If you were thinking about celebrating but didn't know what to do, the team at Allison Homes has come up with a few ideas for you. There's still time.
After all, what better excuse do you need to celebrate all the best that England has to offer?
For the perfect party just 'as you like it' here are some tips to avoid your entertaining efforts becoming a 'comedy of errors'.
- Do it in style – look the part with creative costumes and invite your family and friends to dress up. Look awesome in armour or dramatic in doublet and hose.
- Banquet – set up some long tables and host a medieval-style banquet.
- Colours – red and white is the order of the day. Decorate rooms with cross of St George bunting. Use a white table cloth with red table runners the length and width of the table and red napkins and a mix of red and white candles to adorn the dinner table.
- Roast beef of old England – serve a delicious English roast dinner of beef with Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings. For something slightly different why not try Beef Wellington? Serve with a full-bodied red wine.
- Stirring tunes – you could play traditional English folk music in the background. Think accordions, bells and fiddles. You’ll find plenty on Spotify. Alternatively, there are plenty of stirring English tunes to choose from or you could opt for military marches like the Dambusters’ theme, 663 Squadron or the Battle of Britain march. Fitting perhaps because this year is also the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force.
- Recitations - why not borrow from Burns Night and have some recitations during dinner. Jerusalem from William Blake, the John O'Gaunt speech from Shakespeare's Richard II and the St Crispin's Day speech from Henry V are all great. And don't forget Kipling.
- Games – try an English historic figure version of Animal, Mineral or Vegetable. Have a large map of English counties with the names left off and see if your guests can name them. Or, cut out famous English faces from old newspapers and magazines and get your guests to try and identify them.
If the weather is good, take it outside and have an English-themed BBQ. But, staying indoors may your best option. One of the most English things about England is the vagary of the climate.
