Rottingdean Smugglers

General information

Rottingdean has had an established ‘smugglers night’ for a number of years which up until 2011 had lapsed into obscurity.

A number of residents from the village wishing to revive the night and the traditions of the village combined with Rottingdean Traders Association and came up with the idea of merging it with another great Sussex tradition, that of bonfire celebrations.

Each year we now put on a Smugglers Night event which combines Rottingdean's traditional christmas shopping evening with the themes of pirates and smugglers and combine it with bonfires. As part of this wild night, we hold torch lit processions, burn effigies and let off lots of fireworks.

We now get lots of help and cooperation from local bonfire societies and local pubs are asked to compete against each other for the honour of best dressed smugglers society.

We need local residents to join Rottingdean Smugglers in any Rottingdean pub or direct via our redesigned website at www.rottingdeansmugglers.co.uk.
Membership allows you to march with a burning torch in our December processions. It only costs £4.00 which is a nominal sum to cover insurance and help towards the huge costs of the event.
You must be dressed as a pirate, buccaneer, privateer, excise officer or (yes you guessed it) a smuggler!