The catering and hospitality sector in Coventry

• Head chef salary (October 2019) in Coventry: £30,000 a year / £14.13 per hour
• Sous chef salary (October 2019) in Coventry: £25,000 a year / £11.85 per hour
• Chef de partie salary (October 2019) in Coventry: £22,000 a year / £10.45 per hour

Coventry is a city that’s steeped in history. Lady Godiva. Watchmaking. The jet engine. The Blitz. 2 Tone ska music. And as the UK’s next City of Culture (taking over the mantle from Hull in 2021), this young, diverse and modern West Midlands metropolis is also a great place to be living and working in catering and hospitality.

Coventry may have been decimated by Nazi bombs during World War II, but it’s certainly not the “Ghost Town” that local icons The Specials sang about. For the culture vultures among you, there’s plenty to get stuck into — from Warwick Arts Centre and the Belgrade Theatre to the UK’s first Shop Front Theatre, the Tin Music and Arts, Coventry Godiva Festival, Coventry Transport Museum, Coventry Cathedral and the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.

Shoppers also have plenty of retail opportunities in the thriving city centre, while foodies can enjoy top-quality food and drink in a growing number of establishments. And with three universities — Coventry University, Warwick University and the smaller Arden University — there’s a vibrant student population around town.

In the catering and hospitality sector, wages in Coventry are some of the most competitive in the Midlands. According to our latest data, a head chef can earn up to £30,000 a year — more than in nearby Nottingham or Derby. Meanwhile, a sous chef can earn over £25,000.

Coventry also has plenty of upskilling opportunities for chefs looking to expand their repertoire. Coventry University provides a BSc Food and Nutrition course, while Coventry College offers a Level 2 Professional Cookery course. Work for one of Blue Arrow’s catering employers? You may also have the opportunity to join a Blue Arrow Apprenticeship programme.

There’s never been a better time for hospitality and catering work in Coventry. A range of jobs are available across the city — from a permanent kitchen role in a swanky restaurant to matchday bar work at the Ricoh Arena, the current home of the Wasps RFC rugby union team. And with various events and festivals running throughout the year, seasonal employment is readily available, too.

Coventry’s food and drink scene is certainly going places.

Cost of living in Coventry

• Average monthly rent in Coventry: £500-£1,500
• Monthly travel pass: £50.45 (all forms of public transport)
• Meal for two in a mid-range restaurant: £42.50

Housing prices in Coventry roughly correspond with the UK average. An average 1-bedroom apartment just outside of Coventry city centre, for example, costs around £547.50 per month to rent, while a 3-bedroom city centre apartment will set you back £1,309.

With a well-established public transport network (named the UK’s fifth-best-connected city outside of London), Coventry is easy to get around. Buses run regularly across the entirety of the city and beyond, with a single adult ticket costing £2.20. What’s more, a planned light rail system called Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLS) is set to become operational in 2024.

Coventry is also a great base to explore the rest of the country. Coventry railway station is served by the West Coast Main Line, connecting the city with London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. The station is also served by railway lines to Nuneaton via Bedworth, as well as a line linking it to Royal Leamington Spa and onwards to the south coast. For those with a car, Coventry is also conveniently close to the M6, M69, M45 and M40 motorways. Birmingham Airport is located 11 miles to the west of the city, while the smaller Coventry Airport is situated 5 miles to the south.

Supermarkets in Coventry sell food and drink at the same prices you’d expect anywhere else in the country. It’s also easy to eat out without forking out. A meal for one at an inexpensive restaurant costs around £11 while a three-course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant will set you back around £42.50.

Council tax in Coventry depends on the area you live and the value of the property you buy or rent. The cheapest tax band is £1018.74 a year while the priciest tax band is £3,667.48.

Bars, kitchens and restaurants in Coventry

Coventry is a richly multicultural city, and this diversity is reflected in its eclectic food and drink scene. From Caribbean street food to Italian trattorias, Coventry will please the pickiest of eaters and leave a lasting culinary impression.

With a large South Asian population, Indian food is particularly popular. Serving quality ingredients in an intimate setting, the award-winning Turmeric Gold (a finalist at the British Curry Awards, no less) is the most exclusive of the city’s Indian restaurants. A hit with locals and visitors to the city alike, the centrally located My Dhabba is a BYOB restaurant offering a range of delicious Indian and Pakistani dishes. Based in the suburb of Longford, Nashaa is the place to go for authentic, tasty Indian fare. And with exceptional service and affordable prices, Blue Orchid is also worth a visit.

The refined Ristorante da Vinci is arguably the city’s best Italian haunt, serving classical cuisine in an understated but elegant dining space. The Millpool is great for real ale and traditional British pub grub — ideal for a lazy Sunday afternoon with family and friends. Located in Coventry Market, the Hummus House stall perfects the art of the vegan falafel wrap. Meat lovers and veggies alike will love the authentic Turkish fare served up in Antalya Restaurant, while Playwrights delights diners with experimental British and European comfort food.

In addition to a wealth of independent eateries, Coventry is home to many of the restaurant chains common in the British city centres, including Bella Italia, Cosy Club, Slug & Lettuce, Bistrot Pierre, wagamama, Las Iguanas, and everyone’s favourite, Nando’s.

Meanwhile, a peppering of independent cafes, tea rooms and bakeries line the city streets – ideal for baristas or chefs who prefer a more relaxed daytime setting. Bean & Leaf Coffee House, in particular, has earned rave reviews for its coffee, cakes and sandwiches since opening in 2017.

As for bars and pubs, punters and bartenders alike will be spoilt for choice. Sip on tropical cocktails at Samoan Joe’s tiki bar, savour a pint of local ale at the 16th-century Golden Cross, and enjoy an affordable beer-and-burger combo at student favourite, The Aardvark.

No matter whether you’re a sous chef, pub manager, barista or catering assistant, Coventry is a great place to enhance your hospitality and catering experience. Aside from restaurants, pubs and cafes, there are hundreds of kitchens across the city — in hotels, hospitals, schools and much, much more — actively looking for passionate people to up their hospitality game.

If you like to work as part of a close-knit team and have a real passion for food, take the next step toward your new career and search for catering and hospitality jobs in Coventry today.

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