Diamond Jubilee Street Party 

Join in the Mayfair and Belgravia street parties for the Diamond Jubilee anniversary - or host your own with the Grosvenor Jubilee 2012 street party guide.

A Short History of Jubilee Street Parties
Celebrating the anniversaries of our reigning monarchs has long been a defining feature of British life. We create commemorative items, hold processions and fireworks displays and, above all, pour out onto the streets to eat, drink and be merry in honour of our Queen or King. The tradition of holding street parties began in Britain as World War I came to a close. These ‘peace teas’ – held to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Versailles -  brought communities together, turning the streets on which they lived into decorated marvels, filled with laughter, music and plenty of tea. The idea caught on, and the concept of ‘peace teas’ was applied to our patriotic Jubilee celebrations – the modern Jubilee street party was born.
By the time King George V celebrated his Silver Jubilee in 1935, Jubilee street parties were being held in full force. In 1977, when our Queen celebrated her own Silver Jubilee, there were approximately 4,000 parties held in London alone.

The tradition still stands strong today – when Prince William and Kate Middleton were married last year, around 1 million people celebrated out on their road or at informal events. For the celebrations this year, the extended Jubilee bank holiday weekend runs from June 2 until June 5, and even more people are expected to raise a toast with their neighbours this time round – as many as 3 million, according to one estimate.

Diamond Jubilee Street Parties in Mayfair and Belgravia
There are a number of Diamond Jubilee street parties planned in Mayfair and Belgravia that are open for all to attend:

Vintage Car Diamond Jubilee Party, Motcomb Street, Belgravia
May 30 2012, 5.30-8.30pm.
Motcomb Street is celebrating in a thoroughly traditional style with a display of vintage vehicles. The road will be closed to traffic, so the entire street will act as a stage for the beautiful classic cars. Shops will be open late, serving food and drink to the merry throng, and – to top it all off – the street will be adorned with Union Jack flags.

Diamond Jubilee Street Party, Pimlico Road
May 29 2012, 6.00-9.00pm.
Pimlico Road is going to be packed with patriotic paraphernalia to raise money for Moorfields Eye Charity. More than 50 shop windows will be decorated with commemorative designs along Pimlico Road, and Union Jack flags will hang in the street. In addition, there’ll be live music, juggling, a traditional Victorian barrel organ and – the one thing that no British street party would be without – an ice cream man. Shops will be open late.

More Diamond Jubilee Street Parties in Mayfair and Belgravia
Other streets that will be holding their own celebrations include:
• Elizabeth Street, Belgravia
• Mount Street, Mayfair
• Grosvenor Street, Mayfair

Hold Your Own Diamond Jubilee Street Party
It’s getting closer to the Jubilee weekend, and many people have already contacted their local councils asking for permission to hold their party on or around the bank holiday weekend. Depending on the area that you live in, your local council may require as little as four weeks or as many as 12 weeks to process an application to close a road. So, unless you’ve already sent your application in, it is unfortunately a little late to organise a larger party with live music and lots of guests.
There are still options available, however. Here are a couple of ideas:
Hold a ‘street meet’ – These informal gatherings take place on private land such as front gardens, so do not require permission from the council – as long as you’re not blocking any traffic or causing noise disturbances. If you decide to hold your meet in a park, then you may have to ask for permission from your council’s parks department.

You can’t invite as many people to a street meet as you could to a full-sized Diamond Jubilee party, but it’s still a great opportunity to celebrate in patriotic style with a few friends and neighbours. And you can all club together to bring party supplies, such as tables, chairs, plates, cutlery – and perhaps a gazebo or two.
Serve up a ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’ – The Big Lunch initiative was set up by the Eden Project, and has been going from strength to strength for the last three years. This year, the organisers hope to attract more people than ever to join in the fun to commemorate 60 years of the Queen’s reign. The concept is simple – invite your neighbours round on June 3, and have lunch with them! The rest is up to you. You can hold your lunch in your back garden, in your living room, or even a school or community centre. Rope your neighbours in to get party supplies and accessories together, decorate your chosen space and – above all – have fun in honour of Her Royal Highness!

More Jubilee Guides
• Shopping – Still working on your Diamond Jubilee party shopping list? Here’s where you’ll find all the accessories you’ll need
• Drinks – Stuck for ideas when it comes to pubs, clubs and bars? Here are a few favourites
• Events – Such as the Hyde Park Festival and the BBC Diamond Jubilee Concert
• Food – Where to go for quick bites to eat or special evenings out