A Coventry venue dating back to the 14th century is looking forward to a feast of May activities with family events and high-quality dining helping visitors enjoy pageantry fit for a king.
St Mary’s Guildhall, which re-opened to the public last year following a programme of major programme of renovation, is gearing up for its busiest month yet with coronation celebrations and half term fun all adding to the launch of an exclusive Saturday evening dining experience at the heritage attraction opposite Coventry Cathedral Ruins.
The Guildhall, which was used as an armoury during the English Civil War, is giving parents plenty of ammunition for a fun-filled May half term with ‘It’s Reigning Royals’ from Saturday, May 27 to Sunday, June 4.
Families are invited to get hands on with history at Knight school on Saturday May 27, where aspiring knights will learn sword moves and the tactical defence skills needed to be a knight of the realm.
Visitors can experience hands on Living history Tudors in the Medieval Kitchen on Tuesday, May 30 and Thursday, June 1 as they prepare for their own historic banquet while visitors can get hands on at making a sugar craft flower and learn about weird and wonderful medieval banquet etiquette at the historic venue.
Children can also enjoy making their own crown, design a coat of arms for their own royal household and dress up in period costume before being immersed in 700 years of history via a virtual reality tour and wowed by the story of the Coventry tapestry as it unfolds digitally before their eyes.
On top of this, a new evening dining experience will be available in Tales of Tea, located in the Undercroft – the oldest part of St Mary’s Guildhall – every Saturday with a three-course British-inspired à la carte menu.
The Guildhall, which is rich in Royal history with connections to Margaret of Anjou and Henry VI and Mary Queen of Scots, also provided free entry to anyone named Charles or Camilla throughout the coronation weekend.
Abi Moore, Heritage and Venue Manager at No Ordinary Hospitality Management (NOHM), which operates St Mary’s Guildhall, said: “We are very excited about the incredible range of activities coming up in May, which could prove to be our busiest month yet with plenty of opportunities to experience St Mary’s Guildhall including high-quality evening dining and hands-on history.
“The guildhall is all about making hundreds of years of fascinating history as fun and accessible as possible, and our It’s Reigning Royals Event is designed to add another immersive element, especially for visitors who join us for our Knight school and living history activities – we can’t wait!”
Tickets can be purchased at www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk and discounted rates apply for GO CV members, with free entry for GOCV+ card members.
The recent major package of restoration and refurbishment at St Mary’s Guildhall has been made possible through the Cultural Capital Investment Fund resourced by Coventry City Council, Arts Council England, and the Government’s Getting Britain Building Fund through Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and with the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.