HomeGuidesTop tips for throwing a street party for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Top tips for throwing a street party for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a good old-fashioned street party. To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne, a long bank holiday weekend is taking place from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June 2022. With four whole days to play with, what better time to get together with friends and neighbours and organise a street party?
Throwing a street party isn’t difficult, but before you hang out the bunting there’s a few things you need to know. Read on for our handy tips for planning a street party and making sure your shindig is a big success.
Once you’ve sorted all the party planning, it’s time for the really fun bit…deciding what to eat. You’ve come to the right place, because we’ve rounded up all the tried-and-tested street party recipes you need, including retro favourites and savoury nibbles like coronation chicken and sausage rolls. There’s veggie and vegan options, drinks ideas, easy traybakes and some showstopping cakes and desserts we’ve created especially for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
Read on for more info, and get planning a Jubilee street party to remember…
Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a good old-fashioned street party. To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne, a long bank holiday weekend is taking place from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June 2022. With four whole days to play with, what better time to get together with friends and neighbours and organise a street party?
Throwing a street party isn’t difficult, but before you hang out the bunting there’s a few things you need to know. Read on for our handy tips for planning a street party and making sure your shindig is a big success.
Once you’ve sorted all the party planning, it’s time for the really fun bit…deciding what to eat. You’ve come to the right place, because we’ve rounded up all the tried-and-tested street party recipes you need, including retro favourites and savoury nibbles like coronation chicken and sausage rolls. There’s veggie and vegan options, drinks ideas, easy traybakes and some showstopping cakes and desserts we’ve created especially for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
Read on for more info, and get planning a Jubilee street party to remember…
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How to throw a Jubilee street party
If you’re thinking about throwing a street party, the first step is to speak to your neighbours to gauge interest. If everyone is keen, then set up an organising committee with your own what’s app or private Facebook group to help with party planning and divvying up tasks.
Next, you’ll need to apply to the council if you need permission for a temporary road closure. It’s best to do this early – some councils require at least 6 weeks notice. Some councils also require you to take out Public Liability Insurance, but this isn’t always necessary.
But…never fear if you’ve missed your council’s deadline for the Jubilee weekend. An easy alternative is a ‘street meet‘, where your road stays open and the party is held on a driveway or in a front garden. Otherwise, you don’t need to apply for a licence, unless you’re selling alcohol. The Big Jubilee Lunch is another great option, which you could host in your back garden, as a picnic at local park or even in the local school playground as long as you have permission.
Divvy up the jobs with your neighbours, so nobody has too much to organise. Things to think about include…
Games and activities (keep it simple – provide some chalks for kids to draw on the road or play hopscotch, have a baking contest, or organise a quiz for the grown-ups).
Music (not too loud and with something for all ages).
Decorations. Keep it simple, eco-friendly and on budget with fabric or reusable card bunting.
Spreading the word. Street parties are designed for residents rather than the wider public, so stick to a few posters in front windows or on lampposts.
Don’t forget tables, plenty of seating (encourage neighbours to bring fold-out chairs) and a gazebo in case it rains or to provide some shade.
The food. Decide who’s making what, and don’t forget to include some gluten-free, veggie and vegan options. We’ve got plenty of ideas and inspo for you below…
What’s on the menu
The ideal street party food is things you can make in advance and chill or cover then bring out as needed. Think traditional party favourites like sausage rolls, traybakes and potato salads. Pick foods that are handheld, or can be portioned up easily. Think of things that will keep well outside, or be brought out to the table at the last minute in the case of desserts, jellies and ice creams. Make sure you know who’s making what so your party isn’t all pork pies and no puds!
Make sure you include some traditional street party food, like coronation Chicken. We’ve given this regal recipe a 2022 update in our Platinum Jubilee coronation chicken salad recipe.
If you can make it in a big baking tray and cut into squares or slices, then it’s perfect for a street party. Think brownies, flapjacks or easy-but-impressive bakes like our ginger drizzle traybake with cream cheese frosting. Strawberries are coming into season, so use them to top an Eton Mess traybake.
Showstopper cakes
Take advantage of the four-day weekend to spend time baking and decorating a cake to get the neighbourhood talking. Top this lemon and strawberry sponge with a fabulous strawberry meringue crown.
Pick desserts you can make ahead of time and chill in the fridge until you’re ready to bring them outside. Everyone loves jelly. Scale up our elderflower and berry jellies or retro rhubarb and custard jellies to feed a crowd. Eton mess is another easy pud that can be scaled up and served in individual glasses or bowls (or try our Eton Mess roulade to impress the neighbours). If you’re hosting a Big Jubilee lunch, our lemon madeleines with gin and dubonnet sorbet (created in honour of the Queen’s favourite drink) are the perfect grown-up pud for a hot day.
Remember, a street party should be a jolly, laid-back affair so bulk up the food and drinks offering with shop-bought options and don’t be afraid to take a few shortcuts. Have a great time!