Coventry beats bookies’ favourite for UK City of Culture

Twitter users are subjecting Coventry to savage mockery after the city was declared the UK City of Culture for 2021. 

The announcement was made in Hull during the BBC’s The One Show, as the current UK City of Culture’s year-long celebration there nears an end.    

Coventry, in the West Midlands, beat Paisley, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland and Swansea.

But despite the majority of people apparently happy for the city, many have taken to Twitter to attack the decision. 

Josh wrote that Coventry is a ‘f****** dump’, adding: ‘The only thing it has going for it is a bus station’

Hewitter said: ‘Coventry is the most soulless place I’ve ever been to. It’s the worst C-word I know. I hope this improves it, but it’s probably worth a recount’

Another user, ‘gloriousglenn’, posted a picture of a nuclear explosion accompanied by the words: ‘This must be happening pretty soon to make the improvements needed’

FionaHarvey wrote: ‘I just can’t believe that dump Coventry won city of culture over paisley [sic]’

Josh wrote that Coventry is a ‘f****** dump’, adding: ‘The only thing it has going for it is a bus station’.

Nick Hancock wrote that there is ‘more culture in my yoghurt than Coventry will ever have’. 

Hewitter said: ‘Coventry is the most soulless place I’ve ever been to. It’s the worst C-word I know. I hope this improves it, but it’s probably worth a recount.’

Another user, ‘gloriousglenn’, posted a picture of a nuclear explosion accompanied by the words: ‘This must be happening pretty soon to make the improvements needed’.

FionaHarvey wrote: ‘I just can’t believe that dump Coventry won city of culture over paisley [sic].’      

Former winners of the competition have attracted major investment.

The competition is held every four years, with Derry-Londonderry named as the first winner in 2013. Pictured: An apparently sarcastic post by Jim Bradley 

Emma Harrabin and Justine Themen, from the Coventry bid delegation at the announcement in Hull, admitted they were surprised by the announcement as they had not dared to think they might win. Pictured: Another Josh, who appears to treat Coventry’s win with sarcasm 

Less sarcastic is Richard, who went straight for the jugular. But either way Coventry, home of The Specials and scene of Lady Godiva’s naked ride, will now be handed a £3million Heritage Lottery Fund grant attached to the win

The competition is held every four years, with Derry-Londonderry named as the first winner in 2013.

Scottish town Paisley, in Renfrewshire, was the favourite to win the title after being given odds of 5/4 by Ladbrokes. 

Swansea, meanwhile, had odds of 3/1, with Coventry third place on 4/1 and Sunderland in fourth at 6/1. 

Stoke-on-Trent, however, was a distant 8/1 with bookies. 

Coventry, home of The Specials and scene of Lady Godiva’s naked ride, will now be handed a £3million Heritage Lottery Fund grant attached to the win. 

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport makes the final decision.    

Laura McMillan, manager of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: ‘This is a win for Coventry, a win for young people and a win for diversity. The economic impact will be huge for the city and the West Midlands.

‘It’s been a bid by and for the people of Coventry. It has brought so many people and organisations together and this is just the start.

‘Over the next three years we will ensure that everyone in the city, which has been moving people by cycle, car and jet engine, is now moving people through culture.’

Emma Harrabin and Justine Themen, from the Coventry bid delegation at the announcement in Hull, admitted they were surprised by the announcement as they had not dared to think they might win.

Ms Harrabin said: ‘We really felt on this whole journey that the city was with us.

‘We’ve been inundated with messages of support on social media. It’s just been such a wonderful way for the city to come together and celebrate what it has to offer.’

Laura McMillan, manager of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: ‘This is a win for Coventry, a win for young people and a win for diversity.’ Pictured: Coventry 

She said: ‘We knew that we had done absolutely everything we could and we were happy with what we’d delivered.’

Ms Harrabin said the Coventry team have learned a lot from the success of Hull 2017.

She added: ‘We’ve been up a couple of times and the thing that you can absolutely feel is the fact that the city of culture has touched everybody.

‘You walk down the street and people are talking about it, the volunteers are unbelievable and, walking around today with our badges and our t-shirts and stuff, they know what winning the title means.

‘You can see the impact it’s had on the city.’

Standing in front of The Deep, in Hull, Ms Themen said she was also impressed with Hull’s year.

She said: ‘I came to the city three ago. To have been back since then and to have seen it grow and develop in such a short space of time, it’s extraordinary. So were really optimistic about what we can do in Coventry.’

Ms Themen said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted. We really feel that it’s a testament to the work of the whole city – artists pulling together, the voluntary sector organisations, the communities, business and of course the cultural organisations.

And asked about what was the main factor which sealed it for Coventry, she said: ‘I think it’s our diversity.

‘It’s one of the most diverse cities in the UK and therefore reflective of the diversity of the UK overall. And we hope we can really demonstrates how key culture can be in building bridges across difference.’

Ms Themen said: ‘There’s nothing more exciting than what culture has to offer communities.’ 

Those backing Coventry’s winning UK City of Culture bid said work will start straight away to deliver plans for an historic cultural programme in 2021.

The city’s bid includes a Streets of Culture initiative – co-producing work in local communities, a major new lighting commission for Coventry Cathedral, and a ‘build-up’ Shop Front Theatre Festival in March 2018.

Major productions by the Warwickshire-based Royal Shakespeare Company will also feature, along with an artist-led festival called Moments of Silence.

The official bid page for Sunderland UK City of Culture 2021 tweeted a collage saying ‘Thank you Sunderland’, along with the message: ‘It wasn’t to be, but we certainly gave it our best shot!’ Pictured: Sunderland 

Stoke-on-Trent’s account posted: ‘What a ride it has been. Yes we didn’t win but it’s safe to say this is definitely not the end. Pictured: Stoke-on-Trent 

Tracey McNulty, head of cultural services at Swansea Council, said: ‘Of course we’re disappointed, we had a strong bid, with credible partnerships and ambitions, and we wanted recognition for that – who wouldn’t?’ Pictured: Swansea 

Renfrewshire Council Leader and chair of the Paisley 2021 Partnership Board Councillor Iain Nicolson said: ‘Naturally disappointed, but we’re in a competition and in any competition there’s a potential not to win.’ Pictured: Paisley 

Coventry’s Council Leader George Duggins said: ‘I am delighted we have been named UK City of Culture 2021 – it’s the Christmas present we were all hoping for and it means so much for our city.

‘We knew we had put together a very strong bid, but we were up against some excellent competition and I’d like to thank and congratulate all those who have helped to show what a wonderful City of Culture we will be.

‘Since we announced our intention to bid, we have seen the incredible effect it has had, with a staggering variety of events and exhibitions that have brought people together and breathed new life into our city.

‘I can only imagine what’s to come over the next four years as we build on that.’

Cllr Duggins added: ‘Coventry is a vibrant, multicultural city with a fascinating and inspiring story to tell and an arts and cultural scene that deserves its place in the national spotlight.

‘There is still a lot of hard work ahead, but as UK City of Culture 2021 we will be able to show everyone why we are so proud of our city and the people who live, work and study here and build something lasting for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.’

Nick Eastwood, chief executive of Wasps RFC, which moved to Coventry’s Ricoh Arena in 2014, said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled that the city has won this massive and prestigious title.

‘We will do everything we possibly can from now until 2021 to help prepare for what should be a historic 12 months in the city’s history.’

Coventry University and Warwick University lent their backing to the winning bid as principal partners of the city council.

Stuart Croft, vice chancellor at Warwick, said: ‘As a community in this great city we have worked together as never before to achieve this exceptional result. I am very proud of the part that the University of Warwick has played in this.’

The elected mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, asserted that the success had sent a clear message that the region was working together as a team.

‘This is a chance to help people realise that the city has so much to offer, from its medieval past to its modernist architecture, creative talent and diverse youth,’ Mr Street said.

Renfrewshire Council Leader and chair of the Paisley 2021 Partnership Board Councillor Iain Nicolson said: ‘Naturally disappointed, but we’re in a competition and in any competition there’s a potential not to win.

‘We didn’t plan to lose, we were aware of it, but we have planned for the aftermath.

‘There’s a lot of planning which has went into maintaining momentum and energy into.

‘There’s no doubt about it, Paisley has won through this process.

‘It’s on a national platform, it’s raised its profile and everyone in Paisley is on a buzz from being in the competition.’

The preparations in the event of a loss included plans for investment into buildings, facilities and communities.

There is also potential for the town to bid again for a future UK City of Culture title.

Visual artist Mandy McIntosh said: ‘I know that the momentum will continue. There are things in place that were going to happen anyway, with or without the bid.

‘The other thing is, I know that the consciousness has been raised in Paisley. People are very much more aware of their potential and their creative capacity.

‘So I feel alright, I feel better than I thought (I would).’

Jamie Mallan, of the town’s Tannahill Centre, said: ‘I’m gutted, I can’t take that away. But Mandy’s right, there’s been so much work put into this.

‘We’re not going to be the City of Culture in 2021, but in four years’ time there has been a massive investment to our arts and infrastructure.

‘People in Paisley will be engaging with arts in different ways than they have been in the past.’ 

The official bid page for Sunderland UK City of Culture 2021 tweeted a collage saying ‘Thank you Sunderland’, along with the message: ‘It wasn’t to be, but we certainly gave it our best shot!

‘Well done and thank you to everybody in Sunderland who put so much energy and passion to this. We know it will bring amazing things to the city regardless. This is just the beginning! Everyone is still £WelcometoSunderland.’

While Stoke-on-Trent’s account posted: ‘What a ride it has been. Yes we didn’t win but it’s safe to say this is definitely not the end.

‘With so much energy, support and pride shown by this great city for the bid we know that we will continue with all the great work that has started. S-o-T is always our city of culture.’

Tracey McNulty, head of cultural services at Swansea Council, said: ‘Of course we’re disappointed, we had a strong bid, with credible partnerships and ambitions, and we wanted recognition for that – who wouldn’t? But of course, we’d like to send our heartfelt congratulations to Coventry who were a formidable opponent – we wish them all the best for 2021.

‘We’d also like to congratulate our other three competitors on their bids and campaigns. It was a tough competition and we were very much in it to win it. People in Swansea and beyond all engaged in a fantastic campaign of support and, at the very least, we have demonstrated to others – locally, regionally, nationally and internationally just how far we’ve come as a city. And importantly, just how far we intend to go.’