COVENTRY LGBTQ+ bar The Yard is set to move into a new home at the former Metropolis restaurant building in March after an 18-month search and fears of closure.
The popular venue announced last February it was due to close by the spring due to the City Centre South regeneration, although delays to the regeneration project gave it a stay of execution and time to find a new venue.
But a deal has been struck with Historic Coventry Trust, which owns the former Metropolis building on Earl Street, for the move, which is set to create up to 20 new jobs with new kitchen staff set to be hired.
Historic Coventry Trust chairman Ian Harrabin approached Richard Easter, owner of The Yard’s parent company LE Projects, when he heard he needed a new venue after Metropolis closed last month.
The Yard opened in June 2017 and was one of the first LGBTQ+ venues in Coventry in around 20 years.
As well as running as a bar, the venue also supports charities and community groups including Coventry Pride, Myton Hospice and LGBTQ+ youth charity Prism.
It also hosts free, twice-monthly coffee mornings at the venue.
Richard said: “Our upcoming move to the former Drapers’ Bar building on Earl Street is fantastic news for us, and will give our dedicated community much-needed certainty about the future of The Yard.
“We had struggled to find a suitable venue in the city centre that met our requirements, and we were worried we may have had to close permanently.
“But when the building next to the Council House became available, we thought it would be a strong contender for us.
“This is such an exciting time for The Yard and we’re thrilled to have finally secured our new home.”
Ian Harrabin added: “The Yard has been a focal point for the LGBTQ+ community in Coventry for many years now, and it would have been a big loss to the city if it was unable to find a new venue.
“We were sad to hear that the Metropolis training restaurant was closing, but The Yard is a perfect replacement with its established reputation and substantial following.”
