Coventry is a vibrant City with plenty to see & do – Hotel Indigo Coventry

When I arrived in Coventry there was a Motor Festival taking place and the city was crowded with visitors and several of its streets were closed off so that the classic & vintage motor vehicles could drive at speed & to parade safely along its notorious ring road. MotoFest is a cultural festival celebrating the cities transport heritage and pioneering its future. Last year over 200,000 people attended MotoFest to watch & enjoy live motorsport on the streets of Coventry.

I marvelled at the classic & vintage car displays and stood briefly to watch one of the vehicle parades pass below me, along the ring road, as I walked round to my hotel, just a couple of minutes’ walk from the railway station. I was told that 2024 is the 10th anniversary year of the MotoFest, so I was visiting the city at a special occasion.

The Hotel:

I would be staying at the stunning, boutique Hotel Indigo Coventry, the perfect base from which to explore the city. My wife & I were greeted at the hotel reception by a smiling face and words of welcome. There was a very smart sports car parked up in the lobby area, reflecting the cities automotive heritage.

Hotel Indigo Coventry opened on 24 January 2024 after the completion of a multi-million-pound project which took just 19 months from start to completion. Architecturally, it is a spectacular modernist building. So often chain Hotels appear to put convenience ahead of style, but Hotel Indigo Coventry manages to do both! Most of Indigos 18 hotels across the UK are located in converted heritage properties, including a power station in Glasgow, a Georgian terrace in Bath & a former Victorian department store in Exeter. Just as no two neighbourhoods are alike, no two Hotel Indigo properties are the same. Each is designed to uniquely reflect the local culture, character, and history of the surrounding area.

The Hotel is very convenient for exploring the city, whether for shopping or visiting its numerous heritage & cultural sites. Everything is within easy walking distance making the hotel the perfect base from which to explore this fascinating city. The Hotel clearly reflects the ethos of Hotel Indigo brand, creating a hospitality experience that draws on the history of this vibrant city. Its stylish interior is packed with personality, the quirky décor themed around Coventry’s roots, such as a Penny Farthing hanging from one of the walls! The hotel has been designed to reflect the local culture, character, and history of the city.

The Restaurant & Bar:

We ate in Cogs Restaurant & Bar, which is where our breakfast was also served. The open kitchen servery allows the Chefs to be seen and the diners can look over and watch their meals being prepared & cooked. The Bar, with 100 seats, is both stylish and smart, creating the perfect space in which to sit for pre- and post-dinner drinks. During our meal I noticed several people come in off the street, not only to eat in the restaurant but to sit and enjoy a drink with friends at the bar or relaxing in the comfortable lounge area. It is obviously still very much a local space for the community as well as a fine place to eat. Although only open for a few months, Cogs Restaurant is already beginning to establish itself upon the city’s foodie scene as the place to eat. 

The Cogs restaurant kitchen team, guided by Head Chef Marek Jani produce dishes which demonstrates fine culinary skills, flair & imagination. The team try to source as much of the fresh produce from local producers & suppliers, whenever possible. Marek has worked in many large prestigious hotels as well as several small boutique hotels.

Sunday Lunch:

Grazers:

1)           Beetroot Falafels: Tomato & Chilli Salsa – I think my Falafels were baked beetroot falafels because they were very crispy on the outside and beautifully moist on the inside. They had been made with chickpeas, fava beans, fresh herbs & spices and of course beetroot! They were colourful & simply delicious. Falafel is a popular Middle Eastern street food in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Turkey, which is where I first came across this tasty vegetarian bite.

2)           Belly Pork Crispy Bites & Mustard Aioli – Several tasty pork bites with a creamy, tangy, garlicky aioli to dip them into.

Mains:

1)           Honey & Lemon Chicken Supreme: The best part of the chicken in my opinion! Tender cuts of skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cooked in a beautiful honey lemon creamy sauce. Superb!

2)           Herb Marinated Lamb Rump: Boneless lamb rumps marinated in rosemary, thyme, garlic, honey & mint. Succulent & very tender pieces of lamb with a simply wonderful flavour.

Both of our roasts were served with Garlic Roast Potatoes, Honey Glaze Root Vegetables, Sage Stuffing, Huge Yorkshire Puddings, Green Vegetables & a small jug of Homemade Gravy

Side dish: Cauliflower Cheese – One of my favourites. What is there not to like about Cauliflower Cheese?

Desserts:

1)           Salted Caramel Sundae: Honeycomb & Salted Caramel Ice Cream, Toffee Bites, Crunchy Honeycomb & Maldon Salt. Dessert Heaven!

2)           Sticky Toffee Pudding: Clotted Cream Ice Cream & Honeycomb Crumb. You cannot go wrong with this restaurant staple. A simply wonderful dessert.

The food was excellent, and the waiting staff were all very friendly and professional in their service, attentive but without being intrusive. The meal was of a very high standard, beautifully cooked and the presentation was what I would expect at such a prestigious restaurant. Local suppliers are used, whenever possible, to ensure that only the freshest, tastiest ingredients are included in its dishes.

Breakfast was well worth getting up for, there was so much to choose from; cereals, salmon, a selection of fruits, yogurts, French pastries, and a cooked selection from the kitchen which included my choice, the full English. Scrambled Eggs on Sourdough, Eggs Benedict, Poached eggs on toast, Wiltshire ham, hollandaise Eggs Florentine, spinach & courgette, hollandaise Eggs Royale & plenty more choices.

I was spoilt for choice and the tea, coffee and toast just kept coming, when requested! The hot breakfast was cooked-to-order, as well as the help yourself buffet, so all of the food was freshly prepared, tasty, and plentiful! The breakfast waiting staff were warm and friendly. The food at both dinner and breakfast over the two days was excellent. Care had obviously been taken to source only the best ingredients. The food was well cooked and served by knowledgeable and friendly staff.

The hotel also boasts a Fitness Suite, a Wine Wall, and a Meeting Room for up to 12 people.

The Rooms:

Comprising of 101 stylish bedrooms, the rooms are designed around three themes reflecting the vibrancy and style of Coventry’s historic neighbourhood: The Spinning Wheel, Motor City, Re-imagining & Regeneration. The design of the Spinning Wheel Rooms reflects the cities bicycle making history with several discrete reflections of the bicycle wheel including the shape of the headboard design with a black rubber rounded frame and segmented headboard pads. My room was clean, & tastefully decorated. Added luxuries included a Hypnos double bed with Egyptian cotton linens & a huge 40-inch flat screen television, The amenities in the room were as you would expect in a good quality hotel including spa-inspired shower room, tea & coffee making facilities including a Nespresso coffee machine, Bramley toiletries, high speed Wi-Fi & plenty of power points for those essential laptops & mobile phones.

The City:

The hotel is situated next to Coventry Railway Station, a short walk from the city’s many cultural attractions including Coventry Cathedral, Coventry Transport Museum, and the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. The hotel is part of a wider Friargate regeneration project that is set to transform this area of the city into a bustling hub of activity. New walkways have already transformed the walk into the city from the station. At Friargate, all around the new Indigo Hotel, roads have been narrowed & pathways widened, taking away all of the unnecessary street furniture which cluttered the look of the area.

The railway station has undergone a £82m facelift, creating a modern transport link for the 21st century . Outside the station there is a welcoming wide, green boulevard that leads visitors directly into the city centre via a series of attractive urban spaces. Historically, Coventry was home to Europe’s first pedestrianised city centre when it was rebuilt after the war. Greenery is everywhere, with new planting boxes, lots of public seating & attractive water features that add the sound of running water and freshness to the air.

Having visited the city previously on many occasions, the city centre has in my opinion been transformed. It has changed in so many ways for the better, combining the best features from its past but looking forward very much forward to its future. There has been an increased importance attached to leisure, alongside its extensive retail options, green spaces & the environment. Coventry is like no other city, it is a unique city, shaped very much by its rich history & heritage. A journey from medieval walled city to industrial powerhouse, from the heavy bombing & almost complete destruction of the second world war, to the thriving city that we see today. Coventry has risen like a phoenix from the ashes of its past.

We are delighted to open Hotel Indigo Coventry which is the newest and most exciting hotel in the West Midlands.  Coventry has something for everyone, whether you’re a sports enthusiast, a lover of the arts, or someone who enjoys exploring nature. We love to deliver locally inspired and innovative restaurant and bar concepts and this hotel is a prime example of how Hotel Indigo draws on the local neighbourhood to inspire every aspect of the hotel. We look forward to welcoming guests to this beautiful new hotel where history meets contemporary elegance.

Michael Lyons, General Manager at Hotel Indigo Coventry

The staff, whether we were checking in at reception, dining in Cogs Restaurant & Bar or relaxing in the Bar or lounge area always presented a smart, professional & efficient service, delivering a very high-quality service throughout our stay. Nothing was too much trouble for them, which was really appreciated. The high-quality level of service really does make you feel very special.

They took the time to learn our names and engaged with my wife and I in bouts of genuine conversation. The décor, furnishings, food, and service were very much in keeping with the character, and ambience of a very good boutique hotel & restaurant. It ticked all the right boxes! A great night’s sleep, a fine dining experience & excellent breakfast topped off what had been a superb, restful couple of days.

My visit to Hotel Indigo Coventry was comfortable, relaxing, and enjoyable. My wife & I both enjoyed an excellent weekend in relaxed surroundings. Hotel Indigo, Coventry certainly comes highly recommended from me.

Hotel Indigo Coventry is situated at Friargate, Coventry, West Midlands, CV1 2GN, UK.

For more information, please visit Hotel Indigo Coventry

Did You Know: “Being sent to Coventry” Is a phrase used to deliberately ignore someone by not talking to them, avoiding their company or acting as if they no longer exist. The phrase originates from 17th century English Civil War, when Coventry was a Parliamentary stronghold. The king’s soldiers were so hated that Royalist prisoners were sent to Coventry, where they would be ignored.

Disclosure: My stay was courtesy of Hotel Indigo Coventry

The views and comments expressed are as usual my own

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