East Sussex County Council and Southern Railway have issued joint travel advisories ahead of the famous Lewes Bonfire celebrations scheduled for 5 November 2025, warning that unprecedented crowd numbers have prompted significant transport restrictions. Although the event is nearly a week away, advisories were published late on 30 October to give commuters and visiting workers time to rearrange travel.
Transport restrictions – Rail: Southern will operate a reduced ‘set-down-only’ service into Lewes from 14:00, with no departures until after midnight; additional carriages will be added to early-morning trains to help inbound commuters exit the town before closures begin. Road: The A26 and A27 junctions feeding Lewes will shut from 16:45; only pre-registered coaches and emergency vehicles may enter. Parking: All on-street spaces are suspended from 12:00 and park-and-ride sites at Brighton Racecourse and Plumpton College are already 80 % booked.
Business impact – Lewes hosts several financial-services back-offices and creative agencies whose staff commute from Brighton and London. Employers are advising remote work on the day, while relocation managers with assignees in local temporary housing are reminded that residents’ permits do not override blanket suspensions. Deliveries of time-sensitive goods should be rescheduled—courier firms will not receive police escort passes.
Safety and compliance – Organisers have capped attendance at 60,000 people and introduced a new e-ticket system for designated viewing zones, supported by 700 stewards and Sussex Police’s drone unit. Alcohol bans on trains and in “exclusion corridors” will be enforced; violators risk £1,000 fines or ejection from the event area. Employers sending overseas visitors to Lewes must ensure they are briefed on local regulations, including the prohibition on fireworks and flares outside authorised societies.
Take-away for mobility managers – If staff travel is unavoidable, book accommodation outside Lewes and budget extra time for security checkpoints. Encourage employees to carry photo ID: non-UK nationals may be asked to verify identity if found in restricted zones.
Transport restrictions – Rail: Southern will operate a reduced ‘set-down-only’ service into Lewes from 14:00, with no departures until after midnight; additional carriages will be added to early-morning trains to help inbound commuters exit the town before closures begin. Road: The A26 and A27 junctions feeding Lewes will shut from 16:45; only pre-registered coaches and emergency vehicles may enter. Parking: All on-street spaces are suspended from 12:00 and park-and-ride sites at Brighton Racecourse and Plumpton College are already 80 % booked.
Business impact – Lewes hosts several financial-services back-offices and creative agencies whose staff commute from Brighton and London. Employers are advising remote work on the day, while relocation managers with assignees in local temporary housing are reminded that residents’ permits do not override blanket suspensions. Deliveries of time-sensitive goods should be rescheduled—courier firms will not receive police escort passes.
Safety and compliance – Organisers have capped attendance at 60,000 people and introduced a new e-ticket system for designated viewing zones, supported by 700 stewards and Sussex Police’s drone unit. Alcohol bans on trains and in “exclusion corridors” will be enforced; violators risk £1,000 fines or ejection from the event area. Employers sending overseas visitors to Lewes must ensure they are briefed on local regulations, including the prohibition on fireworks and flares outside authorised societies.
Take-away for mobility managers – If staff travel is unavoidable, book accommodation outside Lewes and budget extra time for security checkpoints. Encourage employees to carry photo ID: non-UK nationals may be asked to verify identity if found in restricted zones.
