Royal wedding: Where to party in Southern California

If you don’t want to be alone while watching the royal wedding festivities in Britain, scheduled to begin in London about 2:30 a.m. PDT Friday, take heart. There are plenty of teas and parties in Southern California where you can watch Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot -- over and over again, if you like. But seats are filling quickly.

At the Cat & Fiddle pub in Los Angeles, manager Andy Perkins had envisioned a little wee-hours gathering for a real-time wedding celebration. But Perkins, who hails from London, says the event quickly morphed into something bigger.

“The BBC is calling for an interview tomorrow,” he said Wednesday about the party, for which pajamas and tiaras are recommended attire. The party wasn’t sold out -- yet. And Perkins rather likes all the fanfare because he’s a royals fan at heart. “It’s so exciting for us Brits,” he said. “We do pomp and pageantry better than any country in the world.”

At the Cat & Fiddle, tickets cost $20 (online purchase only; added fee applies) for the party, which will start at 10 p.m. Thursday and go until the early hours Friday. The ticket gets you one free beverage plus pub snacks. After that, you buy your own drinks -- but only until the 2 a.m. cutoff. Pre-wedding festivities as well as the royal wedding will be shown on TVs. 6530 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles; (323) 468-3800.

Here are a few other places to catch the royal wedding live or in reruns:

White Harte English Pub: The party at this Valley venue starts at 11:30 p.m. Thursday and lasts until 5 a.m. Friday. A $50 ticket gets you a free glass of Champagne, cake and biscuits, and a seat to watch the big-screen TVs. Alcoholic drinks served until 2 a.m., and then they switch to tea. (This party was just about sold out when I called Wednesday.) Reservations required. 22456 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills; (818) 224-3822.

Tudor House: Enjoy a special royal wedding luncheon of Champagne, avocado stuffed with shrimp, finger sandwiches and more while watching reruns of the wedding. Cost is $21.95 plus tax per person, and the lunch will be served 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Reservations required. 1403 2nd St., Santa Monica; (310) 451-4107.

The Langham Huntington Hotel: Royal Tea in the Tap Room runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, when you can munch on savory tea sandwiches, scones and Kir Royale cocktails while watching the wedding. Tea costs $59 plus tax per person; reservations required. 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena; (626) 568-3900

Montage Beverly Hills: A Royal Wedding Viewing Party will be held noon to 4 p.m. Friday. Tea with sandwiches, scones and pastries costs $39, add Pomegranate Champagne for $51 and Kir Royale Champagne for $61; prices don’t include tax. Reservations required. 225 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills; (310) 860-7940

Ye Olde King’s Head: Celebrations will start Friday, with breakfast at 9 a.m. ($12.95, and continue with tea at noon and 2 p.m. ($18.95) to watch the goings-ons in reruns. Reservations required. 116 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica; (310) 451-1402

The Olde Ship British Pub & Restaurant: The pub invites all to “wear your posh frock and of course a hat” to its wedding-watching events. When I called Wednesday, the 9 a.m. breakfast was sold out, but the $20 afternoon tea at 2 p.m. still had a few seats left. 1120 W. 17th St., Santa Ana; (714) 550-6700

Whale & Ale: Free cake and Champagne for dining parties of four or more for lunch or dinner Friday, the pub’s website says. 327 W. 7th St., San Pedro; (310) 832-0363

A British Royal Reception: This free party will happen Saturday at the Jewel Court of South Coast Plaza from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. but you absolutely must RSVP to get in. (About 300 have already done so.) Cocktail attire requested, and prizes will be awarded for best hat and best national dress (think kilt or sari). To RSVP, call (949) 472-2221 or e-mail valerie@babcoc.org. The bash is part of BritWeek, which starts Friday (how convenient) and continues through May 11. Go to the BritWeek website, which lists activities in L.A., Orange County and San Francisco.