Coronation street party applications for Kent County Council and Medway Council have March 3 deadline ahead of May's events

From hanging out the bunting to collections of mismatched tables and chairs - throwing a neighbourhood street party is a tradition deeply ingrained in British culture.

And after the huge success of last year's Platinum Jubilee weekend the government hopes communities will be just as hungry for a slice of Victoria Sponge and a neighbourhood knees-up to toast our new monarch King Charles this May.

With the UK's long history of organised street parties to celebrate national events those overseeing plans for His Majesty's coronation hope closes, cul-de-sacs and crescents across the county will unite and throw a party that is indeed fit for a king.

But if you're keen to get friends and neighbours together there is only a matter of weeks left to get in your coronation street party application and here's how to get the ball rolling.

When can you throw a coronation street party?

The long bank holiday weekend in honour of the King's coronation takes place between Saturday, May 6 and Monday, May 8.

The coronation ceremony itself will take place on the morning of Saturday, May 6 - signalling the start of three days of celebrations across the UK and the Commonwealth - which will also include a concert at Windsor Castle on the Sunday while the one-off extra bank holiday Monday is to be dedicated to the importance of volunteering.

Anyone wishing to organise a street party for the King's Coronation can do so right across this year's extended bank holiday weekend.

However, the Coronation Big Lunch, which actively encourages communities to celebrate their connections and get to know each other a little better, is happening officially on Sunday, May 7 and so this is when organisers expect the majority of gatherings to take place.

The Big Jubilee Lunch, which first began back in 2009 before being held again in 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee and last year again for the Queen's Platinum celebrations was a roaring success and significantly boosted the number of street party gatherings so it is hoped this year's focus on a Big Lunch event will encourage similar celebrations in every community on the Sunday once again.

Making a start

Organising a street party solely for residents and neighbours in honour of the coronation should in theory be relatively simple.

And those overseeing events nationwide in May say they expect local councils to take a gentle approach where authorities can and make the process straightforward, to enable as many local small-scale celebrations to take place as possible just as they did for the Queen's Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

The deadline for applying this year is early March and so while everyone in the street may take a turn to bring something on the day, a central or main contact for your organising group will be required from the point of view of form filling in order to get that application in as soon as possible.

Applications and road closures

Most small parties in quiet streets, where you wish to close a road for a short time to enable people to gather, will require you to notify your local council about your intentions.

If you live in Kent - applications must go through Kent County Council while households in Medway must direct their coronation street party application to Medway Council.

They will want to know when the closure needs to take place so you'll need to have settled on a date for your event.

Councils will want to plan around it and if necessary put in place a temporary traffic regulation order and organise some road signs. Although according to the Street Party website sometimes these can be waived for a short number of hours, particularly if the event is being held in a cul-de -sac or close with a dead end and no through traffic.

Kent applications
Kent County Council says it is welcoming applications to close a road for a street party and to attach 'lightweight bunting or flags' to street lights in order to celebrate the coronation of King Charles.

The event, it says, must be organised for residents and neighbours only, be free to attend and on a residential road where only resident traffic would be affected by its closure. All application fees are being waived.

The event must not, stipulate the guidelines, do anything to damage the road surface, disrupt local residents with music or other noise, be on a road which needs to be used to access shops or other businesses or be on a road which provides access to a public car park.

Alongside no comercial activity being permitted at the party, says KCC, organisers must ensure all rubbish is cleared up, signs are clearly visible to all road users, access is possible for emergency vehicles and that disabled drivers can still access their disabled bays.

In Kent, the deadline for KCC applications is March 3 and people can begin the quick and easy process here.

Medway applications

Medway Council says residents must apply through the authority when it comes to organising their coronation street parties, with low traffic residential roads likely to be those deemed most suitable for an event.

The council is also waiving its application fees, which normally could be up to £100, for anyone wishing to organise an event over the bank holiday weekend for the King's coronation.

To minimise impact on local residents, says Medway Council's website, the authority expects events to finish by 9pm and it wants to ensure most people are happy with the plans and have been consulted before an application is submitted. This could involve including the names and addresses of residents supporting the party and/or the views of any local businesses which might also be affected.

Medway Council's website also includes additional advice about music - which is permitted without a licence providing its not being played to attract an audience - and decorations such as the guidance around hanging bunting and placing chairs and gazebos in the closed road.

As with Kent, the deadline for applications is March 3 and households in Medway can kick-start the process here.

What is a Street Meet?

A street party doesn't need to involve the closure of a road - particularly if your home is on a busy route or major junction that makes that difficult, if not impossible, and the logistics are likely to be complicated and drawn out.

You can alternatively, keep your road open and explore organising something called a Street Meet instead. These tend to take place on private land such as a driveway, a private courtyard or front garden without any requirement to fill in council forms.

While residents should still speak to their local council about their plans to ensure they are aware of them and the street party is being counted, Street Meets are the most simple form of throwing a small private gathering for neighbours.

If you are all slow to come together a Street Meet might also be an alternative option for throwing a coronation street party at short notice, should you have missed any local authority deadlines for submitting more official paperwork but your local council should be able to offer help and advice.

Risk assessments, insurance and licences

While councils will want to know about your intention to party outside with neighbours, particularly if you require a road closing for a few hours, there shouldn't be the need for too much form filling.

Risk assessments and event licences should not be needed providing your coronation street party is held solely for residents and neighbours, isn't too big, there is no amplified music and no alcohol is being sold.

Small residents-only parties should not need to take out public liability insurance either. And while there are some local authorities who may ask for it as a condition of granting a traffic regulation order, it is widely felt that the risk from street parties is low as residents are outside their own homes and the activities taking place are most likely very low-key. The best advice would be to check with your local council what they may require when you inquire about your road closure and start your application process.

If your street party is a few friends and neighbours getting together with tables and chairs and all bringing their own picnics or lunch and refreshments to enjoy together then things should be relatively straightforward and seeking permission for and notifying officials about your intended road closure is the only application you will ideally need to make - but just be sure to do so before March's deadline!