This weekend marks a defining moment in British history that will be unfamiliar to a great many: the coronation of a monarch. Saturday was a day denoted by horses in hats, countless flags, the national anthem on repeat, consternation about dodgy lyrics, television presenters filling time with obscure oddities. There have been queues and old cars, shots of the Mall, cannons. Cameramen have zoomed in on old rock stars, ageing politicians and face-painted flag-waving children. In other words, it was a deeply British affair.
His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort were crowned in Westminster Abbey, with the morning procession arriving at around 11am, in a ceremony conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The ceremony began with the recognition — at which time the congregation chanted “God save the King” — the oath, the anointing, the investiture (the bit with the Orb and the Sceptre) and finally the enthronement.
But while this itself is a very formal occasion, marked by centuries-old traditions, the two following days are set to be full of celebration. In town there will be oodles of special menus and street parties as restaurants bars and hotel try to flex their royal-associated muscles (expect to see a heightened number of potentially dubious royal claims, did Harry really visit Nando’s?)
Here’s a rundown of what’s on, where the big events will be and what you can expect over the long weekend.
Time for tea
Quite how afternoon tea, undoubtedly the worst meal of the day — questions will not be taken at this time — became a symbol of all things regal is not entirely clear. Nevertheless, every upmarket hotel across town seems to have one going (owner, sternly: “What are we doing for the coronation?” manager, sweating: “Err, afternoon tea?”). Most appropriate of them all can be found at royal favourite the Goring (SW1, thegoring.com), which will be hosting a special afternoon tea, as well as a bespoke tasting menu full of Welsh-sourced ingredients, celebrating the Kings position as the former Prince of Wales. But Royal warrants holder and palace grocer Fortnum & Mason (W1A, fortnumandmason.com) is another good one to seek out: besides an experience centred around the King’s favourite British ingredients (a Scotch egg made with Welsh lamb, native Cornish lobster and so on), there’s also a tea that’s been blended especially for the coronation, a kind of organic Darjeeling to try.
Otherwise, look at the Intercontinental Park Lane (W1J, ihg.com) for its finger sandwiches — slow-roasted pheasant with truffle and balsamic sounds a particularly decadent start to things — while there’s also pheasant on the menu in the form a crumble at the tea found in Searcy’s at the Gherkin (EC3A, searcysatthegherkin.co.uk). The views from 39 floors up won’t be bad either.
Those after more than just snacks and scones should head to the beautiful 116 Pall Mall (SW1Y, 116pallmall.com); after an afternoon tea complete with fizz, there’s a 5pm concert from the London Chamber Orchestra. Performances, led by composer and vocalist Aga Serugo-Lugo and said to be inspired by the new King’s favourite pieces (presumably more Handel’s Zadok the priest than Diana Ross’ Upside Down), are surely royally-approved: the LCO were chosen to perform at the late Queen’s 80th.
Raise a toast
How else could Brits reasonably be expected to celebrate? For the straightforwardly-minded, the answer is simple: take to the pub, with licensed hours extended until 1am on both the Friday and Saturday. The pub, of course, is peak on-brand Britain, but there are a few choices across town that are more closely tied to the coronation itself.
Few places could feel more fitting than somewhere like Claridge’s (W1, claridges.co.uk), where the hotel’s resident archivist Kate Hudson has unveiled a special display to mark the celebration of 200 years of the hotel’s connection to royal coronations, which includes pages from Queen Victoria’s diary, alongside special menus created for the coronations of both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. More relevant for Charles is the special cocktail menu running all next week in the Painters Room bar; drinks include the Highgrove Gardens, the Clarence and the Castle of Mey. The Dorchester (W1K, dorchestercollection.com) meanwhile, has a new Vesper Bar special; the Sovereign Martini features Wessex gin, Royal garden mead, dry vermouth and lavender bitter. The drink’s good, but more spectacular is the hotel’s frontage: is has recreated the same grand exterior livery that it wore in 1953.
The Sabine Rooftop Bar (10 Godliman Street, EC4V, sabinelondon.co.uk) meanwhile, is launching a Royal Tea Terrace; tea is not so prominent as gin, given it’s been laid on in partnership with Hendrick’s; there’s a fair few drinks to choose from, but the pick of the bunch should be the Royal Sip, which combines Hendrick’s Neptunia, with St Germain, lime juice, apple juice and cucumber tonic water.
Other tantalising tipples in town include the King Charles Negroni over at Stanley’s (SW3, stanleyschelsea.co.uk) in Chelsea, and the Kings Martini at the Ivy (WC2H, the-ivy.co.uk). A restaurant with a genuine regal connection thanks to the patronage of the late Queen, it’s adorning the west street site with a floral façade, an installation said to depict “royal motifs”. Whilst the outside will feature flowers and a lion’s head, naturally, the food inside has been given the royal treatment, with a special dessert; the Kings Lemon Posset created for the celebration.
Given all signs are pointing towards this being a bit of a heavy one, make sure to have a contingency plan for the morning. Our pick? Try 100 Wardour St (W1F, 100wardourst.com), which is hosting a Britpop-themed “Now That’s What I Call Brunch”. With bottomless drinks, and a playlist of retro British hits and modern bangers, it should be enough to get over any big Saturday night — and, if the Coronation concert isn’t exactly first-rate, at least you can still have a royally good boogie.
Party like a prince
There are various coronation blow-outs across town. There was a pre-party on May 4 in Merchant’s Square in Paddington (W2, merchantsquare.co.uk). The al fresco bash was free to attend — the first 100 early birds also got a G&T to boot — and, beside street food pop-ups and bars beside the Paddington Basin, there was everything from performing clowns to cabaret, to a performance from Levantes Dance Theatre.
Patriotic types with deeper pockets should head to The Stafford (SW1A, thestaffordlondon.com), which is hosting an all-out coronation shindig on its fabulous courtyard on May 6. It’s £135 a pop, but the festivities are set to include outdoor party games, music and some luxurious of party food: think hog roasts, oysters and refined takes on fish and chips.
For the more musically inclined, nearby Quaglino’s (SW1Y, quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk) are laying on live music for three days of Jazz. From May 6-8 there will be coronation concerts with UK Jazz at its heart, featuring players and signers including the Brooklyn Shakers and Eloise. Food-wise, it’ll offer a more than reasonable £38 three-course menu studded with royal additions — note the coronation crown, a new white chocolate & lemon cheesecake.
In a more raucous mood? Take to the water. Come the evening of the big day, the Party! Party! A royal coronation boat party — overexcited, them? — sets sail from Westminster Pier (SW1, skiddle.com) from somewhere around 8.30pm (last entry is 8.15pm). It’ll cruise past all the sights, then moor up and the party’ll keep going till a whopping 6am. Try not to fall in. Speaking of riverside sights, Battersea Power Station (SW11, batterseapowerstation.co.uk) is putting together a two-day King’s Coronation Party; there are big screens up, pop-up stalls selling picnic bits and pieces and live music acts paying tribute to the best of British (well, Elton John and the Spice Girls). It’s a family-friendly affair, with the punnily-named Bus King Theatre performing a Night Fever pupper show out of a red double-decker. Still on the water but decidedly more upscale, those staying at One Aldwych (WC2B, onealdwych.com) for one of their coronation packages will get the full royal treatment. Things begin with a Champagne breakfast along the Thames aboard private charter Silver Darling, gliding the city’s most famous landmarks before hopping off at the Tower of London for a personalised tour of the Crown Jewels.
Back on dry land, Grosvenor Square (W1, mayfairldn.com) will be host to a not-so-secret garden party, transforming the space into what they describe as “an urban garden wonderland”. It’s free to attend, there will be plenty of Champagne, cocktails from the likes of Mr Fogg’s and The Twenty-Two and “royal-themed immersive experiences” — which sounds only faintly threatening. In Chelsea, meanwhile, the aptly-named Kings Road (SW3, kingsroad.co.uk) will host a special coronation-themed festival. As part of The Big Lunch, Sloane Square to Cheltenham Terrace will be pedestrianised with picnic tables, bunting and a large floral installation of the Royal Crest and coronation emblem. Nearby, the street party atmosphere continues with an expanded sustainable food market, Chelsea Pensioner marching on a “Stick Pacing” display, and a parade of more than 100 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Speaking of apt, try the Mitre (KT8, mitrehamptoncourt.com) close by royal palace Hampton Court. The hotel is hosting a dawn-till-dusk Quintessential English Garden Party on May 6-7, with tunes pumping from the royal decks, rosé flowing, and chefs cooking up some British classics. Closer to home, the Ham YardHotel (W1D, firmdalehotels.com) are laying on a Coronation Street Party featuring mounds (read: stalls) of British food favourites, from oysters to bakewell tarts. Live music should help offer a village mood. Enter: bunting.
Elsewhere, the Ritz (W1,theritzlondon.com) has put together a typically lavish ball on the Saturday, featuring a Champagne reception, five-course dinner and entertainment from the 19-piece BBC Big Band and swing-inspired group Elle & The Pocket Belles. The usual dinner and dance, this is not: tickets to this coronation ball are £1,250 each. At least the BBC Big Band is very, very good…
Coronation curio
In a mark of Britain’s love of tradition and oddity, there’s opportunity this weekend to go about your business in your very own golden gilded carriage. In some perverse cross between the institution of monarchy and the Central Park Carriages of NYC, Uber are offering deeply uncomfortable (if highly regal) looking rides through Dulwich Park (SE21, standard.co.uk) in a horse-drawn ‘Coronation Carriage’. The eccentricities do have a good cause behind them, with some of the profits going to Spana, a UK charity that aids the welfare of working animals in Britain.
In other four-wheeled news, the pistachio green Nyetimber English sparkling wine routemaster will be parked at the Savoy (WC2R, thesavoylondon.com) from May 5, offering their elegant fizziness to passers-by. Book the top deck for a uniquely imperious feeling, or simply gorge on the savoury feast atop gingham laden tables lining the famed Savoy forecourt.
There’s additional oddness elsewhere with the creators of the 3Henrietta street hotel (WC2E, 3henrietta.com) offering comped cocktails to couples named Charles and Camilla — fake ID’s, anyone? — and supermarket chain Tesco who are opening a bricks and mortar pub for the Coronation. The King in the Castle (EC1M, standard.co.uk) will be sited just outside Farringdon station (look out, Racine) serving a range of royal-inspired dishes. But not the quiche, which no one seems to want. Look out for ‘The Prince’s Crust’ (good grief) pie, the ‘King prawn curry’ (terrific) and runny egg sandwiches.
Elsewhere, cocktail creators Mr Foggs (W1T, mr-foggs.com) have created a floral crown masterclass, featuring gin. Guests can expect to construct their own crown of flowers — less Glastonbury and more royal box at Ascot — whilst supping on two new Hendrick’s cocktails. If you happened to miss the masterclass on April 30 then the gin-based libations are available till mid-May.
Whilst restaurants seem less enamoured with the new Coronation dish — really, no one wants that quiche on their menu — the beloved coronation chicken is making a regal return, perhaps in its finest iteration as a celebratory pie courtesy The Pie Room (WC1V, holborndiningroom.com). Nokx Majozi has headed the perfect pastry purveyors since Calum Franklin departed and she’s developed this winner of a pie which can be collected from the alarmingly named “Pie Hole”.
For another delicious dose of nostalgia, Mayfair Chippy (W1K, mayfairchippy.com) are set to serve a special Kings Coronation chippy dish — see? no quiche — Coronation Chicken Fritters will be on the menu for an appealingly priced £9.50. There’s also a King Burger on the menu at Camden market pub The Farrier (NW1, thefarriercamden.com) which is priced for the year of Charles’ birth (£19.48) and is a nod to the union as a whole: there’s the ex-dairy cow burger to start, but also scotch whisky glazed onions, Irish bacon, English mustard and Welsh cheese. It’s all been stamped with the King’s head and, somewhat madly, crowned with a gold leaf pickle.
Nothing to do with the royal family but everything to do with London’s love-affair with activity-based drinking, Puttshack (across London, puttshack.com) are holding competitions across the capital with the winners set to receive a £200 bar tab to *coughs* celebrate the occasion. It’s £45 for a two course meal, bottomless bubbles and a round of mini-golf. If you’ve got your eyes on the prize though, we’d probably suggest the bubbly waits till after the links.
