Ed Sheeran, Emilia Clarke spotted hanging out in Wellington
The musician was seen at Monsoon Poon while the Game of Thrones actress was browsing cod at the fish markets.
Two British stars have been quietly turning heads in Wellington.
Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke was spotted browsing blue cod at Lambton Quay’s Wellington Seamarket on Monday, telling staff she was in town filming a movie.
Teyenne Taana, who was working at the store when Clarke came in, says the actress told him she would be around for a bit, and he invited her back to try the shop's fish and chips.
Emilia Clarke attends Peacock's "Ponies" premiere on 14 January, 2026 in New York City.
Dia Dipasupil / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
Clarke, who teased a "dark" and "deeply uncomfortable" new film project in New Zealand, was recently quizzing former co-star Jason Momoa about his favourite spots here.
Clarke made her return to TV with spy series Ponies, now streaming on TVNZ+.
Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran surprised bar staff at Monsoon Poon by dropping in after officially wrapping the New Zealand leg of his Loop world tour.
Ed Sheeran singing on stage at his Auckland concert on 16 January, 2026.
Tom Grut / Photosport
Fresh from sold-out shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, the pop superstar kept things low-key. Restaurant and bar staff member Maddy O'Callaghan, who was on shift last night, says he signed a plate for the venue's celebrity wall, left a tip, and charmed staff with his down-to-earth attitude.
"We were really taken aback when he was in Wellington. We were like, it would be so cool if he came. But obviously he didn't last week and then [he did last night], yeah, it was very, very out of the blue," she says.
"Everyone was very, very excited to see him. They were wanting to take photos and we were like, 'no, no, no, let's just leave him be'."
Ed Sheeran's signature on a plate from Wellington's Monsoon Poon, with the message "Thanks for the beer!"
Supplied / Monsoon Poon Restaurant & Bar
It's not the first time Sheeran's flown under the radar here. On a previous visit, he was once asked for ID while buying a beer in Wairarapa.
His next tour stop will be Perth, Australia, on 31 January.
