Past
Pains Fireworks is proud to be the longest established firework display company in the United Kingdom. History suggests that the barrels of gunpowder used in the infamous plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament were “manufactured by a gunpowder manufacturer within earshot of the Bells of Bow”. At that time the only such business was one John Pain, the founder of the modern day Pains Fireworks. Throughout the hundreds of years that followed, Pains set the benchmark for the fireworks industry in the UK and have evolved from the manufacturing of military pyrotechnics & shop fireworks to become solely focused on providing the best professional displays around the world.
SINCE 1590...
1862
The first display at the Cowes Royal Regatta - a show still performed by Pains to this day
1872
Pains move to new factory in Mitcham
1886
Pains head to America and perform a display for the opening of The Statue of Liberty
1902
King Edward VII coronation
1911
King George V coronation, 170 displays around the UK
1964
Pains Fireworks become Pains Wessex and are based at High Post, Salisbury where the first life-saving line thrower was manufactured
1973
Pains Wessex take over Wells Fireworks and some operations are moved to Dartford, Kent
1977
Pains perform the official display for QEII Silver Jubilee
1979-83
The modern day Pains Fireworks is born and relocated to our current factory in Whiteparish
1981
Diamond Jubilee of King Sobhuza of Swaziland
1981
Royal Wedding of Charles and Diana
1997
Opening of the Shakespeare Globe Theatre
1997
Pains open the Dubai branch
1999
Opening of The Faisaliah Tower
2000
The opening of the Burj Al Arab
2005
400th Anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot
