| Where: | London, starting at Butchers Hall in Little Britain and ending at the Mansion House |
| When: | Early February - April (formerly First week in December or near) |
| Time: | Usually 2.45pm to 3pm start but turn up early as it can be slightly variable |
Traditionally, shortly after the new Lord Mayor of London takes office in the Lord Mayor’s Show (see separate article) the Worshipful Company of Butchers welcome the Mayor by hosting a feast, the centrepiece of which is the presentation of a traditional boars head. The event has its origins in days of yore when the Mayor gave permission to the Butchers to wash their meat in the river, and the parade continues to show the Butchers’ gratitude long after this practice has ceased; it was revived more than half a century ago and though comparatively little known, it was a reminder that the festive season had begun in the capital but has now fluctuated far away from the former date. Expect a richly dressed company in robes and regalia; four of the members hold aloft a stretcher bearing the celebrated Boars Head (naturally with an orange between its jaws), and the drums of the Royal Logistics Corps accompany the procession around Cheapside to the residence of the Mayor. Currently the Ceremony takes place in February or even as late as April, having shifted date post-Covid.
Helpful Hints
All are welcome to take part in the procession and it’s free of charge. No boars are harmed for the parade – health and safety rules have precluded the use of a real head for decades and instead a paper-mache substitute is used.
Until covid, it was usually mid week in the first week of advent so normally fell in late November to early December. Post-covid, the ceremony moved into February for 2023, starting at Butchers Hall around 3 pm to arrive at Mansion House at 3.30. The 2024 date was later again on 2nd April. Next date is yet to be announced.
Be aware that sometimes the date can be altered quite near to when it’s due to take place -and the time is also a little variable depending on events earlier in the day so arrive in plenty of time in case they’re super-organised and leave early.
Click here for the website of the Worshipful Company of Butchers: http://www.butchershall.com
and here: https://www.butchershall.com/wcb/events-societies/events
Click here for more and some nice photos: http://spitalfieldslife.com/2014/12/04/at-the-boars-head-parade/
Hi Avril. According to London walking tours website the Boars Head this year is Weds 28 Nov now, the date having previously being the 30th. Did attempt seeing last year but it left earlier! regards Hugh
Thank you Hugh! Funnily enough I just checked the date yesterday and was waiting to hear back from Butchers Hall about the time before altering the calendar customs entry for it to say it’s on 28th – the time isn’t on their website, so I emailed to ask but haven’t had a reply yet….I’ll probably give them a ring on Monday. It pays to check up on it relatively near the date because I know its date has been altered after the initial announcement a couple of times in recent years – and the time can vary a bit (as you have obviously found too!)- the year I went I think they left earlier than advertised by about 15 mins but I was fortunately there massively early so didn’t miss out,
Best wishes,
Averil