Tuesday 31st October 2023

Our recent analysis has revealed that just 14% of us plan to attend a public firework display this year and with the average cost coming in at £444 per minute, 87% believe the money could be better spent elsewhere. 

Firework Night is fast approaching. Otherwise known as Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes, it’s traditionally an evening of family fun spent gazing skywards at the colourful displays organised by our local councils.

However, the cost of living crisis has dampened the enthusiasm of many councils who have chosen to cancel their planned events, some for the third or fourth year in a row.

Our survey of the UK public shows that this is a decision that may be largely supported by the nation. 

We found that just 14% of those surveyed plan to attend a public firework display this year and the key objection isn’t cost related. 38% stated it was because they scare household pets and they don’t agree with them, while a further 20% don’t agree with the wider environmental impact they have, such as scaring other wild animals. 

But when it comes to cost, we also don’t believe that fireworks displays are good value for money. Industry data shows that on average, a 20 to 25 minute public firework display costs an eye-watering £10,000. 

That works out at an average spend of £444 per minute, a cost that 86% of the public don’t believe is good value for money. In fact, 87% of those surveyed believe that the money could be far better spent elsewhere, particularly in the current economic climate. 

Despite this, just a third (33%) would like to see public firework displays banned completely, although it’s a different story where the private sale of fireworks is concerned. 

As it stands across the UK, you can only purchase fireworks legally between the 15th October and 10th November, the 26th and 31st December and in the three days leading up to Diwali or Chinese New Year. 

78% of those surveyed by us would like to see this scrapped completely, with a ban on firework sales all year round.