A45, Stretton-on-Dunsmore

Before the M6 and M40 were built, Coventrians heading south by road usually would take the A45 away from the city towards the A5 Before long, they would pass, or might call in at, one of two landmark buildings near to Stretton-on-Dunsmore One was the historic Dun Cow public house, the other was Bob's (or Cyril's) Cafe The Dun Cow ceased to be a pub, becoming a restaurant and later a nightclub Both buildings fell derelict after closing in the 1990s, and the Goji (Dun Cow) was attacked by arsonists last year Meanwhile, Bob's Cafe is now going to be rebuilt as a car sales business

Very sad to see The Dun Cow and Bob's Cafe in such sorry looking states. I spent many a Saturday night/Sunday morning. drinking coffee until the early hours at Bob's Cafe. Several of us used to tear down the A45 in the dead of night, circa 1974/75, on our Triumph motorbikes. We'd stay at Bob's until about 3-30am before returning home to Coventry. It was somewhere to go late at night but also great fun! I also vaguely remember a dog food factory along the A45, I think it was called 'Laughing Dog' or something similar. Is it still there or has it suffered the same fate as the aforementioned establishments?

Cyril`s Cafe was at Toll Bar End about where Coventry Mazda is today, not the cleanest of establishments but served up a hearty breakfast and was mostly used by truckers, at the side of the premises was a lane and you could turn off the A45 to the cafe so you didn't have to go down to the island and back up London Road....

Different cafe, Norm The 1940 Telephone Directory lists "Cyril's Road House, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, tel Wolston 69" - this is the one which became Bob's Cafe

Bob's Cafe was on the left, just past the Stretton roundabout. After chucking out time from the Locarno me and my mates would go there for "beans on toast" and a coffee, circa 1965/7. You could not find the toast or plate until you had eaten at least half the beans and the coffee came in about a pint mug, talk about value for money. Not spotless but good value. Also the pet food factory, I believe is now closed, which is up near Dunchurch. PS. the cafe was also known as "Robert's Restaurant".

In the early eighties I was a Distribution Driver for Hertz. Due to the strange and prolonged hours of work we found Bobs Cafe very welcoming at all times of day or night. We knew it as 'Greasy Bobs'. Sorry to see it go.

I used to use it sometimes on the way to work at Lawford Heath and used to met up there with the Rugby bikers when I lived in Daventry for a night in Coventry. I always remember my mate asking for mushrooms and the woman said 'We ain't got none' to which he replied 'Well there's plenty growing on the inside of these windows'.

Looking at the site plans, it seems that the actual building for Bob's cafe is being retained as part of the development. I'd assumed it was being demolished Further info here

In the days when smoking was more common we often went to Bob's Cafe late night/early morning as it was the only place that was open that sold hand-rolling tobacco.

Bobs Cafe 1930's as Cyril's cafe. Takes a while to load but here's the link.

Bob's cafe did a mean bacon sarnie for not a lot of money. I remember coming back to Cov one morning in the early hours and feeling very pleased with myself because I was going through the Ryton bends at 70mph. My thoughts at that particular time were Barry Sheen eat your heart out (oh the foolishness of youth). At least I was pleased, then a guy on an old Vincent went roaring past me as if I was stood still. That old Vincent made a hell of a row but it went like it's backside was on fire.

Liked that biking story. The A45 was the main trunk road to Birmingham and the M1. What's happened to the old Rootes/Peugeot factory at Ryton on Dunsmore? When I last went past it about three years ago it was all boarded up.

It isn't there any more, completely demolished and the site cleared.

Here's the site on the left looking toward Toll Bar roundabout when I flew over it in a de Havilland 'Dragon Rapide' a couple of years ago.

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