King’s Coronation Manchester: Piccadilly Gardens to host big screens & royal celebration

Royal fans can head to Piccadilly Gardens to watch the King’s coronation day unfold on big screens.

Manchester city council has confirmed they will be screening the service on Saturday 6 May plus the build-up live from London. BBC coverage begins at 7.30am with the Westminster Abbey service itself commencing at 11am. There will also be food stalls and coronation merchandise, plus face painting for kids, at the gardens.

After the coronation ceremony and traditional procession, the platforms in Piccadilly Gardens will remain open until 11pm with food, drinks and entertainment into the night.

For those worried about the weather, Manchester Cathedral will also be screening the event on large screens indoors, after morning prayers end from 9.30am on Saturday.

Then on Sunday 7 May, Piccadilly Gardens will be transformed into a picnic space for the Coronation Big Lunch, with picnic tables, benches and food stalls. The annual event will be taking place in cities, towns and villages across the nation to encourage people to get together in their local communities.

In the evening, the Coronation Concert will be live streamed in Piccadilly Gardens and you can pop along to enjoy live sets from the likes of Lionel Richie, Take That and Katy Perry.

Finally, on Monday 8 May, to mark His Majesty The King’s Coronation, thousands of organisations across the country will be participating in the Big Help Out. The Big Help Out is a scheme encouraging people across the country to volunteer and help out their local communities. For Manchester-based volunteering opportunities, see here.

Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Donna Ludford, said: “The Coronation of His Majesty the King Charles III and Queen Consort is a landmark occasion, and I am pleased that Manchester is joining in with the coronation fun. From joining in with the events in Piccadilly Gardens, to celebrating at home, there’s a range of ways that communities all over the city can get involved with the celebrations and I hope that it will be a weekend to remember for all.”

For more information on the Coronation, see the council’s website.