British Firework Championships

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Latest update - 18 August

The world famous British Firework Championships is set to return to Plymouth's waterfront on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 August 2021, and will be dedicated to those who lost their lives so tragically in Keyham.

And in a special tribute to the victims, Maxine Davison, Sophie Martyn, Lee Martyn, Stephen Washington and Kate Shepherd, five heart-shaped fireworks will be set off at 9.15pm on Wednesday and Thursday evening.

Everyone in attendance is invited to shine a light from their phones during the one-minute silence that will be held before the five individual fireworks are launched to signify each life lost during the recent tragic event in Keyham.

This will be followed by a minute-long round of applause in memory of Maxine, Sophie, Lee, Stephen and Kate to celebrate their lives.

There will also be opportunities for visitors to make a donation to support the families and communities affected.

Three 10-minute firework displays will then take place each day, beginning at 9.30pm, as six top firework companies battle it out over two nights, each putting on an awe-inspiring ten minute display in an attempt to be crowned the winner.

Enjoy live entertainment leading up to the display, as well as food and drink stalls and fairground rides for all the family.

Fundraising

All proceeds from the sales of the British Firework Championships programme tonight and tomorrow night, as well as donations made directly to Devon Mind, will be used to support the community of Keyham.

Funds raised will be used for specific services to support the mental health of those who live or work in the Keyham area, including friends and families of those lost in the tragedy.

Find out more

The Teams

The displays will begin at 9.30pm each day, with each team putting on a 10-minute display. The winner will be declared on Thursday 19 August after all displays have taken place.

Wednesday 18 August

• Skyburst The Firework Co.
• Phoenix Fireworks
• The Fireworkers

Thursday 19 August

• Fully Fused Fireworks
• Aurora Fireworks
• AJ Pyrotechnics

Live Entertainment

Enjoy a packed schedule of entertainment with DJs, live music, and commentary on both days of the event.

On Wednesday 18 August, dance the night away with the nation's funkiest 10 piece band: Joey The Lips which begins at 7.30pm.

Travel

Parking

If you are driving to the event, we would advise parking in either Theatre Royal or Western Approach car park. Find out more and view the full list of parking areas.

Road closures and Parking restrictions

• Hoe Road (from the mound at the citadel to the junction of Pier Street) – 1pm to 11pm
• Madeira Road – 1pm to 11pm
• Armada Way loop (Crowne Plaza) – 4pm to 11pm
• Top of Lockyer Street to the junction of the back of The Esplanade – 7am to 11pm
• Citadel Road from Lockyer Street to Hoe Approach – 4pm to 11pm
• Lockyer Street from the junction of Citadel Road to the junction of Notte Street – 10pm to 11pm
• Notte Street from the junction of Millbay Rd to the junction of Hoe Approach – 10pm to 11pm
• Staddon Lane – 6pm to 11pm
• Lawrence Road from its junction by the pub from 7am on 18 August through to 12pm on 20 August inclusive
• Princess Street from the junction of Lockyer Street to the junction of Princess Ope inc. access from Armada Way – 10pm to 11pm

Disabled Parking on the Hoe

An extended parking area will be available on the Hoe promenade for blue badge holders, but spaces will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Access will be via Elliott Street entrance to the Hoe promenade from 5pm till 11pm. 

Bus Travel

We encourage local residents to use local bus services to and from the event as traffic around the Hoe will be very busy.

All areas of Plymouth are well served as well as further afield destination including Torpoint, Callington, Launceston and Millbrook. All buses will arrive and depart from Royal Parade which is approximately 10 minutes’ walk from the Hoe where the event will be taking place. Double decker buses will be used to provide additional capacity for travel, as well as duplicate services where required when available.

Park and Ride services – Stagecoach

We encourage visitors arriving by car to use Plymouth’s Park & Ride services, which provide a quick and direct service to Royal Parade where passengers can either walk approximately 10 minutes up to the Hoe. All three park and ride locations will operate additional services throughout both evenings.

For journeys into the city centre, the buses will run every 10 minutes from all three sites from 6pm through to 8.45pm (8.58pm for Milehouse). The last buses leaving for the city centre are: 

• George Junction will be at 8.45pm 
• Milehouse will be at 8.58pm 
• Coypool will be at 8.45pm 

For return journeys from Royal Parade after the event, buses will be returning to all three sites every 10 minutes, starting at 10.30pm until late. The final departure times are:

• Milehouse and George Junction (outside Theatre Royal) last bus at 11.50pm
• Coypool (Royal Parade normal stop) last bus at 11.50pm

There will be an additional journey to Tavistock at 11pm on both evenings, and an additional journey to Ivybridge at 11.20pm 

Please note, Stagecoach Service 2 will not turning around at Green Park Road and therefore will not be serving Hooe, Turnchapel & Mount Batten.

Find out more information on Park & Ride.

GWR

GWR will be operating their regular timetabled service, however they aim to provide extra capacity on their trains where possible for travellers in and out the city. This means that on both days of the event:

• The last journey on the Tamar Valley Line (to Gunnislake, Calstock and Bere Alston) will depart Plymouth at 9.30pm (will be operated by a Rail Replacement Service).

Cross Country Trains

Cross Country Trains, on top of ther regular timetabled service, will be operating an additional 10.45pm departure from Plymouth calling at Totnes and Newton Abbot (where there is a connection on to Exeter). This will happen on both nights.