I used to driink in the H&H when I was an undergraduate!

[Dr Pepper]

Round the back.

[Dr Pepper]

Soon to be replaced. You can see some of stained glass in the building on the right. Not sure what sort of restaurant the building on the left was.

[Dr Pepper]

I think this office has been here a while but I have only just noticed it.

[Dr Pepper]

Some new build flats just off the main street.

[Dr Pepper]

More infill planned.

[NewTroll]

Thanks for those Dr P. The backroom of the H&H has gone! Went to many parties back there.

[NewTroll]

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

Soon to be replaced. You can see some of stained glass in the building on the right. Not sure what sort of restaurant the building on the left was.

Me neither. As far as I know, it's always been like for the last 19 years!

[stig1982]

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

I think this office has been here a while but I have only just noticed it.

The site of the current temporary offices is where they plan to build a new permanent block dubbed the 'Scala Offices' in reference to the old Scala Cinema which used to be on the site.

Great photos Peps. I can't see any stained glass in the windows though for looking!

The new build on Bramble Street (corner of FGS) looks good as well - I think it complies with the Conservation Area status.

[stig1982]

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

More infill planned.

It would be good to see some infill here. I wonder whether any new build will literally join up the Beer Engine to the other building shown, or whether there'll be a slight alley way? If you look at the side/rear of the Beer Engine there are some windows and I doubt the landlord would be happy to have these blocked up and removed.

It would look better if the new build joined up properly. Better for preventing anti social behaviour as well (no dark alleys and all that)

[stig1982]

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

Soon to be replaced. You can see some of stained glass in the building on the right. Not sure what sort of restaurant the building on the left was.

Anyone looking at this picture should IMHO wholly support the new application put forward to demolish the building on the right and replace it with a mixed use commercial/residential.

Rotty the Troll (that's your new nickname pal so that newcomers know who I'm referring to by 'Rotty') posted a link to this application in an earlier post in this thread - check it out.

[stig1982]

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

I think this office has been here a while but I have only just noticed it.

Note the Council plaque - 'Coventry City Council Far Gosford Street Regeneration Project'.

Goes to show that this isn't some flavour of the month stab at overnight improvements (as the likes of Ironmonger Square arguably was) - the Council have actually put a project base on site which has to show longer term commitment.

[stig1982]

Originally Posted by NewTroll

As a pub? Yes, that's good! I used to driink in the H&H when I was an undergraduate!

The planning application suggests that the ground and basement levels be used for bar/restaurant use and the upper floors be used for residential use.

I don't think we will see the Hand & Heart return as a 'proper' pub. Breweries all over the country have been suffering for a long time (way before the recent credit crunch). Cheap supermarket booze and the smoking ban has seriously wounded the British pub. Sadly I don't think we'll see any new pubs opening in a hurry. Unless they serve food and/or entertainment then they just won't be economically viable

[NewTroll]

Originally Posted by stig1982

The planning application suggests that the ground and basement levels be used for bar/restaurant use and the upper floors be used for residential use.

I don't think we will see the Hand & Heart return as a 'proper' pub. Breweries all over the country have been suffering for a long time (way before the recent credit crunch). Cheap supermarket booze and the smoking ban has seriously wounded the British pub. Sadly I don't think we'll see any new pubs opening in a hurry. Unless they serve food and/or entertainment then they just won't be economically viable

That's been the case for some time, hasn't it? Places like Dogma survive by offering lunch, restaurant food in the evenings and also being a bar/nightclub.

The H&H was a bit of a dump, but it was cheap and a large gang of us used to drink there in the smoking room - and the landlord was a nice chap (Ex Irish boxer who never stood for any trouble.).

[NewTroll]

Originally Posted by stig1982

It would be good to see some infill here. I wonder whether any new build will literally join up the Beer Engine to the other building shown, or whether there'll be a slight alley way? If you look at the side/rear of the Beer Engine there are some windows and I doubt the landlord would be happy to have these blocked up and removed.

It would look better if the new build joined up properly. Better for preventing anti social behaviour as well (no dark alleys and all that)

I know the landlord of the Beer Engine!

[NewTroll]

Originally Posted by stig1982

The site of the current temporary offices is where they plan to build a new permanent block dubbed the 'Scala Offices' in reference to the old Scala Cinema which used to be on the site.

Great photos Peps. I can't see any stained glass in the windows though for looking!

The new build on Bramble Street (corner of FGS) looks good as well - I think it complies with the Conservation Area status.

The stained glass is above the main windows... Where the writing is.