Coventry has always been known for its involvement in a broad range of industries – from the rise of the British motor industry to higher education accomplishments and the birth of two-tone music. Now, in 2026, the city is continuing to reach new sectors for even brighter business opportunities.
The Friargate development, a distinct collection of commercial spaces situated just one-minute from Coventry Railway Station, sits at the heart of this modern community. Their flagship buildings, ONE FRIARGATE and TWO FRIARGATE, are attracting leading occupiers and setting the benchmark for high-quality, central office space.
E.ON, one of Europe’s biggest energy companies, has recently moved their head office to ONE FRIARGATE.
At a glance, the benefits of moving to Coventry for large and well-established brands like E.ON are clear. The city’s central location provides exceptional connectivity via road and rail, which in turn delivers superior recruitment opportunities from a broad and well-educated talent pool.
An emerging energy hub
E.ON accompanies Octopus Energy, Corona Energy and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) as Coventry’s key figures in supplying energy products and services throughout the UK and beyond.
Octopus Energy was quick to enter TWO FRIARGATE upon the building’s completion. Now occupying five floors and over 55,000 sq ft of these premium offices in Coventry, Octopus has been instrumental in solidifying the city’s presence in the energy market due to the volume of space taken in such a short timeframe.
Adam Hunt, Strategic Lead – Property and Development for Coventry City Council, stated: “Friargate has quickly become one of the most prominent working environments in Coventry. The combination of its incredibly central location, high-quality specification and ESG benefits is making it one of the most sought-after commercial property developments across the West Midlands.
“On behalf of Coventry City Council, I’d like to welcome the entire team at E.ON to the Friargate development. We’re excited to see the positive influence their arrival will have on our city, as well as their future successes.”
David Rigby, Partner at Cushman & Wakefield – representing Coventry City Council, said: “Coventry has become synonymous with improvement, and that’s exactly what E.ON will achieve through their move to ONE FRIARGATE – an improvement in the quality of their workspace, their location and even an improvement in their ability to recruit the right people thanks to the city’s fantastic travel connections.”
An exciting hospitality venture
Conversely, TWO FRIARGATE has also recently become a key part of Coventry’s network of hospitality venues. In February, the retail space in the ground floor of the city’s leading offices opened its doors to the public as Elle’s.
An innovative offering for the city, Elle’s was conceived by the Dhillon’s Brewery team, another established local business.
Transforming the 4,236 sq ft unit into a flexible and contemporary food and beverage hall, Elle’s caters for Coventry’s working culture with style and sophistication. Acting as a coffee, lunch and meeting space in the day and a vibrant bar and restaurant in the evening, Elle’s delivers on the popular street food market dynamic that has excelled across the UK’s major cities.
Ed Purcell, Director at Creative Retail, commented: “The retail space within TWO FRIARGATE has been an attractive prospect for hospitality venues, thanks to its proximity to Coventry Train Station, and the surrounding office and residential occupiers. The letting to Elle’s will enhance the building as a whole, adding a great Food and Beverage occupier.
Supporting established Coventry business
In addition to standout businesses moving their operations to the Friargate development, this has also led to further support of Coventry’s existing operations. The aesthetic of Elle’s at TWO FRIARGATE was delivered by Black Ivy Design, a boutique agency based on New Union Street.
Leanne Armstrong, Founder of Black Ivy Design, stated: “Coventry is a city full of community and charm, so it was important that the design of Elle’s reflected this. Our goal was to create a warm and relaxed atmosphere, one that people would feel invited to return to again and again – just like Coventry itself.”
This warm atmosphere and ongoing progression that’s felt throughout the city seems to be the driving force behind Coventry’s enduring success.
With recent news reporting significant investment into the city’s residential, retail and business areas, as well as a local Very Light Rail (VLR) transport network, Coventry is sure to continue attracting operators of all kinds and lead on new innovations – as it always has.
For further information on the remaining space available at TWO FRIARGATE, please contact the agents at Cushman & Wakefield, Scott Rutherford on 07824 436439 or email scott.rutherford@cushwake.com, or David Rigby on 07730 735889 or email david.rigby@cushwake.com.