please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
It's been almost 10 years since I was last in here. But having completed all Coventry pubs I wanted to do, I had the opportunity to visit a couple of bonus establishments. The Old Windmill is very much as I remember it. In fact, I sat at the exact table I sat at in summer 2009! As others have said, the pub has plenty of character, with multiple rooms. It was certainly busy enough on my visit. Ales were Morland Old Speckled Hen, Theakston Old Peculier, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Purity Gold, Hogsback Yule Log& Goff's Black Knight. Ciders were Abrahall's AD & Cracklin' Rosie Perry, Orchard Pig Explorer, Weston's Old Rosie & Thatcher's Stan's Big Apple. I was getting a little tipsy by now. But I do recall having the perry!
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Superb pub in a histrionically important street.
Oozing its age inside and out - with the inside a very pleasant experience of individually panelled nooks and crannys.
Several real ales on - at least 5 - most with hand written signs. Hogsback TEA caused confusion as barstaff thought I wanted a cup of tea!
The sort of pub that is a living museum with plenty to explore.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2P0EwkX
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This pub has just been awarded the pub of the year for Coventry.
Still selling 8 fine real ales + ciders. Does some great pork pies .
The first pub to visit , you may not get to any others!
lotus - 15 Mar 2015 11:47 |
Lovely old pub with an interesting layout of different drinking areas. A good choice of ales sensibly priced but the only food on offer was either pork pie or game pie. Having chosen the latter I was then informed they had sold out, a bit strange as there was a distinct lack of trade and those customers present left a bit to be desired, nevertheless the pork pie was good. On the plus side the young lady behind the bar was very pleasant and my pint of Springhead Outlawed washed my pie down well. I can also report that the toilets (gents at least) were spotless.
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Five ales on (didn't see any guests) - Hobgoblin, Doom Bar, TT Landlord, OS Hen and Theakston's Old Peculiar which we had a pint of each - in good condition.
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The oldest pub in town. Very good choice of real ales , Theakston Old Peculier my favourite with Taylor Landlord ( from the barrel ) a close second. There are 7 hand pulls with Doom Bar , Old Speckled Hen , Hobgoblin , plus three changing guest beers. Show a Camra card and get 10% discount .Friendly bar staff , top quality beer . The pub is situated on a street full of historic buildings , a must for tourists to the to the city to visit .
lotus - 20 Nov 2013 10:36 |
Has been a higher quality oasis in Spon Street since the 1970s and is certainly better still than most others locally, though the atmosphere can be a bit drear. Ma Brown's stood out in 30 years ago but now there are maybe better alternatives - notably the Whitefriars
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A number of seperate rooms with little nooks and crannies. Had a deent enough pint of Purity Gold here.
anonymous - 18 Jan 2013 17:30 |
Very old pub on the medieval Spon St as the local signs portray it. The street is actually very pretty, but that's not difficult compared to the rest of concrete Coventry.
2 separate rooms from the main bar area, the larger of the two has 2 seperate snugs which are very quaint.
Wooden panelling throughout gives the impression of being very dark but the lighting does work well.
7 ales on draught and I had a very good pint of Doom Bar reasonable priced at �3.00.
Being a Saturday lunchtime the pub was fairly quiet but started to do a good trade in food and most of the punters in seemed to be tourists.
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Looks the business from the outside but my Saturday afternoon visit left me with no outstanding impression. The atmosphere was subdued, possibly because of the time of day, and the barmaid seemed a little harrased - although perfectly pleasant when serving me. The Old Windmill ale didn't inspire either and I felt the place could do with some TLC. Didn't really want to sound so indifferent about a fine old structure, so I'll give it another go when next in town. But for now 6/10 awarded mainly out of respect.
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On a Friday evening this was an oasis in chav-infested "medieval" Spon Street. A delightful 16th century building with a choice of rooms, big and small. It serves the blessed Theakston's Old Peculier in good order -- not cheap though. An eclectic clientele obviously appreciated the place. One gripe is that the recorded music was much, much too loud in the main bar.
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I really liked this pub. It was friendly and welcoming, and you can't beat sitting by the fire with a lovely pint of Dark Horse mild and listening to Metallica and Black Sabbath on the jukebox (absolutely appropriate for the West Midlands). Best pub I've been to in Coventry, I think.
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eight ales on offer included doombar,landlord,old peculier,speckled hen however i went for the purity mad goose(�2.90)as previously said its a little gem in a largely modern entertainment and retail outlet area,7/10
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Unlike the chav-infested bars nearby on Coventry's "Medieval Spon Street", the Old Windwill is a bit of a gem. Attracting an *extremely* mixed clientele of party goers, Goths, bikers, students, and real ale drinkers, everyone is welcome to take in the historic atmosphere, drink the fine selection of beers, and listen to the random mix of tunes on the jukebox. Could really do with a good scrub and some new furniture though.
dw198 - 22 Aug 2010 20:14 |
I went in a couple of weeks ago, beer was average but the prices were very exspensive I thought. Staff weren't very friendly either. Had a pint at the bar and tried to start up a convo with the person working at the time but you could tell by there come backs they didn't really want to talk to me, too busy talking to their friends further up the pub. Won't be going back there in a hurry.
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The landlord Robin Addy has taken over the members club in Warwick Row. I'm not sure who the new incumbent is but the beer is still good and apparently the kitchen is due to be refurbished.
Mark
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This is the pub that caused us to miss the train! We did indeed enjoy the tiny snug in front and the range of ale was very good.
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Hiya,
Spookyhead I am sorry to hear about your naff pint of Landlord, I assure you that we do everything we can to keep our ales up to scratch. Camra drink here and we can't afford an off day. If anyone has a problem with their pint, simply bring it back to to bar and tell us about it! The prices however are not set by us. (ie the management). I will bring this up with the lease holder on Friday when we have our weekly meeting.
if we're not as good as we used to be, tell me how we can improve. Tell me what you'd like to see, drink, eat, etc and I'll do my best to acomodate you
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First visit after an absence of several months. My pint of landlord was okay but certainly not worthy of a gbg listed pub. The decline of this establishment appears to be continuing. The prices are fairly expensive also. It will be a good while before i return here.
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Authentically traditional pub in this historic mediaeval street on the edge of the city centre. The small beamed snugs off the central corridor as you enter are a delight, some with only space for a maximum of 3 people. These afford views onto the street outside. Further back in the bar area the pub is more opened out and caters for a mixed clientele. I can imagine the pub caters for a circuit crowd later on but a good atmosphere prevailed on my visit, with singlaongs &c. Good to see a pub so busy on a Saturday afternoon. Good range of ales as documented and my Sunchaser was very refreshing on a hot day. A classic in my book, a must when in Cov. I hope to return.
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Some ok ales. A tad overexpensive though and frankly not as good as it ued to be.
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We stumbled across this one whilst taking a look at the medieval buildings in Spon Street, of which the Old Windmill is one. The interior is impressive, with separate small and distinct drinking areas. Cask real ales on offer were Cottage Silly Mid Whippet, Taylor Landlord, Old Speckled Hen, Hobgoblin, Sharps Doombar and Everards Beacon and Sunchaser. In addition, they had Westons Old Rosie cider. I'd definitely return here again.
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Beer selection is actually usually uninspired in my memory. The charming interior deserves better, maybe, but overall I see no reason to drink here if you're in the area. Loads of little rooms, that kind of style. Some punter did try jumpin in on me while I was waiting and I'd been then before him, he thought that was ok, not on is it? and I told him.
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great pub love the old decor they have and the old pissed up man who stands at the bar with no legs made my night he has us in stiches
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Usually has an interesting guest ale. Unfortunately the hobgoblin and Tim Taylor landlord have been declining in quality for some time now. Occasionally your senses are assaulted by deafening thrash metal played by the bar staff. The place could do with a seriously good clean as well. It wouldn't take too much effort to get this pub back to the high standard that it used to maintain.
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I enjoyed my visit to this intersting pub while attending the recent beer festival. I look for unusual guest beers, and love the intersting rooms in this pub.
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This city center pub is still well worth a visit.Much cleaner now it is not smokey.Seven real ales to choose from all in good condition,five regulars and two changing.Plays the local ice hokey team BLAZE games on TV in back room during the season.Very good quiz on sunday night anybody can play and win!Great to get rest from shopping during the day,busier at night.
lotus - 30 Mar 2008 14:44 |
Lots of trendy real ales - no good quality swilling beer such as Brew XI, Tetleys or even Bass. Please get the basics in for the normal drinker
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I agree with all the previous comments made - basically Coventry needs more places like this. The crowd in here are generally a little rougher around the edges than those who drink in the Whitefriars Olde Ale House and the place is better for it. A decent mix of people makes for a decent drinking atmosphere here and the jukebox can be trusted to bash out some great tunes too. Nice choice of ales available which are kept well. Absolutely ideal place to get away from the stress of the city centre and read the paper in one of the smaller rooms. Top stuff.
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This is one of my favorite combinations.
Old [but looked-after] building [13th century], quality cask ales [6], reasonable prices, friendly and prompt service.
On entering the main door, an old stone pathway leads you through the building past numerous little snug rooms, to the main room and bar, which has a LARGE coal fire place. Just the job in winter.
lovely pub all round.
However, beware weekends - very popular, as are all the spon street bars.
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City center pub.Good selection of real ales,I love the Hobgoblin which is always on.No garden or parking.Good quiz on sundays.Friendly staff.
lotus - 14 Jul 2007 17:25 |
A pub to rank alongside the Whitefriars for choice of beer. The beers I tried were all in good nick.
Large, old pub, ideal for a session.
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It's hard to believe that a Pub like this can be found in Coventry City centre, within the inner ring. Beautiful old building with plenty of nooks and crannies, has it really been rebuilt from a bombed out site? If so they have done a remarkable job. The beer was fine although I find it disconcerting when no-one knows who the Brewery is, just the name of the beer. If I was from Cov, then this would be a regular.
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Visited on a recent crawl and found it a delight to wander round the various rooms, nooks and crannies. No smoking area too. Had a good quality meal while enjoying my ale in this old pub of character. No problem in having a taste of the Hanby Cherry Bomb either.
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excellent beer. When I was there last month it had a weirdy alky woman sat there drinking wine to her heart's content. Seems to attract all sorts, but the beer was excellent. I'll be back.
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A lovely old mediaeval building in Spon Street (a street made up of mostly transplanted mediaeval buildings from other parts of bombed-out Coventry), this pub is also a delight inside - a warren of tiny bars makes it snug and characterful. Good range of beers too.
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Now back in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide for 2007 and not without good reason. Excellent well kept ale's. Very old pud a few minutes from the main shopping centre and well worth the walk out. Used to be very popular with a local motorcycle club until it disbanded but it is still biker friendly.
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Me and 'er Indoors nipped in for a quick pint a couple of weeks ago and although the interior is great (very Olde Worlde), we waited a good 3 - 4 minutes to get served. Understandably if the pub was heaving but we were the only ones at the bar!! The bloke that eventually served us got up from a seat at a table in the bar area and apologised coz he "hadn't seen us come in"! Ha! Must've been blind!
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Reoprtedly changed management, and can no longer be found in the pages of the GBG. Still looks the same from the outside nevertheless.
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Nice place, there just aren't many drinking dens around like this any more. Drink is good, at average price. Was unfortunate that when we were there the blokes toilets were flooded, with a biro-scrawn note on a page from someones rough-book masking taped onto the wall saying 'out of order' and 'dont put fag-buts in the urinal please'....and that really detracted a bit - you dont expect to have to bring your wellies to a pub just to use the facilities.
Good juke box as well.
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great pub, great beer but the staff need lots of improvement and proberbly some training too
anonymous - 23 Jan 2005 10:32 |
The best bit about this pub is the open fires, perfect for a winters evening! The prices are very resonable and the little rooms serve for cosy chats with a friends.
katie clarke - 12 Nov 2004 14:21 |
its a great local pub and lets face it there isn't many of them left in coventry! its a beutifull building and a really freindly enviroment
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A good traditional pub, great interior with many snugs and nooks to hide away in. Good mix of people from locals to bikers and goths. Excellent selection of ale on including Hobgoblin on my last visit. One of few traditionl pubs left in Coventry City Centre.
Sal - 14 Jun 2004 12:28 |
Visited the pub last Saturday (07/02/2004) and enjoyed a good pint. The pub has been very slightly smartened up (the seating appears to have been re-upholstered) but the pub remains unspoilt and remains, in my opinion, well worth a visit. All age groups and all walks of life appeared to be happily drinking side by side in this warm, welcoming pub. It has improved since I last visited, and I am upgrading my rating of it from an 8 to a 9. Keep it up.
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Good selection of real ales. Good free jukebox.
Only let down was the service.
One barmaid serving on Thursday night who seemed to be on another planet.
roy - 9 Jan 2004 13:07 |
This is a good pub but not a great pub. The beer selection varies and is interesting. The quality is generally good. It is close to but a world away from the Skydome complex. But in winter rooms away from the fire can be cold and univiting and space near the fire stifling. (It is also on a young folk getting smittled rat run.)
dr tim - 22 Dec 2003 18:37 |
It's just excellent - perfect old pub for drinking and chatting.
Claudie - 17 Nov 2003 12:05 |
Fantastic pub,watch your head though this is one of the oldest and best pubs in Coventry,the ceiling is only about 6 ft high. Young or old, the beer is fantatic and the atmosphere is great.
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This pub has traditional fixtures and fittings. Like walking into something from Shakespeares time. Including low ceilings! There is a jukebox and rooms with seating. This is a great pub for a crawl or stop off point before going to a nightclub. It is located on Spon Street Coventry.
nyquist - 28 Jun 2003 12:41 |
traditional pub, many of the original features, great atmosphere, friendly staff. great place to drink before going on to the nightclub 2 doors down. well recommend it, but don't take my word for it - pay em a visit!
Katherine - 24 Jun 2003 10:02 |
The beer festival had a fantastic response, thanks to all who came!
windmill staff - 23 Jun 2003 12:02 |
This pub is a fantastic place!
the beers they have are always kept extremely well. They are having a ber festival from 6th june until 8th june a must in my books, considering it is the first in 4 years!!
Cornelius - 2 Jun 2003 21:32 |
best free juke box in town, beer is ace and recomend the steak pie's, The gaffa robin is well fit
sarah - 19 Apr 2003 14:59 |
fantastic pub, good beer the food is good now dunno about 2002, lynne has left, new gaffa is really good and his assistant manager is doing a really good job, i rate it 5 out of 5.
Dr. Alan Smith - 19 Apr 2003 14:49 |
Well I think its about time someone put in a decent word about one of Coventry's better pubs. I for one have enjoyed several pints there when up from London. The pub stands in Spon Street, one of Coventry's oldest streets, and is amongst some of the oldest pubs in the country. Check out the history when you visit. I found a reasonable range (albeit predictable) of real ales in quite a good condition. The pub is divided into several small rooms and drinking areas, at least one of which boasts an open log-fire. I have not tried the food and can't comment on it. Please ignore the rather offensive comments made by others on 17/08/2002. Visit the pub and see for yourself - it's a lovely pub.
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Ye Olde Windmill is a great place for under-aged drinkers, the pirates are very welcoming and the atmosphere is very very traditional. The dog that roams the grounds is a great laugh, people can spend hours chatting and laughing with him. Overall the pub stinks!
N. B - 15 Aug 2002 21:44 |
It's a good traditional inn, in one of the few surviving buildings from the blitz. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Lynn is the landlady, and there is also an old dog (possibly sea dog).
Chris - 5 Aug 2002 21:33 |
