King Charles has been applauded by onlookers as he poured the “perfect” pint of Guinness whilst visiting the opening of the new £73million Guinness Storehouse in central London.
The Covent Garden venue represents the fourth Guinness Open Gate Brewery location worldwide.
The original Guinness Storehouse at St James’ Gate in Dublin marked its 25th anniversary this year, having attracted more than 25 million visitors since opening.
Leo Ravina, a 23-year-old staff member, guided the monarch through the process of pulling a pint of the famous Irish stout.
King Charles poured the “perfect” pint of Guinness in London during the week
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Midway through, Mr Ravina declared the pour “absolutely gorgeous,” later describing it as “absolutely perfect.”
The King responded modestly to the applause, saying: “If you say so.”
After taking his first taste of the freshly poured Guinness, the monarch was left sporting a distinctive foam moustache before wishing those gathered a Merry Christmas.
During the visit, His Majesty also watched a demonstration of how festive holly designs can be “printed” onto the head of a pint using inks derived from barley, carrot and beetroot.
Describing the result as “amazing” and “just fantastic,” the King quipped: “The trouble is it doesn’t look real.” Before sampling his decorated pint, he asked: “So you want me to ruin that now, do you?”
Master brewer Hollie Stephenson led His Majesty on a tour of the microbrewery, where he met the team responsible for creating exclusive brews available only at the Covent Garden venue.
The monarch sampled several speciality beers during his visit, expressing particular enthusiasm for an apricot-flavoured brew.
He also tried the seasonal “winter warmer,” praising its blend of ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg as a “very good combination.”
King Charles received applause as he showed his skills at the new Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Camden Town
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Declaring the samples “fantastic,” the King gestured towards the assembled journalists with a smile, remarking: “They are all longing to have a go!”
His Majesty then made his way to the 232 Bar, named after the specific temperature that produces Guinness’s characteristic roasted flavour.
There, he met graduates of the Diageo Bar Academy’s Learning for Life programme, which supports individuals who have encountered obstacles in their education.
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The King spoke with one graduate employed at a London hotel, showing particular interest in the breakfast menu and expressing admiration for the early starts required for morning shifts.
Students from The King’s Foundation Introduction to Hospitality course were also present to meet the monarch.
Diageo, under the leadership of Sir John Manzoni, provides complimentary hospitality training for those seeking careers in the sector, with the new Covent Garden brewery designated as the company’s southern UK hub.
King Charles was wary of ruining his good work by taking a sip of the pint
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The King proceeded to Old Brewer’s Yard, where he joined local community groups and businesses for Christmas celebrations and encountered a mural created by artist Mason London.
His Majesty then unveiled a commemorative plaque marking the official opening of the brewery, which encompasses a visitor experience, restaurants, retail outlets and an events space.
The monarch has previous experience behind the bar, having pulled pints during a Staffordshire brewery visit in February and at The Prince of Wales pub in Clapham in 2021, when businesses reopened following Covid restrictions.