BRITISH FIREWORK CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018

WHAT: BRITISH FIREWORK CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018
WHY: NATIONAL FIREWORK COMPETITION
WHERE: PLYMOUTH HOE
WHEN: WEDNESDAY 8th AND THURSDAY 9th AUGUST 2018
COST: FREE

This event is one of the ‘must see’ things of the summer for 2018, in particular, if you are a fan of pyrotechnics as the best the UK has on offer come together to compete for the crown of being British Firework Champions for 2018.

Established in 1997 by TESA (The Event Services Association) it has gone from strength to strength. The rationale was to ensure that best practice became the norm when arranging public events and today, tens of thousands come along to the Plymouth Sound to watch some of the best display fireworks in the UK today. The event brings together 6 teams which compete over the two nights (3 each evening) and then the public and the specially selected judging team award the points before the winners are notified the following day.

The area is beautiful with the firing site in the middle of a natural amphitheater. You can either join in all the fun of the fair or listen to the rousing sounds of Heart FM or conversely, just park yourself overlooking the Plymouth Hoe with your picnic basket and watch the ships and pleasure craft bobbing about in the water whilst the world goes gently by.

The weather conditions can be a bit of a challenge – in fact, in 2012, it was supposed to be a champion of champions event but gale force winds impacted on the display’s so they didn’t choose a winner and deferred the event until 2013 when it was re-run and the winner was Star Fireworks who were crowned Champion of Champions.

Last year, the weather behaved itself and both nights were clear with a light breeze, much to the delight of the pro firers. The winner in 2017 was Selstar Fireworks, 2 nd placed Nemesis Pyrotechnics and 3 rd placed was SmART Pyrotechnics.

Entertainment starts at 6.30pm and the fireworks will start at around 9.30pm (light permitting). There are plenty of good quality food concessions around along with world-class restaurants and
brasseries/bistro’s. The cost per person can vary from around £25 for a steak at the bistro to a chippy tea on the seafront – the choices are staggering. If you like to be a bit more adventurous, you can choose from Turkish, Greek, Japanese, Italian or Thai. If you are planning to turn it into a couple of days away, remember firstly that it is the summer on the south coast of the UK and the accommodation will fill up very quickly.

We will, of course, bring you the competitors once they are available.