December has been a busy and very satisfying end to the year. We have helped families move across Brighton and Hove before Christmas, supported last minute student and flat moves and kept long distance removals running smoothly through winter weather. As always we have focused on calm planning, careful loading and a genuine five star removal service across Google and the other platforms we’re rated on.
Moving home ranks among life’s most stressful experiences, ahead of childbirth, job interviews and dental procedures, according to a 2025 UK survey for Compare My Move.
Our handyman and snag list eliminator service has continued to prove its worth, and we have used our Brighton and Sussex man and van options to keep smaller jobs affordable without compromising on care.
If you are ready to book your Brighton or Sussex removals, call Peter on 07552 555 820 and speak directly to the person who will run your move.
December 2025 Brighton & Sussex Removals At A Glance
This month we have completed a steady mix of local Brighton removals, wider Sussex house moves, man and van work and long distance moves to and from Scotland and the Midlands. A good proportion of our bookings have been from returning customers or personal recommendations, which always means a lot. We have added more five star reviews to our existing ratings on Google and other platforms and the themes are the same calm communication, careful handling and fair pricing.
For anyone new to us we are a family run Brighton removals company. Customers deal directly with Peter from first enquiry through to move day so nothing gets lost in translation and you always know who is turning up at your door. ESV Removals Ltd trades locally as East Sussex Van and we focus on calm, careful moving days rather than trying to rush through as many jobs as possible.
Job Highlight: Edinburgh to Brighton 2 Luton Van Move
One of the standout jobs this month was a full Edinburgh to Brighton house move. The clients were relocating from a traditional Edinburgh home with bay windows and a good flight of stairs down to a Brighton property, so we planned it as a two van four man job. Two Mercedes Lutons gave us the volume we needed for furniture, boxes, garage items and a home gym set up, without trying to squeeze everything into one overloaded vehicle.
We started in Edinburgh with a full walk through and load plan. Floors, stairs and bannisters were protected, large furniture was wrapped, and anything that needed reassembly at the Brighton end was clearly labelled. While two of the team focused on steady, safe loading, the other two kept an eye on parking and neighbours so we stayed a good guest on the street.
The family were moving with two small bulldogs who were very interested in the process. They spent most of move morning trotting between boxes and beds, checking that all their things and both dog beds were definitely going into the right van. For long runs like Edinburgh to Brighton we often recommend the Caledonian Sleeper as a calm way for families and pets to travel while we do the heavy driving, but on this job everyone chose to arrive by road and time their journey to meet us at the new house.
The Caledonian Sleeper describes itself as “a unique way to travel between Scotland and London – enjoy your own private room, save money on a hotel night and travel while you sleep.” - Caledonian Sleeper
On arrival in Brighton both vans were able to park close to the property, which made unloading more efficient. We used dollies and sack barrows to protect paths and worked room by room so that beds, sofas and the main storage pieces were in place first. By late afternoon the house was in usable shape rather than just full of boxes and the dogs had found their beds again in their new favourite corner.
Planning your own Edinburgh to Brighton or long distance Brighton removal? Visit www.eastsussexvan.com for a quick quote, or ring Peter on 07552 555 820 to talk through your move, and follow us on Instagram for real Brighton and Sussex removals clips, tips and updates.
Handyman Highlight: The Peloton Treadmill
This Edinburgh to Brighton move also gave our handyman and snag list eliminator service a chance to shine. We were asked to assemble a new Peloton treadmill and sort a few extra jobs at the Brighton property. We also assembled two ottoman beds and plumbed in the washing machine so the main rooms were properly usable from day one. It's always worth making sure the company you go with has public liability insurance if they're offering plumbing or handyman services.
Local Removals Tip: Public Liability Insurance Matters
When you compare Brighton and Sussex removals quotes, always ask about public liability insurance. If something is accidentally damaged in communal areas, on the street or in your building’s shared spaces, you want to know the removals company is properly covered. We carry £5 million public liability insurance as standard on every Brighton and Sussex removal, which means you, your neighbours and your landlord have an extra layer of protection built into move day.
Once the boxes were in and the main furniture was placed, one of the team set aside time to build and test the Peloton treadmill. That meant unpacking the frame, bolting everything together correctly, checking the electrics, levelling the machine on the wooden floor and making sure the console and safety stop were working as they should. By the time we left, the clients had a fully set up treadmill, dumbbells in their rack, both ottoman beds built and a working washing machine, with a clear floor space ready for the first workout in their new Brighton home.
Jobs like this are exactly why we launched our handyman and snag list eliminator service. It turns the end of a long distance move into a proper first day at home rather than leaving people with a pile of flat pack and no energy to deal with it.
Local Business Spotlight: Harveys Self Drive Hurstpierpoint
For the Edinburgh to Brighton move we needed an extra Luton to run alongside our own van. When a job calls for a third or fourth vehicle we either bring in trusted independent contractors or rent an additional van, and our go to rental partner for years has been Harveys Self Drive in Hurstpierpoint.
Harveys run a fleet of well maintained vans and trucks from their base just outside Burgess Hill and we have hired from them many times for large Brighton removals and long distance moves. For this job their Luton joined our own, giving us the capacity we needed without compromising on the pacing of the day or the standard of the vehicles.
As an independent Brighton and Sussex removals company with a living wage pledge, partnerships like this matter. It means that when you book a big move with us, more of what you spend stays with independent Sussex businesses rather than disappearing into a national chain.
Planning a Brighton removal, Sussex removal or need a Brighton man and van or Sussex man and van? Head to our homepage at www.eastsussexvan.com and get your quote started today.
Job Highlight: Sussex House Moves and Clearances
Alongside the Scotland run we completed a full house clearance in Laughton near Lewes from a large family property into Laughton Self Storage and a second rented unit. This was a multi load day rather than a single straight move. The brief was to clear the house carefully, separate what was going into longer term storage and then stack both units so everything stayed accessible and protected.
The job was a real mix. There were standout mid century designer furniture pieces alongside standard household items lots of boxes, mattresses, smaller cabinets and everyday goods. We wrapped and protected the designer furniture separately, planned the loads so the most fragile and valuable items travelled in the best positions on the van and made sure the mattresses and bulkier pieces were stacked in a way that would not crush anything else.
Access at the house and at the storage site was straightforward, so we ran a few steady loads back and forth rather than trying to overload the van. By the end of the day the Laughton property was clear, both storage units were neatly packed and labelled, and the client could see at a glance where the important items were for when they are ready to bring everything back out again.
Job Highlight: Sprinter Run to Big Yellow Nottingham
We also had a neat storage job this month that showed how useful our Sprinter and “driver only” option can be. A regular customer needed the contents of a Big Yellow unit moved up to Big Yellow Nottingham, but could not travel themselves. Because we are trusted and reliable, they were happy to give us access details and let us handle the full job without them on site.
Big Yellow Self Storage operates over 100 conveniently located storage facilities across the UK, and is widely used when people are moving house or need extra space during projects.
We sent one experienced driver in our Mercedes Sprinter rather than a Luton. For this kind of job the Sprinter is ideal. It still has plenty of capacity for boxed belongings and furniture, but the better fuel consumption keeps the overall cost down compared to running a larger Luton the whole way. The driver cleared the original unit carefully, loaded everything with blankets and straps, then headed straight up to Nottingham to unload into the new Big Yellow storage room, stacking and labelling so the customer could find things easily later.
Big Yellow Self Storage Brighton are our long term partners for local storage, and this run to Big Yellow Nottingham was a good example of how that relationship scales. Whether it is Brighton, Nottingham or elsewhere in the network, we can combine our Brighton and Sussex man and van service with Big Yellow’s sites to give customers a simple, joined up removals and storage solution without them needing to be there on the day.
Behind The Scenes and Team Updates
Behind the scenes we have spent December finishing the year in a way that sets up 2026 properly. That has meant the usual diary work and van maintenance plus more investment in kit such as extra floor protection, new moving blankets and better straps and dollies for heavy items. We're also getting an extra driver on our insurance for 2026, meaning running two and even three vans will be a breeze.
Local Business Spotlight: Lancing Commercial
Behind every smooth removals day is a van that starts first time, runs properly and stops when it should. For us, a huge part of that this year and every year has been Lancing Commercial. They have kept our vehicles running through one no fault accident and a steady stream of smaller jobs, services, MOTs and “can you just have a quick look at this” checks.
When you run Brighton and Sussex removals all year round you cannot afford long stretches off the road. Lancing Commercial have been brilliant at turning work around quickly without cutting corners, giving us honest advice on what needs doing now and what can sensibly wait, and making sure our Lutons and Sprinter are safe for long distance trips as well as local jobs.
As an independent Brighton and Sussex removals company with a living wage pledge, it matters to us that we work with other regional and local businesses who share the same attitude to service. Using Lancing Commercial for our maintenance and repairs is part of that. It means that when you book us for a house move, man and van job or long distance run, there is a small network of Sussex businesses in the background helping the whole thing stay reliable.
Our aim remains the same. We want to launch one new genuinely helpful service each year while keeping our core Brighton removals and Sussex removals offering simple and reliable. 2024 brought in our storage solutions in partnership with Big Yellow Self Storage Brighton. 2025 saw the launch of our handyman and snag list eliminator service. In 2026 we will continue to refine both and look at the next small improvement that will make moving days even calmer.
We continue to pay at least the living wage and to build the business around staff retention as much as customer retention. Neither you nor we want to work with a different team every week. Keeping familiar faces on the vans, giving people proper rest before and after long distance runs and providing decent overnight accommodation on Scotland jobs all feed directly into the level of care our customers see on move day.
Eco Community Corner
Our eco pledge remains in place. We prioritise Esso Ethos fuel where possible on our routes, we reuse and recycle moving boxes and we offer a take back option for clean reusable boxes once customers have unpacked. Quotes, bookings and invoices are paperless by default which keeps admin lean and reduces waste.
Esso say their Ethos+ 25% Renewable Diesel “contains a minimum of 25% renewable diesel” and offers around “15% lower life cycle greenhouse gas emissions” than regular diesel.
We also keep looking for ways to reduce unnecessary trips to the tip. Where furniture or household items are still in good condition we try to connect customers with local reuse or donation options. It is usually cheaper than multiple waste runs and better for the environment, and it often helps someone else set up a home at the same time. We do not offer general tip runs ourselves, but we are happy to take scrap metal where appropriate and put the proceeds towards our team Christmas party.
Awards and Trust
We currently have 296 five star Google reviews and would love to reach the 300 mark in January 2026. If we have moved you this year and you have not had a chance to leave a review yet, it genuinely helps a small Brighton and Sussex removals company like ours when you share your experience online.
Recent surveys have found that 98% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses, and over half check reviews before committing to a purchase.
Source: Loop Digital Marketing
In other news we are now also on Checkatrade. If you search for ESV Removals Ltd Checkatrade you can find our profile and, if we have worked for you, leave us a review there too. Building a strong, genuine online profile across Google and Checkatrade is a big part of how we keep growing while staying independent and family run.
Moving Tip Of The Month
If you are moving in winter and travelling a long distance, pack a small travel box or bag that stays with you rather than on the van. Include medication, chargers, a change of clothes, wash bag, important documents and anything you might want on a train or overnight stop. That way if there is a delay on the road or rail side you are still comfortable while we look after everything else.
One UK survey found that over half of respondents ranked moving house as the most stressful life event they had ever experienced.
Looking Ahead
As we move into January our diary already contains a mix of Brighton removals, Sussex removals, Scotland runs and more man and van work. We've got jobs from Loughborough to Edinburgh. The end and beginning of the year are popular times to move, especially for people starting new jobs or returning from travelling, so if you are planning a move around Brighton, Hove, Sussex, London or further afield now is a good time to get in touch.
We offer clear pricing, careful planning and a friendly team who treat your belongings and your home with respect. Whether you need a straightforward house move, a long distance relocation or a Brighton or Sussex man and van job for a smaller load, we are here to help.
Ready to plan your next move? Get your Brighton and Sussex removals quote today and let us do the heavy lifting.
Key Terms for Brighton and Sussex Removals
Edinburgh to Brighton removals
In this article, Edinburgh to Brighton removals refers to a full house move from Edinburgh down to Brighton planned as a two van, four man job. It includes stair heavy loading with protection for floors and bannisters, careful wrapping and labelling, and room by room unloading so the new home is usable straight away.
Caledonian Sleeper
The Caledonian Sleeper is the overnight train service between Scotland and London that we often recommend for long distance moves like Edinburgh to Brighton. While we handle the driving and logistics, families and pets can travel in a private cabin, arrive rested and meet us at the new property once the vans are unloaded.
Handyman and snag list eliminator service
Our handyman and snag list eliminator service is the add on featured in this recap where we stay after the main removal to finish all the little jobs. In December that meant building a Peloton treadmill, assembling two ottoman beds and plumbing in a washing machine so the Brighton home was genuinely usable from day one.
Peloton treadmill and home gym setup
The Peloton treadmill and home gym setup in this article is an example of the extra work we carry out alongside removals. One team member unpacked, bolted together, levelled and tested the treadmill, then positioned dumbbells and furniture so the clients had a working gym space ready for their first workout in their new Brighton house.
Laughton house clearance and storage move
The Laughton house clearance describes a full family home being cleared into Laughton Self Storage and a second rented unit. It involved careful separation of mid century designer furniture from standard household items, multiple steady van loads and neatly stacked, clearly labelled storage units so everything remains accessible for the future.
Sussex man and van Sprinter option
The Sussex man and van Sprinter option in this recap is our lighter, fuel efficient service used for storage jobs and smaller loads. Instead of a full Luton crew, a single experienced driver in a Mercedes Sprinter handles professional loading, transport and unloading, which kept the Brighton to Big Yellow Nottingham storage transfer affordable without cutting corners.
Big Yellow Nottingham storage transfer
The Big Yellow Nottingham storage transfer is the job where we moved the contents of a Brighton Big Yellow unit to a new unit at Big Yellow Nottingham without the customer needing to travel. We handled access, loading, the motorway run and careful stacking and labelling at the new site so everything was ready for them later.
Lancing Commercial
Lancing Commercial is the independent commercial garage that keeps our Lutons and Sprinter safe and road ready in this article. They handle servicing, MOTs, accident repairs and quick checks, which is why we can commit to Brighton removals, Sussex removals and Scotland runs without worrying about avoidable mechanical issues.
Esso Ethos fuel
Esso Ethos fuel is the lower impact diesel we prioritise as part of our eco pledge in the recap. Where routes allow, we fill up with Ethos+ 25% Renewable Diesel to help reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions on Brighton and Sussex removals and long distance jobs such as Edinburgh to Brighton.
Public liability insurance (£5 million)
Public liability insurance in this article refers to the £5 million cover we carry on every Brighton and Sussex removal. It is the protection that sits behind work in communal hallways, shared entrances and public areas, giving extra peace of mind to customers, neighbours and landlords if anything is accidentally damaged during the move.
Frequently Asked Questions
What areas do you cover for removals in December and beyond?
We are a Sussex removals company and most of our work is in Brighton, Hove, Lewes, Laughton and the wider Sussex area. This December we have also completed long distance moves to and from Scotland and the Midlands, including a full Edinburgh to Brighton house move and storage runs to Nottingham. If you are moving further afield we are happy to quote for UK wide removals starting or finishing in Brighton and Sussex.
Do you offer Edinburgh to Brighton removals with more than one van?
Yes. The Edinburgh to Brighton job in this recap was a two Luton, four man move. We use multiple vans and a larger crew when the volume or distance makes it the safest and calmest option. Two well loaded Lutons are often better than trying to squeeze everything into one overloaded vehicle, especially when there are stairs, home gym equipment and garage items to manage.
What is your handyman and snag list eliminator service?
Our handyman and snag list eliminator service is designed to finish the job properly at the new address. On the Edinburgh to Brighton move, for example, we assembled a Peloton style treadmill, built two ottoman beds and plumbed in the washing machine once the main removal was complete. The goal is simple: when we leave, your new home is usable from day one rather than full of flat pack and disconnected appliances.
Can you help with house clearances and storage moves in Sussex?
Yes. In December we cleared a large family property in Laughton near Lewes into Laughton Self Storage and a second rented unit. We can handle full or part house clearances where items are going into storage rather than straight to another home. We separate fragile or high value items such as mid century furniture, stack storage units carefully and label everything so it is easy to find when you are ready to bring it back out.
What is the difference between your Brighton and Sussex man and van service and a full removals crew?
Our Sussex man and van service is ideal for smaller loads, storage runs or simple one day journeys where a Sprinter and one experienced driver are enough. A full removals crew with one or more Lutons suits larger house moves and long distance relocations like Edinburgh to Brighton. Using the Sprinter where appropriate keeps fuel costs and pricing sensible while still giving you professional loading and transport.
Can you move items between different Big Yellow Self Storage sites?
We can. Big Yellow Self Storage Brighton are our long term storage partners and in December we moved the contents of a Brighton based unit up to Big Yellow Nottingham using our Sprinter. The customer did not need to travel. We collected from the original unit, transported everything and stacked the Nottingham room neatly so it was ready for them later. The same approach works for other Big Yellow locations and similar storage sites.
Do you work with pets and families who travel separately to the vans?
Yes. Many of our Brighton removals involve pets and family members travelling a different way to the vans. On the Edinburgh to Brighton move the family dogs supervised loading and then met us at the new house. For some Scotland jobs we recommend the Caledonian Sleeper so owners and pets can travel overnight in comfort while we handle the long motorway driving and timings at each end.
How do you keep your Brighton removals eco conscious?
We follow a practical eco pledge. We prioritise Esso Ethos fuel where possible, reuse and recycle moving boxes and offer a take back option for clean reusable boxes once you have unpacked. Quotes, bookings and invoices are paperless by default. We also try to divert good condition furniture and household items towards local reuse or donation routes rather than straight to the tip, although we do not offer licensed waste removal.
How do you keep your vans reliable for long distance and winter moves?
We rely on regular maintenance and trusted local partners. Lancing Commercial look after our Lutons and Sprinter with servicing, MOTs, accident repairs and quick “can you check this” visits, while Harveys Self Drive in Hurstpierpoint supply extra Lutons when we need a third or fourth vehicle. This combination means we can run Brighton removals, Sussex removals and long distance work through winter with well maintained, safe vehicles.
How do I get a quote and when should I book my move?
For Brighton removals, Sussex removals, Edinburgh to Brighton runs or man and van work, it is best to get in touch as soon as you have a likely date, especially around Christmas and New Year when diaries fill quickly. You can call Peter on 07552 555 820 or visit www.eastsussexvan.com to start your quote. A short description of what needs moving, plus photos or a quick video, is usually enough for us to provide a clear fixed price.
About the author...
Peter Hawes is the director of ESV Removals Ltd, a family run Brighton and Sussex removals team known for calm planning, careful handling and clear prices. He holds a 2:1 BA (Hons) in English Literature and Digital Media from the University of Brighton. Peter oversees every move from first message to the last box and brings local know-how for permit zones, tight stairwells and seafront buildings. ESV is fully insured with £20,000 Goods in Transit and £5 million Public Liability, backed by hundreds of five star Google reviews. The company follows an eco pledge that prioritises Esso Ethos fuel where available, reuses boxes and runs paperless bookings. Learn more at www.eastsussexvan.com
