It’s been a worldwide talking point for the past two days, sent a nation into crisis mode, and sparked a massive cover-up…we’re of course talking about that cup from Game Of Thrones.
While most have deciphered that the cup in question was not, as has been reported, a cup from Starbucks, Metro.co.uk can reveal that it’s actually independently run coffee shop, Paper Cup.
Paper Cup is based in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, just a stone’s throw away from the home of Game Of Thrones – and where the fateful feast scene from episode four was shot.
Their simple but distinctive logo is a coffee cup wrapped up in a sign declaring their name.
When approached by Metro.co.uk, owner John McKinney confirmed that the team would often come in, with Emilia Clarke being one of the most familiar faces that would appear.
‘I can’t remember what it was she had,’ John told us on her order. ‘But she really loved bagels. She would have them a lot.’
She would often wait in the shop before being picked up and driven on to set.
‘Maybe we should get signs!’ he laughed. ‘Those little blue plaques saying Emilia Clarke sat here.’
He had also become used to seeing TV producer Bernadette ‘Bernie’ Caulfield in the shop, but admits that as the shop only opened in 2017, they became a haunt of the cast and crew towards the end of the shoot, so he didn’t get to know them too well.
It seems that their drinks definitely went down a storm(born) with the cast though, with Sophie Turner also being snapped holding one of their takeaway mugs while in costume.
After the blunder, which has since been erased by HBO from the episode, Starbucks has come out the best from the debacle – with Twitter blowing up with memes mocking the moment that takeaway coffees came to Westeros.
Even Lena Headey got involved with a meme of her own – using Daenerys’ full and complicated title covering the entire thing, and Peter Dinklage joked that he was about to start selling ‘Starkhouse’ coffee cups.
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But John told us that he’s not happy with the huge chain getting the credit, and said: ‘I think it’s bloody disgusting.
‘It takes the promotion away from smaller businesses that need it, such as ours, or someone else’s whose cup it could’ve been.
‘It’s clearly not even from Starbucks! The nearest Starbucks is miles away.’
While their trade hasn’t been hindered by the ending of Game Of Thrones, two other local cafes closed down shortly after the show wrapped production.
For fans wanting to come in and have a nosey around, John joked: ‘Feel free, but don’t expect any spoilers! I can maybe show you a chair or something where they read the scripts.
‘We’ve also got Emilia-approved bagels!’
Hey, if it’s good enough for a queen, it’s good enough for us.
Game Of Thrones continues Sundays on HBO and Sky Atlantic.
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