A state-of-the-art sports bar is set to open its doors later this year at Ricoh Arena, the home of the Wasps rugby union club and Coventry City F.C. in Coventry, England. Delaware North provides hospitality services at the arena, as well as lodging services at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel attached to the complex.
The new bar will serve up to 160 people at a time and boast an array of widescreen TVs and interactive games, including shuffleboard and table football.
The Wasps club shop will be relocating to the south side of the venue to make way for the new 4,300-squarefoot bar, which will be open to the general public seven days a week, and will create around 25 jobs.
Work is already underway on the sports bar, which is set to open later this spring.
The space will include a double-sided bar serving a range of craft beers, cocktails and soft drinks, surrounded by numerous tables where group gatherings can be seated for food service.
“Socializing is changing and people want to be entertained or experience new concepts while they are eating or drinking out, and the sports bar will reflect this in a modern, cutting-edge environment,” said Stephen Vaughan, chief executive for the Wasps Group. “As a venue, we typically attract more than a million people every year for live sport, exhibitions, conferences and music concerts to name a few – all of whom will be able to benefit from visiting the sports bar, along with local residents.”
The sports bar’s arrival marks the start of an exciting period ahead for Ricoh Arena as it looks to play a role in helping to celebrate Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture, before hosting a Rugby League World Cup clash later this year, as well as welcoming the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
“We feel there is an opportunity to provide a really fun environment for people with a shared passion for sport and socializing to come together and connect,” said Doug Tetley, Delaware North’s managing director for the U.K. “The ability to create new jobs and support local suppliers is very important during these times, and we are very proud to be part of the Coventry community.”