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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to hate living in Coventry?

225 replies

Destinysdaughter · 08/02/2017 18:36

Inspired by the I hate living in Manchester thread, I lived in London for many years but moved back here as I had been made redundant and my dad had severe dementia and was going blind so I moved back home to look after him. He's now in a home because after 2 years, I couldn't cope with it any more. So I'm now living in a city I really do not enjoy being in. I find many people to be both narrow minded and overtly racist, there's virtually nothing going on artistically or culturally, the bars and restaurants are shit and its just dull dull dull. I feel like I'm just biding my time waiting to die here.

I miss London so much but I could never afford to live there now as its got so ridiculously expensive. I used to go back a lot but I've stopped as it made me feel too depressed. The job opportunities are v poor here in comparison ( used to work as a trainer for a charity ) and am struggling to find any meaningful, well paid work. Final moan, there's a real lack of decent, interesting, cultured men up here, so haven't met many guys on my wavelength. In London I dated men who were journalists, lawyers, architects, writers etc but up here most pp seem to work in the motor industry and I just have nothing in common with them!

Only good things about being here is that drinks are cheaper, air is cleaner and its an easy city to get out of!

OP posts:
PinguForPresident · 09/02/2017 13:59

I was horridied by the hating Manchester thread, becasue Manchester is an amazing city with so much going on. coventry...well... isn't. Could you move to Brum or up to Manchester if London is too expensive? Both are a vast improvement on Coventry.

Rugbyplayersarehot · 09/02/2017 13:59

Ah ghost town and the specials!

Mind you stoke is worse.

Ghosttownspecials · 09/02/2017 14:03

I always thought it hada depressing air too, thought that was just me.

Rugbyplayersarehot · 09/02/2017 14:05

Agree some places do seem depressing. I hate litchfield and was born there. Stoke/Stafford all depressing

Iris65 · 09/02/2017 14:11

crunched and emwithme just had to say great posts.
I was born and grew up in Coventry. I lived in a very glamorous, international location for a year and also spend a lot of time in London and other large European cities. In my experience Coventry is no worse or better than most industrialised cities, although its location is better than most.
You can make what you want of a city like Coventry. It depends on where and what you spend your time doing. There are plenty of well educated, professional and interesting men if you look in the right places! I have met and dated Drs, lawyers, writers, artists and academics here!

Iris65 · 09/02/2017 14:13

bertiebotts I agree, the planners and architects really made a mess of the regeneration after the war and during the 70s.

MrsTarzan1 · 09/02/2017 14:17

Don't blame you! I live 10 miles away and thats close enough :)

Iris65 · 09/02/2017 14:22

Destinysdaughter: if you like cars, tribute bands and bingo

If you ar not trolling then your problem is your attitude. In the last month I have seen internationally acclaimed films, been to a theatre to see a play (Roads), been to a museum and gallery for exhibitions. Warwick University (in Coventry!) holds an amazing number of cultural and arts events. I have also had coffee and dinners with interesting and professional people including artists, teachers and academics Grin
The only tribute band I ever saw was at the NEC in Birmingham, I have never been to bingo and nor have I ever attended any car related events.
Get of MN and get outside your bubble!

Gingernaut · 09/02/2017 14:41

I don't blame you, OP.

I went to Coventry for my birthday to see a show at the Belgrade Theatre.

I can't drive (former Londoner), so booked a night at the Ramada to save travelling home late.

The Belgrade was threadbare and the cork floor sticky, the McDonalds had bouncers, the brutal concrete Corporation Street was just walls of glass and cement, the Ramada was grubby, the streets were unkept, the subways fucking scary with few working street lights and the excavation site and visitor's centre at Priory Gardens have been used as an ashtray after it closed down.

Laughably, the city is in competition to be a City of Culture in 2021.

It's poorly laid out, in the middle of roadworks to keep the traffic moving (only the cars matter, fuck the pedestrians) and just seems to be waiting for more Lottery grants to spend.

I have never been so grateful to go 'home' to Wolverhampton.

If you've seen what I think about Wolves, that's saying something.

to hate living in Coventry?
Gingernaut · 09/02/2017 14:43

The flambéed turkey is the 'Phoenix of Wolves'....

beela · 09/02/2017 17:07

The city centre is baaaaad. I think with Cov you just have to work harder than in some places to find the good bits.

Op if you don't like it then of course yanbu because that is your opinion. But Yabu to dismiss everything as bingo and tribute bands.

at least it's not Nuneaton

user1471467667 · 09/02/2017 18:50

waving from Earlsdon. Its a provincial city and is what you make of it. I've never encountered racism, and my son is dual heritage. I'm sure we have our share of racists but no worse than anywhere else. I don't drive and find it one of the easiest cities to get around by public transport.
Art and culture, have you really not been to Warwick Arts Centre, easily accessible by number 11 bus which runs from the city centre every 15 minutes until midnight. I've seen countless gigs, innovative theatre, dance, circus, comedy, film, art exhibitions. Earlsdon has its arts thriving arts festival, the Albany theatre is really getting going with a great programme there are several good amatuer theatre, Ricoh area for big bands, NEC 10 minutes on the train for all the shows you could want, not forgeting the Godiva Festival. It really is what you make of it.

CockacidalManiac · 09/02/2017 18:55

Coventry is how I remember Birmingham looking like in the 1970s.

EatSpamAmandaLamb · 09/02/2017 19:00

Can I ask if Farmer Giles chip shop is still in Cov?

somethinglikethis · 09/02/2017 19:05

Is the Lady Godiva clock still there??????

Destinysdaughter · 09/02/2017 19:13

Iris no not a troll and don't mean to offend pp, it's totally my issue. I feel like a failure for not being able to afford a place in London and never intended to end up here. I've really tried to make it work but feel like a square peg in a round hole. 55% of pp voted for Brexit here which is indicative of the parochial mindset.I don't have happy memories of growing up here and couldn't wait to leave. Guess I've just been spoilt by living in London for so long ( tho don't miss paying extortionate prices in pubs, so can at least drown my sorrows cheaply! Grin)

OP posts:
Destinysdaughter · 09/02/2017 19:18

And yes Lady Godiva clock is still there! Owen and Owens is now Primark tho Sad

OP posts:
glueandstick · 09/02/2017 19:28

YABU. At least you have an ikea. You could be in Swindon. Now that is a proper tortuous place to live.

Destinysdaughter · 09/02/2017 19:30

Last whinge, promise, things I used to love doing in London I just can't do here, such as dancing 5 Rhythms, Biodanza, self development workshops, hanging out in Camden Market, museums and art galleries, stylish bars and restaurants, fetish clubs, Oxford st and Covent Garden, just miss the buzz, glamour and excitement of London and am too young for gardening, going to church and dog walking. < awaits flaming >

OP posts:
user1471467667 · 09/02/2017 19:32

I wasn't born in Coventry and come from a much bigger city. I came for three years to do my degree and Im still here 30 years later. To be honest, yes there are other places I would rather live, somewhere more rural with a few acres for chickens, goats and a huge greenhouse, but I can't afford them either. So I have an allotment and make the best of what there is. Which isnt that bad if you look hard enough.

Destinysdaughter · 09/02/2017 19:33

Yes there is an Ikea, so not all bad! Grin

And TWO ALDIs!!!-

OP posts:
SorrelSoup · 09/02/2017 19:39

Last whinge, promise, things I used to love doing in London I just can't do here, such as dancing 5 Rhythms, Biodanza, self development workshops, hanging out in Camden Market, museums and art galleries, stylish bars and restaurants, fetish clubs, Oxford st and Covent Garden, just miss the buzz, glamour and excitement of London

  1. Go to train station
  2. Get on train to London
  3. Get off train not much over an hour later
  4. Spend day/weekend there
  5. Return
  6. Repeat

FFS.

Ghosttownspecials · 09/02/2017 19:49

Move somewere thats not London?

SquidgeyMidgey · 09/02/2017 19:58

Don't mive to Stratford either simply because of the traffic lights.
Oh the joys of the Birmingham Road.... Stratford is my nearest town now. I've swapped the ring road for gridlock.

crunched · 09/02/2017 19:58

Stylish bar = ivy house
Fetish club= Sensations
Restaurants = 10 Michelin starred within 20 miles
Self-development workshops = The Flame
So many have mentioned The Herbert, Warwick Arts etc. I think you know Destiny, the problem is with you and not with Coventry.
And thanks for the thumbs-up @iris65, I normally kill threads!

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