CORONATION CELEBRATIONS AT ROBINSONS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Unicorn Brewery offices decorated for the Coronation of George VI (1937)

In the context of the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla on 6 May, this month we’re looking back through the archives to discover how Robinsons has celebrated the Coronation throughout its history. In this article, we will provide a glimpse into some of the items produced by Robinsons to celebrate previous Coronation events.

CORONATION OF GEORGE VI AND ELIZABETH (1937)
A series of photographs taken on 12 May 1937 show us how Robinsons celebrated the Coronation of George VI and Elizabeth at the brewery. One image shows the Unicorn Brewery offices from the perspective of Lower Hillgate decorated in Union Jack bunting. Another image shows the beer delivery waggon fleet dressed with Union Jack flags positioned to look like crowns. Other photographs in this series show the brewery tower lit up for the occasion, with the initials ‘GR’ affixed to the tower and the flag raised. A commemorative tray was also produced for the occasion.

Beer delivery waggon fleet dressed for the Coronation of George VI (1937)

CORONATION OF ELIZABETH II (1953)
To celebrate the Coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953, Robinsons released Unicorn Coronation Ale, presented in a specially designed bottle showing a crown flanked by two unicorns. A letter from Sir John Robinson to tenants on 6 May 1953 describes the ale as ‘a Pale Ale of a gravity heavier than our two existing Bottled Beers’ which should be retailed at 1/2d per half bottle ‘in both the Public Bar and the Best Rooms’. Bottles of Guinness Extra Stout sold in Robinsons pubs during this period were stamped with a Coronation seal and, as in 1937, a commemorative tray was also produced.

Commemorative tray produced for the Coronation of George VI (1937)

Both commemorative trays and the bottles of Unicorn Coronation Ale and Guinness Extra Stout mentioned in this article are on display in the Robinsons Brewery Visitors Centre.

From left to right: commemorative tray, Unicorn Coronation Ale bottle and Guinness Extra

Do you have any questions about Robinsons’ history, or have you collected any Robinsons memorabilia which you’d like to share with us? If you have any enquiries which the Robinsons Archive could assist with, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at archives@frederic-robinson.co.uk.

And skipping to 2023, we have our Coronation Ale available in selected pubs:

• ALBION, DUKINFIELD
• ALEXANDRA, EDGELEY
• AMBLESIDE
• ANCHOR INN, TIDESWELL
• ANDREW ARMS, COMPSTALL
• ARMOURY, SHAW HEATH
• BLACK HORSE, PRESTON
• BLEEDING WOLF
• BREEZE HILL, BENLLECH BAY
• BRIDGE END, LLANGOLLEN
• BROADOAK, ASHTON-U-LYNE
• BULLS HEAD HOTEL, CASTLETON
• BULLS HEAD, HALE BARNS
• CHESHIRE CHEESE, NEWTON
• CHURCH INN, CHEADLE HULME
• COCK, WHALEY BRIDGE
• CROWN, GREAT MOOR
• CROWN, WALNEY; BARROW
• DANDY COCK, DISLEY
• DOG & PARTRIDGE, BOLLINGTON
• DOG & PARTRIDGE,(TA) GREAT MOOR
• DOLPHIN, MACCLESFIELD
• DRUM & MONKEY, ALDERLEY EDGE
• DUN COW, OLLERTON
• DUSTY MILLER, WRENBURY
• FARMERS ARMS, POYNTON
• FRIENDSHIP, GLOSSOP
• GENERAL BURGOYNE
• GEORGE & DRAGON, BEAUMARIS
• GEORGE III, PENMAENPOOL
• GOLDEN RULE, AMBLESIDE
• HARRINGTON ARMS, GAWSWORTH
• HARTFORD HALL
• HATTERS ARMS, MARPLE
• HERON, KENDAL
• HOLLY BUSH, BOLLINGTON
• HOPE & ANCHOR, ULVERSTON
• HORSE SHOE, COPPENHALL
• KINGS ARMS INN, ULVERSTON
• LAKE ROAD INN, KESWICK
• LAWTON ARMS, CHURCH LAWTON
• LEGH ARMS, PRESTBURY
• LEGS OF MAN, SMALLWOOD
• MANNERS, BAKEWELL
• MASONS ARMS, SOUTHPORT
• NAVIGATION, WOODLEY
• OLD HUNTERS TAVERN, STALYBRIDGE
• OLD PACK HORSE, CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH
• PALATINE, HADFIELD
• PARR ARMS, GRAPPENHALL
• PIG & WHISTLE, CARTMEL
• POOLEY BRIDGE INN, POOLEY BRIDGE
• QUEENS HEAD, HAWKSHEAD
• QUEENS HEAD, TROUTBECK
• RAILWAY, HANDFORTH
• RED COW, NANTWICH
• RED DRAGON, CARNFORTH
• RED LION, CHEADLE
• RED LION, HIGH LANE
• RED LION, LITTLE BUDWORTH
• RED LION, PICKMERE
• RISING MOON, MATLEY, HYDE
• ROBIN HOOD, BARROW
• ROCK TAVERN, NEW MILLS
• ROYAL OAK HOTEL, GARSTANG
• ROYAL OAK, NEW MILLS
• ROYAL SHIP, DOLGELLAU
• SHIP, CONISTON
• SHIP, ROOSE
• SNIPE, AUDENSHAW
• SPREAD EAGLE INN, CLITHEROE
• SWAN INN, WYBUNBURY(TA)
• SWETTENHAM ARMS, CONGLETON
• SYDNEY ARMS, CREWE
• TATTON ARMS, WYTHENSHAWE
• THE WOODMAN INN, HUDDERSFIELD
• THREE BEARS, HAZEL GROVE
• THREE MARINERS, LANCASTER
• THREE TUNNES, HAZEL GROVE (TA)
• TOLLEMACHE ARMS, MOSSLEY
• TOLLEMACHE ARMS, TARPORLEY
• UNICORN, CONGLETON
• WAGGON & HORSES, EATON
• WHEATLEY ARMS, ILKLEY
• WHEATSHEAF INN, KENDAL
• WHITE LION, BARROW
• WINDSOR CASTLE, MARPLE BRIDGE
• WYNNSTAY ARMS, RUABON