Turmeric Gold Building, Spon Street, Coventry

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Among the many characterful frontages along Spon Street, the building that houses Turmeric Gold presents a slightly different architectural story. Flanked on both sides by imposing timber-framed merchant houses with jettied upper storeys, this building stands out with its simpler rendered frontage and decorative floral touches. Though more subdued in its medieval elements, it still plays an important role in the continuity of the historic streetscape.

The structure forms part of the sequence of restored and retained buildings that define the Spon Street conservation area. Its current appearance suggests extensive reworking over the centuries, with a front elevation likely updated during the 18th or 19th century. Yet it sits within a stretch of plots that have existed since the medieval period, and the structure may contain older fabric behind its rendered surface. The roofline, window placement, and the general scale of the building are all consistent with domestic or trade-related architecture from the early modern period.

Spon Street, Coventry, UK
Spon Street, Coventry, UK


Today, the building is home to Turmeric Gold, one of Coventry’s most acclaimed Indian fine dining restaurants. The business has been careful to maintain a sense of elegance and tradition, both in the cuisine it serves and in the manner it presents itself. Its entrance is framed with ornamental hanging flowers and a classic shopfront design that harmonises with the neighboring historic buildings.

Although it may lack the exposed oak timbers and mullioned windows of some of its more striking neighbors, this structure contributes to the varied architectural rhythm that makes Spon Street visually rich and historically layered. It reflects the adaptive nature of the street over time, where buildings have been re-fronted, re-purposed, and brought into contemporary use without being removed from their historic context.

As visitors walk along Spon Street, Turmeric Gold serves not only as a culinary destination but also as a reminder that Coventry’s heritage has always included change, adaptation, and living continuity. In a street known for timber beams and medieval merchants, this building quietly plays its part in keeping that story going.

Happy travelling.

A few other heritage structures of Spon Street

Location: Spon St, Coventry CV1, UK

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