A significant power outage disrupted parts of Kemptown and Brighton Marina just after 5 p.m. on New Year’s Day, affecting several popular venues and residential areas. The blackout impacted establishments including the cinema, gym, Bowlplex, casino, and McDonald’s, leaving customers and staff scrambling to adapt as emergency lighting activated.
Sudden Power Loss Leaves Venues Scrambling
At Cineworld, staff swiftly evacuated moviegoers, some of whom had barely settled into their seats, with films halted just 10 minutes into screening. Over at the Bowlplex, the lack of electricity rendered bowling lanes and arcade machines inoperable, prompting staff to usher patrons out for safety reasons.
Casino-goers faced a unique predicament as those in the middle of placing bets were left waiting in suspense until power returned. Fortunately, the outage at commercial establishments was relatively brief, with power restored by 5:28 p.m., allowing most operations to resume smoothly.
Traffic and Delays in the Car Park Chaos
The outage also plunged car park lighting into darkness, creating gridlock as a surge of customers tried to leave simultaneously. Many reported being stuck for over 30 minutes as the sheer volume of vehicles attempting to exit overwhelmed the system. Also the traffic lights failed near by adding to the traffic issues.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s quickly adapted once power returned, firing up grills to serve waiting customers. Casino staff confirmed that roulette games resumed without incident, much to the relief of those placing bets.
Residential Areas Face Extended Delays
While commercial power was restored relatively quickly, several nearby residential properties experienced extended outages, with some homes remaining without power until just after 10 p.m. Residents expressed frustration at the delay, though UK Power Networks clarified the necessity of the shutdown.
“We had to turn off power in the area so engineers could safely carry out emergency repairs to the network,” the company stated.
