Brighton & Hove Big Lemon And Breeze Buses Get Funding For Expansion

Several city bus services are being expanded to run later, longer and more frequently in Brighton & Hove.

Funding from our Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) is being used to provide more Big Lemon services later into the evenings during the week and on Saturdays and provide a Sunday service to parts of the city for the first time.

BSIP money is also being used to expand the Breeze Up to the Downs 78 route to Stanmer Park turning it into a seven-days-a-week service.

The BSIP money has already been used to fund fare offers for young people and increase the number of 37 and 37b services, linking people in the Bristol and Meadowview Estates with the city centre and local hospitals.

New Big Lemon services

From Monday 24 April: 

The number 16 is the only link to Portslade town centre, health centre and railway station from Hangleton & Knoll.

New services will now run in the evening from Monday to Saturday, with the last bus from Portslade now running until 9pm.

The number 47 provides the only link from some areas of Saltdean, and parts of Hangleton & Knoll and Old Shoreham Road, to the city centre, Brighton Marina and Royal Sussex County Hospital.  It also provides a local service between Hangleton & Knoll and West Hove Sainsbury’s.  

This service will be extended to run up to approximately 11:45pm on Mondays to Saturdays to allow evening departures from the city centre in both directions. 

A new Sunday service will also be introduced, running between approximately 9am and 7:30pm. This will mean a Sunday service for the Hollingbury and Patcham section of route for the first time, as well as a more direct link for the Saltdean section.

The number 52 is the only bus service in Ovingdean.  It also provides the only link from some areas of Patcham and Hollingbury and parts of Woodingingdean to the city centre, Brighton Marina, Royal Sussex County Hospital and London Road shops.

The 52 will be extended to run up to approximately 11:45pm on Mondays to Saturdays to allow evening departures from the city centre.

A new Sunday service will also be introduced, running between approximately 9am and 7:30pm.  This will mean a completely new Sunday link from Woodingdean to Brighton Marina and Royal Sussex County Hospital and a Sunday service for the first time for the Hangleton & Knoll section of route.

The number 57 is being withdrawn and replaced by the new Sunday services on the 47 and 52.

Colin Morris, Operations Manager for The Big Lemon said:

"We are delighted to be working with the city council to improve services on routes 16, 47 and 52, offering evening services on all routes and Sunday services on the 47 and 52. 

“We know that many people cannot use the buses in the evenings because they do not continue late enough, and we hope that by offering later running services we will be able to welcome new passengers onto our buses. 

“We are looking forward to welcoming new passengers on board to enjoy everything that Brighton & Hove has to offer in the summer evenings, and on Sundays too - just in time for Brighton Festival and the summer weekends.”

Seven days a week for the 78 Breeze Bus to the Downs

From Sunday 23 April the 78 Breeze bus, which runs between the city centre and Stanmer Park will run seven days a week, including public holidays.

To improve punctuality and reliability, and to offer a faster journey time from the city centre to Stanmer Park, service 78 will run direct from Old Steine to St Peter’s Church, instead of via Brighton Station.

Nick Hill, Commercial Director of Brighton & Hove Buses said:

"We are delighted to offer an enhanced service on the Breeze route 78. The changes will enable local residents and visitors to get to the picturesque Stanmer Park in a sustainable way seven days a week, rather than only at weekends. 

"Up to four people under 19 can travel for free with an adult, and with single fares at just £2 until the end of June there's no better time to hop on a bus, sit back, relax and let someone else take care of the driving."