Where to spend the King’s Coronation weekend in Glasgow

House for an Art Lover, home to this cafe, was visited by the then Prince Charles two decades ago when he chatted to art students and wandered the grounds of Bellahuston Park. Indeed, fine art is known to be a popular point of interest for the royals, with both the Prince and Princess of Wales having studied art history at the Scottish University of St Andrews. So, afternoon tea here will certainly be a fitting way to walk in the footsteps of our new monarch.

This upmarket cafe in the city centre was also visited by His Majesty the King (then the Prince of Wales) along with Her Majesty The Queen Consort (the then Duchess of Cornwall), on 7th September 2018. It has long-held royal connections and celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee with a special afternoon tea menu, designed exclusively for the occasion and featuring a special trifle entitled a Royal Twist. So Mackintosh at the Willow is sure to push the boat out for this (possibly once-in-a-lifetime) occurrence. 

George Square will be a central point for many of the events, including as the starting place for a procession on the Sunday. It’s a landmark that’s been visited countless times by members of the Royal family over the years, and if you want to dine in a restaurant fit for a VIP within the vicinity, book a table at The Anchor Line. This upmarket eatery commemorates the passenger liners of a bygone era, with memorabilia and gorgeous period interiors set in the restored Grade I listed Anchor Line building on St Vincent Place. The grand surroundings are complemented by a superb menu and cocktails to please both the eye and taste buds.

While we’re unlikely to bump into anyone with a title in here, there could be no more fittingly titled eatery than Guido’s Coronation Restaurant for this rare event. An eat-in and takeaway chippie on Gallowgate, it is an institution, having first opened in 1939 and been family-run ever since. Grab yourself a great value battered sausage, a steak pie, a hamburger, a pizza, some white pudding, or a classic fish supper and watch the action on a big screen outside.

Watch the Westminster Abbey coronation service with a crowd of other locals, as it’s streamed at Glasgow Cathedral. Then pop to Drygate for a bevvy — watching all that regal action can be thirsty work and with 23 rotating taps you’ll be spoilt for craft beer choice. Its Peaks Bar and Brasserie serves light snacks and heartier meals, plus the venue is kid-friendly, so if you’ve made your trip to the cathedral a family day out, they’ll all be able to refuel and continue on with the nearby festivities in no time at all. And if it proves sunny (fingers crossed), there’s a terrace with picnic benches to catch some rays and soak up the party atmosphere.

Like pubs in the city, nightclubs will get an extra hour’s opening this weekend. So for KONG that means the end of play will be at 4am instead of 3. Take advantage of that extra hour with some drinking, dining and dancing accompanied by live DJs in this salubrious and sassy night spot. Go extra fancy by booking a table in The Salon, a hidden VIP space to share with your closest mates. KONG also has an outdoor terrace for a spot of fresh air and some star spotting (the celestial kind) into the wee small hours.