Ben Boothman, of the Flying Horse Hotel, Rochdale, notified customers on social media last Friday (22 April) that he would be renaming special dishes in honour of Prince, who was found dead at his Paisley Park mansion in Minnesota the day before, aged 57.
Diners were then able to pick from a range of dishes including the Party Like It’s £19.99 burger, the Most Beautiful Grill in the World (12oz rumpsteak with bacon and melted goats cheese), Prince of Persia (lamb kofta), When Doves Fly (southern fried chicken), Little Red Courgette (vegetable pasta bake) and Breakfast Can Wait (an all-day brunch).
Good response
Boothman told the Manchester Evening News: “It’s on the specials board and we’ve got a band on tonight that are playing quite a few Prince numbers.
“We’ve got a good response to the menu. The puns are all mine, except ‘Little Red Courgette’ – that’s my wife, Sarah’s.”
Greene King ended up accidentally paying tribute to Prince last week, when it released a beer initially meant to commemorate the Queen’s 90th birthday called ‘Purple Reign’ on the day he died.
Respectful nod
A spokesperson for the company told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser the ale was intended as a tribute to the Queen, with a respectful nod to the classic tune.
“In light of the tragic news, we hope these intentions continue to be understood by our guests,” they said.