On February 6, Her Majesty the Queen became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
To celebrate this unprecedented anniversary, there will be a four-day bank holiday in the UK from Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5.
The jubilee presents an excellent opportunity for retailers to bring together their local communities and build on the goodwill that was created during the pandemic.
The Fed spoke to some retailers who are planning to host events for their community over the bank holiday weekend.
Harjit and Amrit Singh of H & Jodies Nisa Local, Walsall, typically host an annual party in the summer but have unfortunately been unable to do so in the past few years due to inclement weather and the pandemic. After missing the store’s 30th-anniversary last year, they are planning to bring the party back with a bang and combine it with the jubilee celebrations.
On their jubilee event, Harjit told the Fed: “We have a party as a shop every year, so we are combining our usual celebration with the jubilee party that the High Heath Hub community group are going to throw. In previous years we have had a rodeo, a bouncy castle, a merry-go-round, and lots of different stalls from the local community. The fire brigade comes with their fire truck for people to take photos with. There’s a really good mix of things to do to keep people entertained.
“We also managed to get £1000 of funding for the event from the Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity fund. This money will go a long way in making sure the event is the biggest one we’ve ever done.”
As a seasoned event planner, we asked Harjit for any tips he would give retailers who were wanting to host their own events. He said: “You need to speak to the community and see what they would like from the event. Get them involved in the decisions so they feel some sense of ownership over the event.”
Julie Kaur of Jules Convenience in Telford is an avid fundraiser and previously won the top prize of the Boost Local Legends competition that recognised retailers who go above and beyond for their local communities. She is also planning to host events to commemorate the platinum jubilee and make this bank holiday one to remember.
Julie told the Fed: “I am part of the Sikh temple committee, the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sikh Temple in Telford, and we’re having a jubilee celebration on Friday June 3 to kick off the weekend. We will be doing hymns, prayers, and I’m hoping to put together some goodie bags for everyone there. Then on Saturday I will be organising a party outside of the shop.”
“There is also a community centre across the street,” Julie continued, “and a lot of pensioners so we will most likely organise an afternoon tea for them, with cakes and little sandwiches. It’s nice to try and include everyone in the community so nobody misses out. I will definitely need to rest after that though as I’m also turning 50 that week!”
There are many opportunities to host parties right across the bank holiday weekend, or as part of The Big Jubilee Lunch. All events must comply with the public health guidance in place at the time.
Organising a street party just for residents and neighbours is very simple and does not require a licence. If you need a temporary road closure, get in touch with your council at least 6 weeks in advance.
Kirsten Boucher, the national events manager for the Fed has provided a list of stock and food items that you should stock in your store to make the most of the jubilee weekend sales.
Suggested stock:
- Union Jack/Jubilee Branded
- Flags
- Tablecloths
- Red/White and Blue balloons
- Bunting
- Hats/Crowns
- Paper cups and plates
- Napkins
- Themed cupcake kits (with mini flags/jubilee novelty items)
- Plastic champagne glasses
Food Items:
- Strawberries
- Clotted cream
- Scones
- Victoria sponge cake
Street Parties:
You’re welcome to host parties right across the bank holiday weekend, or as part of The Big Jubilee Lunch (see below). All events must comply with the public health guidance in place at the time.
Organising a street party just for residents and neighbours is very simple and does not need a licence. If you need a temporary road closure, get in touch with your council at least 6 weeks in advance.
Please read the government guidance on organising a street party here.
The Big Jubilee Lunch:
To coincide with the Platinum Jubilee, The Big Jubilee Lunch will be taking place on Sunday 5 June.
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