Pubs welcome the new Prince
The Fountains Abbey in Paddington, London - down the road from St Mary’s Hospital where Kate Middleton gave birth – caused a stir yesterday when a Prince William look-a-like arrived at the pub to a royal fanfare announcing: “Everyone, the Royal baby has just been born.”
In a stunt organised by the pub’s landlord he then treated customers to half pints of a special guest ale – with a pump clip reading “It’s a boy!” – while posing for pictures and signing autographs.
The Taylor Walker pub has also set up an easel for guests to leave well-wishes for the real Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Business development manager Lee McDonagh said: “Our prime location opposite the hospital has meant we’ve been right at the centre of all the action, with all our guests and the world’s media eagerly awaiting the news of the royal birth.
“It therefore seemed fitting to welcome the royal baby into the world with a royal fanfare and toast the baby’s arrival. We hope the real Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge approve and we wish them all the best.”
The Old Boot Inn in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, near the Middletons’ home, also hosted a party yesterday for locals and will be celebrating again today and at the weekend.
Landlord John Haley, who was a guest at the Royal wedding, said: “The moment the news broke the pub filled up. All the press were here, we opened at least 30 bottles of champagne and everyone was just joyous that Kate and William had had their baby and were well.
“We had a fabulous evening. I went to bed at 2am and was up again at 5am today to get the pub ready for more celebrations.
“Hopefully Kate will come back to visit Mum and Dad at the weekend and we will see the new Prince in the pub in a couple of weeks.”
'Wet the baby's head'
Meanwhile, other pub companies and breweries are offering special drinks deals for customers today to toast the new arrival.
Brains brewery, based in Cardiff, Wales, is giving customers a free drink in their pubs via a social media campaign, Thwaites brewery have launched a new 'Royal Delivery beer (ABV 3.8%) and Young’s pub company are offering a bottle of Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer to those signed up to its database. The voucher will be valid for one week.
Drake & Morgan bar group, based in London, will also be giving out a “royal delivery” snow queen vodka cocktail with the purchase of one other cocktail in their bars and restaurants to “wet the baby’s head” today and tomorrow. And The Slug and Lettuce are offering 2-for-1 on Kir Royale or Prosecco to “help the nation celebrate the wonderful birth in style”.
Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cambridge in Stamford Brook, west London, welcomed the new Prince with a special drinks promotion via Twitter, offering 50p off pints of real ale and cider all day. A new menu will also be launched from 5pm today to celebrate.
The Fort St George in Cambridge had a more unusual take yesterday by permanently reserving a new highchair for the Royal, marked by a special plaque on the wall. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge first visited the Greene King pub for lunch in November last year when Kate was in the early stages of pregnancy.
John Cecchini, manager of the Fort St George pub in Cambridge, said: “When the world found out William and Kate were expecting we were thrilled, having welcomed them into the pub just a few weeks earlier. Now he is here safe and sound, we want the family to know they are very welcome to come back any time, and there will always be a reserved space for him.”
