Bristol – Street Party Capital of the UK
Bristol residents lead the country holding over 100 normally each year, with a peak of 210 held in 2010. This is partly just because of the local neighbourly culture, but also it is a result of our various projects and the support of Bristol City Council Highways team since 2001.
Bristol City Council road closure application forms are on their website here.
Many streets also hold smaller informal street meets without closing roads and at different times of year.
Since 2001 we ran many of its initiatives in Bristol including:
- Age Friendly Streets campaign for all ages.
- Waste reduction SwapShop system.
- Promoting street play helping kids to play in their houses, streets and neighbourhood.
- We helped Easton in Bristol to become the leading street party community of the UK is with over 40 street parties, 19 being held in one year.
Also Playing Out the charity was inspired from street parties. These are a special regular short road closures for playing in streets. Get the separate Temporary Play Street Order form.
Other countrywide hotspots include Oxford, Brighton, Streatham and Richmond in London as well as Southampton.
For more ideas for your street party see our Resources page.
Road Signs, Bunting & Play Kits in Bristol
We organised for residents in Bristol to loan street party kits from various community groups as listed below. The kits were funded by our various projects and the Council for residents to borrow for their private street party. Some community events may use them as well.
The kit includes at least road signs (such as ‘Road Closed’, ‘Road Ahead Closed’) and sets of bunting. Please return bunting dry and folded. Some also have play kits.
Make contact well in advance to book and arrange a time to pick up. In addition to a deposit they may ask for a donation towards keeping the kit up to date. You may also have to pass it on to another street on the same weekend.
Also some streets in your area may arrange Playing Out closures and have signs you could borrow. Look at their website to find the streets near you, and pop round to ask to borrow signs.
North Bristol / BS6 Open Streets
Situated in Redland and providing loans of kit for Bishopston, Cotham, Redland, St Andrews etc.
Early booking preference is given to BS6 and BS7 postcodes.
bristolopenstreets.wordpress.com
Easton Community Centre
Kilburn Street, Bristol BS5 6AW
0117 954 1409 eastoncommunitycentre.org.uk
Southvillle
Southville Centre, Beauley Road, Bristol BS3 1QG
0117 923 1039 www.southvillecentre.org.uk
Brislington
Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust
East Lodge reception, Bath Road BS4 3EW
0117 971 9117 www.arnosvale.org.uk
Open 10am to 4pm Monday to Sunday
They have some play kit including tug-of-war rope & swing ball.
