Hitchin Priory Hitchin reviews by real event-goers

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Ridiculous queues.
Beers prices worst I've ever encountered.
Dangerous queues to get out.
No warning of fireworks starting.
Firework display.. just ok mehh
Sound quality on the music was terrible & the poor girl singing was awful
I won't go again... sorry

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

To many people for the services provided.
Firework time changed and not even the staff working knew what time they would start.

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

This used to be an excellent event and I was really looking forward to its return after it stopped with Covid. Unfortunately I was mistaken and sadly disappointed.

This time there was no bonfire but what there was, was a stage with someone singing, a collection of fairground rides blaring out competing thumping music and enough lighting to make Wembly Stadium seem under lit!

Standing in the the open area, because of all of the stalls at the edge, there was effectively nowhere to stand to watch the fireworks without being in the way and being jostled by a queue of people stretching across. From this point all you could hear was a cacophony of noise of competing music coming from all the rides and the stage.

When the fireworks started, there was no announcement, it just sort of happened and the thumping noise from the rides etc. continued and with the incredible light pollution illuminating the whole area it was like trying to watch the fireworks in daylight!

If you insist on floodlighting the area so that it can be seen from outer space, then at least turn them off when the fireworks start! Likewise the cacophony of music from all of the various stalls and attractions! There used to be an announcer saying when the fireworks were starting etc.

When the fireworks finished there was no announcement, everyone just assumed it had finshed and there then ensued a log jam of people trying to get out where we all stood crammed together for several minutes before we actually moved. That really summed the evening up, stressful!!!

The last time this event was held several years ago it was great, no hideous illumintation or intrusive attractions and competing music soundtracks, just some refreshment stalls and attractions such as fire eaters etc. and horror of horrors a bonfire! Who would have thought of that at a Bonfire Night fireworks display! That was what it was about, the atmosphere, it was dark and quiet (other than the appreciative noises of the crowd!) and everybody could actually see and appreciate the fireworks and the occassion!

Prior to the Priory having a display, Blue Harts Hockey Club had run one for decades and in the latter years they had music but it was choreographed with the fireworks, it was coordinated and organised, the antipathy of this event I am afraid.

Personally I would rather have no music at all, just enjoy the fireworks but if you insist on having music, do not have multitudes of competing sources and as I say, shut them down when the fireworks start!

Overall, nothing remotely like the atmoshepheric, enjoyable experience as it was, I cannot really say whether the firworks were good as it was lost in the light pollution and the assault on the senses from all around.

Very, very sad, stressful and disappointing and from the comments I heard from others as we were trying to leave, I certainly am not alone in that view.

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Was there for over 1hr 30mins and queued all that time to get food & drink. Fireworks started before we could get any food & drink so as soon as they'd finished we left the queue and went elsewhere. Fireworks were good, but wouldn't go back as the queues were awful getting out and was a major hazard if there had been an emergency. Didn't enjoy it at all

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Too many queues for food and to exit the venue

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Too busy, no bonfire, not enough food vendors, not enough to do for 4 hours, no countdown to fireworks - dreadful - will not be returning next year

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Lack of space, whole place was just a field of queues for food, which didn't seem to be moving. Too many tick*ts sold. No communication about when fireworks were starting, music from the from fairground ride distracted from the actual main event

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

I went with my 18 month old and there was nothing for young kids to do at all. From the description, I got the impression that it would be a family friendly event and there would be a lot of activities for little ones. Even though the fireworks would've been too late for us to see, they could've done some other activities like sparklers, marshmallow toasting, arts and crafts, smaller rides such as merry go round, bouncy castle etc. It was just disappointing and we left after a few minutes.

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Not enough food and drink options. Queues utterly ridiculous. Bar ran dry best part of an hour before the display started. Display started earlier than advertised.

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Overcrowded, the fireworks were pretty but seemed almost like an after thought to the whole event, and didn't last very long. Not enough food vans for the number of people. Think I'll be going to the letchworth one next year 😊

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Ok for the price,
Bar needs to be better organised total chaos not enough staff and tills

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Overcrowded and not enough facilities for the number of people. Fireworks weren't announced and were average and not very varied.

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

its a good idea for the venue but needs improving !!!!
fairground ride was too loud drowned out singer if u were not near the stage
more stage entertainment needed
not enough food stands for amount of people
better beverge stations needed too
halloween nightmare at the priory was better !!!

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

To many tick*ts sold and not enough food and drink outlets.
Queuing for over an hour for everything. No announcement before the fireworks display started.
Many things advertised not available.
Terrible organisation.

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Far too over crowded, no system for anything. Ques insane for food and drink. No organisation. No announcement of the fireworks about to start. Ridiculous trying to leave at the end and dangerous. Very unorganised event it seemed.

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Way too many people were allowed in. We were packed in like sardines!
The bar had run out of beer by the time we got there at 7:20!
There weren't enough food options so the queues were insane!
No countdown to the fireworks, which were only average at best and very repetitive. They also started early without notice! There was no music to the fireworks which was disappointing, made worse by the fact that they didn't stop the music from the fair rides so it was really off-putting.
All in all a disappointment and a complete waste of money! I suspect everyone must have thought the same, and left as soon as the fireworks were over, as trying to get out was a joke! Took us over half an hour just to leave!
Unfortunately we went with a large group of local friends and their children and all thought the same😢

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Poor set up for food and beverage. Disorganised and unacceptably long queues.

Review of Official Hitchin Fireworks Display 2024

Was so poorly organised. From no advertiment of firework start tiem to then being told 9pm then 8.30pm then 8pm and they started at 7.45?! No warning no countdown was really door, no lighting on exit so many people falling over. No where near enough food vendors to cater qued in food line the whole duration of being there to get told no food when we got to the front, same for beer 45 mins to be told no larger. Was just a money making pit for organisers. Fireworks was okay, nothing wow