Brighton’s Santa Bus 2019: All the places it will visit this year

The open-top vehicle, decked with 9,600 fairy lights, is due to visit more than 200 streets in Brighton and Hove and the surrounding areas across 20 nights in the lead up to Christmas, raising funds for 11 charities along the way.

When does the 2019 Santa Bus tour start?

Hove’s Goldstone and Downs Park area will be the first stop on the Santa Bus tour on Monday (November 25).

After that, it will run across 20 nights until December 20, with routes taking in Patcham, Southwick, Peacehaven, Mouslecoomb, and Bevendean.

When was the 2019 bus launched?

Brighton & Hove Buses officially launched this year’s Santa Bus last Thursday (November 14) as the city’s Christmas lights were switched on.

Managing director Martin Harris said: “Our brilliant team of engineers has got the bus ready for Santa’s expeditions across the city, complete with lights and music. We also have a cheerful crew of volunteer elves and reindeer on standby to help Santa out every night.

Accessibility and communities manager Victoria Garcia added that it is her ‘favourite part of the job and the most magical time of the year’.

“She added: “The best thing is seeing people’s faces light up as the Santa Bus goes down their street and Santa gives them a wave. Quite a few people have told me that they only feel like Christmas has started when they’ve seen the Santa Bus.”

When and where will the bus visit?

The bus is due to arrive at its starting point across the 20 nights from 5.30pm and finish its route at about 8.30pm.

Brighton & Hove Buses has changed some of the routes and nights from previous years.

The dates and areas it will visit on those days for 2019 are as follows:

l Monday, November 25: Goldstone and Downs Park area. In Goldstone it will start at the junction of Goldstone Crescent and Woodland Drive, finishing at Sandringham Drive. At Downs Park it will start from Hangleton Valley Drive, continuing to Hangleton Lane and then restart at Fox Way, finishing at the A270 end of Foredown Drive.

l Tuesday, November 26: Southwick, starting from Portslade Town Hall, on Victoria Road, and finishing at Stoney Lane.

l Wednesday, November 27: Wish area, starting from Hove Street and finishing at the Boundary Road end of New Church Road.

l Thursday, November 28: Bevendean, starting and finishing at the Lewes Road end of The Avenue.

l Friday, November 29: Peacehaven, starting at the South Coast Road end of Telscombe Cliffs Way and finishing at the South Coast Road end of Sutton Avenue.

l Monday, December 2: Hangleton, starting at The Grenadier, on Hangleton Way, and finishing at Clarke Avenue.

l Tuesday, December 3: West Blatchington and Knoll Estate area, starting at Holmes Avenue and finishing at the Old Shoreham Road end of Hangleton Road.

l Wednesday, December 4: Coldean and Meadowview. In Coldean it will start at Hawkhurst Road and finish at the Lewes Road end of Coldean Lane. In Meadowview it will start at Bade Road, finishing at Bevendean Road. It will also go along Hartington Road, starting from Ryde Road.

l Thursday, December 5: Patcham, starting at Barrhill Avenue and finishing at Carden Avenue.

l Friday, December 6: Portland and Boundary Road area, starting at the Sackville Road end of Portland Road and finishing at the New Church Road end of St Leonards Road.

l Monday, December 9: Hollingbury, starting at Friar Road and finishing at Carden Hill.

l Tuesday, December 10: Stanford, starting at Rugby Road and finishing at Ditchling Road, opposite Orchard Walk.

l Wednesday, December 11: Hollingdean, starting at Ditchling Road and finishing at the Upper Hollingdean Road end of Roedale Road.

l Thursday, December 12: Moulsecoomb, starting at The Avenue and finishing at the Widdicombe Way end of Hodshrove Road.

l Friday, December 13: Mile Oak area, starting at the Southern Cross end of Locks Hill and finishing before South Street in the High Street.

l Monday, December 16: Woodingdean, starting at Warren Way and finishing at the Crescent Drive North end of Downs Valley Road.

l Tuesday, December 17: Saltdean, starting at Arundel Drive West and finishing at Cranleigh Avenue.

l Wednesday, December 18: East Saltdean, starting at Longridge Avenue and finishing at the Greenbank Avenue end of Wicklands Avenue.

l Thursday, December 19: Freshfield and Whitehawk, starting from Freshfield Road and finishing at the Wilson Avenue end of Vine Cross Road.

l Friday, December 20: Woodingdean, starting at Crescent Drive North and finishing in Warren Road past the end of Downland Road.

What charities are set to benefit?

Since launching the festive initiative 16 years ago, The Santa Bus has raised more than £250,000 for charitable causes.

Last year saw more than £30,000 donated.

For 2019, the Brighton Santa Bus is raising funds for 11 charities.

They are: Amaze, Chestnut Tree House, East Sussex Credit Union Foundation, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Moulsecoomb Forest Garden, Ronald McDonald House, Say Aphasia, Take Shelter, The Martlets, Trust for Developing Communities and YMCA Downslink Group.

On 10 of the nights – November 27, 28, 29 and December 5, 6, 10, 13, 17 and 18 – money raised will go to The Martlets only and on the other 10 nights money raised will be shared equally between the other 10 charities.

Volunteers will knock on doors and collect donations as the bus makes its way around the city and its suburbs. Brighton & Hove Buses will post envelopes through doors the day before for people to display on collection night if they do not want anyone to knock on their door. Donations can also be made online this year.

For more information, including maps of the full routes, visit www.buses.co.uk/santabus