Extended opening for Coventry community arts space

The arts venue operates from the former Litten Tree pub

A delay to city centre redevelopment has resulted in a stay of execution for community arts space.

LTB Showrooms occupies the former Litten Tree site in Coventry, operating under a free lease from the council.

The group is funded by volunteers and supports the arts with free exhibition space.

It was due to close at the end of November, but tenure had since been extended until the end of March 2024, said Alan Denyer who runs the venue.

The volunteer group supports the arts with free exhibition space

The building, along with others in the area, will eventually be demolished to make way for the City Centre South development.

The site was originally constructed in 1910 as a showrooms for Rover Cars.

More than 20,000 people had visited LTB since its opening, Mr Denyer said.

The venue hosts community groups as well as artists and musicians

Participation in the recent heritage open weekends had proved popular, he added, with a Sunday market also attracting hundreds of visitors.

The venue hosts community groups as well as bands, DJs and film screenings, he explained.

"We just want to make it an exciting place to exhibit or visit," he said.

"We'll continue on with our efforts to give visibility to the city's grassroots creative community."

The City Centre South development was still "on track", said a council spokesperson, but following changes to building regulation the developers were making some changes which would lead to a "reserved matters planning application early next year".

"City Centre South will redevelop a key part of the city centre, enhancing the quality of life for everyone living in and using [it], including local people and visitors. It represents hundreds of millions of pounds of new private sector investment which will create approximately 1,500 new homes as well as new shops, leisure and public spaces," they added.