2022 marks Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, making her the first British monarch to celebrate an amazing 70 years on the throne. A special bank holiday weekend in June is planned with parties across the country, as everyone comes together to honour this momentous occasion.
With that in mind, if you’re looking at throwing your own street party or having a party in your garden or driveway, here are some of our top tips on getting your garden ready for any guests – and the rules you need to think about should you be planning on having a party in your street.When is the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee?
The official date of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is February 6th 2022 – as this is when the Queen began her reign after succeeding her father, King George VI who died on February 6th 1952. Due to the date’s significance, however, the celebrations will take place in June 2022 instead.Jubilee street parties: regulations

The good news is that from Thursday 2nd June to Sunday 5th June, it is perfectly legal for anyone to hold a street party. You do need to apply to do so, and it’s recommended to do this at least six weeks in advance of the event.
Other important points that you should think about include:
• You would need a temporary events notice to sell alcohol or to have loud music.
• You do not need a risk assessment.
Because a Jubilee street party is considered an event that will only occur once, you don’t need a council risk assessment or a license to consume food, drinks or play music. If that sounds like too much hassle, think about having an individual party in your garden.
Let’s take a look at how to get your garden party ready!
Garden and driveway Jubilee party prep

If you’re planning on turning your front garden or driveway into a Jubilee wonderland, there are a few things you can do to get ready for your guests.
Street party decoration ideas
It’s time to get the decorations out. Thankfully, we have a fantastic collection of outdoor accessories to help jazz up your outside space – be it at the front of your home or the back, or even a balcony!Bunting
Measure your space to make sure you buy enough bunting to stretch across the space. You could go for something traditional like a Union Jack flag bunting or choose something a little different like a quaint floral bunting or even multi-coloured flags.Get creative with household items
If you have any old ribbons, lace or even crepe paper, you could use these to create your own bunting, rather than buying.Tableware

If you are setting up a table for guests to sit at, you’ll need an outdoor tablecloth to set the scene. Something like our gorgeous Botanical leaf tablecloth could be just what you’re after, with its beautiful leaf print design. Once you’ve picked your tablecloth, it’s time to think about tableware. Thankfully, we have a fantastic collection of picnicware that you can browse through to pick your perfect set. We personally love the Fresco 12-piece bamboo fibre dinner set. Bamboo is a much more biodegradable and environmentally friendly material than plastic, providing more sustainability – great news for environmentally-conscious parties. For your party table setting, think about adding:
• Fresh or dried flowers as table decorations.
• Candles (flameless are ideal as they won’t blow out and are extra safe or you could choose citronella candles to keep flies away).
• Matching napkins to the theme of your table.
• Colouring sheets for any children.
Outdoor heating
Planning on entertaining into the small hours? You might need to think about garden heating if you haven’t already. For an intimate feel, the Cosiscoop bamboo fire lantern can sit neatly on your table and is powered by gas, meaning there won’t be any nasty smoke to disturb your guests.This model has a gorgeous bamboo surround giving a luxurious finish and a natural feel. If table space will be at a premium thanks to all the delicious food you’re expecting to serve, a freestanding patio heater will work just as well – there are plenty of gas and electric options depending on your individual requirements.
British street party food ideas

Ok, so you have sorted out your decorations, and your table settings, you have decided on the guest list and worked out which day of your long weekend you will be having your party on. Next stop, food and drinks! Depending on your budget, you could get the caterers in, or several big supermarkets offer party platters which means you can have all the delicious food you want with none of the mess.
If neither of those are an option, you have a couple of options that you could try:
1. Bring a plate – this means that the entire event doesn’t fall on you, and you can ask your guests to bring one piece of food or drink to your party.
2. Cater the party yourself – depending on the size of your guest list, you might relish in the ability to create a range of delicious food and drink for your party.
We’ll focus on option two with some delicious Platinum Jubilee food and drink ideas.
Platinum Jubilee food ideas

We’ll start with food, and there are plenty of options for your street party. If you want to keep things traditional, then perhaps think about serving some or all of the below dishes.
Street party hors d'oeuvres
Surprise your guests with mini versions of British classics.• Mini fish and chip cones.
• Vol-au-vents (a 70s classic).
• Scotch eggs.
• Filled Yorkshire puddings.
• Freshly baked breads (take a look at our bread making guide).
Main dishes for your street party
Take your pick from a mix of the below.• Sandwich platters (coronation chicken is a classic).
• Sausage rolls.
• A selection of salads.
• Cornish pasties.
• Hog roast.
• BBQ (think burgers, hot dogs, chicken and all the trimmings).
Street party dessert ideas
Everyone loves a pudding – how about some of these.• Eton mess.
• Traditional trifle.
• Victoria sponge cake.
• Lemon drizzle cake.
• Treacle tart.
• Bread and butter pudding.
Platinum Jubilee drinks ideas

Let’s talk drinks. Remember that you can serve alcohol as long as you don’t charge for it.• Pimms jugs (a British summer favourite).
• Champagne or other sparkling wine.
• A selection of wines.
• A selection of bottled or canned beers.
• A mix of soft drinks for anyone who is driving (cloudy lemonade is a great option).
• You could create a selection of cocktails and mocktails for your guests.
• Jugs of lemon water.
7 games for street parties

Whether your neighbourhood is throwing a street party, or you’ll be taking things within your boundary, you can play a selection of games to keep your guests entertained. Check out some of our street party games below. 1. Pavement Pictionary (all you need is some chalk).
2. Charades.
3. Limbo.
4. Tug of war.
5. Scavenger hunt.
6. Biscuit decorating (you could bake some biscuits in the shape of the Queen’s head).
7. Apple bobbing.
Street party music

An often-forgotten part of the party-planning process, making sure you get your playlist right is important. As the party will be celebrating a very special British occasion, it’s worth planning your music to focus on this as a theme. So, grab your portable speaker and think about adding a few of these British icons to your Spotify or Apple Music playlist.
British solo artists to add to your playlist
• Tom Jones• Amy Winehouse
• Ed Sheeran
• Adele
• Phil Collins
• Sam Smith
• George Michael
• David Bowie
• Elton John
British bands to add to your playlist
• Queen• The Beatles
• Bee Gees
• Rolling Stones
• Fleetwood Mac
• Oasis
• Led Zeppelin
And there you have it, our guide to creating a fabulous street party atmosphere for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. If you want to get more from your outside space all year round, why not take a look at our guide with 5 ways to get your garden ready for guests.