A leading Midlands commercial property agent has let a retail unit in Coventry city centre to the organisation that will deliver the city’s year as UK City of Culture.
 

Holt Commercial, which has offices in Coventry and Birmingham, has let 31-35 Hertford Street to the Coventry City of Culture Trust.
 

The Trust will utilise the 6,105 sq ft property to sell a range of branded Coventry 2021 merchandise – from clothing and postcards to bespoke and artisanal items that you will not be able to find anywhere else – as well as offering a ticketing service and information on upcoming events.  It will also showcase and sell original artworks created in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Fit out is now underway for the venue, which will also be home to a studio for media broadcasts, a meeting space for visiting delegates from across the UK and beyond, and a new coffee shop.



Chris Hobday, Associate at Holt Commercial, said “This is great news for Coventry at a very exciting time for the city.  We’ve all been looking forward to UK City of Culture 2021 and it’s great to see the team opening up a public-facing space in the city centre, which will attract footfall.  The expansive unit is situated on a key route in to the city centre from the train station and so it’s the perfect spot for the City of Culture Trust to greet visitors during their occupation.
 

It’s the latest in a series of lettings we’ve achieved in the city centre, which is especially pleasing considering how testing the past year has been for retail.”

Martin Sutherland, Chief Executive of Coventry City of Culture Trust, said “This new space will be a place for Coventrians and visitors to the city to come and find out everything they need to know about Coventry 2021 – as well as being the place to buy merchandise and tickets.  With fewer than 100 days until we start our year as UK City of Culture, we are excited to open once lockdown restrictions are lifted so that we can welcome people into the store.”
 

Trish Willetts, Coventry BID Director, said it was a very welcome addition to the city centre.  Trish said “It was fantastic to support the City of Culture 2021 team in their search for a unit in the city centre for this project.  The new space is perfectly positioned in the heart of Coventry, whilst also being on the main thoroughfare from the station, making it easy for visitors to find.  We are looking forward to seeing the team bring this unit to life and create the perfect hub for all things 2021!”

Several of the Trust’s 2021 Club members; Amtico, Brett Martin Daylight Systems and KB Transport Solutions, also helped with the fit out of the shop by donating materials including flooring, pallets and sheeting.