Sports bar to open at Ricoh Arena
A sports bar is set to open its doors at Ricoh Arena later this year as part of wider improvements ahead of the venue hosting the Commonwealth Games.
The bar – located by the front door to the complex –will cater for up to 160 covers at a time.
There will be a number of widescreen TVs as well as interactive games including shuffleboard and table football.
The Wasps club shop will be relocating to the south side of the venue to make way for the 400 sq m bar, which will be open to the general public seven days a week, and will create around 25 jobs.
Work is already underway on the sports bar which is set to open in the spring.
Ricoh Arena’s catering partner, Delaware North, is funding a significant portion of the seven-figure investment in the bar, alongside investment from the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), which has been made via an allocation of funding as part of the Government’s Getting Building Fund, and from the Government’s Local Growth Fund and Growing Places Fund.
The CWLEP funding will also be supporting the development of a new pavilion and launch of a Commonwealth Convention Centre at Ricoh Arena.
Stephen Vaughan, Wasps Group chief executive, said: “Socialising is changing and people want to be entertained or experience new concepts whilst they are eating or drinking out, and the sports bar will reflect this in a modern, cutting-edge environment.
“As a venue we typically attract more than a million people every year for live sport, exhibitions, conferences and music concerts to name a few – all of whom will be able to benefit from visiting the sports bar, along with local residents.
“The sports bar’s arrival marks the start of an exciting period ahead for Ricoh Arena as it looks to play a role in helping to celebrate Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture, before hosting a Rugby League World Cup clash later this year, as well as welcoming the Commonwealth Games in 2022.”
Midlands firms supporting the bar project include Coventry-based project and cost management firm IDP, Birmingham-based engineering consultants Clancy Consulting, interior design company Harrison, and construction works are being undertaken by Coalville-based refurbishment company The Ideal Group.
