It’s a tradition as British as drizzle at a barbeque. From the Peace Teas of 1919 to the bunting-filled knees-ups of VE Day, and right through to Jubilee picnics and Coronation fêtes, the street party has become a mainstay of national togetherness – a way to mark history, celebrate, and meet the neighbours we often barely wave at.
And central to it all? The food. Always homemade (or at least semi-homemade), always abundant, always shared. This is not a time for showy presentation or cheffy flourishes. So dust off your folding chairs, hang up the bunting, and lean into the glorious informality of it all. Street parties are, at heart, about connection – and there’s no better way to connect than over a table groaning with home-cooked generosity. Here are the classics we love – and why they need a spot on every street party spread.
Perfect Coronation Chicken
BBC
Invented in 1953 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, this curried chicken salad has stood the test of time. Sweet, spiced, and creamy with a satisfying crunch, it’s best spooned into sandwiches or served alongside a fresh green salad. Its enduring popularity makes it a no-brainer for a nostalgic nod to royal roots. Get the recipe.
East Sausage Rolls
Olive Magazine
Whether homemade or from the nation’s favourite high-street bakery (no judgement here), sausage rolls are always the first to disappear. We do have a soft spot for these from Olive Magazine: flaky pastry, herby meat, and perfectly portable, they hit the trifecta of crowd-pleasing street party fare. Get the recipe.
Cucumber Sandwiches
Simply Recipes
Delicate, cooling, and ever-so-English, these are the quiet stars of the sandwich platter. Sure, you might not strictly need a recipe, but we’d argue there are a few boxes to ensure are ticked: fresh bread, generous buttering, slicing into precise fingers, salt and pepper, and for us, always butter over cream cheese. Bonus points for keeping them chilled in a cool bag and servin them up on a pretty pedestal plate. Get the recipe.
Coronation Quiche
Jamie Oliver
A good street party should always recall the traditions it was built upon – and that goes for more recent additions to the canon as well as the time-worn classics. This was Jamie Oliver’s homage to King Charles’ coronation – and it’s a good’un. Jersey royals, nutty cheese and wild mushrooms: perfect, portable and made for sharing. Get the recipe.
Marry Berry’s Easy Victoria Sponge Cake
BBC
This is the heart of the party table – proud, pillowy and never overly sweet. Raspberry jam, softly whipped double cream, and a dusting of icing sugar are all you need. And who better to lead the way than the undisputed queen of baking, Mary Berry? Named for a queen; eaten like royalty. Get the recipe.
Paul Ainsworth’s Strawberry Trifle
Delicious Magazine
Another British classic, another street party must. Paul Ainsworth’s Strawberry Trifle is gloriously nostalgic and celebratory, plus it looks so spectacular we don’t know whether to eat or to photograph it first (joke: there’s no serious competition). This recipe is doubly nostalgic, coming from Ainsworth’s father’s repertoire from back when the family ran a Southampton guesthouse. ‘My parents’ strawberry trifle is one of my fondest food memories. When I came home from school, my dad would often be preparing it, and I’d watch, mesmerised.’ The stuff sweet street party feasts dreams are made of. Get the recipe.
Ultimate Pimm’s
Delicious Magazine
It’s not a street party without a big jug of Pimm’, that great British a guaranteed cheer-raiser. We especially love this take which brings the punchy additions of gin and ginger to the party. Cheers neighbours! Get the recipe.
