Organising a street party

Printable version

1. Telling your local council

Street parties on quiet streets that do not affect the wider road network count as small events. If you鈥檙e planning a small event for neighbours, apply to hold a street party through your local council.

Tell your council about your event 4 to 12 weeks before it happens.

Tell your council:

  • the date and time of the party or event
  • whether or not you want to close a road or section of road, and its name
  • if the road is part of a bus route or used by through traffic
  • a list of any properties or businesses affected
  • if you鈥檝e consulted neighbours

Smaller events

You do not have to tell the council if you .

2. Closing a road

You鈥檒l need to get permission from your local council to close a road. Some local councils will lend you signs and cones, or you can hire or buy signs. The Street Party site gives .

Make sure that the emergency services can still get down the street if they need to.

If your party is on a bus route, the bus company will want to know about it in advance.

Some councils will contact emergency services and transport providers for you, but others expect you to do it.

3. Licences

Alcohol and food

A licence is not needed if you鈥檙e going to provide alcohol for free at your event.

To sell alcohol you鈥檒l need a 鈥榯emporary events notice鈥� which costs 拢21. You can get one from your local council.

Food can be served and sold up to 11pm without a licence. If you want to serve or sell it after 11pm, contact your council.

You do not need a licence to give alcoholic beverages away as prizes, like a bottle of champagne for a winning raffle ticket, but there are rules about what can be given away. Contact your council for more information.

Music

You do not need a music licence, whether the music is live or pre-recorded, as long as your street party is a private party for residents and you have not advertised the music to make money or attract people.

Raffles and tombolas

Gambling regulations do not apply if tombola or raffle tickets are sold on the day and the prizes aren鈥檛 worth more than 拢500 in total.

If tickets are sold in advance or your prizes are worth more than 拢500 contact your local council as you might have to register your raffle as a lottery.