Drapers’ Hall reopens under new management

An historic Coventry venue has reopened under new management with plans to re-establish it as a premier event space in the Cathedral Quarter.

DH Venues has signed a deal with owners Historic Coventry Trust to run Grade II listed Drapers’ Hall.

The new management company is a partnership between Chris Hartley of Hartley Consulting & Events and Arum Javed of Sovereignty Venue & Event Management.

Drapers’ Hall, which underwent a major £5 million restoration project in 2021, is recognised as one of the finest Regency buildings in the city and was built in 1832.

DH Venues’ appointment will host a wide range of events, from award ceremonies, exhibitions and conferences, to weddings, celebrations and concerts. It is also set to continue hosting small music events and continue the venue’s rich musical heritage.

DH Venues will be seeking to partner with local suppliers to the hospitality sector on events and collaborate with city centre hotels on accommodation for guests.

Chris Hartley, who is also a member of the oversight board for Destination Coventry, said: “This is a venue with incredible heritage and huge potential. We are proud to be taking it on and excited about what we can achieve in this wonderful space.

“The spaces we have at Drapers’ Hall are really beautiful, it’s unlike anything else in the city and perfectly suited to hosting a wide range of events.

“While we are a new business, as a partnership we have collectively nearly 40 years’ experience working with and for a wide range of event venues including The NEC Group, NAEC Stoneleigh, Wicksteed Park, ACC Liverpool, Eastside Rooms and many more.”

Coventry BID works with its levy payers to make the city centre a vibrant and safe place to live, visit and work. The BID will be supporting DH Venues and Drapers’ Hall as they ramp up operations.

Joanne Glover, Chief Executive of Coventry BID, added: “As a city, heritage and history is an area where we are incredible strong and Drapers’ Hall is right at the heart of that. This is a true ‘wow’ venue which is perfectly positioned to thrive, providing an incredible backdrop for a vast range of events.”

Historic Coventry Trust is a charity founded in 2011 to bring new life to the city’s heritage by finding innovative ways to sustain Coventry’s historic buildings.

Ian Harrabin, Chairman of Historic Coventry Trust, said: “We completed the £5 million restoration of Drapers’ Hall in November 2021 while we were still in the Covid pandemic, which must be the worst possible time to launch a new venue.

“I am really pleased that the events world is now getting back to normal and Drapers’

Hall can reach its potential. We needed managers with both the experience and enthusiasm to provide a fresh start and are very pleased to have secured DH Venues to manage the buildings into the future.”

To find out more about Drapers’ Hall and hosting events at the venue, visit www.dhvenues.events

Coventry restaurant ranked in top 10 per cent of the world by Tripadvisor

A Coventry restaurant in the heart of the historic cathedral quarter has been ranked among the top 10 per cent of restaurants in the world by Tripadvisor.

Tales of Tea, located in the vaulted undercroft of 13th century Grade I listed building St Mary’s Guildhall, has picked up a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award after receiving consistently positive reviews from guests over the past 12 months.

The restaurant, which opened in 2023, is located in one of the oldest parts of the building opposite the main entrance to the Guildhall, and serves a range of high-quality, seasonal dishes including its acclaimed afternoon teas as well as a la carte dining, lunches and brunches.

It comes after St Mary’s Guildhall picked up a Travellers’ Choice Award of its own, with the heritage attraction ranking alongside locations such as the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum as a top place to visit according to visitor feedback.

Reviewers have described Tales of Tea as a “hidden gem in a lovely setting” with “amazing ambience” and “brilliant service”.

Abi Moore, Heritage and Venue Manager at St Mary’s Guildhall, said: “The fact that three quarters of customers who left a review gave the full five stars is incredible to see, and we are incredibly grateful to our team for consistently delivering such high standards.

“We hope to welcome even more guests in the coming months and years as we continue to establish ourselves as one of the top restaurants in Coventry, and would like to thank all those who left a positive review for their support.”

John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor, added: “Congratulations to Tales of Tea on its recognition in Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2024. Travelers’ Choice honours businesses that consistently demonstrate a commitment to hospitality excellence.”

For more information and to book a table, visit www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk/tales-of-tea