How to throw a street party

How to organise a street party

1. Plan ahead

The number-one tip for holding a party is planning early. We suggest making a start two to three months ahead, leaving you enough time to start holding any informal meetings with others.

2. Delegate roles

Sharing jobs among residents in the neighbourhood is key. We think it is best to organise an informal meeting with the entire street to involve as many people as possible.

Important roles to delegate are menu-planning, entertainment preparation (popular ideas include music and a quiz), street decorations (read our guide on how to make bunting), seating areas for the young and elderly, and games.

3. Apply for relevant permissions

Organising a street party just for residents and neighbours is very simple and does not need a licence. Your local council may require you to complete a simple application form to hold a street party.

If you need a temporary road closure, get in touch with your council at least six weeks in advance – this is to allow them the time to prepare. Your first point of contact could be either the council’s highways, licensing, events or communities’ team. If you encounter any difficulties, speak to your local councillor, who will be happy to help.

You should not need a risk assessment – if consideration is given to the safety needs of all those attending, common sense precautions should be enough. It is not a requirement to have public liability insurance, nor are you required to have a food licence.

Check out your guide to organising a street party for more information.

4. Prepare for all weather

Knowing just how unpredictable British weather can be, it’s worth checking the forecast ahead. If it's looking like a wash-out, we advise creating a back-up plan. Is there a marquee you can use for shelter? Or, perhaps someone’s house? It's worth bearing all of this in mind.

5. Prepare your food and drink

We recommend prepping as much in advance as possible, so you and others involved can enjoy the day and spend less time in the kitchen. Choose food that can be easily transported outside and is easy to eat on a paper plate or napkin. Finger food is key: it's practically impossible to tuck into something with a knife and fork while standing. Think about food that can be sliced into bite-sized portions, as well as dishes that are sturdy enough to avoid the risk of crumbling and falling on the floor.

To get the ball rolling, we've listed our best street party food and drink ideas below.

Street party food and drink ideas

Sharing snacks

Party platters and finger food are especially handy for street parties. People tend to focus on the sweets and treats, but these savoury nibbles deserve pride of place on the table. Classic British recipes, modern twists and fresh summer flavours are what it's all about.

• Beetroot hummus party platter
• Mini quiches
• Thyme & caramelised onion mini scotch eggs
• Summer vegetable & flatbread platter with dill & mustard dip
• Summer deil platter
• Sweet potato Tex-Mex salad
• Couscous & falafel salad with minty yogurt
• Salmon picnic platter

Remember to cater for vegetarian guests as well, with veggie party recipes even the meat-eaters are sure to love.

To give a hand to the neighbours responsible for preparing all these glorious treats, why not add some extra bulk to the party with some of our best-rated supermarket picnic food.

And, display these delicious nibbles on our top-rated melamine dinnerware and outdoor tableware pieces.

Sharing mains

A street party offers the best opportunity to share (and show off!) your favourite recipes with friends and neighbours. Celebrate summer with a fabulous selection of al fresco summer recipes, including fresh salads, quiches and pies. These dishes are designed for sharing:

Asparagus, feta & dill quiche
Spiced spinach & potato pasty pies
Cauliflower wings & zesty lentil salad
Salad shirazi (tomato, cucumber & red onion salad)

Take a look at our selection of the best trifle bowls, as they're highly versatile and make brilliant salad bowls.

Summer showstoppers

If you want to finish your feast with a flourish, treat your guests to a celebration cake that everyone will want. Our top 10 summer cake recipes are brimming with seasonal flavours and boozy twists, while these fruity cake recipes come bursting with raspberries, strawberries and other popular seasonal fruits. A selection of these summer family desserts are guaranteed to wow street party attendees – strawberry lemonade cake, anyone?

Whether you're an avid baker or trying a new skill, a good-quality cake tin is essential, so peruse 16 of the best cake tins for showstopping bakes and our list of 20 handy gadgets every baker needs to own, plus our best cake stands for elevating your creations.

More summer showstoppers:

Retro trifle
Summer party cake
Berry brownie pavlova cake
Peach panna cotta trifle
Summer fruit & mascarpone tart
Perfect pavlova
Peach & red berry ice cream cake
Polka-dot strawberry cake
Gooseberry jam, muscat & mascarpone cake

Frozen desserts

Ice lollies aren't just for kids. If you're blessed with warm weather, keep cool during the party with easy and refreshing ice pops, ice creams and lollies. Get kids involved in making these super-simple treats. Why not try our irresistible guava & passion fruit lollies? If you're looking for something sweet and creamy, you could also have a go at this impressively easy fruity Neapolitan lolly loaf. They're all in our best-ever lolly guide. For a boozy twist, treat adults to an iced cocktail with these alcoholic lolly recipes:

Mojito ice lollies
Strawberry & prosecco ice lollies
Piña colada ice lollies
Watermelon lollies

Alternatively, pull out all the stops with an ice cream cake. This stunning strawberry & ice cream cake is ideal for parties, served in slices and topped with fresh fruit. Take your pick from our selection of impressive ice cream cakes to wow guests.

Do you like the sound of not turning your oven on? If that's a yes, we have plenty of fun fridge cake recipes that you can throw together in just 20 minutes, including this epic cookies & cream fridge cake and portable chocolate crunch bars.

Kids' street food party recipes

Kids can share in the fun and festivities with these easy bakes that are sure to disappear before you can say, "pass them here!" Try a firm favourite, like our berry & chocolate loaded cookies, or these finger-friendly popcorn chicken bites, full of flavour and ideal for sharing.

Get the kids in the kitchen making:
Homemade pink lemonade
Strawberries & cream cheesecake jars
Crumpet pizzas
Little jam tarts

Drinks

Cocktails, cordials and punches are the order of the day for a street party. Supply a variety of fruity drinks, both boozy and non-alcoholic, that are easy to prepare for large groups and can be topped up when necessary. Our best bank holiday drinks can be easily thrown together on the day, from refreshing mojito pitchers, to the best rosé sangria. Make sure everyone has a drink in hand with our jug cocktails and summer punches. Meanwhile, our fab mocktail recipes and non-alcoholic punches rival their boozy equivalents and ensure kids and teetotallers don't miss out.

Celebrate in style with our tried and tested choices of the best champagne, or save some pounds while keeping the same excitement by serving one of our best-rated bottles of prosecco. Why not bulk up your supply with our selection of the best canned cocktails?

Try these party-worthy punches:

Vodka punch
Pimm's
Peach punch
Non-alcoholic punch
Cucumber, mint & melon punch
Rumberry punch
Homemade elderflower cordial
Summer punch

For smooth serving, peruse our selection of the best cool boxes to avoid rushing in and out of the house.

Do you have any top tips for putting together a street party? Let us know in the comments below.