All you need to know…

This year Lindfield Bonfire Society is holding its celebration on Saturday 4th November. This is because this year the 5th falls on a Sunday and we never hold an event on a Sunday, in common with other bonfire societies.

The evening of our free-to-attend celebration starts with a torchlight procession around Lindfield, which heads onto the Common for the reading of the Bonfire Prayer and then the lighting of the bonfire. We finish the evening with our grand firework display.

Money raised from our street collection on the night is in aid of local children’s charities: Chestnut Tree House, Court Meadow Riding for the Disabled, Cleft Lip & Palate Association (C.L.A.P.A.), Woodland’s Mead and Orchard House. If you are attending, PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY. Had you been attending a professional display you would have to have paid £20 or more per person, so please consider a donation to support our local causes. Collection buckets will be circulating on the night, or alternatively, you can donate via our Justgiving page.

We really look forward to seeing you on our night, but first there are six important things you must observe to make sure that you and everyone else has a safe and enjoyable time at our celebration:

1)  Fireworks – Do not bring your own sparklers, fireworks or bangers to our event. Fireworks are dangerous and it is against the law to use them in a public place (including sparklers!). LBS operate a strict no fireworks policy outside of our display area and the discharging of rookies, bangers or any other type of fireworks is not permitted before, during or after the procession or in the public viewing areas at any time.
2) The Procession – For the safety of all, only members of Lindfield Bonfire Society, invited visiting Bonfire societies and invited organizations can walk in our procession.
3) Dropped torches are dangerous & have been discarded for a reason – do not pick up discarded torches. 
4) Do not bring pets – There will be naked flames & loud bangs throughout the night.
5) No drones are allowed for public safety reasons – Anyone found operating a drone will be reported to the police.
6) Please be considerate to local residents & their properties before, during and after our event.

Programme of Events*

7.00pm – Procession form up – outside of The Standup Inn, Lindfield High Street
7.30pm – Torchlight Procession – through the village
8.15pm – Lighting of the Bonfire – preceded by the Traditional Bonfire Prayer
8.30pm – Grand Firework Display – on Lindfield Common
9.00pm – End of show
*All timings are approximate and subject to weather conditions.

We put regularly update our web site and  Facebook page with news and details in the run up to our event, so please keep checking in to see what is happening and for any changes affecting our night.

Event Details:

Road Closures

Roads closures to vehicles will be in operation in the village between 6.30pm until 9.30pm.

The High Street and Black Hill will be closed for the entire evening.

Roads affected by closures to vehicles are:

For the duration of the event (18:30 to 21:30):

– The High Street from Black Hill up to junction with Hickmans Lane.

– Lewes Road to the High Street from the junction of Eastern Road

– Traffic will then be diverted along Hickmans Lane while the High Street is closed (approx. times 18:30 – 19:30 and 20:00 – 21:30).

– Hickmans Lane will close for the procession and re-open once this has moved onto Lindfield Common (approx times 19:30 – 20:00).

While Hickmans Lane is closed there will be no entry onto it from Denman’s Lane, Brookway, Finches Park Road, The Welkin, Compton Road, Shenstone and Sunte Avenue.

– Traffic will be diverted via Eastern Road, Luxford Road, Newton Road and Dukes Road due to the closure of Lewes Road.

There will be no entry onto Lewes Road from Chaloner Road.

There will be no access to the High Street from Backwards Lane.

We advise that:

• If traveling south towards Lindfield from Ardingly to go via College Road (Ardingly) to avoid Lindfield.
• If traveling north from Haywards Heath towards Ardingly please use Summerhill Lane to avoid Lindfield.

Car Parking
If you live locally please walk to our event as parking is very restricted within Lindfield Village. Vehicle access to our event will be affected by road closures during the night.

We strongly advise not to arrive by car. However, if you need to then please park in Haywards Heath or on the outskirts of Lindfield and walk to our event.

If you need to come by car…

– Avoid the procession route and all roads and car parks within our road closures. Do not try to park in any of the roads used, including Black Hill, Little Black Hill, Hickmans Lane, Pickers Green, High Street, Alma Road, Compton Road, Denmans Lane, Pondcroft, Chaloner Road, Lewes Road, School Lane.

– We strongly recommend not you do not park in any road immediately adjoining Lindfield Common or our procession route. This includes Appledore Gardens/Backwoods Lane/Meadow Lane, West Common, Sunte Avenue, Meadow Drive, Dukes Road, Newton Road, Luxford Road, Eastern Road, Noahs Ark Lane, Hickman’s Lane, Finches Park, Compton Road, Croxton Lane, West View, Saville Road.
– Be considerate of the needs of local residents. Please let them be able to get in and out of their homes and also allow room for access by emergency service vehicles.
After the event:
– Remember that it will take time to leave the village as the crowds disperse. All roads from the Common will be very busy!
– Please drive carefully as the crowd will be using both the pavements and road.

Disabled Visitors
We have limited parking available for disabled visitors at the top Common car park (just off Backwoods Lane). Please contact us in advance so we can discuss further accessibility to the village for our night.

First Aid
Event Medic will be in attendance on the night. Their post will be in the Bowls Club car park at the top of the Common. They will also have mobile patrols throughout the evening.
Lost Children & Vulnerable People Station
The lost children and vulnerable people station is in the King Edward Hall and is manned throughout the evening.

Torchlight Procession (7.30pm approx)

The Procession forms up in the High Street between 19:00 and 19:30. Details are:

• Assemble on the High Street (B2028) from the junction with Lewes Road upwards
• Depart south (B2028) towards Blackhill (19.30)
• Proceed down Black Hill to traffic lights
• Turn right into Hickmans Lane
• Proceed the length of Hickmans Lane
• Retorch 45 meters (50 yards) from junction with High Street (may stop temporerily)
• Proceed to junction of Hickmans Lane/High Street.
• Turn right into High Street (B2028)
• Proceed down High Street
• The band will leave the procession at the junction to Lewes Road and continue onward towards the King Edward Hall
• The main procession and our Guy will proceed down Lewes Road and enter Lindfield Common via the main entrance on Lewes Road (20:00 approx).

NOTE: Torches will only be given to members of the Lindfield Bonfire Society and those attending from other Bonfire Societies (who in stripes, costumes or fancy dress).

Members of the public are not allowed to walk in the procession or carry torches.

Do not cross the safety fence around the fire site at any point during the evening, even after the fireworks have finished. This fencing is there for your safety as there may be unexploded fireworks within our fire site after the display finishes.

We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Lindfield Bonfire Night!

How to find us

Lindfield is located in mid-Sussex on the border of Haywards Heath, 20 miles from Brighton and 15 miles from Gatwick.

Disclaimer: The Lindfield Bonfire Society regrets that they cannot be held responsible for any damage, injury or loss howsoever caused that may be sustained by any person attending the Bonfire Night celebrations.