Royally approved menus and specials for May
On 6 May 2023, Charles III will officially be crowned King of the United Kingdom in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London. It’s set to be a historic moment, with festivities taking place throughout the weekend (helped by the extra bank holiday on 8 May) – from street parties to live entertainment. Naturally, many restaurants will be getting involved with the Coronation too, offering special royal menus, dishes, cocktails, afternoon teas, hampers and more. Here we bring you a roundup of everything that has been announced so far.
How Are London Restaurants Celebrating The Coronation?
Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason has had a long-standing relationship with the royals – and indeed King Charles himself granted the brand with a Royal Warrant when he was Prince of Wales. Its special Coronation Afternoon Tea will be served in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, celebrating some of the King’s favourite ingredients and his passion for the planet. The experience will begin with finger sandwiches of Cotswold egg mayonnaise and cucumber, salt beef with kohlrabi and tarragon, and trout with preserved lemon, alongside savoury dishes like Welsh lamb scotch egg with wild herb aioli and coronation lobster. On the sweet side, guests can expect some exquisite pastries crafted by executive pastry chef Roger Pizey and his team, such as a royal vanilla mousse lollipop, and a chocolate and strawberry cupcake. Enjoy alongside a cup of Fortnum’s Coronation Darjeeling Tea, an extra special blend to mark the occasion, or a glass of Blancs de Blancs Grand Cru Coronation Champagne.
From early April 2023. fortnumandmason.com
The Goring
Located just round the corner from Buckingham Palace, The Goring has a strong connection with the Royal Family. It hosted royalty during the Coronations of both George VI and Queen Elizbeth II, and in 2013 the hotel received a Royal Warrant, making it the only hotel to have been granted one for hospitality services. Of course, then, it’s going big for King Charles’ Coronation. A special afternoon tea will be served on the veranda overlooking The Goring Garden, featuring King Charles’ favourite cakes and sandwiches, with sweet treats adorned with the CRIII insignia, carriages and crowns. In the restaurant, meanwhile, head chef Graham Squire has created both an a la carte and tasting menu focusing on Welsh specialities and foraged ingredients, including the Coddled Clarence Court Egg, and Buttered Morel & Wild Mushroom ‘Vol Au Vent’ with Wild Garlic Hollandaise and Smoked Pancetta.
Afternoon tea: £75pp with a glass of Bollinger Champagne, Coronation Tasting Menu: £140pp. thegoring.com
Millie’s Lounge
Coronation festivities at The Ned will take place in Millie’s Lounge, the British restaurant set within the club’s grand banking hall. Head here for a feast fit for a King, featuring a suitably decadent spread of suckling pig, beef ribs, pies, lobsters, mini fish and chips, build your own prawn cocktail and more. There will also be afternoon tea themed desserts like Victoria sponge cake, treacle tart and giant trifles, alongside live music and a roaming brass band.
6 May 2023, £100pp or £160pp with free-flowing Nyetimber wine. thened.com
Grosvenor House
Another royal favourite, Grosvenor House on Park Lane hosted a celebratory Coronation Ball for King George VI in 1937, as well as the Coronation Year Ladies’ Night for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. To mark King Charles’ Coronation, the hotel will be launching an afternoon tea complete with five limited-edition pastries crafted by head pastry chef Anthony Hurst – each representing the countries that make up the UK. ‘Journey to the Highlands’, for instance, is a mousse with organic honey extracted from foraged heather in the Scottish Highlands, while ‘English Rose’ is a twist on the strawberries and cream Wimbledon staple. Alongside this, guests can enjoy finger sandwiches such as coronation chicken, and Aberdeen Angus roast beef with cucumber and mint, plus Ridgeview English Sparkling Wine and Newby teas.
4 April – 10 May 2023, from £62.50pp. parkroom.co.uk
Claridge’s
Mayfair stalwart Claridge’s is often nicknamed the ‘annexe to Buckingham Palace’ thanks to its long royal history – the late Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh often dined there, and it was the location of Charles and Diana’s wedding reception. The hotel has lots going on around the coronation, including a twist on its signature Claridge’s Crest Cake, with the crown on the emblem finished with gold leaf for the week of the Coronation. In The Painter’s Room bar, meanwhile, there will be a special drinks menu reflecting the King’s love for his garden at Highgrove and all things botanical.
Wiltons
London’s second oldest restaurant, Wiltons is a symbol of old-school elegance, making it the perfect spot for a Coronation dinner. A special seven-course menu has been created for the occasion, paying homage to King Charles’ love for organic, homegrown produce (he grows much of his food at his home at Highgrove, and keeps his own chickens). Diners will be treated to dishes like Jerusalem Artichoke Velouté, Wild Mushroom Risotto, Rhug Estate Lamb with Wild Garlic, and Green Apple Sorbet, alongside a wine list curated by Wiltons’ sommelier Monica Bacchiocchi.
1 – 31 May 2023, wiltons.co.uk
100 Wardour Street
Party the bank holiday weekend away at 100 Wardour Street in Soho, which is throwing a big singalong brunch designed to celebrate the best of Britpop. Tuck into a two-course menu of dishes like Moroccan shakshuka, and smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, alongside bottomless bubbles – all to the sound of British music icons, from Elton John to Robbie Williams and the Spice Girls.
7 May 2023, designmynight.com
The Rubens at The Palace
Where better to enjoy a royal afternoon tea than at The Rubens at The Palace, the long-standing hotel which overlooks Buckingham Palace. A Coronation-themed twist on its traditional tea is on offer from May to August, featuring an array of sweet and savoury treats, including a crown made from Opaly white chocolate, a cherry chocolate brownie and classic finger sandwiches.
1 May – 1 August 2023, rubenshotel.com
Galvin at Windows
Perched on the 28th floor of London Hilton on Park Lane, Galvin at Windows offers spectacular views of the city, including Buckingham Palace. The restaurant is getting involved with the Coronation by offering a special five-course menu, created by Head Chef Marc Hardiman, with each course including a nod to the King. That includes a twist on baked cheesy eggs, rumoured to be his favourite dish, alongside seasonal vegetables presented as a ‘Garden Patch’ – a homage to his love of nature and gardening. The main course will feature Maran chicken, one of the breeds that the King keeps, followed by a Lemon Cream dessert served with raspberries and meringue.
1 – 6 May 2023, £110pp, galvinatwindows.com
Featured image: Grosvenor House
You might also like...
