His Majesty King Charles III has been praised for pulling an impeccable pint of Guinness, marking the official launch of a major new brewery in the heart of London today.
A Royal Bartender Masters the Craft
During a tour of the newly opened Guinness Open Gate Brewery, the King confidently stepped behind the bar. Under the guidance of Guinness experience ambassador Leo Ravina, he poured the Irish stout at the precise 45-degree angle, pausing when the glass was three-quarters full. In a move that will reassure purists across the nation, the monarch patiently allowed the drink to settle before adding the final touch.
The entire process took 119.5 seconds, during which King Charles chatted animatedly. Mr Ravina declared the finished product the 'perfect pint of Guinness'. With characteristic dry humour, the King replied: 'If you say so.' Ravina later joyfully announced, 'He did great, that was an ideal pint of Guinness. He's got the job - he's hired.'
Launching a Landmark London Venue
The visit marked the official launch of the £73 million Guinness Centre, which opened to the public last week. The sprawling site in the capital is not just a brewery; it features a microbrewery, visitor experience, restaurants, shops, and event spaces. It will also serve as the southern UK hub for Diageo's Learning for Life hospitality training programme. Diageo is the global drinks giant that owns the Guinness brand.
After his pour in Bar 232—named for the perfect roasting temperature for barley—the King met graduates from this programme and from his own King's Foundation's Introduction to Hospitality Course. He was guided through the microbrewery's beer-making process by master brewer Holly Stephenson, sampling a porter, a winter warmer, and an apricot sour, which he remarked 'did not even taste like beer'.
A Festive Finish and Community Connections
Adding a seasonal touch, King Charles watched a machine print 'Merry Christmas' and a holly sprig on a drink using edible dyes, before taste-testing his festive creation. His visit concluded with a meeting of local business and community representatives in Old Brewer's Yard, despite a heavy downpour. There, he viewed produce from Gilroy's Loft restaurant, including Guinness bread, oysters, and pies.
The event also attracted entertainment figures, with Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha revealing a royal request. 'The King has asked for my movie to be sent to Sandringham as the Christmas movie,' she said, referring to her new film Christmas Karma, a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol.
