As the nation prepares for the King’s Coronation on Saturday 6 May 2023, London is set to come alive over the Bank Holiday weekend, with the capital’s finest hotels and restaurants dishing up some thoroughly regal events to mark the occasion. From Heston Blumenthal’s reinvented royal banquet at the Mandarin Oriental to the Goring’s Michelin-starred tasting menu and Fortnum & Mason’s Coronation afternoon tea, there’s a royal-inspired delicacy to suit every taste. Here we’ve rounded up the finest foodie Coronation events to know about.
Food Events for The King’s Coronation
Fit for a King afternoon tea at The Langham
3 – 8 May
West End institution the Langham will be decked out in Union Jack flags and bunting to mark the King’s Coronation, while horse-drawn carriage rides will be available to nearby Regent’s Park, giving the hotel a splendidly regal feel. From 3 – 8 May the hotel will also be hosting a special limited-edition afternoon tea in their Palm Court. Appropriately called ‘Fit for a King’, the menu will be made up of delicacies inspired by royal favourites, including delicate finger sandwiches featuring Scottish smoked salmon and Coronation chicken, and traditional desserts such as sherry trifle and Victoria sponge reimagined into contemporary pastries.
Coronation celebrations at The Savoy
5 – 7 May
To commemorate the King’s Coronation, the Savoy is teaming up with renowned English Sparkling Wine producer Nyetimber to throw a weekend of festive celebrations. From Friday 5th to Sunday 7th May you can hop aboard Nyetimber’s iconic 1968 Routemaster Bus for a glass of fizz and a selection of cakes and pastries created by the Savoy team. On the day of the coronation itself, the hotel will be hosting a glamorous street party on Savoy Court, where traditional afternoon tea will be accompanied by a performance from dapper six-piece band The Travelling Hands.
Claridge’s
Throughout May
It’s not for nothing that this storied Art Deco gem is often referred to as the ‘annexe of Buckingham Palace’ – Claridge’s has long been the hotel of choice for visiting royals and dignitaries. So it seems only right that they will be marking the King’s Coronation in style, with the hotel’s archivist Kate Hudson hunting through the historical archives to unveil some of its most memorable royal treasures.
On display in the Claridge’s Coronation Archive Windows on the ground floor, visitors will be able to view pages from Queen Victoria’s diary as well as Claridge’s menus and cocktail cards created for the coronations of King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Meanwhile, Claridge’s newest bar, The Painter’s Room, will be creating a special drinks menu, designed to reflect the King’s love of his garden at Highgrove and all things floral, botanical and sustainable.
Coronation menus at The Goring
24 April – 28 May
As the only hotel with a Royal Warrant for hospitality services, it’s hardly surprising that the Goring is hosting not one but two special menus to mark the king’s coronation. Their Michelin-starred Coronation Tasting Menu has been created by head chef Graham Squire with a focus on Welsh specialities and foraged ingredients, in a nod to King Charles’s environmental philosophy. The highlight of the menu is the coddled Clarence Court egg with fine herb garden salad and truffle vinaigrette – The Goring’s take on one of His Majesty’s favourite dishes. Their Coronation Afternoon Tea, meanwhile, features some of the King’s preferred cakes and sandwiches, including his much-loved Cream of Lemon cake.
The Ritz Coronation Ball
Saturday 6 May
For full on pomp and ceremony on the day itself, it doesn’t get more glamorous than a ball at The Ritz. The hotel has played host to numerous royal soirées over the years, including a party for the then-Prince of Wales’s 54th birthday in 2002 and the late Queen’s 80th birthday celebrations in 2006. Their Coronation Ball will start with a Champagne and Canapé reception in The Palm Court, before moving on to a bespoke five-course dinner with wine pairings in the Michelin-starred Ritz Restaurant. To top things off, the night will end with a special performance by the BBC Big Band.
Restaurant Review
Feast Fit for a King at The Ned
Saturday 6 May
On the day of the Coronation itself, The Ned will be throwing a sumptuous feast like no other. Held at Millie’s Lounge in the hotel’s vast former banking hall, you can expect a decadent spread featuring whole suckling pig, beef ribs, pies, limitless lobsters and oysters. As if that wasn’t enough, there will also be a selection of British classics to choose from, including mini fish and chips and a build-your-own prawn cocktail. To finish, there’ll be indulgent treacle tart, Battenburg and giant trifles, and the whole event will be serenaded by live music on The Nickel Stage and a roaming brass band.
Heston Blumenthal’s Coronation Menu at the Mandarin Oriental
Throughout May
Another London hotel with strong royal connections – it’s believed the Queen learnt to dance in the grand ballroom here – there are several special celebrations taking place at the Mandarin Oriental in May. First up is the Coronation Menu at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, which has been designed as a reinvention of dishes served at British Coronation banquets throughout the years. Diners can expect Coronation chicken tart, veal sweetbread inspired by King James II (1685) and fillet of beef royale, beloved by King George IV (1821). There’ll also be the Rosebery Coronation afternoon tea, inspired by the best of British heritage, while the entire façade of the hotel will be illuminated in a beautiful deep blue over the Coronation weekend, in a nod to the main colour that has been chosen for His Majesty King Charles’s Coronation Emblem.
King’s Coronation Menu at The Lanesborough Grill
2-12 May
With its twinkling chandeliers and ornate cornicing, The Lanesborough Grill is known for being one of the most spectacular dining rooms in London, making it the perfect spot to try the Regency-era hotel’s limited-edition coronation menu. Available exclusively for dinner, the five-course menu has been created as an homage to some of the King’s favourite dishes, featuring Coronation crab salad, roast Orkney scallops and Rhug Estate hogget, one of His Majesty’s preferred meats. Pair it with their martini-style King’s Coronation cocktail, which is made with Fino sherry and citrus cordial.
The Dorchester
20 April – 19 May
The recently revamped Dorchester is set to be one of London’s prime spots to celebrate the Coronation, thanks to the striking display that will be covering the hotel’s entire façade. To mark the occasion, the hotel will be recreating the iconic decorations that covered its façade for the Queen’s Coronation in 1953. Originally designed by British stage set designer Oliver Messel, the decorations included dramatic draping across the hotel’s balconies, transforming them to look like the interior of a theatre stage. There will also be a special afternoon tea on offer over the coronation weekend, featuring a delicate selection of themed cakes accompanied by finger sandwiches and a glass of Champagne.
Coronation Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason
From April onwards
Nowhere does afternoon tea quite like Fortnum & Mason, and their Coronation Afternoon Tea is set to be one of the most majestic in town. Served every day in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, the menu is made up of inventive takes on quintessential British flavours inspired by the King’s favourite ingredients and passion for the environment. Fingers sandwiches are made of Cotswold legbar egg mayonnaise and cucumber with minted pea and horseradish, while other savoury delights include woodland wild mushroom éclairs and Welsh lamb scotch egg with wild herb aioli. Alongside freshly baked scones, sweet treats include Harbourne blue cheese mousse with London honey glaze and popcorn and basil and pistachio mousse with an elderflower glaze, in homage to the King’s love of local produce and seasonal eating. Wash it all down with a cup of Coronation Darjeeling Tea, an extra special blend made to mark the occasion.
