This historic pub in Earlsdon is up for sale

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This historic pub in Earlsdon is up for sale

Postby dutchman » Wed May 10, 2017 8:40 pm

It's going under the auctioneer's hammer next month

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Would-be publicans are being given the chance to buy a bustling Coventry pub when it goes under the auctioneer’s hammer next month.

The lease on the Watchmakers in Earlsdon is being sold in an auction which is taking place at the pub itself on Tuesday June 6.

The pub, which hosts regular live music and runs a Sunday dinner delivery service, has been run by brother and sister Steve and Sarah Carvell for the last 11 years.

Originally called the Earlsdon Cottage, it underwent a major £1million refurbishment in 2006 and a further £200,000 revamp in 2016 when it changed its name to the Watchmakers.

The new name was a nod to Earlsdon’s past as the centre of the city’s once thriving watchmaking industry.

The pub, originally built as a watchmaker’s cottage in 1855, has had a long history as a live music venue, although it had to overcome a long-standing issue with noise nuisance to keep that going.

It also hit the headlines earlier this year when its newly-launched Sunday dinner delivery service was unable to cope with huge demand by hungry Coventrians.

The Warwick Street pub subsequently recruited additional chefs and delivery drivers and expanded its kitchen facilities to cope.

A big bonus for any buyer is that the pub has recently become a free house for the first time in its 150-year history, meaning the new owners can buy their products from wherever they wish.

Explaining why they have decided to put the pub up for sale Steve Carvell said: “We have decided that now is the time for the premises to take new ownership, and for that person or company to continue to build the business as they see fit and appropriate.

“We have enjoyed our time whilst running this very popular and well-known drinking establishment, but we have other business interests that we now wish to pursue, and also feel it is now the right time for someone with fresh ideas and energy to move the business on to the next level.”

Steve added: “It is no secret that in recent years we unfortunately experienced some issues in relation to noise nuisance, which we are glad to confirm we have now overcome.

“This that led to us evolving the site from the Earlsdon Cottage to the Watchmakers, and in doing so reintroducing live music every Friday and Saturday evening for the last 12 months, and also offering premium private room hire facilities.

“We believe that both the local authorities and residents are now far happier with the current Watchmakers business model.

“The demographics of our businesses has changed since the rebrand to the Watchmakers, and now fits a constantly evolving market in the Earlsdon area of Coventry.”

The fact the pub is a free house is likely to make it particularly attractive to would-be buyers, as Steve explained.

“We have recently negotiated a free of tie lease from the landlord of the premises, which means for the first time in the pub’s 150 year history, it is now a free house and allows any owner/occupier to purchase their products independently,” he said.

“In this current day and age, this will have a huge impact on the performance of the business and how it can continue to evolve.

“This is probably the most significant and important change in the business and will provide any operator the flexibility to move and adapt to a constantly changing market, rather than being tied down to a single supplier.”

Any interested parties need to register in advance with Loveitts Auctioneers on 02476 527789.

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Re: This historic pub in Earlsdon is up for sale

Postby dutchman » Thu Oct 25, 2018 10:12 pm

What is happening with Earlsdon Cottage?

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Customers of a Coventry gay bar which appears to have closed just weeks after opening say they have been left out of pocket after not having their deposits returned.

The Kiki Lounge & Loft - formerly Earlsdon Cottage and The Watchmakers - only opened as a new cabaret and mixed LGBT/heterosexual venue in Warwick Street in Earlsdon at the end of March.

But by the middle of May it was up for sale online for £115,000.

Customers now say the venue's owners won't reply to their requests to return deposits for VIP booths and drinks.

CoventryLive has contacted managing director and Kiki Lounge licensee Sarah Carvell for a comment, but so far the business has not responded.

Ellen Jenks said she had lost out on £35 after booking a booth and bottomless martinis for two hours.

She told CoventryLive she would continue to chase the money, adding: "I have been told a few times I would get the money but as of yet still nothing."

Another customer said the venue had "ignored all contact" when she requested the £50 deposit her group of 10 friends had paid.

She said: "We were told nothing about the closure, I found out when my partner told me.

"I made contact to find out if it was true they had closed and to refund us all and they said they would then never did. They ignored all contact made.

"Absolutely disgusting. If you close down you contact everyone and you give them their money back."

Managing director of Cottage Events Centre Sarah Carvell contacted CoventryLive in September after we ran a story in May confirming the gay bar was up for sale online.

She then said she was re-opening the premises but did not get back in touch after requests from CoventryLive for more information.

The venue appeared to be closed when CoventryLive visited this week.

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Re: This historic pub in Earlsdon is up for sale

Postby dutchman » Fri May 17, 2019 10:18 pm

Noise nuisance fears over new pizza pub in Coventry

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A licensing committee is set to rule on a new speciality pizza pub planned for the historic Earlsdon Cottage in Coventry.

Brewer Charles Wells Ltd is aiming to open one of its ‘Pizza, Pots and Pints’ pubs at the Warwick Street site, which was originally built in 1855.

The venue would specialise in artisan pizzas and comfort food, whilst also holding events such as music nights in the bar and quiz nights.

But its opening hours have raised objections from Environmental Protection, which fears people leaving late will cause noise disturbance.

The firm’s plans are to open until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 11pm the rest of the week, with the main entrance on Warwick Street.

Environmental protection manager Neil Chaplin is against having a main entrance on a residential street, and has suggested using a side alley from Earlsdon Street instead.

He has also proposed a closing time of 11pm all week to help control concerns over noise from pub-goers leaving the premises.

But this has been rejected by Charles Wells which says the changes would make the business “unsustainable”.

A decision on the licence will be made on Monday.

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Re: This historic pub in Earlsdon is up for sale

Postby dutchman » Mon May 20, 2019 9:56 pm

Pizza pub to go ahead after noise concerns dropped

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A speciality pizza pub has been granted a licence to open in Coventry after concerns about noise on a quiet residential street were dropped.

Brewer Charles Wells Ltd submitted a bid to open one of its ‘Pizza, Pots and Pints’ pubs at the historic Earlsdon Cottage on Warwick Street, Earlsdon.

But Environmental Protection manager Neil Chaplin objected to the plans and called for its opening hours to be restricted to 11pm each day.

Mr Chaplin feared its proposals to close at midnight on Friday and Saturday would lead to noise and disturbance for the pub’s neighbours.

However at a licensing hearing today (May 20), the applicant submitted a late ‘dispersal policy’ which led Mr Chaplin to drop his objections.

He said: “The dispersal policy generally covers the points I have made in terms of people leaving the premises quietly in an orderly manner and not causing the good folk of Warwick Street to be any further inconvenienced – we all know the history of the premises over the years.

“Having had more discussions with the applicant they have agreed to two conditions, one regarding a twice-yearly newsletter to residents of Warwick Street with contact details, and secondly any customers that are persistently noisy when leaving will be barred.”

he committee agreed to grant a licence with opening hours of Sunday to Thursday 9am until 11pm, and Friday to Saturday 9am until midnight, on the basis that they adhered with the two conditions.

The venue, which will be named ‘The Cottage’, is expected to begin its lease on the premises next month when it will undertake redevelopment, including an outside area for guests along Warwick Street.

Brewer Charles Wells, which has been in business since 1876, said it plans to build “a community pub” which will “welcome all members of a family”

The venue will specialise in artisan pizzas and comfort food, while it will also hold events such as live music nights in the bar as well as quiz nights.

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