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Coventry: Directions, Beer & Food

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Diego_Sideburns Andy Ritchie

Diego_Sideburns

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NOTE: This information may be out-of-date in an ever-changing world.

Coventry City, Ricoh Arena, Phoenix Way, Coventry, West Midlands CV6 6GE.

 

NOTE: For 2015, the Club has published a comprehensive guide with everything you need to know about visiting the Ricoh:

http://www.ccfc.co.uk/documents/matchday-guide144-2219022.pdf

The Ricoh Arena is located on the northern edge of Coventry, about 3 miles from the city centre, and set within a site covering more than 40 acres.

NOTE: Entrance to the stadium is through automatic turnstiles, where you have to put your ticket (which has a bar code on it) into a slot reader, which then allows the turnstiles admit you. It sounds easy, but the green light that lights up to show you that your ticket has been validated is located up above your head, which has meant fans have kept trying to put the ticket back into the reader, leading to much confusion!

Away supporters are mostly accommodated to one side of the South Stand (Blocks 6 & 7) towards the corner with the Lloydspharmacy Stand. Around 3,000 supporters can be seated in this area. The angle of the stand is quite steep, meaning a fair bit of effort to climb to the top. Normally a steep stand means that fans are close to the playing action, but not here. Not only is there a sizeable red coloured track surrounding the playing area, but the stand itself is further set-back from the pitch. This leads to some viewing problems, especially when the action is taking place at the other end. The leg room is adequate for most and the stadium is said to have superb acoustics, which helps boost the atmosphere. The concourses have televisions which show the game being played.

NOTE: There are reports of supporters being ejected from the stadium for persistent standing, and stewards being somewhat heavy-handed.

Disabled facilities:

There are 19 wheelchair bays for visiting supporters, all with an adjacent seat for a personal assistant. There are specific disabled toilets and they operate the National RADAR Key scheme. All of the counter positions have lowered counters and hearing loops fitted.
If you are a disabled badge holder, contact the arena for availability of parking spaces and prices. Tel: 0844 873 6514 or email: karl.chester@ricoharena.com
The club’s Disabled Liaison Officer is Dan Walker Tel: 0844 873 6332 or email: dan.walker@ccfc.co.uk

How to get there:

By Road:

From the North: Leave the M1 at junction 21, then at the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the M69 (signposted Coventry, Birmingham). Leave the M69 branching left (signposted Birmingham M6, Coventry North and Central A4600). Keep in right-hand lane then continue forward (signposted Birmingham) joining the M6 at junction 2. Leave the M6 at junction 3, then take 2nd exit onto Phoenix Way - A444 (signposted Coventry). At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Rowleys Green Lane. At roundabout take 2nd exit onto Judds Lane.

From the North-West: Leave the M6 at junction 3 (signposted Coventry North) then at the roundabout take the 4th exit onto Phoenix Way - A444 (signposted Coventry). At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Rowleys Green Lane. At roundabout take 2nd exit onto Judds Lane.

From the South: Leave the M40 at junction 15, then at the roundabout take the 4th exit onto Warwick Bypass - A46 (signposted Coventry). Continue forward to join the A444, take left hand lane (signposted City Centre) onto London Road - A4114. Continue forward on London Road - until you reach the Ring Road. Stay in right-hand lane and take 2nd exit onto the Ring Road. Leave the Ring Road at junction 3 - at roundabout take 2nd exit onto Sky Blue Way. Proceed forward over traffic lights. At next roundabout, take 1st exit onto A444, signposted Nuneaton. Continue forward on A444, straight on at roundabouts until you see the Ricoh Arena. At the last roundabout adjacent to the Ricoh Arena on you right-hand side, take 3rd exit onto Rowleys Green Lane. At roundabout take 2nd exit onto Judds Lane

From the South-East: Take the M1 northbound. Taking the left hand lane, join the M6 motorway (signposted M6 The North West, Coventry North, Birmingham). Leave the M6 at junction 3, then at the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Phoenix Way - A444 (signposted Coventry). At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Rowleys Green Lane. At roundabout take 2nd exit onto Judds Lane.

From the East: Take the A14 westbound. Continue forward, then join the M6 motorway (signposted M6, The North West, Birmingham, Coventry). Leave the M6 at junction 3 (signposted Coventry North) then at the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Phoenix Way - A444 (signposted Coventry). At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Rowleys Green Lane. At roundabout take 2nd exit onto Judds Lane.

Car Parking:

NOTE: Please be aware that there is strictly NO parking available in side streets within two kilometres of the Ricoh Arena. A strict residents' parking scheme is enforced on event days as part of the Arena’s green travel plan.

Car Parks A and B are already sold out, so the only car park available is Car Park C. The price is £10 and it is advisable to book a space in advance. It opens at 12 midday and closes at 8:00pm. The car park is accessible from the A444 Phoenix Way Road dual carriageway, followed by a short walk across the pedestrian footbridge or under the subway to the Arena.

NOTE: Visitors can pay for their Car Park C passes by a number of methods, online, by telephone, or by cheque.

  • Online for £9 plus 44p postage and packing.
  • Telephone: 0844 873 6514
  • Cheque: All cheques should made payable to 'Arena Coventry Ltd' and sent to the following address: Karl Chester, Car Parking, Ricoh Arena, Phoenix Way, Coventry, CV6 6GE

If you prefer to park off-site and walk to the Arena, this link gives various alternatives: http://www.ricoharen.../park-and-walk/

NOTE: The nearby Tesco car park is 'policed' on match-days. Free parking is restricted to two hours only unless you spend £25 or more in one of the shops on the Retail Park (you then display the receipt in your windscreen), which include Next, Boots and Marks & Spencer.

There is also a private car park run by Leisure Ireland, located a few minutes’ drive away from Junction 3 of the M6. It has 200 spaces and is then a 15 minute walk away from the stadium. It advertises secure parking and apparently getting back to the motorway after the match is very easy. The cost to park there is £3 per car and to find the car park, follow the 'pink arrow' signs from Junction 3 of the M6. Fans are encouraged to pre-book their places online. http://www.walktrot.com/new_page_4.htm NOTE: To get to the stadium you have to cross a busy dual carriageway, so please bear this in mind if you have young children or older person in your party. Nearby is a similar set-up called Ricoh Arena Parking and again you book online (cost £4.35 in advance, £5 on the day). From Junction 3 of the M6 take the B4113 towards Bedworth. At the first roundabout take the 3rd exit and the car park is down on the right, almost opposite the Novotel. NOTE: Both car parks close one hour after the final whistle.

Closer to the stadium in Oban Road (opposite the Longford Engine CV6 6HH) are two private car parks run by Ricoh Arena Event parking. Spaces can also be pre-booked and cost £3 per car (or £4 on the day if spaces are available).

By Train:

Coventry train station is approximately six miles away from the stadium and is too far to walk. Either get a bus from the Pool Meadow Bus Station or a taxi (costs around £10).

There is a bus stop directly outside the train station, from which most passing buses go to the Pool Meadow Bus Station. Ask for a "match day ticket" which will cost you £4 and will cover all journeys on that day in Coventry (NOTE: No change is given on Coventry buses so have the exact cash ready). At the Bus Station, a Football Special Shuttle Service operates from Bus Stand 'U'. The service number is 101 and runs every 10 minutes from two hours prior to kick off and then returns every five minutes, for one hour after the game has ended. Buses depart after the match from outside the South Stand and stop at both the bus station and railway station. After the match, if the queue for the football special buses going back to the city centre is too long, walk up to the to the roundabout (signposted Holbrooks) by the stadium and get the number 13 service back into the city.

Where to drink:

On one corner of the stadium, near to the Club Shop is the Grosvenor Casino, which has a bar, Sky Sports television and admits both home and away fans on match-days, but only if over-18.

 

NOTE: Since Wasps arrived, new real ale bars have been introduced on the concourses. Apparently this is because "rugby fans want a better choice of beer than is normally served to football supporters”. Byatts Brewery from Holbrooks have been given the contract to provide the beers and the Wasps’ CEO has said they are expected to be open for Coventry City matches.

​However, It must be remembered that Coventry City FC only occupies the Arena as a short-term, matchday-only tenant of Wasps, and the full range of facilities may not be available when rugby is not being played.

On the previous visit alcohol was available inside the stadium in the form of bottles of 500ml Carling Lager at £3.40 each or Magners Cider (300ml) at £3.50.

The Longford area is about a ten minute walk away from the stadium, and there is a host of pubs situated along Longford Road.
The ‘JK English Pub’ is an Indian restaurant/pub with a pool table, jukebox, etc. On Saturdays it does an all-you-can-eat lunchtime buffet for about £5. To find this pub, coming away from the North Stand at the Ricoh, follow the towpath over the canal for about 400 yards passing the Tesco Extra on your right. When you come on to Longford Road, head right, towards Coventry City Centre and the pub is around 200 yards on your right. You can also park your car in this pub’s car park for a fee. It is then around a 15 minute walk to the stadium.
Also on Longford Road, but heading away from the City Centre are the Longford Engine and Coach & Horses pubs which both welcome away fans. The visitors’ turnstiles are around a 15 minute walk away, by going along the canal tow path by the Longford Engine pub.

The Black Horse pub, in-between Longford and Exhall, is popular with away fans and about a 20 minute walk from the stadium. If you go to the top of Longford Road and around the roundabout towards Exhall, it’s on the right and normally has a burger van outside. It is also only five minutes’ walk from the Leisure Ireland Parking area and also offers some limited free car parking at the pub itself. Also in this area is a Novotel that also has a bar.

The Greyhound pub on Sutton Stop is described as a ‘hidden gem’. It’s a traditional canal-side pub listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. You need to come off the M6 at Junction 3, but then drive away from the stadium, towards Bedworth, on the B4113, turning left (under the M6) at the first roundabout. You then take the first right at the traffic lights, just after the Black Horse pub, into Blackhorse Road and follow the road for a couple of miles until you reach a mini-roundabout at which you turn right to go over a narrow canal bridge. You then take the next left for the Greyhound pub. You can leave your car at the pub and then take the 20 minute walk along the canal to the stadium.

If you prefer to drink in the city centre, these two pubs are popular:
The Litten Tree, 1 Warwick Row.
The Earl of Mercia, 18 High Street (Wetherspoon’s).

If you prefer to sample more expensive bottled beers from around the world, selected from a menu, Inspire café bar, New Union Street is the place to go. The name is taken from its location in Christchurch Spire - the remainder of the Church was bombed in 1940, and the area around the Spire is now named Dresden Place, born out of wartime destruction of Coventry and Dresden, Germany, with a link devoted to international understanding and peace. It was listed as No. 28 in the Independent newspaper’s Top 50 Bars for 2011, labelled as the country’s “top spots to chill out”. Described as “Coventry’s best-kept secret, this tiny gem of a venue infuses rustic European charm with a contemporary ambience”. It has a small interior with a large outdoor seating area, and a beer menu listing a large selection of bottled beers from around the world.

Where to eat:

The Tesco Extra has a café.

There is also a handily-placed fish & chip shop located across the road from the Longford Engine pub.

Inside the stadium there are spacious concourses and a number of food and drink outlets serving amongst other things: Hot Dogs (£3.80), Pork & Stuffing rolls (£3.60), Meat & Potato, Chicken & Mushroom and Cheese & Onions Pies (all at £3), as well as large sausage rolls (also £3).

Attractions:
http://www.tripadvis...re_England.html

Edited by Diego_Sideburns
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marshy Scott & David McNiven

marshy

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Posted

I live in cov about 20 min walk from the ground so if anyone has any questions I would be happy to try and help.

 

On a side note regarding TESCO car park I know coventry fans that buy a jumper or whatever before the game then return it after full refund and free parking.

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laticdickovarmy Rick Holden

laticdickovarmy

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Posted

Hi Marshy,

 

Having only been highfield rd previously where would you park mate? Me and dad dont mind a walk and £10 is steep

 

I could quite easy spend £20 in shops mind you but is it 100% you wont get done just for having a reciept in the window and how long does the reciept entitle you to park there for?

 

Any news if buy before the day if is discounted on tickets?

 

Sorry lot of questions

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marshy Scott & David McNiven

marshy

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Sorry been offline for a while got to pay my bills lol, I am 100% sure you will be ok parking in the retail park but if you come off the m6 and follow the directions to the Longford engine that's a away friendly pub if you don't want to drink there are several car parks where you can pay along that road for about £5. I'm not sure where the resident parking ends on the roads but cv6 7dj is where I used to live and never had a pass or a problem about 20min walk.

 

I don't think they offer a discount I'm just paying on the day myself.

 

Hope I have helped.

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