Tesco to open first pub for King’s coronation

By Gary Lloyd

- Last updated on GMT

Doors open for the weekend: Tesco’s first pub takeover will offer food and drink at ‘affordable prices’
Doors open for the weekend: Tesco’s first pub takeover will offer food and drink at ‘affordable prices’

Related tags Food Finance Social responsibility

Supermarket giant Tesco will open its first pub to celebrate the King’s coronation in a bid to “do good by going to the pub”.

The King in the Castle, which will take over the Castle pub temporary in Farringdon, central London, on Thursday and Friday 4-5 May, has pledged to give all profits to The Prince’s Trust, the supermarket’s charity partner founded by King Charles to support young people across the UK.

The pub, open from 12pm until 11pm on both days, will serve a Coronation-themed menu, curated by the Tesco executive chef team, such as Camilla’s King Prawn Curry, ‘The Prince’s Crust’ pie and a ‘trifle-inspired Bellini’.

Affordable prices

Tesco has made the move to encourage people to come together with friends and family, and celebrate the King’s coronation by being able to spend less money, with aperitivos and courses at what the supermarket calls ‘affordable prices’.

According to the supermarket’s research, bank holidays cost each UK adult an average of £92, rising to £136 among 18 to 44-year olds, so with three taking place in May, the pub “will offer an affordable option”.

According to the supermarket’s research, one in six (15%) UK adults cite ‘going to the pub’ as their favourite way to come together with friends and family, rising to a fifth amongst Londoners (20%) and 25 to 34-year-olds (21%).

In celebration of people marking the crowning of King Charles and wife Camilla, who will be crowned ‘Queen’, marking an historic transition from her previous title of ‘Queen Consort’, the King in the Castle, located on Cowcross Street, will be decked out in hanging floral displays and bunting throughout.

Outside offers

Outside the venue, there will be a sampling station for passers-by to try bite-sized portions of the menu, such as the Coronation King Prawn Sandwich and coronation-themed cupcakes. 

Tesco chief customer officer Alessandra Bellini said: “As one of the most enduring parts of British culture, pubs have traditionally been an important part of local communities and so a pub felt like the perfect way to bring people together to mark this special occasion and enjoy delicious food.

“What’s more, we’ll donate £250,000 from the proceeds of sales of our limited-edition Coronation range in-store, along with all proceeds from the pub to The Prince’s Trust so we can all enjoy food that both tastes good and does good.”

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