Coventry’s trades and services: the shortlist

Coventry doesn’t always get the credit it deserves, but its local businesses hold up: proper trades, long-running cafes and enough professional services to keep the place ticking. If you’re trying to remember the electrician your mate used, start here.

453 Coventry businesses are currently listed on WotsItCalled, concentrated around Allesley, Keresley End, Cannon Park, Earlsdon, Radford and Canley. Browse everything listed in Coventry in one place.

The local trades you’ll actually need

A surprising number of the best-reviewed trades are based in Allesley or treat it as their main patch. Coundon and Earlsdon fill in the rest of the west side, and the city centre handles more of the commercial work.

Prices are generally fair for the region. Independent sole traders often take on the small jobs bigger firms can’t be bothered with, which is handy if you’ve only got a dripping tap. Reviews are your best filter: five stars with a proper review count tells you more than any van signage.

• Plumbers: 17 Coventry plumbers listed. GAS7MAZ Plumbing and Heating handles emergency call-outs and general gas work.
• Electricians: 18 Coventry electricians. Devlin Electrics in Coundon is one of the top-rated on the directory.
• Car mechanics: Coventry garages. Magics AUTO and Mototech both get consistent five-star reviews.
• Builders: Coventry builders. Rightlook Carpentry & Construction in Allesley and Nightingale Builders are both solid picks.

You rarely need to look more than a couple of miles away for a tradesperson, and most of the firms listed will cover anywhere inside the ring road without fuss.

Where to eat, drink, and grab a coffee

Eating out is quieter here than in Birmingham, but there are proper independents hiding in plain sight, and plenty of takeaways around the ring road for the nights you can’t be bothered.

Earlsdon is the pick, with independent cafes, a couple of decent restaurants and pubs that aren’t chains. Allesley and Coundon have their own clusters of good local spots, and the directory covers both.

• Restaurants: Coventry restaurants, including local favourite Burnsall Bites.
• Cafes and coffee shops: Coventry cafes. Squirrels Cafe and PAPP’S CAFE in Coundon are both well reviewed.
• Pubs and bars: Coventry pubs. The Nursery Tavern in Chapel Fields is one of the city’s best-known independents.
• Takeaways: Coventry takeaways in every postcode.

Hair, beauty, health, and wellbeing

There’s a decent spread of salons and barbers, with Allesley and Coundon at the quality end. Dentists cover both private and NHS work, and gyms range from long-established independents to newer boutique studios.

Dental and beauty clinics are spread across the city rather than clustered. Allesley has several well-reviewed practices that don’t show up on the national listings, which is where a local directory earns its keep.

• Hairdressers and barbers: Coventry salons and barbers. Paul Hennessy’s is one of the most-reviewed on the directory.
• Beauty salons: Coventry beauty salons. Aesthetics By Cheri Limited in Allesley is a top-rated option.
• Dentists: Coventry dentists. Allesley Park Dental Practice is a solid local choice.
• Gyms: Coventry gyms, including Evolution OF Fitness in Canley and Evolution Gym.

Professional services

For a city of its size, Coventry is well served. Accountants are particularly strong, solicitors cover the usual conveyancing, family and small business work, and estate agents cluster on the west side and in the commuter areas around the ring road.

Local firms tend to compete on fixed fees rather than hourly rates, which usually works out better for you. Ask for a fixed price up front on predictable work such as conveyancing, wills and self-assessment, and most will oblige.

• Solicitors: Coventry solicitors. Reeds Solicitors LLP covers a broad range of work.
• Accountants: Coventry accountants. Cheylesmore Accountants is one of the established names.
• Estate agents: Coventry estate agents. Walmsley’s The Way To Move in Earlsdon is a well-reviewed local independent.

What’s changed lately

Coventry doesn’t get the press that Birmingham or Leamington do, but its independents are quietly strong. Earlsdon has gained new cafes and bars over the past few years, Allesley keeps adding specialist trades and services, and Coventry categories on the directory get updated most weeks.

If you know a good Coventry business that isn’t listed yet, flag it and it’s usually on the directory within a few days. There’s no signup and no payment, because the whole thing runs on local word of mouth.

The short version

• 453 Coventry businesses listed across the directory.
• Allesley has the highest density of trades and services.
• 27 takeaways and 21 hotels and B&Bs listed.
• Electricians, plumbers and garages are all well covered.
• Every category page links straight to phone numbers, addresses and reviews.

WotsItCalled is a free UK business directory. No signup, no catch. Browse everything listed in Coventry, or find the place everyone’s on about.