Meet Britain’s Local Royalty

Independent businesses are at the heart of communities across Great Britain. Now, we’re celebrating the people behind them in a way usually reserved for royalty, titans of industry and stars of stage and screen.

Our new Local Royalty campaign shines a light on four much-loved café, pub, takeaway and corner shop owners from across Great Britain, recognising the extraordinary contribution they make to the communities they serve every day.

To give these local heroes the recognition they deserve, Coca‑Cola Great Britain commissioned four of the country’s most celebrated portrait artists, each of whom has previously painted a member of the Royal Family, to capture them on canvas.

The portraits feature:

Pindy Kaur, owner of Ocean Fish Bar in Barnsley, painted by Nicky Philipps, two-time portrait painter to the late Queen Elizabeth II

Simon Dafforn-Jones, landlord of The Ferry Boat Inn in Dittisham, South Devon, painted by Jamie Coreth, who painted the first official portrait of the Prince and Princess of Wales

Gino Verecchia, proprietor of The University Café in Glasgow, painted by Gareth Reid, portrait artist to King Charles III while he was Prince of Wales

Kaual Patel, owner of Torridon Convenience Store in Catford, South East London, painted by Nick Bashall, portrait painter to Princess Anne

And there’s good reason to celebrate them. Our new research found that 79% of people believe the contribution independent business owners make to their local communities is underappreciated, while 87% describe them as an essential part of life in Great Britain.

Nearly eight in ten (79%) believe their local community would be worse off without independent businesses, while 80% want to see them celebrated more often.

That’s why, from 28th October to 1st November 2026, we’re bringing all four portraits together for Local Royalty, a free public exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery, putting the people behind some of Britain’s best-loved local businesses centre stage.

The campaign continues Coca‑Cola’s longstanding relationship with independent businesses across Great Britain. We’ve worked alongside local businesses for more than 125 years, and we’re proud that 97% of the products we sell here are also produced here.

The campaign was designed to turn recognition into something tangible and lasting. Each business owner will also receive a donation for a local charity of their choice and the finished portrait, which they can display in their home or business and pass down through their family for generations.

Local Royalty is the third instalment in our campaign celebrating the impact of independent retail partners on their local communities and economies, following The Bosses and Counter Cultures.

Local Royalty is free to attend at Saatchi Gallery, London, from 28th October to 1st November 2026

Meet our Local Royalty and discover their stories below:

Pindy Kaur

Ocean Fish Bar, Barnsley: Pindy and her family have transformed Ocean Fish Bar from a struggling fish and chip shop into a much-loved part of its Barnsley community, which has been serving locals for 25 years. A devoted admirer of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Pindy was painted by Nicky Philipps, who painted the late Queen twice.

Gino Verecchia

The University Café, Glasgow: First opened by Gino’s grandfather Pasquale in 1918, The University Café has been serving Glaswegians for more than a century. Today, Gino continues the family tradition, blending Italian heritage, including a 100-year-old gelato recipe, with Scottish favourites.

Simon Dafforn-Jones

The Ferry Boat Inn, Dittisham: Known locally as “Slugger”, Simon has run The Ferry Boat Inn on the banks of the River Dart for almost 20 years, following in his father’s footsteps. From giving local teenagers their first jobs to championing Devon produce, the pub remains firmly rooted in its community.

Kaual Patel

Torridon Convenience Store, Catford: A proud South East Londoner, Kaual has spent more than two decades building on his family shop’s legacy as a community hub. Alongside household names, he champions independent local producers, guided by a simple mantra: “If you’re a local producer, there’s a space on my shelf for you.”

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