Demonstration planned in bid to save historic Coventry pub

Pub regulars have turned into campaigners in a bid to save a Coventry pub which appears to have pulled its last pint.

Earlier this month, The Grapes, in Radford closed its doors for the final time - as the pub is currently subject to a planning application which would see it demolished and replaced with flats.

But a group of locals which include former regulars at the pub have refused to give up, and are battling hard to restore the pub to its former glory.

A campaign group - called Save The Grapes - has been launched, in a bid to object to the planning application.

They are hoping to see the application rejected, and the pub reopened - with a local resident expressing an interest in purchasing the pub.

To do this, they have lodged a 35-page document to Coventry City Council, detailing objections to the proposal.

And to support their efforts - campaigners have enlisted the help of Dale Ingram, a historic pub conservation specialist - who put together the objection document.

This Saturday, May 18, the campaigners are set to hold a demonstration outside the pub - which has been boarded up in recent days, due to vandalism, in order to raise awareness of their efforts.

The pub has been boarded up to protect it from vandals

What's going on at the Grapes?

Earlier this year, plans were submitted to Coventry City Council to demolish the Grapes pub, and replace it with 33 apartments.

According to planning documents, these flats would not be for students.

Instead, the 33 apartments - a mix of one and two bedroom properties are being proposed with a mixture of single residents, couples, and small families in mind.

But the plans immediately attracted criticism, and with a deadline of May 29 to object to the application, the Save The Grapes campaign was launched.

And before the decision deadline has even been reached, the pub was shut on short notice on May 3, taking locals by surprise.

It closed without warning at the start of the month

What are the plans?

The Grapes is a fairly historic pub in Coventry, having stood where it is since 1932.

However, according to Coventry pub historians Real Ale Rambles, it was first mentioned in 1847, on the opposite side of the road, before being rebuilt where it is now.

But should the current planning application be approved, the existing building at 85 Radford Road would be demolished.

The documents show that a three story L-shaped building with a mixture of grey and blue bricks would be built in its place.

According to the design statement submitted by the IDP group on behalf of the applicants: "The proposal will contain thirty three generously sized apartments including two wheelchair accessible apartments.

"The mix of one and two bedroom apartments is close to equal and will accommodate a mix of single residents, couples and small families."

Further documents reveal that there would be 51 car parking spaces, and 30 cycle spaces - with no on street parking needed.

Presently there are 20 car parking spaces, and no cycle spaces.

If plans are approved, 33 flats will stand here instead

Campaigners object

A campaign called Save The Grapes has been launched, with members of the community battling to keep the pub as it is.

According to the group, "the Grapes pub has served the Radford community for 88 years.

"It's been a jazz club, a dance hall, and a meeting place for four generations of Coventry people.

"We've made friends there, met future spouses, socialised with workmates and neighbours and celebrated numerous life events such as birthdays and significant anniversaries."

In a lengthy objection document, it is said that the pub was most recently sold in a private sale in August 2018 for £780,000 despite a local resident making a series of offers to the then owner.

That resident, Danny Colgan - whose family used to own the pub - is said to still be interested in purchasing, and restoring the pub.

A previous CoventryLive poll asked if people thought that the planning application should be approved .

In total, 61 percent of voters thought that it should not.

One of the last surviving pubs

Over the years, Radford has seen a major decline in local pubs.

Since 2002, a number of pubs, including The Radford, The Motor Hotel, The Admiral Codrington and The Whitmore have all closed.

It is believed that until the start of the month, The Grapes was one of the last pubs standing in the area.

Another pub, The Pilot, is still open , though this is over a mile away.

What's taking place this weekend?

On Saturday, May 18, campaigners are set to meet outside the boarded up pub in a bid to save it from demolition.

The campaign group are urging as many people as possible to get involved - with plans to pose for a group photo in front of the pub, complete with a giant banner.

According to the event page on Facebook, it is set to start at 2pm.

The planning application can be viewed and commented on here .