Restaurants, Cafes, Coffee Bars

The Magnet cafe, corner of New Buildings, 1962. Not heard of it before now.

This is an aerial view of the same corner in 1953. The fire station is on the left and the Hippodrome is in the foreground. The temporary shops to the right of the cafe had not yet been built. I believe the small triangular projection on the corner of New Buildings was an ice-cream kiosk:

Mornin' Dutchman, a good aerial view that one thanks. Are the cobblestones (high heel killers I used to call them) still there? I know it's a restaurant now in place of the old Fire Station. My mind is mostly on the 60's, but I do remember going in to see the whale on display on the corner, just a waste piece of ground in the 50's. Enjoy your day.

There are a few cobblestones on the fire station side Dreamtime, mostly by the edge of the pavement and a great many more on the opposite side of the road.

Ah, thanks, I would have thought they would have all been long gone by now, like most of Coventry's identity.

Are there any good restaurants close to Coventry Transport Museum? Needs to serve lunchtime roast meal and be accessible to those with mobility problems. (Walkers, Wheelchairs, and mobility scooters). Possible group of 10 people attending.

Doubt if you will find any that will be able to fit a lot of wheel chairs and scooters Pixrobin.

This was formerly King Wa's in Warwick Row

Do I recall that as Chattaway's wine bar?

Does anyone remember a cafe that was next to the gas showrooms in Corporation Street, early 60s, there was an upstairs restaurant as well. No one else seems to remember it if this is a childhood imagination then it's a vivid one as I can even remember the people who worked there, the decor and even the seating.

Yes I remember it. Wasn't it a relic of the wartime British Restaurants?

Hi MaggieD, are you sure it was not the one above the Gas Showrooms, up the wrought iron stairs. I stand corrected if wrong, but the one upstairs stands vividly in my mind as my mum used to take me in there often, as well as the one above the Opera House in Hales Street. You mention early 60's so that was a few years after.

Hi to you both There was one cafe, ground floor to the left of the iron lift cage, whilst on the first floor there was a full restaurant facility with uniformed waitresses. It was a real treat for me to have dinner in there. As a child, I remember the fact that it was full to overflowing on a Saturday lunchtime, so much so that there was a waiting area adjacent to the gas showroom itself, where you waited in turn for a table to become vacant. The restaurant manager would then show you to your table. Steak & kidney pie was my favourite no bought in affair, it was made there & had carrots & mushrooms in it. I could just eat it now, Maggie. Shall I book a table?

Thank you to everyone regarding the cafe enquiry, my husband was convinced I had imagined it.

Hello Maggie We are all so glad that you joined our forum.