In celebration of the Coronation weekend, Ludlow shops have painted the town red, white and blue with fantastic window displays. We bring you the breakdown of events taking place in Ludlow and beyond.
Saturday, 6th May
The Coronation Service will take place on the morning of Saturday, 6 May 2023, at Westminster Abbey and begins at 11 am. After the service, their majesties will return to Buckingham Palace in a larger ceremonial procession, known as ‘The Coronation Procession’. The BBC has announced that you can watch coverage of The Coronation on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from 7.30 am on Saturday, 6 May 2023. Coverage begins with The Coronation of HM The King: The Preparation, followed by coverage of The Coronation of HM The King: The Coronation from 10.15 am.
In Ludlow, watch the Coronation on the ‘biggest screen’ in Ludlow at St Laurence’s Church from 9:45 am. The church will be open to all on Coronation Day, so everyone in the community can come together to watch the ceremony. In addition, Icon Coffee and The Shop at St Laurence will be open, and there will be activities for children.
Church bells will ring before the ceremony, and afterwards, visitors can watch the ringers in action and learn more about the bells and ringing (approx 12-2:30 pm). There is also a photographic and floral display in our Lady Chapel, created by Poyner’s in celebration of King Charles III & Queen Camilla, which is open to view until 12 May.
Saturday, 7th May
Neighbours and communities across the United Kingdom are invited to share food and fun at Coronation Big Lunches in a nationwide act of celebration and friendship. From a cup of tea with a neighbour to a street party, a Coronation Big Lunch brings the festivities to your neighbourhood and is a great way to get to know your community better. And there is a special Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle. The BBC is broadcasting Coronation Concert from 8 pm. Tom Cruise, Dame Joan Collins and Disney’s Winnie the Pooh will also feature in the concert along with Sir Tom Jones, Bear Grylls OBE and Oti Mabuse in pre-recorded sketches and segments revealing little-known facts about The King. Alongside the concert stars, the show will also see an exclusive appearance from The Coronation Choir.
Ludlow Castle will raise the portcullis and open its gates for a big community picnic in Ludlow. Food and drink vendors will be on-site from 12.00 pm to 6.00 pm, but you can also bring your picnic. Gazebos are prohibited, but you can bring picnic rugs and chairs. Entry is FREE, but donations are appreciated. Dogs are allowed, but organisers request keeping them on a lead and picking up poops! They’ve ordered lots of portaloos, and there’ll be music, so wear your dancing shoes!
The Castle Gift Shop will be open from 12 noon to 6pm for souvenirs, gifts and ice cream. Free admission.
Monday, 8th May
The Big Help Out will be held on Monday and organised by The Together Coalition and a wide range of partners such as The Scouts, the Royal Voluntary Service and faith groups from across the United Kingdom. The Big Help Out will highlight the positive impact volunteering has on communities across the nation. In tribute to His Majesty The King’s public service, The Big Help Out will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves and join the work undertaken to support their local areas. The Big Help Out aims to use volunteering to bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy from the Coronation Weekend.
To make it easy for you, LGL is highlighting the charity sector in Ludlow by listing them all in our Directory. Selina Graham, the former High Sheriff of Shropshire, talks passionately about the many voluntary causes and people behind them across the county she had the opportunity to meet and the incredible sense of community that results from it in a recent piece.
Ludlow shops
Ludlow War Memorial Fund and Poyner’s launched the Grand Window Dressing competition to celebrate the Coronation of Kings Charles III in April. Our local shops have indeed risen to the challenge! Judging occurs on Wednesday, 5th May, with winners rewarded Gold, Silver and Bronze trophies.
Scroll down for our photo gallery.
Let’s party!
PARTY your way into the Coronation Bank Holiday weekend on Friday, 5 May, at Ludlow Brewery with two great acts: headliners INNOCENT CRIMINALS (all the way from Cleobury!) and JOSEPH MORRIS Support (from Worcester). Tickets are £10 and available from the brewery, pop in and ask at the bar or ring 01584 873 291. Doors open at 7.30 pm. Live music from 8 pm. Closing time is 11.30 pm.
At the Squirrel, there’s fantastic music on Friday night and a late-night disco on Sunday night. He and I are playing from 8.30-11 pm on Friday, 5 May, and DJ Miles Client + Photobooth on Sunday, 7 May, from 8 pm till late. Free Entry.
And beyond
Croft Castle and Berrington are open all weekend and invite everyone to bring a picnic and join others for “The Coronation Big Lunch”. There’ll be garden games for all the family, refreshing walks through the parkland and delicious snacks in the tea room—on the 6th, 7th and 8th of May from 9 am to 5 pm.
Check your local village noticeboard (or Facebook page) for full details of Coronation celebrations. Many offer picnics; some even offer a hog roast and welling wanging! Shobdon, Richards Castle, and Bitterley Village Halls invited residents to design a scarecrow. Shobdon Village Hall and Stoke St Milborough Village Hall celebrate on Friday, 5 May, with a ‘Coronation Treat’: fill your plate with the barbecue (£8 for adults, £5 for children and enjoy an open mic and karaoke night from 5.30 pm. Celebrations are taking place at Shobdon Village Hall on 6 May with a Children’s Picnic, fun and games on the school field, a Seniors’ Afternoon Tea and a Dance in the evening. Knowbury Village Hall is hosting a tea party on Saturday, 6 May; it’s free entry, and there’ll be food, a bar and lawn games.
The Three Horseshoes. are celebrating Coronation Day with a Special Coronation Day Menu available from 12 ~ 2 pm & 6 ~ 8.30 pm on Saturday, 6 May.
