Arts Society Fylde Lecture – November 2026

A lecture by Peter Ross exploring the coronation banquets of Richard III, James II and George IV and the changing styles of royal food.

The Arts Society Fylde's November lecture, given by historian and former Guildhall Library Principal Librarian Peter Ross, examines the coronation banquets of Richard III (1483), James II (1685) and George IV (1821). Using remarkable contemporary documents that list the dishes served and the preparations involved, the talk traces nearly 350 years of changing royal food styles and explains why Richard III's guests retired before the last course and why George IV's banquet was the last official coronation banquet. Guests may attend for £10 payable on the door; the society's AGM precedes the lecture at 1.00 pm.