Coventry's Inspire cafe bar in UK Top 50 coolest nightspots

[dutchman]

A Coventry bar in the base of a church spire has joined some of the capital’s swankiest pubs in a list of the country’s coolest nightspots.



Inspire Cafe Bar, in New Union Street, has been recognised in the Independent newspaper’s Top 50 Bars for 2011 alongside a host of the UK’s most exclusive venues.

Labelled as the country’s “top spots to chill out”, Inspire was joined by Wilde’s Wine Bar in the Parade, Leamington, and The Kenilworth in Warwick Road, Kenilworth. The venues were chosen after secret visits from a panel of expert judges.

Sixteen of the 50 cool pubs and swanky bars chosen were in London.

Inspire, which has leased Christ Church Spire from Coventry City Council for ten years, came 28th on the list.

Described as “Coventry’s best-kept secret”, experts said “this tiny gem of a venue infuses rustic European charm with a contemporary ambience”.

Landlord Mick Leape said: “I got a text saying we were in it and I didn’t believe it. I ran out and bought a copy. Then I started getting texts off people. It’s amazing how many people found out about it.”

Judges said they appreciated the charm of the Inspire’s unique venue, which has a bar inside the spire building and an outdoor courtyard with heaters, and praised “helpful” staff for making sure drinkers make the most of limited space.

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