Where best to buy fireworks?
Discussion
Please leave out all the pros and cons of home firework displays, we've got a decent size garden and sensible heads (or rather, we won't be drunk until after the kids are in bed, which will be after the fireworks 
).
Anyhow, I've just been nominated to provide the bangs for a family/works party and I've never been that impressed with high/street garden centre fireworks, especially for the price....
Any top tips of where to get a decent garden display, massive fireworks not required, but a decent number of tidy ones, some value for money (as much can you can setting light to it!) budget £100 give or take.
Thanks in advance
(PS, I did a search but PH search is (still) broken and Google gave me nowt, so apologies if this has been answered every year already!)
(PPS, yes, I know I could just google it, but I'm looking for personal recommendations/experience)
).Anyhow, I've just been nominated to provide the bangs for a family/works party and I've never been that impressed with high/street garden centre fireworks, especially for the price....
Any top tips of where to get a decent garden display, massive fireworks not required, but a decent number of tidy ones, some value for money (as much can you can setting light to it!) budget £100 give or take.
Thanks in advance
(PS, I did a search but PH search is (still) broken and Google gave me nowt, so apologies if this has been answered every year already!)
(PPS, yes, I know I could just google it, but I'm looking for personal recommendations/experience)
Edited by defblade on Tuesday 11th October 19:39
£100 is not very much for fireworks these days.
Friend of mine is a firework dealer and I can usually get a few decent "not for sale to the public" jobbies. But in general for garden stuff you can't go wrong with Ultimate Finale - its a 3 minute single ignition display in a box. You'll only get one in your budget. We usually let off three together and it fills the sky (and ears). Highly recommended.
Friend of mine is a firework dealer and I can usually get a few decent "not for sale to the public" jobbies. But in general for garden stuff you can't go wrong with Ultimate Finale - its a 3 minute single ignition display in a box. You'll only get one in your budget. We usually let off three together and it fills the sky (and ears). Highly recommended.
Kimbolton Fireworks are good:
http://www.buykimboltonfireworks.com/
won lots of awards and are close to us so I may be biased.
http://www.buykimboltonfireworks.com/
won lots of awards and are close to us so I may be biased.
For our wedding we bought from here, not the best but had a great deal as I my old company distributed their goods
http://www.blackcatfireworks.co.uk/
http://www.blackcatfireworks.co.uk/
I run a firework display for a small tennis club every year and can usually provide a decent display for a couple of hundred pounds with the display lasting 30mins. You'll never get that from single ignition jobs. Depends who is attending but if families, a mix of a £40 box plus loads of £4-10 items with some good big rockets and around 3-4 £20 items will give you enough to make it fun for everyone. Two of us are lighting together or close together so there are no real breaks.
Having also worked on £3000+ events, the smaller family based ones are often better because of the other things going on and the friendlier atmosphere.
As previous poster said, Blackcat are good and you won't go too far wrong with Kimbolton etc. No idea about best suppliers in your area though.
Having also worked on £3000+ events, the smaller family based ones are often better because of the other things going on and the friendlier atmosphere.
As previous poster said, Blackcat are good and you won't go too far wrong with Kimbolton etc. No idea about best suppliers in your area though.
cirks said:
with the display lasting 30mins. You'll never get that from single ignition jobs.
Better half now informs me that while I'm having fun setting up and lighting fireworks, kids are getting bored waiting for the next one, so she's pushing for a couple of single ignition jobs. Hmmmm..... Must have some rockets too though.....defblade said:
kids are getting bored waiting for the next one, so she's pushing for a couple of
That's why you need two people lighting and a decent area so one can be lighting/setting up while a firework lit by the other is still firing etc. Then it's a continuous display and the kids won't get bored. Also means that with continuous bangs and crackles, you won't hear the other half moaning at you defblade said:
Better half now informs me that while I'm having fun setting up and lighting fireworks, kids are getting bored waiting for the next one, so she's pushing for a couple of single ignition jobs. Hmmmm..... Must have some rockets too though.....
This.The other benefit of single ignition is that you actually get to enjoy some of the display yourself rather than scrambling around in the smoke co-ordinating the lighting of the next firework(s). You can get something called Launch Kontrol from Maplin which is an electronic firework launcher but in my experience they have proved unreliable.
Shaolin said:
Kimbolton Fireworks are good:
http://www.buykimboltonfireworks.com/
won lots of awards and are close to us so I may be biased.
Agree with this. Their annual display is excellant as are the packs they sell to the general public!http://www.buykimboltonfireworks.com/
won lots of awards and are close to us so I may be biased.
There are forums out the for everything ,fill your boots here from reviews on what to buy and where to buy them from
http://www.firework-review.org.uk/
http://www.firework-review.org.uk/
MrV said:
There are forums out the for everything ,fill your boots here from reviews on what to buy and where to buy them from
http://www.firework-review.org.uk/
Cheers! That really hit the spot http://www.firework-review.org.uk/
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff