Street parties for the Royal wedding: Where is your nearest one and how to take part

With multiple local authorities abolishing road closure fees, it has never been cheaper to encourage community spirit on your doorstep. Everybody has the opportunity to host a stress-free event, whether you are a seasoned street party planner or itching to leap beyond your London 2012 best.

Not a royal wedding fan? After the wedding, football fans will be able to kick back and enjoy FA Cup final, so there are two excuses to whip out the bunting and whisk-up some baked goods for your neighbours.  

Here is a guide to everything you need to host a superb royal knees-up in your street. 

How to host a street party

Step one: Apply for permission

Most councils require residents to make an application in advance of the proposed street party. Make sure you do this 4-6 weeks in advance. If you haven't done it already, you're too late - find out where your nearest one is and see if you can pop along.

If you have applied for permission, here are the steps you should have followed. Take a read and make sure you've ticked all the boxes.

The party is private and for residents only, you may not need a formal Risk Assessment. Parties on a quiet street that will not affect surrounding roads are classed as small events. According to the government website, you do not need to tell the council if you hold a smaller event that does not require permission for road closures.

Holding an event on a driveway, parking area, front garden or end of a cul-de-sac does not require permission from the council if it is on private land. 

More information about street party permission can be found here. 

Step two: Closing roads

For larger events your local council will need to know

1. the date and time of the event
2. whether or not you want to close the road or at least part of it
3. if the road is on a bus route
4. if your neighbours are aware of the event
5. if there are any homes or businesses that will be affected

Remember to ensure the entire road is not obstructed in case the emergency services need access to the road.

This year, many councils have eased road closure restrictions and removed the cost of a road closure permit. These include Guildford, Bromley, Salford, and Croydon, to name a few. The fee has also been waived in Liverpool, where a a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) usually costs more than £2,000.

Some councils will lend road signs needed for the road closure, which also reduces expenses. 

If you've run out of time to close the road, you can always arrange a 'street meet' using pavements, parking spaces, gardens or driveways which doesn't require permission.

For more information visit streetparty.org.uk

Step three: Food and drink

If you are intending to sell alcohol at your event you will need to apply for a temporary events notice from your council, which costs £21. This covers events of 500 people or less, and isn't needed if you are providing food and alcohol for free. 

Food can be served and sold up to 11pm without a licence, and you can check Food Standards Agency (FSA) guidelines if want to further ensure food safety. 

Step four: Don't forget music

You can have live music or play tracks without a licence if it is a private party for residents, rather than an event designed to draw crowds or for profit. 

Don't have it too loud though, or let it go on too late. Remember to cater for all tastes.

Step five: Add some decorations

The colourful triangular flags that make-up bunting were originally used in the Royal Navy as signal flags. They then became synonymous with British garden parties and traditional celebrations. 

However, you better crack out the crafts box – shops around the country are reporting bunting shortages due to popular demand. 

The surge in demand has seen Party Pieces, the website set up and run by Kate Middleton's parents, sell out of both of its red, white and blue bunting sets. Meanwhile, John Lewis' website has sold out of its £6.99 "Ginger Ray Royal Wedding Royalty Union Jack Bunting".

Here is how to make your own, ahead of the big day.

Union flags are also a good option, and balloons.

Step six: Raffle prizes

Tombola or raffle tickets are fine as long as prizes aren’t worth more than £500 in total - any more than that and your local authority may require you to register it as a lottery.

Step seven: Everything else

Folding chairs, tables, a gazebo or small marquee and 'road closed' signs. You might also want to some children's activities, fancy-dress or face-painting.

Where are parties being held? 

• The nave of Winchester Cathedral will host a live-screen of the royal wedding, before inviting everyone outside to enjoy family entertainment.  
• Royal wedding celebrations will be incorporated into this year's Chelsea in Bloom flower show, which transforms the streets of the west London borough into a walkable artistic visual experience. 
• Elsewhere in London, Wembley's designer outlet will be holding a screening party, as well as Shoreditch's Queen of Hoxton, the Southbank Centre and the Skylight rooftop bar in Tobacco Dock.
• In Nottingham, the local authority announced that street party organisers can apply for a grant up to £200, so expect many street parties to be taking place on the day. At the last count, there were 27 roads closed for street parties taking place there.
• In Brinsley, a fake royal wedding will take place in in the street, with children to ride to the church on a Shetland pony.

• Margate's Dreamland amusement park will hold a party with an inflatable church and free entry for anyone named Harry, Meghan or wearing a wedding dress.

Why street parties were called 'Peace Teas' 

The first street parties in Britain took place in 1919 after the end of the First World War. The began as part of the Peace Treaty celebrations after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, and became affectionately known as 'Peace Teas'.

Initially planned as a sit-down treat for children who had endured four years of war, they soon became popular with adults and residents began organising them for all sorts of celebrations.

In the incredibly hot summer of 1919, women took on the initiative to organise outdoor parties, adorning the streets with Union flags and garlands while children played games.

The archives of Tyne and Wear Museums documented that on August 4, 1919, almost 40 streets had seen street tea parties in the city of Newcastle alone. Such events were organised that summer across the entire country.

After this, bunting and home-cooked food were rolled-out for each occasion worthy of a celebration.

The street party became a uniquely British tradition, bringing communities together for coronations, weddings and jubilees, including  King George V's silver Jubilee in 1935, King George VI's Coronation two years later, VE and VJ Days in 1945, and the Queen's 1953 Coronation. 

It is estimated that around 10 million people got involved in street parties in 1977 for the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth. Whilst in 2011, Kent held the largest number of street celebrations for the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The county was followed by Cambridgeshire, Milton Keynes, and South Gloucestershire, according to figures from the campaign group Republic. 

Today, Bristol is regarded as the nation's 'street party capital', with more than 100 events taking place each year. Other party-happy cities include Oxford, Brighton, and Southampton.