SS Great Britain to serve a ‘right-royal’ afternoon tea to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation

One of Bristol’s most treasured assets, The SS Great Britain, will host a right-royal afternoon tea to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, next weekend.

Visitors stepping on board Brunel’s ship will tuck into a selection of treats in the ship’s First Class Dining Saloon. Guests can choose either a 1pm or a 3pm sitting and will be able to indulge in finger sandwiches, mini savouries, scrumptious scones, and elegant macaroons fit for a king. The ship’s dining area would have hosted first-class passengers during voyages and has been restored by the SS Great Britain Trust’s Interpretation team.

The SS Great Britain has played host to royalty in the past, most notably Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who stepped aboard on 26 July 1985 to explore the ship and open the museum’s maritime heritage centre. Her consort, HRH Prince Philip also had a special connection with the SS Great Britain, having been on deck as Brunel’s great ship returned to Bristol in 1970. HRH Prince Philip became the SS Great Britain Trust’s first patron, a position now taken on by HRH The Princess Royal.

The dining experience isn’t a one-off though, it will run throughout the summer on the following dates:

• June 25th 
• July 23rd 
• August 20th 
• September 24th 

The Coronation afternoon tea experience costs £39.95 per adult (£25 per child) and includes full access to the ship, the historic dockyard, dry dock and museums – from midday until close on Sunday (May 7).