- A bucket of water or sand (essential — not optional)
- A torch so you can read firework labels in the dark
- Gloves for handling sparklers and used fireworks
- A launch tube or stake for rockets (comes with most fireworks)
- A clear area at least 8 metres from spectators and anything that could catch fire
Before you light anything: the four basics
The UK Fireworks Regulations set the ground rules — and they exist for good reasons. The main ones for a private garden display:
These are the legal curfew times. Keep it to reasonable hours regardless — neighbours with young children and shift workers will thank you.
One person should be designated as the fireworks person — sober, focused, and the only one who goes anywhere near the launch area.
Each firework has specific instructions — safety distance, how to plant or hold it, which way to point it. Read them in daylight, not by torchlight with guests watching.
Dogs and cats are significantly more sensitive to firework noise than humans. Close windows, put on the TV or radio, and make sure they can’t bolt through a door left open by guests.
Setting up the firing area
The most common mistake at home displays is not leaving enough space. Category F2 garden fireworks (the type sold in shops) need a minimum distance of 8 metres between the launch point and where spectators are standing. That means your guests need to be well back — not on the other side of the garden, but a proper 8 metres away.
Check overhead for trees, cables and overhanging roofs. Rockets in particular go high — make sure there’s clear sky above the launch point. If your garden is too small for an 8-metre clearance, stick to ground-level effects: fountains, Catherine wheels and sparklers only.
Use the launch tube that comes with the firework, or plant the stick firmly in a bucket of sand or soil. The rocket must be pointing straight up — never angled toward houses, fences or spectators. If the soil is soft, the stick can tip after lighting. Check it’s stable before you approach to light it.
Lighting fireworks safely
Use the long-reach lighter or touch-paper provided. Light the firework at arm’s length, then step back immediately and do not return until well after it has finished. The rule is simple: once you’ve lit it, you’re done — move back and stay back.
Light one firework at a time. Never light a batch together. Keep the ones waiting to be used well away from the launch area — ideally in a closed box or bag.
What to do if a firework doesn’t go off
This is where people get hurt. If a firework doesn’t ignite or stops partway through, do not approach it. Wait at least 5 minutes. Then — and only then — soak it thoroughly with water from a bucket (pour it on from the side, never lean over it). Once it’s been fully soaked, leave it to soak for another few minutes before carefully placing it in a bucket of water.
Never put a dud firework in a bin until it has been completely soaked and left overnight in water.
Sparkler safety — especially for children
Sparklers burn at around 2,000°C — hotter than a blowtorch. They’re not toys, even though they’re treated like them. The rules:
- Children under 5 should not hold sparklers at all
- Always wear gloves when holding a sparkler
- Hold sparklers at arm’s length, never near your face
- Never hold more than one at a time
- When finished, plunge used sparklers head-first into a bucket of water straight away — they stay dangerously hot for several minutes
- Never put a used sparkler in a bin or pocket while it’s still warm
Clearing up after
Leave used fireworks until the next morning — never in the dark while they might still be warm. Then put them in water, leave them for a few hours, and dispose of them wrapped in newspaper in your household bin. Never put firework debris on a bonfire or burn it.
🎆 Fireworks in stock from 15 October
We stock fireworks for Bonfire Night, Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year — available to walk in and buy from our Lavender Hill store. No pre-order needed.
See fireworks dates →