HMS Sultan Bonfire Night: timings and how to get there

If you are after a bonfire night that leans into the naval side of things, the HMS Sultan Bonfire and Fireworks Night is the one to know. It is back on Thursday 29 October, running from 17:30 to 22:30, and this year comes with a bit of extra weight behind it: the base is marking 70 years of engineering excellence, and the fireworks display is being billed as a special 70th anniversary finale.

For the uninitiated, HMS Sultan is the Royal Navy's centre for Air and Marine Engineering, based at Military Road in Gosport, PO12 3BY. It is the home of the Marine Engineering Training Group and the Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival School, and the site itself has a bit of history — it was originally RAF Gosport before being handed over to the Navy in 1945 and renamed HMS Sultan on 1 June 1956. The current commanding officer is Captain Mark Hamilton, and the base hosts several training schools, including the Nuclear Department, which sits within the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, and the 760 Engineering Training Squadron.

The evening is built around a few set moments, so it helps to know when things actually happen. Parking opens at 17:00, and you will need a valid parking ticket to get in. The gates open at 17:30, the bonfire is lit at 19:45, and the main event — the 70th anniversary fireworks display, set to an engineering-themed soundtrack — begins at 20:30. Gates close at 22:30, with some sources saying 22:45, so there is no point turning up late and hoping to catch the end. Between the bonfire and the fireworks, there is a funfair, food and hot snacks, and the whole night goes in support of the HMS Sultan service charity.

On tickets, there is one rule that catches people out: they must be bought online in advance from hmssultan.ticketsrv.co.uk, and they are not sold at the gate. Early bird prices ran until 25 October, so everyone is now on the standard rates: a family ticket for two adults and two children is £25, adults are £10, children aged 3 to 15 are £5, and under-3s go free. Parking is £5 and must be bought alongside a family or adult ticket, which includes disabled parking. Fairground rides are not included in the entry price and are charged separately, and personal assistants and carers need a paid ticket.

Getting in and out is worth planning. If you are driving, use postcode PO13 9XH or the What3Words location noble.sizes.gaps for the car park entrance. If you are coming on foot, there is a pedestrian entrance at PO12 3TR, or system.yoga.fishery on What3Words. Access and facilities for people with disabilities are available across the site, and if you have specific requirements, the Bonfire Night Committee can be reached at NAVYTRGSUL-BONFIRECOMMITTEE@mod.gov.uk.

It is a big night for the area, and the 70th anniversary angle gives this year a bit more to it than the usual bonfire. With the gates closing around 22:30, the sensible plan is to be in early, catch the bonfire at 19:45, and settle in for the 20:30 display.