Just a few days to go until the good people of Hove and beyond ‘do lunch’ in a different and exciting way.

Preparations have been well underway for a good few weeks now and the barbeques are being prepared as we speak, the wine chilled, the veggie burgers and every kind of sausage bought. The cakes are being baked (enough to spell out the road name for at least one street party) and garden furniture and numerous other party related bits and bobs are being begged, borrowed, but not stolen.

For a few hours this coming Sunday afternoon, many people across Brighton and Hove will be able to look up and down their road and see, possibly for the first time, it free of cars and people standing out in the street socialising en masse.

There’s bound to be some awkwardness and apprehension at first. After all, us Brits are famous for being a little reserved and we’re not always naturals when it comes to alfresco dining and making conversation with people we do not know all that well. Up until Sunday, many of those attending will have just previously passed by one another with a casual smile or half-hearted "Good Morning".

If we were more used to getting together in this way, then we would all be good friends with everyone in the road generally and something similar to “The Big Lunch” would happen every other weekend as par for the course.

Time, therefore, to cast aside the natural British reserve and try something new. If you’re having your Sunday Lunch “Big Lunch” style, then let’s hope for some decent weather and if you’re not then maybe give some thought to doing something similar in the future. It’s also perfectly possible that you could wangle yourself a last minute invite to one happening near you on Sunday. Simply take a look at The Big Lunch website.

Bon Appetit !