An introduction to the Coventry music scene: A reinvigorated ‘grassroots’ culture
Jack Thompson and Beth Meachem introduce five distinct music venues located in Coventry.
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Beth Meachem
Should we send Coventry to Coventry?
The famous phrase ‘send to Coventry’ means to ignore and ostracise someone as punishment. It likely originates from the English Civil War, when many Royalist captives were held prisoner in the infamous Parliamentarian stronghold of Coventry. Over the years, this saying has been reinforced by the popular opinion that Coventry...
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Demolition work begins on “game-changer” Coventry city centre development
Demolition work has begun on the new City Centre South redevelopment scheme in Coventry, which has been described by the West Midlands Mayor as a “game-changer” for the city. The City Arcade area, which was shut in February, is entirely included in this project, with work planned for a zone...
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Book banning in the UK – will US influence succeed in removing LGBTQ+ books from our libraries?
Book censorship in the US has risen significantly in recent years, with many organisations being formed for the specific purpose of campaigning to have certain books banned from schools and public libraries. According to the American Library Association’s State of America’s Libraries 2025 Report, 72% of book ban requests in...
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Art and Motion: Why is animation so good at storytelling?
Animation has long been a deeply underappreciated art form, often written off as only good for the creation of shallow, meaningless children’s media. While much animation is perfect for young audiences, it is a skilled art form and has given life to many beloved stories that appeal to children and...
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Celticism in fantasy literature
The Celtic cultures of northwestern Europe, spread across Ireland, Britain, and France, have long histories with rich folklore and mythology that have inspired many tales across the years, recently being used as the foundation for many fantasy novels. Some stories use figures and events in Celtic mythology as basic inspiration...
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Forgotten railways: exploring Europe’s abandoned train routes
Europe’s train routes are considered by many to be some of the best in the world, from the bustling London underground to the rural northernmost Scandinavian lines. But over history, with the construction of such an extensive network, certain sections have inevitably fallen into disuse and been abandoned. While many...
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Work finally begins on £450m Coventry City Centre development beset by delays
Initial work on a new project set to rejuvenate Coventry City Centre is finally underway, over eight years after the development was first announced. The City Centre South development, located in the areas of City Arcade, Bull Yard, and Market Way, promises to bring brand new shops, restaurants, car parks,...
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What influences fans to buy concert tickets?
Concerts are considered by many to be the premier event of following a musical artist. The experience of seeing and hearing your favourite singer or band live, along with the atmosphere of being surrounded by hundreds to thousands of like-minded people, is often an unparalleled experience. But a performance can...
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Bookkeeping with books: the key to affordable book-buying
Book prices have recently become unachievable for many people, especially students. Waterstones, beloved for its aesthetic but infamous for its price tags, charges approximately £8-£10 for a paperback and around £20 for most hardbacks. These prices can add up quickly, especially for people who read multiple books a month, to...
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Is the use of AI Chatbots dangerous?
On 28 February 2024, 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III used his phone to message an AI chatbot. He told the chatbot that he loved it and wanted to come home to it, which the character encouraged, replying: “Please do, my sweet king.” Shortly after, he picked up his father’s gun and...
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The return of bookshops – how did they suddenly become cool again?
Recent years have seen a significant increase in book sales and the success of bookshops, from small-town independent retailers to large chains such as Waterstones and WHSmith. The Booksellers Association reported an increase of almost 200 member stores across the country in the past six years, a huge growth in...
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