4th April 2023
Covent Garden today unveils a programme of exciting activities taking place across the estate for the King’s Coronation on Saturday 6th May. From a traditional British pub garden in the heart of the Piazza, to a bespoke Coronation art installation, extra special Coronation menus and celebratory street dressing – Covent Garden will be the home of celebrations across the Bank Holiday weekend.
The quintessentially British The Crown Jewels Garden will pop up in the heart of the historic Piazza especially for the Coronation. Live on the East Piazza from Friday 21st April until Sunday 14th May, the garden will feature a variety of entertainment celebrating this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. The Coronation ceremony will be shown live on Saturday 6th May, and there will also be a schedule of live music and entertainment including piano sing-alongs, as well as the best of British beer, cider and gin. The Garden will be delivered by Nick Zuppar, owner of Covent Garden’s Mrs Riot, and the design concepted by acclaimed set designer Sonja Klaus. As well as live entertainment and screenings the garden will also offer a menu of pub classics including a Royal Trifle dessert, sausage rolls, ploughman's boards and more.
For celebratory photo moments from mid-April onwards the historic Market Building and streets throughout Seven Dials will be adorned with over 4,000 Union Jack flags. A new art installation in celebration of the Coronation will be created by Insta-famous graffiti artist Jimmy C, who previously designed Brixton’s iconic David Bowie memorial mural. Taking iconography from the Coronation, Jimmy will be live painting an extra special themed mural on Tuesday 25th April In partnership with recycling initiative ‘Every Can Counts’. The installation will be made of over 700 cans as a nod to Covent Garden’s sustainability ethos. Visitors can watch the live painting throughout the day on the North Piazza, where it will remain in situ until 30th May.
Restaurants across Covent Garden will also be getting involved in the Coronation serving new takes on traditional British dishes. Cora Pearl will be serving takeaway Coronation Chicken brioche rolls for visitors to take away, alongside canned cocktail Bad Kitty filled with gin, elderflower, lemon juice and Cava to toast the celebrations with.
Diners will also be able to enjoy Covent Garden’s al fresco delights across the bank holiday weekend, with over 1000 seats at over 55 al fresco dining terraces in some of the area’s most loved restaurants, including The Oystermen, Cora Pearl, Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, Petersham Nurseries, Ladurée, Ave Mario and more. The estate is also home to a number of afternoon teas - from French teas at Ladurée overlooking the Piazza and French Tea Emporium Mariage Freres; to a champagne afternoon tea at Vyta in collaboration with Laurent Perrier overlooking the Market Building; to a family friendly Charlie & the Chocolate Factory tea at One Aldwych; an Indian take on a traditional afternoon tea at Cinnamon Bazaar; to the very best of British at The Ivy Market Grill, Petersham Nurseries’ The Petersham or the Covent Garden Hotel. All options are suitable for the whole family, making Covent Garden the ultimate family destination.
Shoppers will also be able to visit the very best British brands throughout the weekend across Covent Garden’s cobbled streets with many hosting extra special Coronation offers and products - from Mulberry, Paul Smith and Charlotte Tilbury, to Penhaligons, Whittard, Hackett, Miller Harris and more.
At the epicentre of West End theatres and home to the iconic Royal Opera House, the Coronation kicks off a summer bursting with cultural activities as Covent Garden will be London’s home of culture for 2023. For further information on drinking, dining and shopping, and upcoming activities in the area please visit www.coventgarden.london or visit @CoventGardenLDN
