Business news

Ben is back!  After closing his Sweeny’s Barber Shop business in Coniston Road after 29 years in October and a brief spell working at Francesco’s in Leamington, Ben Pasik has returned to work in the area. He can be found at Emmerson’s  Barber Shop in Upper Spon Street (opposite Spon Gate School) on Mondays from 9am to 6pm (closed 1pm – 1.30pm). Ben has been there since 25 November and has already been welcomed back by many of his old customers. He is there on his own and offers free tea and coffee plus newspapers to read for customers old and new. You can contact Ben on 07790 635844.


A brand new restaurant has opened in Albany Road, situated between the two railway bridges, opposite Winifred Avenue. The P&T Restaurant (Persian and Tandoori) offers a new cuisine for this area – Persian, which is far more wide ranging than the almonds, saffron and vine leaves you might be expecting.

The restaurant at night.
The restaurant at night.

The restaurant has an impressive range of starters, kebabs and traditional Persian dishes which include several vegetarian options, as well as grills, and seafood. There are numerous exciting deserts including Persian ice cream. Additionally there is a “help yourself” buffet for £9.95 daytime and £12.95 in the evenings. One very special feature is the clay oven for baking Persian flat breads. P&T can accommodate up to 80 diners, and has a takeaway area as well. It is open every day from 12.00 noon until 11.30pm.

The manager of the P&T is Persian and is Aghaye Keshavarz, known as Reza, who has been working in Coventry for 14 years. This air-conditioned restaurant is large and spacious, and very open, with a clear view of the cooking area, which is presided over by Mahommed Lashgary the chef, who is new to Coventry but comes with 20 years experience in cooking. P&T has its own house crockery, and there is a fresh red rose on every table matching the red serviettes. Outside there is a decked area which will permit alfresco dining when the days are longer and warmer. P&T does not serve alcohol, but welcomes diners to bring their own drinks, for which they will provide glasses.

So if you’re looking for somewhere new to go on Valentine’s Day, then phone the restaurant on 7685 0205 and reserve a table, but don’t forget to take that special bottle with you along with the chocolates. What could be more romantic? However there is nothing to stop you going before that – especially if you are hungry and fancy dipping into the buffet.


Helen Clasper is a local mum running baby massage classes at Queens Road Baptist Church. Tiny Toes Massage meets on Thursday mornings. It provides a chance to bond with your baby, increases the baby’s muscle tone, helps him or her to sleep and eases tummy pains. It also gives parents a chance to socialise. Contact Helen for cost and booking details, by calling 07815 742094 or email.


Earlsdon Street Post Office is one of only two post offices in Coventry to be able to offer a range of new current accounts to customers in partnership with Bank of Ireland.

A recent report into current account switching indicated that 41% of customers would consider switching to the Post Office as it offered value for money products and is a trusted brand on the high street.

Bob Sharda of Earlsdon Street Post Office said: “The move into the current account market has strengthened the Post Office’s position of becoming a trusted alternative to the major banks offering customers everything from mortgages to credit cards making it a one-stop option for all their financial services needs.”

There are three types of account. The Standard Account comes with a debit card and offers “free in credit” everyday banking for those who want a current account with a straightforward, easy-to-understand approach to banking fees and no hidden charges or unexpected surprises. The Packaged Account provides a range of additional benefits such as European Multi-Trip Family Travel Insurance, Vehicle Breakdown Cover and Identity Theft Protection services for a monthly fee of £8. The Control Account helps customers keep control of their finances and is a fully functional, “inclusive” bank account for those who are new to banking, potentially on lower incomes or who have had difficulty with default bank charges in the past. For a fixed monthly fee of £5, no further charges will be made for payments that are returned unpaid, such as direct debits and standing orders.

Customers can call in to talk through their options with specially trained staff, who will be on hand to discuss the accounts on offer and which one will best suit their individual needs. They will also be able to assist with the completion of the application form as well as transferring direct debits.  Customers can also register their interest by going online.