Moira's Wet Fish Shop bringing seaside to Coventry this weekend

[dutchman]

The well known shop front on Upper Spon Street will be brought back to life for a special event



Coventry's beloved store, Moira's Wet Fish Shop, is to come to life this weekend in the form a special event.

Moira's Wet Fish Shop is a well known shop front in Spon End.

It is now the home of community organisation Grapevine, but the original shop front sign remains an iconic part of Coventry history.

This weekend, local musician Christopher Sidwell will put on a pavement performance outside a transformed Moira’s Wet Fish Shop.

The performances have been created with the local community through Moira’s Magical Fish Making’ workshops at Coventry Central Library last month.

Taking place on Saturday and Sunday this weekend, Christopher will be joined by Sponnie the Fish (a character modelled on Moira's shop) and 50 sea creature creations on the pavement outside Moira's.

Fish and other creatures of the sea, including Gary the Crab, a squid, angler fish, oddments of the deep, a seahorse, shark and mini-shoals, will form the backdrop in the pink sea window, to songs sung by Christopher Sidwell with his guitar.

The sea creatures in the window are made from stained glass, card, paper, plastic bottles and googly eyes.

It is a family event, and will celebrate the history of Moira's Wet Fish Shop and the area of Spon End.

Also on display will be the work of 50 local artists from mixed cultures of all ages.

There will also be workshops where you can design and draw sea creatures for yourself on the day.

Christopher Sidwell said: "To see the creations of people of all ages, cultures and walks of life together in one window is heartwarming. It feels very Coventry. Moira’s Wet Fish Shop is as near we can get to a trip to the seaside here in Coventry."

Artist Mary Courtney said: "Sponnie has dusted off his fins and redone his fingernails after lockdown. He's ready to say hello and keep Christopher company".

Black Swan Terrace (where the shop is located) is one of the oldest areas in Coventry, and predates Christopher Columbus's discovery of America.

CoventryLive tracked down Moira's family two years ago,

Moira Holt, of Moira's Wet Fish Shop sold fresh fruit, vegetables and fish from her business Upper Spon Street.

Her sister Sheelagh told CoventryLive previously: "There used to be an old man that ran a mobile fish truck that was popular, so she knew there was a demand. She was very artistic, and would lay the fish out on the front so people could see through the window."

As time went on, Moira thrived, and so did business: "She absolutely loved it, the two boys went to school round the corner too so it was ideal. She loved being in there in the shop, it was something she could do. Everyone knew her as well."

After being open for nearly 20 years, the shop closed suddenly in the early 1990s. It left many locals wondering what happened to cause the sudden closure, as it was a popular space for the community.

Sadly, Moira passed away from cancer on March 8 1993 aged 41.

Performances will take place on the pavement outside Moira's Wet Fish Shop at 11.00am, 12.00noon, 1.00pm, 2.00pm, 3.00pm on Saturday March 5 and Sunday March 6.

[dutchman]

I've lived within sight of the shop since 1981 and can't ever remember it being open?

According to at least one source it had ceased to be a shop as early as 1971.

It was on my route home between 1967 and 1970 and I can't remember it being open even then but I wouldn't swear to it. There were so many food outlets in Spon Street in those days I could still smell them long after I got home!