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  • April 18, 2021

Rottingdean Smugglers 2017 – Cancelled

September 9, 2017 by Rottingdean 3 Comments

Winter Smugglers Night, held on the first Saturday of December for the past 5 years has become one of the major highlights in the Rottingdean calendar. Attracting between 3,000-6,000 visitors on the night and culminating in a spectacular display of fireworks. This event has always been free to attend for everyone.

Its aim is to spark (excuse the pun) interest in the rich history of the village from the 13th century when French pirates sacked the village on their way to Lewes and set light to the villagers taking shelter in the church tower to the centuries of the illegal smuggling trade which thrived here.

Organising this event and complying with the very strict health and safety requirements necessary to keep everyone safe costs a great deal of money which is raised annually by the hard working committee. Security alone costs over £10,000 and that is before the cost of the fireworks and other entertainments. The overall event costs stand at approximately £18,000.

This year we have lost 2 of the larger funders of the event, including the City Council leaving us with a large shortfall for this year’s event. Despite our efforts to attract new funds we have not been able to close the gap.

Taking everything into account we have made the decision to cancel this year’s event while we begin the process of becoming a charitable organisation to widen the sources of funding we can apply for and to strengthen our personnel resources. This is with the view to putting on the event in December 2018 with sufficient funds and resources in place so that the event lives up to popular expectation.

Smugglers will continue to need those individuals and businesses that have contributed financially and we are very grateful to them. We will also be encouraging other businesses and concerns to support an event which brings an unprecedented level of footfall to Rottingdean.

Smugglers would also like to hear from people willing to join and strengthen the management of the event. You can reach us via our website www.rottingdeansmugglers.co.uk

We are determined to put on a show next year and with your help we will make sure it lives up to expectations

Sincerely,

Christopher White
Chair

Amazing photo used from the Rottingdean Smugglers site taken by Roz Bassford-South

Filed Under: Rottingdean News Tagged With: rottingdean smugglers

Little Smugglers – July 22nd 2017

July 10, 2017 by Rottingdean Leave a Comment

Little Smugglers is planned for July 22nd at the Rottingdean Terraces. Between 12.30 and 6pm with entertainment for Children to include Music courtesy of Brighton School of Singing. There is a children’s parade and workshops throughout the afternoon – courtesy of Parc and Arthropod.

Best dressed pirate competition – open to all children up to aged 10.

Click the poster below for the full timetable:

little smugglers_A5_2017_1

Filed Under: Rottingdean Events Tagged With: rottingdean smugglers

Rottingdean Smugglers Race Night – June 20th at Ye Olde Black Horse

June 10, 2017 by Rottingdean Leave a Comment

race_night_2017The Rottingdean Smugglers Race Night fund raiser is planned for June 20th at Ye Olde Black Horse. Tickets are a £5 or a table for £20. Starts at 7.30.

If you would like to sponsor a race, there are eight in all for just £25 per race let us know. Over eighteens only. Tickets are limited as are tables so get in quick. Book directly with the pub or email Chris White (chrisjwhite1949@yahoo.com).

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Can You Hear Those Distant Drums Getting Louder?

September 5, 2016 by Rottingdean Leave a Comment

Picture by Roz Bassford-South

Picture by Roz Bassford-South

Can you hear those distant drums getting louder? Have you heard loud bangs coming from the beach at night? Worry not, your ears do not deceive you…. As Autumn approaches, Rottingdean Smugglers are on the march. We can’t wait for the nights to draw in, the weather to cool and the drumming to start.

This year, on 3rd December, Rottingdean celebrates once again its iconic Smugglers Night, which combines all kinds of fire, noise, light and devilry in a unique coastal setting. Our Smugglers Night marks our proud piratical history, whilst also giving us an excuse to throw a pre-Christmas party that our rabble-rousing ancestors would have been proud of. Everyone is invited, from the little to the mighty, because back in them ol’ smuggling days, even the clergy were at it.

As anticipation builds in the afternoon, children can do face-painting, create sculptures to carry in the procession, meet Father Christmas or watch a puppet show from 2pm. Adults can get in the spirit in one of our 5 historic pubs, all serving incredible food to fuel you for marching and merry-making. During the festival atmosphere, with stalls and shops offering snacks, drinks and goodies, you can watch the incredible Blind Veterans walking across fire at the Terraces from 4.30pm.

At 7pm we gather hundreds of like-minded pirates and smugglers together to march with flaming torches through the village streets, gathering on the Green to remember Rudyard Kipling to the backing track of hypnotic drumming from the talented bands of Sussex. On the beacon by the ancient windmill, the bangers will begin, marking the beginning of the march back to the beach.

From the floodlit Terraces (ideal for wheelchairs and buggies) you can watch the giant pirate ship get set on fire as the crowds gather and anticipation rises for the fireworks.

The incredible finale at 8.30pm comes as fireworks more awe-inspiring than ever before bang, swoop and blow up the night sky, reflected in the inky sea where so many past misdemeanors have taken place.

Of course, thousands of pirates and smugglers cannot organise themselves. Volunteers most welcome: a great time is guaranteed with a smuggler’s handshake. If you can help, please contact email info@rottindeansmugglers.co.uk.

Filed Under: Rottingdean Events Tagged With: rottingdean smugglers

Charity Smugglers Race Night Fundraiser – 4th Aug 2016

July 26, 2016 by Rottingdean Leave a Comment

Much excitement & entertainment is assured which may induce vapours or fainting in ladies & gentlemen of a weak disposition.

Thursday 4th August @ 7:30pm

race_night2016

Filed Under: Rottingdean Events Tagged With: rottingdean smugglers

Little Smugglers 2016 – June 25th 12pm – 5pm

June 10, 2016 by Rottingdean Leave a Comment

little smugglers 2016Put the date in your calendar – Little Smugglers 2016 – June 25th 12pm – 5pm at the Rottingdean Terraces

  • CHILDREN’S PROCESSION
  • MAKE YOUR OWN BARREL TO WEAR
  • LIVE BANDS
  • BEST DRESSED PIRATE STALLS & GAMES FACE PAINTING
  • BALLOON RELEASE FINALE

The timetable for the day is as follows:

12 PM – SMUGGLERS ACOUSTIC BAND
12:30 PM – MELISSA & REECE – singing duo.
1 PM – BRIGHTON SCHOOL OF SINGING – Young People’s Showcase
1:30 PM – STEREO SHOK – European champions;Young People’s Street Dance Troupe
1:50 PM – DRUMMERS
2 PM – ELSA – with songs from Frozen
2:45 PM – BRIGHTON SCHOOL OF SINGING – Juniors aged 8
3 PM – CAPTAINS BEARD – ROCK WITH A PIRATE BAND
4 PM – CHILDREN’S PARADE – singing songs from Frozen
4:30 PM – BEST DRESSED PIRATE …and best decorated barrel
5 PM – The balloon release scheduled for the end of Little Smugglers has been cancelled. Children will still have the opportunity to collect a balloon and take it home. The balloons will have a ribbon tether attached.

You can download the full flyer here and sign up to the Facebook event here

Filed Under: Rottingdean Events Tagged With: rottingdean smugglers

Smugglers Night Dec 5th 2015 – Update

December 2, 2015 by Rottingdean 1 Comment

12241697_1025351834153432_2056887557455755672_nWe are expecting unusually high winds and rain on Saturday and therefore in the interests of public safety we have made the decision to cancel some elements of our Smugglers Night activities.

We are continuing with our activities at the Village Hall and High Street. The Hall will have a Father Christmas grotto, Smugglers Stall, Face Painting and Nail Bar along with hot and cold beverages.

Coupled with this, many eateries and pubs will be offering good food and sustenance throughout the village.

The High Street itself is closed to vehicles from 3pm and will have entertainment including drumming bands and Woody the one man Band. We hope to have a children’s procession from the Village Hall to Neville Road and activities from the Village Green will take place at Neville Road.

Stalls will be dotted around the High Street.

The Firework display, torch procession and Bonfire will not take place. We are sure you will share our disappointment at these necessary changes but like us look forward to next year being back on track.

Rottingdean Smugglers.

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Rottingdean Smugglers Night – Saturday December 5th

November 28, 2015 by Rottingdean Leave a Comment

12241697_1025351834153432_2056887557455755672_nOnly 1 week to go before Rottingdean Village is taken back to the days of Marchers, Mayhem, Explosions and Villainy.

Our annual Smugglers Night is on Saturday 5th December starting at 6pm – Childrens procession with Marching Bands, followed by torch procession from Lower High Street at 7pm to the Village Green.

After a short Service at the Green the procession will return to to the Beach to enjoy a Bonfire and Firework display.

There is a special area at the Terraces being set aside for Parents with children and disabled people to enjoy unrestricted view of the proceedings.

The high street will be closed to vehicles from about 3pm on Saturday afternoon so make sure you plan your travel to and from the village beforehand.

There is usually lots going on in the village for most of the afternoon so why not head on into the village and spend the day there. The shops in the village open late and there are plenty of places to eat throughout the evening.

If the mood takes you, come dressed as pirates or smugglers.

Smugglers night gets better and better each year. Here is what we got up to last year:

As always, a big thank you to Ros Bassford-South for allowing us to use her photos on the site. Check out her Smugglers 2014 photo album here

Filed Under: Rottingdean Events Tagged With: rottingdean smugglers

Smugglers Ball

July 28, 2015 by Rottingdean Leave a Comment

smugglers_ballDear Ladies, Gentlemen, Pirates & Smugglers…..

As many of you know Smugglers has now LEGENDARY status for Rottingdean Village, attracting over 5,000 visit each year to the village. With Stalls, live bands, food stalls, BBQ’s, shop traders and the culmination with The Torch Lit Parade, Bonfire & Fireworks…

This year for the remarkable event to continue we need YOUR HELP!!!! much more than in previous years…

Our much needed funding which we received annually from Brighton Council has been withdrawn, therefore an action group has been formed to raise more funding.

Therefore we are producing our 1st Annual Smugglers Ball. An evening of Live entertainment auctions and raffles.

This will be held on Saturday 5th September 2015 at The Hilton Metropole in Brighton. For a small fee of £65pp

  • A Sumptuous 4 Course Dinner
  • A plethora of live acts
  • Disco till the early hours
  • Discount room rates
  • Auction & Raffle

Your attendance is greatly needed at this auspicious occasion, tickets are selling fast!!!

To ensure your table (preferably 10 per table although smaller parties will be sat together)

Please call 01273 300491 this is Ye Olde Black Horse who along with the Smugglers Committee are producing the event.

Purchasing the tickets can be done by visiting Ye Olde Black Horse, 65 High Street, Rottingdean BN2 7HE

Alternatively call the box office number where payment and emailed receipt can be taken over the phone.

For those whom have already requested tables and no payment has been made please contact the box office to secure your table.

Please use the form below to printed out and fill in.

May we also take this opportunity to ask businesses and he general public if you would like to contribute further to the ball we are looking for Auction & Raffle prizes in return we will be eternally grateful.

May we all stand together and be as resourceful and proud for our amazing village and the events we put together. May we thank you in advance for helping raising money for this event AND MacMillan Nurses.

Thank-you
The Smugglers Committee

smugglers_ball_booking

Filed Under: Rottingdean Events Tagged With: rottingdean smugglers

Is That The Distant Sound Of Drums…….

December 5, 2014 by Rottingdean Leave a Comment

smugglers_2014_leafletRottingdean Smugglers Night is here again for 2014. With this year being the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, we your Smugglers will do our bit in recognising this key date. You will see several references to the Remembrance aspect of this sombre event throughout the evening, including a military band, coupled with a bugler who will play the Last Post.

The march from the White Horse will be our Buccaneer March followed by the “Lest we forget” service at the War Memorial.This tarts at 19:00.There will be some fireworks at the Green, including the giant Poppies. Closing this part of our evening will be a poignant reminder of events during the Great War.
Make sure you grab a spot to spectate on the green in the public areas designated.

If you visit the green during the morning or afternoon you might like to drop by the Grange and Art Gallery where Puppet shows and Children’s Craft takes place.

Some new features on the day will include a “Frozen” Grotto at Parc 14:00-18:00 and The” Pirates Cave” at Arthropod 14:00-17:00. Another new feature is the Christmas Market located at the Lloyds Bank Car Park.

A variety of stalls should be available to tempt you. Many Traders will be open for the duration and they look forward to seeing you all there AND SO DO WE!

SMUGGLERS FESTIVITIES START
LOWER HIGH STREET
PARC Frozen Grotto 2pm-6pm Pirates Cave @ Arthropod Arts 2pm-5pm.
HIGH STREET
4pm Fairground Organ 4pm- 5.30pm Woodies One Man Band.
LLOYDS BANK CAR PARK
Food And Craft Market 2pm-9pm.
NEVILL ROAD
4pm-6pm Captains Beard Sea Shanties 4pm onwards St Margaret’s BBQ.
THE GRANGE
20 Minute performances of the Touched Theatre (puppets) playing in the Grange Gallery at: 11am, 12noon, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm Will-o-Wisp Childrens Crafts 3-6pm in the Grange Museum Room.
ST MARGARET’S CHURCH
Christmas Tree Festival 10am-9pm

SMUGGLERS NIGHT
6:00 Fire Spinning Troupe (Village Green) Drumming from Section 5, Skulldrummery and Maracatu Cruzeiro.
7:00 Buccaneer March (from Lower High Street).
7:30 Lest We Forget (War Memorial).
8:00 French Raiders March (from The Plough Inn to the beach). 8:30 Grand Ariel Display.
8:45 Drum Off and Cease Fire.

HIGH STREET CLOSED FROM 3PM TO 9PM

REFRESHMENTS SERVED THROUGHOUT THE VILLAGE

Be sure to download a full itinerary to bring with you so you don’t miss out on anything: Rottingdean Smugglers 2014 Itinerary

Filed Under: Rottingdean Events Tagged With: rottingdean smugglers

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