Struggling Coventry city centre pub The Rocket has reopened after being transformed from a football boozer into an African-themed pub.
The pub, in Warwick Road, near Coventry train station, has brought in new tenant landlords who want to revitalise the well-known pub.
The Telegraph reported its closure last month – just 10 months after it was relaunched amid much fanfare for the 2010 World Cup.
Formerly a favourite haunt for football fans, it had been closed for about a year before that.
Milka and Brian Rusk have taken the helm at the Enterprise Inns-owned pub after previously running similar pubs in Nottingham and Lincolnshire.
Despite adding culinary influences from the African continent, the couple insist they want to keep the football crowd and will still show live matches.
Landlady Milka said: “We’ll still be doing football but we just want to add more customers – we’re adding a different type of customer.
"This will bring something different for the locals, maybe they will taste food they hadn’t tasted before.
“It will be something new and the community will have somewhere to go without having to go to Africa.
“We will have music and food and it will bring communities together.”
The couple plan to feature live acts performing traditional African music and reggae.
The pub will also put on a DJ every Friday and Saturday night with more mainstream music for the city’s weekend revellers.
The Rocket sign at the front of the building was damaged by fire in January.
The same ‘Under New Management’ banner is still up on the pub from when the previous tenant landlord took charge last year.
“I think the main thing is to treat the customers well,” Milka added.
“We intend to eliminate the bad elements and make it a friendly pub for all.”
Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:18 pm