Lighting Design & Hire in United Kingdom

The scale of the UK touring circuit sets it apart from most European markets. The O2 Arena in London operates at 20,000 capacity on a near-continuous touring schedule. Glastonbury Festival, at around 210,000 attendees, is among the most technically demanding outdoor events in the world. Between those extremes sits a dense network of arenas, theatres and festival sites that keep UK lighting companies busy across twelve months rather than a compressed summer window.

London holds the highest concentration of suppliers, but production capability is national in scope. Manchester serves the north of England and much of Scotland for touring dates that do not warrant London logistics, and Hull-based HPSS Ltd demonstrates that serious touring inventory exists well outside the major urban centres. London-based ACE Bros operates across the full range of live production from touring to corporate, typical of the multi-discipline approach common among established UK suppliers.

Festival season is the most constrained period for inventory. Productions planning summer outdoor dates should treat six to eight weeks as the minimum lead time at any well-stocked UK supplier. Arena touring dates in the autumn and winter calendar are generally less pressured, though major touring productions travelling with a full rig will still want local suppliers confirmed early for cross-hire and contingency stock.

UK lighting companies operate on 230V/50Hz power infrastructure, which is relevant for any international production arriving with equipment specified for different voltages. Established suppliers maintain current-generation intelligent fixture inventories: moving heads across spot, wash and beam profiles, LED technology throughout, video integration capability and atmospheric effects packages. Full production packages including design, programming, crew and equipment are standard at the larger companies. Dry hire is available across the market for productions travelling with their own operators.

Pricing reflects the depth of the market. The UK is not the cheapest European option for lighting hire, but the combination of inventory quality, technical expertise and logistical infrastructure justifies the rates for productions where reliability matters. Manchester-based STS Touring Productions Ltd is among the established touring specialists in the north, with experience across arena and festival productions that requires suppliers operating at full touring standard.

Service models vary by project scale. For touring productions, wet hire where the supplier provides an operator or programmer is common. For one-off events with an existing LD, dry hire gives access to the equipment without the crew overhead. Most established UK companies accommodate either model.

The depth of the UK market means the relevant question is not whether you can find a capable supplier, but which type of supplier suits the production. National companies with multiple depots can service a UK tour from a single contract and move equipment between dates without the logistical complexity of coordinating multiple regional suppliers. Regional specialists often carry deep inventory for their local market and may offer more competitive rates for productions concentrated in a particular area.

For touring productions, the supplier's experience with your specific control system is worth establishing early. UK touring lighting companies will generally be comfortable with the major console manufacturers, but if your LD has strong preferences or the production is running an unusual setup, confirming compatibility before contracting avoids problems on the first load-in.

PLASA membership provides a reasonable starting point for assessing suppliers. Its members are subject to industry standards on health and safety, which matters particularly for rigged lighting at public events. The PSA similarly covers production service companies across touring and live events.

UK productions are subject to specific health and safety legislation governing rigged equipment at public events. Suppliers familiar with the touring circuit will have their own risk assessment and method statement processes, but it is worth confirming this for events in unusual venues or locations where the standard documentation may need adapting. The PLASA trade association publishes guidance on technical standards and safety frameworks relevant to UK lighting production. The Production Services Association covers broader touring production standards and is a useful reference for productions new to the UK market.

For the wider technical package, PA hire, staging and rigging companies are all well represented across the UK on Showcase. Many of the larger UK lighting companies also offer integrated production packages covering sound and staging, which can simplify contracting for productions that want a single point of contact.

If you need a lighting programmer, board operator or lighting director for a UK run, Entourage Pro connects productions with vetted lighting crew across the country. Load-in access varies significantly between UK venues: London arena load-ins in particular can be complex due to city centre locations, restricted vehicle access windows and concurrent events at neighbouring venues, so confirming logistics with the venue at the planning stage is advisable.

How far ahead should I book lighting hire for a UK festival?

Six to eight weeks is the standard lead time for summer festival dates at established UK suppliers. The busiest period runs from late May through August, and inventory at the larger touring-grade companies books out well in advance of that window. Productions with confirmed festival dates in Q3 should be in conversation with suppliers no later than April.

Do UK lighting companies cover Scotland and Northern Ireland?

Yes. National companies with multiple depots can service the full UK including Scotland and Northern Ireland from a single contract. Regional specialists operate across Scotland, with Edinburgh and Glasgow both having established suppliers. For Northern Ireland, confirming transport logistics and any additional costs with the supplier early is advisable.

What is the difference between a touring lighting package and an event package?

A touring package is designed to move between multiple venues across a run of dates, with road cases, transport logistics and crew continuity built in. An event package covers a single event or short run in one location and is generally more straightforward to contract. UK suppliers experienced in touring will understand the additional requirements around advance preparation, pre-programming time and contingency stock that distinguish a tour from a one-off event.

Is PLASA membership relevant when choosing a UK lighting supplier?

PLASA membership indicates a supplier is engaged with professional standards and safety frameworks relevant to UK production. It is not a guarantee of quality on its own, but it is a reasonable indicator of professional operation. For rigged lighting at public events, clear health and safety processes and relevant insurance are the baseline requirement regardless of trade association membership.

Browse lighting hire companies across the United Kingdom on Showcase Music Directory, with listings covering London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Hull and beyond. Filter by city to find suppliers local to your production dates, or search across the full UK listing to compare coverage for a national tour.