2 weeks to go! 8 expert dos and don’ts for throwing a bank holiday Coronation party

– Tom Armenante, director at GTSE.co.uk advises on how to ensure your celebrations go without a hitch

With just a couple of weeks to go until King Charles’ Coronation, Britons across the country begin preparing for the festivities. With government applications now closed for official street parties, it’s time to start planning the fun bits like decorations, entertainment and refreshments. GTSE.co.uk who provide handy supplies for such events, has shared some of the most popular trends and top tips that will make your street party one to remember.

1. DON’T go it alone

Planning an event like a street party should be fun and bring you closer to your neighbours. It can however, be a lot of work to organize, so make sure you share the workload with others on the street. Perhaps create a small planning committee or even a street WhatsApp group. Once you’ve done this, you can share out jobs so that all responsibility doesn’t land on one person or family.

2. DO have fun with themed food and drinks

Pinterest is bursting with recipe ideas for coronation parties with many centering around afternoon tea and traditional British dishes. There’s the obvious coronation chicken sandwich which will go down a treat however, there’s also some amazing coronation alternatives out there to be experimented with. For example, why not try, Nadiya Hussain’s Coronation aubergine which is one of the official recipes or alternatively these fun mini Pimms pavalovas by Baking Mad.

After all that delicious food, you’ll need something to wash it down with and what better than a limited edition cocktail like Paradise Bay Cocktail Co’s specially launched CiiiR Royale. A play in the traditional Kir Royale.

3. DO go all out with decorations

Union Jack flags and bunting are a staple for any royal celebration. Erecting bunting which stretches between houses is a great way to create atmosphere on your street, signaling where the party is at! Whether you make the bunting yourself or purchase it, just make sure it’s securely attached with something as simple as cable ties to avoid any accidents. It’s also worth double checking your local council’s guidance on bunting too ahead of the celebrations, although many rules are relaxed for such nationwide events.

It’s not just bunting though, Pinterest has already seen 16,500 searches for “Coronation party decorations” in the last month. From Coronation themed printables to, Union Jack cake stands, table cloths, confetti and crowns, there’s tonnes of ideas to be explored.

4. DON’T forget about the Great British weather

In 2022, the four days of celebrations for Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee remained relatively dry. Brits will be hoping for the same or better for King Charles III’s Coronation weekend, to ensure the many street parties in his honour can remain outdoors. To protect from strong sun rays or a sudden rainy spell, gazebos are a great way to shield against the elements. Though we hope it won’t be needed a plan B should be considered incase the weather takes a turn for the worse. Perhaps tidy up a few garages (if you have them), being prepared to take the party indoors.

5. DO create a party ready playlist

For a true party atmosphere, you’ll need a playlist fit for the royals. A quick Spotify search will bring up suggested lists and there’s an official Coronation playlist you can find here.

You’ll also need to consider where you play music from. Usually for street parties such as this a music license isn’t needed but, the responsibility doesn’t stop there. If you’re setting up speakers and trailing wires across pavements and roads, make sure to keep any cables tidy with covers, ties and waterproof coverings in the event of a rain shower. GTSE has created a handy guide to help with safety issues such as these.

Advising further, expert Tom Armenante, director at GTSE explains,

“To make sure your event goes off without a hitch, remember to plan ahead. Especially when it comes to the safety of your guests. Outdoor events like street parties held to celebrate King Charles III Coronation are driven by the public instead of trained event professionals but, health and safety such as removing trip hazards from lose cables still need to be taken into consideration.”

6. DO remember tables and chairs

You’ll need plenty of tables and chairs for the day. Gather together as many pieces of garden furniture as you can so that you and your neighbours can sit together during the celebrations. Adding table covers to protect your furniture is a good idea too and will help continue the royal theme. Simple white, blue or red table cloths will look great, or splash out and buy some Coronation or Union Jack edition ones to really impress.

For safety, consider clamping or taping down table cloths to avoid chaos should the wind pick up or a child accidentally pulls on the cloths. Nobody wants to see their lovingly baked trifle blow away in the wind!

7. DON’T overlook entertainment

Obviously, watching the Coronation itself will be the main entertainment, alongside socializing with your party attendees. For this you will need a TV or screen outside (if possible) so that you can all share in the moment together without having to leave the party.

Aside from this, and of course ensuring there are plenty of refreshments available. It could be worth planning some extra entertainment such as games, crafts or competitions; especially if lots of children will be attending. There are even some templates you can use from the official Coronation toolkit that can be printed at home. If that’s still not enough, there are plenty of ideas on Pinterest or by companies such as Twinkl which has downloadable resources for children.

8. DO prepare for tidying up in advance

Once the party gets going it can be difficult to keep on top of the inevitable mess created. Place bin bags or your outdoor waste and recycling bins within easy access of the party, to encourage guests to tidy as they go.

It’s also wise to agree a cleaning team beforehand who will help dismantle the celebrations, removing decorations and waste. You don’t want to be finding paper union jack cups rolling down the road days or weeks after the event. Afterall the festivities are all about creating bonds between neighbours and street pride.

For further information or to find supplies to keep your celebration looking good and feeling safe visit, https://gtse.co.uk/blog/a-guide-to-throwing-a-hazard-free-street-party-for-king-charles-iii-coronation and for supplies visit https://gtse.co.uk/cable-ties.