How to throw a Coronation party

Décor fit for the occasion

Do not hesitate to go heavy on the bunting. Mix triangular and rectangular Union Jack bunting and attach them to tables, walls or fences. Get some dark blue and red tablecloths for your buffet tables as well as Coronation-themed plates. Why not also get some Union Jack headpieces to spread around for people to wear throughout the party for a festive touch?

What to eat

Go for classic British finger food like sausage rolls, scotch eggs, a beautiful cheese board with English chutneys or mini Coronation chicken bites. Don’t forget the vegetarians and get creative with your recipes – you could make vegetarian mini sausage rolls with puff pastry or choose from the wide range of plant-based options now available in supermarkets. You don’t have to make everything from scratch! 

When it comes to dessert, get a mix of beautiful Coronation-themed cupcakes or create a scone station with a tray of buttery scones accompanied by wild fruit jam and fresh whipped cream. If you are a seasoned cook, why not challenge yourself to make a Battenberg cake?

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C, line 20cm square tin with baking paper. Mix all duplicated ingredients into two large bowls and whisk until smooth. Add the almond extract to the content of one of the bowl then place into the tin and bake for 25-30 mins. Cool for 10 mins then transfer to wire rack. Make the second sponge by adding the pink colouring to the second bowl then baking as before into the tin. Trim the edges slightly and using a ruler cut 4 slices each the same width as the sponge height and discarding the leftover.

2. To assemble, heat the jam into a small pan until runny, sieve.

3. Take 2x almond slices and 2x pink slices and trim to the same length. Roll one marzipan to 0.5cm thick, brush the jam on top of the sponges, then sandwich the remaining 2 slices on top, alternating colours to give a checkerboard effect. Trim the marzipan to the length of the cakes. 

4. Lift up the marzipan and smooth over the cake, leaving a small marzipan fold along the bottom edge before sticking it to the first side. Trim opposite side to match size of the fold then crimp edges with fingers, marking 10 slices using the prongs of a fork.

5. Assemble the second Battenberg and keep in an airtight box or well wrapped for up to 3 days. Can be frozen for up to a month.

6. If you decide to run your Coronation party later this month, Pocket Rocket, Rocket Food’s luxury canapé delivery service, has created a special collection fit for a King: The Coronation Box. The box can feed up to 14-16 guests with 160 canapés which includes a selection of savoury and sweet English classics. The Coronation Box is available until the end of June.
    

   What to drink

   

   Impress your guests with a full Pimm’s display. Pre-mix your Pimm’s in a drink dispenser (or two!) and offer a mixture of fruit and garnish like orange, strawberries, cucumber, and mint. Don’t forget to add some red paper straws to stay on theme. A Coronation party will not be complete without a bucket full of beers. Whether you like your craft beers and want to include a display of local IPAs, always ensure to have a lager that all can easily enjoy. A few bottles of iced bubbles are also always welcomed to any celebration and some soft drinks to make sure everyone is catered for. 

   

   Should you wish to go for something more elegant, why not make an English 75? The English 75 is an elegant and extremely refreshing drink. Bright and zesty from the lemon juice, the cocktail features the Gusbourne Brut Reserve 2019, a robust and fruity sparkling wine that uses a combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. With subtle notes of cinnamon and spice, this drink is ideal for spring celebratory occasions like the upcoming Coronation.