Medirek covers film, TV and commercial productions at or near Brighton, Sussex, from its base in Alfold, Surrey. Cover is matched to the production's risk, from a single set medic to higher-level clinicians, ambulance cover, RAMS and tech recces, water safety and fire cover.
Brighton & Hove has a colourful urban street scene, Regency architecture, a long seafront and the South Downs on its edge.
Filming in Brighton: locations and permits
Visit Brighton lists My Policeman and ITV's Grace among the productions filmed around the Palace Pier, the Royal Pavilion and the city's Regency squares. Brighton is used for seafront, beach and pier scenes, Regency terraces, nightlife and city streets. It is busy year-round, so crowd management and public safety are part of most shoots. Any scene with people swimming or entering the sea needs extra planning and safety measures.
Who gives permission: filming on outdoor council-owned land in Brighton & Hove goes through the Sussex Film Office, which can also advise on road closures and parking suspensions. The city council says road closures can take up to 12 weeks and parking suspensions usually need 7 working days' notice. Filming in the sea needs at least 10 working days, a risk assessment and extra safety measures such as a lifeboat, and productions should speak to the council's Seafront Office first. Drone operators are asked for their CAA permissions, insurance, a risk assessment and a flight plan. Private sites such as Brighton Pier and the Royal Pavilion give their own permission.
Sources: Brighton & Hove City Council: filming in the city; Sussex Film Office: permits; Visit Brighton: Starring Great Brighton
Production safety and RAMS in Brighton
Permit bodies and landowners in Brighton commonly ask for a risk assessment, and some ask for full risk assessments and method statements. Medirek's production safety advisors can attend your tech recce, write production-specific RAMS you can submit with your applications, and provide an on-site safety manager, plus water safety and fire cover teams where the shoot needs them. Because the same team plans the medical cover, the RAMS and the medical plan match.
Hazards we plan for in Brighton
- Sea, tides and cold water
- Busy crowds and nightlife
- Seafront wind and weather
- Road closures and traffic
Medirek looks at these at the tech recce and builds them into the medical plan, including access for an ambulance and the route to the nearest emergency department.
What Medirek provides in Brighton
Unit and set medics
Staff are DBS checked, uniformed and hold relevant, recognised qualifications, ranging from FREC 3, FREC 4, ECA and RTACC through to HCPC-registered paramedics and nurses, with doctors where the risk calls for it.
Stunt and action cover
Higher-level clinicians for stunts, vehicle action and SFX, planned with your stunt coordinator.
Ambulance cover and conveyance
Arranged where the risk assessment calls for it. Medirek has 4×4-capable response vehicles for remote and off-road locations.
Health and safety, RAMS, tech recce
Production-specific risk assessments and method statements for your Brighton locations, informed by a tech recce.
Water safety
Bankside responders and in-water safety staff in full PPE for non-swift water.
Fire cover
Fire prevention advice and rapid intervention teams for SFX, pyrotechnics and builds.
Insured and clinically governed
Strict clinical governance, overseen by a GMC-registered Medical Director and a clinical team including paramedics and frontline medical staff, for consistent care. Insured with £2m medical malpractice and £10m public liability.
Confidential and responsive
Staff work under production NDAs and confidentiality. We endeavour to help all productions, including last-minute requests where possible.
Getting to Brighton
The typical route from Medirek's base in Alfold, Surrey, is via the A281 and A23. Unit base, call times and rendezvous points are agreed when cover is booked. We endeavour to help all productions, including last-minute requests where possible.
Frequently asked questions
Can you provide safety cover for a scene in the sea at Brighton?
Medirek's water safety service is for non-swift water. For sea scenes, talk to Medirek early: the council asks for a risk assessment and extra safety measures, and Medirek can help plan them with you and the Seafront Office.
Can you write the risk assessment for a Brighton permit?
Yes. Medirek can write production-specific risk assessments and method statements for your Brighton locations.
Who handles filming permits in Brighton?
The Sussex Film Office handles filming on outdoor council-owned land in Brighton & Hove, and advises on road closures and parking suspensions.
How far are you from Brighton?
Medirek is based in Alfold on the Surrey and West Sussex border, with Brighton reached via the A281 and A23.
Can you provide a production safety advisor for a shoot in Brighton?
Yes. Medirek's production safety advisors can attend the tech recce in Brighton, write production-specific risk assessments and method statements for your permit applications, and provide an on-site safety manager, water safety and fire cover, alongside or separate from medical cover.
More filming locations nearby
Further reading: The most filmed towns and counties in the South and South East