Platinum Jubilee weekend: How are pubs celebrating?
After two years of disrupted trade and closure, the opportunity is not one to miss, with a £76m boost forecasted for independent pubs, bars and restaurants across the weekend by the Barclays SME Barometer.
The Blue Boar, Westminster, central London
Westminster’s the Blue Boar pub is pulling out all the stops for the big weekend. Celebrations kick off on Wednesday 1 June, where guests will be greeted by a 6ft ‘beefeater bear’ when entering the bunting-bedecked pub to enjoy Jubilee-themed cocktails.
On the Thursday 2 and Friday 3, house musician Sean Ahern will be playing a selection of classic British tunes, before a Jubilee party takes place on the Saturday.
Furthermore, on Sunday 5, come to the pub to rewind over a Jubilee Sunday Lunch with ‘extra pomp and ceremony’, according to the site’s Instagram. The unique drinks, which include gin-based cocktail the Kings Peach and royal spin on a classic Pimms, St James Summer Cup, will be served at the central London gastropub throughout June.
The Alma, Painters Forstal, Kent
Shepherd Neame pub the Alma will have three days of Jubilee-related fun, from live music to nostalgic footage and traditional family fun including an egg and spoon race.
On Thursday June 2 there will be a Beacon Lighting and performance of ‘Music through the Ages’ as well as a screening of personal local footage of previous Jubilee celebrations. The following night live music will come from Marvellous Mo and the Ferrets in the garden at 8pm and woodfired pizzas will be available from 6pm to 8.30pm.
On Sunday June 5 the Big Jubilee Lunch will be held alongside the pub, with traditional games, a crown competition and fancy dress.
The Loch & Tyne, Old Windsor, Berkshire
Guests are invited to celebrate in style at the Loch & Tyne in Old Windsor, Berkshire, which is offering to chauffer customers to and from the venue in a classic car. There’s even an option to choose the Rolls-Royce which drove King George VI himself.
The fun doesn’t stop there, with a Jubilee party kicking off at 4pm on the Sunday. Guests can expect live music from acoustic duo Charli and Mark, a BBQ serving British burgers and hotdogs as well as coronation rolls with your choice of chicken or crayfish.
In true royal style, English sparkling wines will be available by the glass, offered to toast to her Majesty’s 70-year reign.
The pub has made sure the party is a family affair: as the sun sets, there will be a fire pit lit on the terrace, with marshmallows available for children to roast while adults enjoy an exclusive cocktail, ‘Tea with the Queen’, made using Tanqueray gin, honey and earl grey.
Art lovers should head to the Plough in Coton, south Cambridgeshire, which is putting on an exhibition of Queen portraits from a local art gallery. Visitors can enjoy the artwork with special cocktails in hand, with the pub chef also designing special dishes for the festivities.
The Three Hills, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire
Those visiting Bartlow-based gastropub the Three Hills are in for a magical weekend. The team at the pub in Cambridgeshire will be hosting an ‘Enchanted Cinema’ showing Grease and Mamma Mia on the Wednesday and Thursday, which guests can watch with homemade artisan pizza in hand.
What’s more, a Jubilee family BBQ will take place on the Friday complete with a silver band and 50s music, with a traditional Sunday lunch running on the Sunday.
McMullen’s Brewery, Hertford, Hertfordshire
McMullen’s brewery is hosting an event including games and music on Friday 3 June, with all proceeds going to Mudlark’s – a Hertford-based charity supporting adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues.
Visitors can enjoy McMullen heritage beer while listening to musician Kate Garner, then the Lip Service Brass Band.
The Bramley Farm, West Timperly, Manchester
Farmhouse Inns pub the Bramley Farm has fashioned a throne that is certainly fit for a queen. The royal seat has been created from Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and veg, and was commissioned by Bramley Farm general managers Julianne Martin and Donna Piling
What’s more, ahead of the June celebrations, Farmhouse Inns’ greater Manchester-based Bramley Farm is temporarily rebranding to Ma’amhouse Inns, with a brand-new royal banner added to the exterior of the pub.
Bramley Farm general manager Julianne Martin said: “We’re all so excited about the Platinum Jubilee, and this incredible throne perfectly combines our love of all things royal with Farmhouse Inns’ best-in-class carvery."
The Dewdrop, Hawthorne Avenue, Kent
Shepherd Neame venue the Dewdrop will be holding a two-day Jubilee Party, starting on Friday, June 3 when Deal-based band CUDA will kick off celebrations at 8.30pm.
The following day on Saturday June 4, there will be a bouncy castle for children with hotdogs and pizza available, a raffle and live solo singer Charlie in the garden from 4pm, rounded off with a disco from 8pm. Visitors are encouraged to don red, white and blue for the festivities.
The pub has also produced its very own Jubilee shot for the occasion, comprising Grenadine, Curacao Blue and Curacao Triple Sec.
The Turk’s Head, Twickenham, London
The Turk’s Head in Twickenham, south London will be hosting four days of fun to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee, including a BBQ and singalong on the Thursday evening.
The Friday will see a BBQ and hog roast take place in the beer garden with live music from Sugar T and the Swells. This will lead on to an outdoor afternoon tea, a Platinum Party in the Park and live music with a secret guest on the Saturday, before a Jubilee lunch on the Sunday
Greene King Pubs
Pubco Greene King has teamed up with Beefeater and Dubonnet to promise a free ‘Queen’s Tipple’, for anyone who brings in their Cori or Corgi merch to a Greene King
The George, Newnham, Kent
The Jubilee weekend’s activities will centre on the pub garden at the George, beginning with an invitation-only Afternoon Tea on Thursday June 2, including projection of Buckingham Palace parades and music in the garden.
On the Saturday, the pub is holding a Great British Picnic with Pimms and entertainment from the Rose Gold String Trio from noon, followed by the village choir performing in the garden from 3pm. The weekend will culminate in a Big Sunday Lunch with food being served from noon to 4pm.
Horse & Groom, Ramsgate, Kent
The Shepherd Neame pub the Horse & Groom is going all out with a four-day Jubilee Olympics, running throughout the long bank holiday weekend.
Licensee Jamie Berry has organised a contest involving the following sports: darts; pool petanque; cornhole (an American bean bag tossing game), Irish ring toss and Dutch shuffle board. The pub will stage the games during the day indoors and also in its outside courtyard and adjacent petanque piste, and have live music in the evenings. There will also be a hog roast on the final day.
