Coffee House and Public Hall Earlsdon Coventry-atrib

Although the name of the architect for this building has still to be found, the Coventry Herald recorded the attendance of W H Hattrell at the opening ceremonies of 29 April 1899.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF EARLSDON. COFFEE HOUSE AND PUBLIC HALL. A new coffee tavern will be opened in Earlsdon to-morrow (Saturday) afternoon by the Mayor of Coventry. The scheme has been carried out a limited liability company, of which Mr. R. Waddington is chairman of directors, and the object is primarily philanthropic, for although it is of course hoped that the venture will be self-supporting, and perhaps even profitable, yet the chief aim has been to supply the need for unlicensed refreshment house, public hall, and resort. Up to the present the inhabitants of this growing suburb of Coventry have been without any facilities for public gatherings, or for social recreation other than the licensed houses. The Earlsdon Coffee House provides among its other advantages, a large hall to seat 300 persons, comfortable reading and smoking rooms, and also accommodation for eight young men boarders. The building is handsomely designed, and is very conveniently planned, there being no lack of room in any department. The ground floor in front is a spacious coffee bar, behind which are the reading and smoke-rooms, the kitchens, and apartments for the manager and his wife, the waitress, and servant. The first floor accommodation includes the large hall referred to and several other chambers, the eight bed-rooms for boarders being upon the next storey. The contract for the building amounted to £1,554, and the cost of the land was........ Mr. S. Alichurch, of the Alexandra Coffee Tavern, in Ford street, Coventry, is the managing director of the new company, and the place will therefore be under his supervision. The builder is Mr. T. G. Golby. [Coventry Herald 28 April 1899 page 5]