Safety, the law and your privacy
What the law says about buying and using fireworks in England, how we sell them, and how this website treats your data. Updated 25 October 2026.
Age limits
It is illegal to sell category F2 fireworks or category F3 fireworks to anyone under the age of 18.
It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess category F2 fireworks or category F3 fireworks in a public place.
The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 put every firework in a category, and each category has a legal minimum age.
| Category | What it covers | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Very low hazard and low noise, such as party poppers and throw-downs | 16 |
| F2 | Outdoor fireworks for confined areas, such as gardens | 18 |
| F3 | Outdoor fireworks for large open areas | 18 |
| F4 | Professional display fireworks | Not sold to the public |
We sell to adults aged 18 and over only, whatever the category.
Buying from us
- We sell in person only, at 148B Melton Road, Leicester LE4 5EE. We don’t sell online or deliver.
- We operate Challenge 25. If you look under 25, we’ll ask for photo ID: a PASS-hologram card, a passport or a UK photocard driving licence.
- We’ll refuse a sale if you can’t show you’re 18 or over, if we’re in doubt, or if we think the fireworks are for someone under 18.
- Prices are at the counter. The product photos on this site show the packaging; contents and effects can vary.
Fireworks and the law
When fireworks can be sold
Registered sellers can sell fireworks to the public on these dates only:
- 15 October to 10 November
- 26 to 31 December
- Diwali and the 3 days before it
- The first day of Chinese New Year and the 3 days before it
At other times of year, only shops with an all-year fireworks licence can sell them.
When fireworks can be let off
It’s against the law to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am. The exceptions are Bonfire Night (5 November), when the cut-off is midnight, and New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when it’s 1am.
Where
You must not set off or throw fireworks, including sparklers, in the street or any other public place. Use them on private land with the owner’s permission, and check your council’s rules.
Penalties
Selling or using fireworks illegally can lead to an unlimited fine and up to 6 months in prison. The police can also give an on-the-spot fine of £90.
Safety marks
Fireworks sold in the UK must carry a UKCA or CE mark and show their category on the label. Read the label and follow the instructions on every firework.
The full rules are on GOV.UK: Fireworks and the law. This page is a summary for England, not legal advice.
The Firework Code
- Plan your display so it’s safe and enjoyable, and check the times you can legally set off fireworks.
- Only buy fireworks marked with UKCA or CE.
- Keep fireworks in a closed box and use them one at a time.
- Read and follow the instructions on each firework, using a torch if you need to.
- Light fireworks at arm’s length with a taper, then stand well back.
- Keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks.
- Never go back to a firework once it has been lit.
- Never put fireworks in your pocket, and never throw them.
- Point rockets well away from spectators.
- Never use paraffin or petrol on a bonfire.
- Make sure the fire is out and the area is safe before you leave.
- Don’t drink alcohol if you’re setting off fireworks.
Keep a bucket of water nearby, and keep children and spectators well back.
Sparklers
A sparkler can burn at over 1,000°C, and sparklers aren’t for children under five.
- Light one at a time and hold it at arm’s length.
- Wear gloves, and make sure an adult is watching children.
- Put used sparklers hot end down in a bucket of water or sand.
- Never hand a lit sparkler to someone else.
Pets and neighbours
- Tell your neighbours before a display, especially older people and anyone with pets or livestock.
- Keep pets indoors, with windows and curtains closed.
- Stick to the legal hours, and think about low-noise fireworks.
- Soak spent fireworks in water before you put them in the bin the next day.
Privacy policy
This explains how After Dark Fireworks, 148B Melton Road, Leicester LE4 5EE, handles information when you use this website.
What we collect
- Nothing you type in. The site has no accounts, forms or online payments.
- No cookies. We don’t use analytics or advertising trackers.
- My list stays on your device. The fireworks you save are kept in your browser’s storage and never sent to us. Clearing your browser data removes them.
- Server logs. Our hosting provider, Railway, keeps short-term technical logs (IP address, browser type and the pages requested) to keep the site secure and working.
Other sites
The “Get directions” links open Google Maps, and “Send on WhatsApp” opens WhatsApp. Both have their own privacy policies. The fonts and photos on this site are served from our own servers.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR you can ask what data we hold about you and have it corrected or deleted. Write to us at the shop address or ask in store. If you’re unhappy with how we’ve handled your data, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk.
Terms of use
- This site shows the fireworks we stock. It isn’t an offer to sell, and nothing can be bought online.
- Stock changes through the season. Check in store.
- Product photos are for illustration. Packaging, contents and effects can vary. Shot counts and other details are copied from the packaging.
- The information here is a general guide, not legal advice. Always follow the instructions on the firework.
- Photographs of Belgrave Road and Melton Road are by Matt Preston and David Howard, under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. They show the area, not our shop.