MANY London venues are going crazy for the Coronation, but not Prince Charles Cinema near Leicester Square.
“No, we are not changing our name” read the marquee sign yesterday. Staff have made it clear they will not be making any updates for the King, writing online: “Not now, not ever!”. They previously said the same on the death of the Queen last year.
The cult cinema, which now shows classic films, and once screened smuttier fare, has had its current name since it opened as a theatre in the 1960s. It is known for quirky stunts. It named the bar after Quentin Tarantino, who called it his favourite cinema in Britain, and christened one of its toilets “Kevin Smith” after the American director.
Skies are blue in Rishi’s world
PM Rishi Sunak unbuttoned slightly last night at the private members’ Reform Club at the fifth birthday party of Tory think-tank Onward. In a short speech, the PM said his party might be in for a “hard night” at local elections but he was cheery about his first six months in office. “Our politics doesn’t feel like a box set drama any more,” he said, in a jibe at his predecessors. The Coronation will distract from any really bad news.
Don Jolyon rides on
Campaigning lawyer Jolyon Maugham has been battling his critics after some bad reviews for his memoir Bringing Down Goliath: one paper said he’s “the most ludicrous man in Britain”. But at a book launch last night in Soho, Maugham said he wouldn’t go away quietly, just like Don Corleone in the Godfather. “The rival family comes by and pumps about a dozen bullets into him — but he’s still there,” he said.
Party for the king Pepys style
Diarist Samuel Pepys overdid it at the 1661 coronation of Charles II. He woke up at 4am to get into Westminster Abbey, so by the time the king was there he needed the bathroom and had to leave. Later, a group of friends drank to the king’s health until one fell down “stark drunk”, and Pepys felt the same. “No sooner a-bed... but my head began to hum, and I to vomit,” he records. Careful how you celebrate.
Rio joins the hall of fame
THE PREMIER League welcomed new football greats into its Hall of Fame at the Shard last night. Rio Ferdinand, picked in a fan vote as a new inductee, attended with his wife Kate. Idris Elba and Gary Lineker went too. At Nolita Social in Knightsbridge, models Roxy Horner, Hana Cross, Tigerlily Taylor and Sienna Ruby Cochrane went to a launch for brand YOMI. Actor Tim Spall and singer Heather Small were in Notting Hill for a 25th anniversary screening of the film Sliding Doors.
