We’re looking forward to ringing in the coronation of King Charles III with a right royal knees up in our favourite pubs and bars.
As well as getting a new King on the throne, we're getting an extra bank holiday in May to add to the merriment. Even better is that venues across England and Wales will be allowed to stay open a little later than usual over the long weekend. Extended hours will see bars allowed to serve until 1am instead of the usual 11pm – a welcome boost for sales.
| Research from Star Pubs and Bars, predicts that up to 50 million of Brits are planning to celebrate by taking a trip to the pub. |
Whether your customers are out to celebrate the coronation, or are simply keen to enjoy the long weekend, spotlighting drinks grown on home soil in your menu is an excellent way to mark this royal occasion.
Make sure your local line up is fit for a king all summer long with our homegrown crown jewels!
A toast to Homegrown Fizz
As customers are increasingly conscious of their environmental impact, there has been a growing interest in buying local. This has seen more of us Brits exploring the delights of English wines. There are now 897 vineyards and 197 wineries in the UK, according to Wine GB.
A glass of homegrown fizz is the perfect serve to toast to the new King - or simply to toast enjoying another Great British Summer.
Silver Reign
The largest single vineyard in the UK, spanning the beautiful Kent countryside, is the Silverhand Estate. Silver Reign reflects our regal heritage invoking King Ludds pioneering legacy to bring the unique terroir in the Garden of England to life.
King Ludd was a first century king of the Trinovantes. Losing his hand in battle, he was stripped of his rank and position until a silver hand was made for him. The Silverhand Estate is a nod to the pioneering spirit of King Ludd and the rich history of the Kentish landscape.
| Tasting notes: Filled with flavours of citrus fruit, pear and green apple. |
Harlot
New kid on the block and turning the English wine industry on its head, Harlot is unapologetically loud, colourful, and full of fun. The range includes a Brut and Brut Rosé, English sparkling wine made in the charmat method.
| Tasting notes: Harlot Brut shows aromas and flavours of elderflower, ripe apricots and pears, while Harlot Brut Rosé is full of red apples, strawberries and English pears. |
Ridgeview
East Sussex-based vineyard, Ridgeview, has been producing exceptional wines for over 25 years. Their signature Bloomsbury blend is light golden in colour with a fine, persistent mousse. Last year, Bloomsbury was the official wine served for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
| Tasting notes: Citrus fruit aromas on the nose alongside hints of melon and honey. |
Another perfect sip to toast the royal occasion, Ridgeview Fitzrovia Rosé is a delicate salmon colour with an abundance of fine bubbles. Adding to the team's royal kudos, Fitzrovia Rosé was also served to Barack Obama at a Buckingham Palace State Banquet.
| Tasting notes: A raspberry and redcurrant nose carries through to a fresh fruit-driven palate with hints of raspberry, citrus and honey. |
Louis Pommery English Sparkling
Pommery was the first Champagne house to plant vines in the UK. It started planting in 2017 on the Pinglestone Estate near Alresford, in collaboration with local Hampshire wine makers. Louis Pommery English Sparkling is made using the expertise of Pommery’s chef de cave, Clemont Pierlot, and the traditional method champenoise.
Tasting notes: A fresh and vibrant palate with a juicy lemon, lime and apple character and subtle honeyed stone fruits in the background
Wild Life Botanicals
Ultra-low in alcohol yet ultra-high in goodness, this unique English bubbly is enriched with an uplifting elixir of vitamins, minerals and botanicals each chosen for their health-giving properties. At only 0.5% ABV and less than 35 calories per glass, Wild Life Botanicals champions a ‘no limits’ lifestyle.
| Tasting notes: Blush boasts juicy, wild strawberry aromas, followed by a softer palate evoking rosehip tea, strawberries and cream. Nude entices with vivid green notes followed by a generous perfume, evoking seasonal gooseberry and young banana. |
Get in the Homegrown Spirit
From Cornwall to Islay, the spirits produced on British soil are in a league of their own.
Just as conscious convenience is a priority for customers, it is also a focus for UK producers, who are top of their game when it comes to sustainable and environmentally friendly methods for making our much-loved British spirits.
The “gin-aissance” might appear to be slowing down, but this juniper-forward tipple is still the top spirit served in bars, in joint first place alongside vodka. Its staying power is partly thanks to the ubiquitous gin & tonic, but the spirit also plays a role in much-loved cocktails.
| UK gin exports grew by more than a third in 2022, according to the Spirits Business |
Beefeater Gin
Still made in Kennington, London, to founder James Burrough's original 200-year-old recipe, Beefeater is an authentic London dry gin made with big juniper character and strong citrus notes. Beefeater distils the essence of London spirit – a perfect drop to sip as a new King is crowned in Westminster Abbey.
Serve:
Beefeater and Tonic
50ml Beefeater London Dry Gin
Tonic
Wheel of lemon
Wheel of orange
Pour 50ml Beefeater London Dry Gin into a coppa glass.
Top with ice – remember, ice is nice!
Top with tonic of your choosing
Garnish with a wheel of lemon and a wheel of orange your gin, then half fill the glass with tonic.
Beefeater Pink Strawberry
For those seeking a slighter sweeter take, then Beefeater Pink Strawberry will hit the spot. This vibrant Pink Gin is made using the original Beefeater London Dry recipe with the addition of Natural Strawberry flavouring to give it a vibrant and delicious strawberry taste.
Serve:
Pink and Tonic
50ml Beefeater Pink
150ml Tonic water
Fresh strawberries cut in half
Add all in ingredients to a mixing glass and add ice.
Stir until chilled.
Strain into a coppa glass. Top with more ice. Garnish with sliced strawberries and a sprig of fresh mint.
Didsbury Gin
Manchester made Didsbury Gin have a range of lovingly hand-distilled, 100% natural fruit infused, vegan friendly gins. Their botanically infused original liquid is the base for all the zesty flavoured gin combinations. Perfect for customers to sip in the summer months, Didsbury Strawberry & Sicilian Lemon is the perfect mix of sweet British strawberries and citrussy Sicilian Lemons. Where citrus runs alongside a subtle sweet strawberry aroma, this delicious gin delivers a bouquet reminiscent of social summer afternoons.
Johnnie Walker
Heading up to Scotland now, and it’s impossible to look past an icon like Johnnie Walker. An exquisite combination of Scotland’s rarest and most exceptional whiskies, Johnnie Walker Black Label is one of the world's best-selling blended Scotch whiskies.
Where creamy toffee, sweet fruit and spice roll over the tongue to leave a warming, smoky finish, Black Label is a perfect sipping whisky. But it shouldn’t be overlooked as a key ingredient in summer serves, perfect for sipping as the sun goes down.
Serve:
Johnnie and Lemon
50 ml Johnnie Walker Black Label
Lemonade
Lemon zest
Lemon verbena sprig/orange wedge
Pour 50 ml Johnnie Walker Black Label into a highball glass with ice.
Top with Lemonade.
Stir.
Finish with lemon zest and a lemon verbena sprig or an orange wedge.
Homegrown Brews
Heineken predicts that 36.1 million pints of beer will be enjoyed over the Bank Holiday weekend. Half of British pubgoers say a beer will be their drink of choice, with wine coming in a close second. And a third of people plan to celebrate with cider.
Innis & Gunn
Scotland-based brewers Innis & Gunn are champions in creative innovative, flavoursome brews and are known for spearheading the Cask-Matured beer movement in Scotland. This was something begun by their single malt whisky cask-matured beer, The Original. Matured in single malt whisky casks, it is complex, deep, smooth and rich and delivers flavours of toffee, vanilla, honey and spice. The Original continues to be Innis & Gunn’s flagship beer, alongside Innis & Gunn Lager which is the No.1 craft lager in Scotland.
Orchard Pig
Cider lovers can get in on the homegrown action with Orchard Pig. Bursting with West Country bittersweet apples, each sip of Orchard Pig is full of delicious flavour.
Reveller has a generous apple aroma, drawing you in to a crisp, refreshing cider with a tangy note of freshly squeezed lime in the finish.
Truffler offers a welcome hint of sweetness that gives a long, rounded finish without compromising the dry character of this classic West Country cider.
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About the author
Mary McCarron
Mary looks after the majority of Matthew Clark's digital marketing comms. After a couple of years working in tech, she found her way back to the hospitality industry and can now be found talking all things cocktails, spirits, beer, softs and more across our website, social media, and other digital channels.
