Not every move we do at ESV Removals Ltd goes straight from one front door to the next. Across Brighton and Sussex, completion dates slip, chains stall and new builds run late, so your furniture needs somewhere safe to wait in between.
One question has come up time and again:
Do you offer storage?
That is why we work with Big Yellow Self Storage in Brighton and Hove, so you get complete removals and storage in Brighton from one local team, with one quote covering your door, the van and your unit.
At A Glance
Collection and storage can happen in one afternoon if the unit is booked first: A two bedroom flat into Big Yellow Brighton takes us just under five hours from first box to locked unit. The slow part is never the driving. It is arriving without a confirmed room, a signed licence or a padlock, so sort all three before moving day.
Pick the unit size from an inventory, not from a guess: Most two bedroom flats need 75 to 100 square feet. Too small means a second booking and a second trip, and too large means paying for empty space. Send us a room by room list or a video survey and we will confirm the size, and how to stack it so you can still reach things later.
At ESV we handle both ends of the storage move: We collect, load and stack your unit, then bring everything back on the date you choose. Our Goods in Transit cover of up to £40,000 per vehicle protects your belongings until they are inside the unit, and Big Yellow's own contents protection takes over from there, so sort it when you sign the licence. Peter is your direct contact throughout on 07552 555 820.
Why Use Big Yellow For Storage During A Move?
Big Yellow gives you a staffed, alarmed and CCTV monitored store within a short drive of any Brighton or Hove address. That is why we use it for house move storage in Brighton: we can collect, drive and load your unit in one run, often in a single afternoon.
Not every storage facility in Brighton suits a removals run. We need a loading bay the van can sit on, lifts big enough for a loaded trolley and staff who can have the room open when we arrive. Big Yellow Brighton ticks all three.
The Brighton store has 24/7 externally monitored CCTV, and every storage room is individually alarmed, with access from your phone through Big Yellow's StorID app. Staff are on site seven days a week during trading hours, and two large automated lifts carry passengers and goods, so a loaded trolley goes straight up to your floor. Rooms run from a 9 square foot locker up to 400 square feet, which covers anything from a few boxes to a full home.
We use both stores. Big Yellow Brighton, at 2 Coombe Road off the Lewes Road (BN2 4EA), is our first choice for collections across central and east Brighton, from Kemptown and Hanover up to Moulsecoomb and Hollingbury. Big Yellow Hove, at 270A Old Shoreham Road (BN3 7EG), is the shorter run for removals in Hove and Portslade, Hangleton and Hove Park.
We have seen first hand the difference between a good storage facility and a great one. At Big Yellow Brighton, Simeon and the team have the paperwork ready and the room open when the van arrives, and they never upsell you into a bigger room than you need. That saves you money on the unit and time on moving day.
I deal with storage companies regularly, and Big Yellow Brighton is the one I recommend for a house move. The room is ready when we arrive, the lifts take a full trolley and nobody pushes you into more space than you need.
Source: Peter Hawes, Director, ESV Removals Ltd
How Does A Move Into Big Yellow Storage Work?
One local removals team handles the whole job, from your doorstep to your Big Yellow room and back again when you are ready. Here is how it works:
Free quote or video survey: Send us a room by room list or a short video walkthrough. We will quote the move, confirm the unit size you need and liaise with Big Yellow on timing, so the room is ready on the day.
Packing and preparation: We can supply boxes, tape and wrap for you to pack yourself, or do the full packing for you. Either way, tell us at quote stage, because boxed items stack far more tightly in a unit than loose ones, and that can bring the room size down.
Collection and transport: We load your belongings into the Sprinter or the Luton, depending on the size of the move, and drive them straight to Big Yellow Brighton or Hove. Everything is blanketed and strapped in the van, so nothing shifts on the way.
Load in and unit setup: We stack your unit with heavy items low and at the back, fragile pieces where nothing can be stacked on them, and the things you might need before redelivery at the front, with a clear walkway where the room allows.
Optional redelivery: When your keys come through, we collect from your unit and deliver to your new home on the date you choose, rebuilding beds and wardrobes as they come off the van.
It is the same crew and the same standards as our house removals in Brighton and Hove, with a storage stop in the middle.
Why Use One Team For Your Move And Your Storage Unit?
Lack of space at home is still the main reason people rent storage, according to the Self Storage Association’s 2026 industry report, but moving house is close behind.
The SSA Annual Report 2026 found 34% of domestic storage needs were move-related.
Source: Mover Alerts, The key drivers behind self storage usage
Booking the move and the unit together through our storage services in Brighton and Hove gets you more than convenience:
No double handling: Your belongings go from your home to your unit on one van with one crew, so nothing is unloaded at a depot and reloaded onto another vehicle along the way.
Time savings: We liaise with Big Yellow on the room size and timing, so you are not driving loads over yourself or chasing two companies for updates.
Right size, first time: We size the unit from your inventory, so you are not paying for empty space or booking a second room halfway through the move.
Secure and insured: We carry £40,000 Goods in Transit per vehicle and £5 million Public Liability.
Local expertise: We are a Sussex based, family run business, so you deal directly with Peter, not a call centre.
A move with a storage gap in the middle has more moving parts than a straight move, so we keep you updated at every stage, from booking the room to the redelivery date. It is the same care behind our hundreds of five star reviews. If you are unsure whether to go local or national, our guide on choosing a local Brighton removals company explains the difference.
A Real Example: Kemptown Flat To Big Yellow Storage In One Afternoon
We helped a couple living in Kemptown who were between homes. Their new place was not ready yet, so they needed short term storage during a move for a two bedroom flat's worth of furniture, with a redelivery date that depended on when their keys came through.
From first box to locked unit took us just under five hours. We had pre-arranged a 75 square foot room with Big Yellow Brighton, so it was open when the van arrived and they were not paying for space they did not need. When their keys came through, we redelivered everything on the agreed date.
Every storage move we do follows the same plan: room booked, licence signed, one run in and one run out. For more storage case studies, see our Laughton to Lewes storage move, our Lewes to Brighton self storage pack and move and our Lewes to Henfield storage move for a longer term store.
What Size Storage Unit Do You Need?
Most two bedroom flats need 75 to 100 square feet. Here are the most common room sizes at Big Yellow Brighton and Hove, what each one usually holds and the van we would normally send:
25 sq ft: Kitchen appliances, a single mattress and a few chairs, or a room's worth of boxes. One Sprinter run.
50 sq ft: A standard studio flat. One Sprinter run.
75 sq ft: A large one bedroom flat or a small two bedroom flat. The Sprinter for a one bedroom load, the Luton for a two bedroom.
100 sq ft: A standard two bedroom flat or house. One Ford Transit Luton load.
125 sq ft: A large two bedroom or small three bedroom house. One Luton load, or a second part-loaded run for a small three bedroom house.
150 sq ft: A large three bedroom house. One full Luton load, often with a second part-loaded run.
200 sq ft: A large four bedroom house. Two or more Luton loads.
Bulky items shift these numbers more than the number of bedrooms does. A corner sofa, an American fridge freezer or wardrobes that cannot be dismantled can push you up a size. Send us your inventory and we will confirm the right room, and tell you if a smaller one will do.
Student Storage In Brighton Between Terms
If you are heading home for the summer or moving between student houses, a student room's worth of boxes usually fits in 25 square feet or less. Our student removals in Brighton collect from your halls or house, store everything in a unit and redeliver it when you are back. Our moving guide for Brighton students explains how we plan those moves, and it works at short notice too: our Brighton student move booked from abroad was packed, cleared and into storage on a same day booking.
You only pay for the space and the time you actually need. Your things are covered by our Goods in Transit on the van and by Big Yellow's contents protection once they are in the unit, so arrange that when you book.
What Happens On The Day Of A Storage Move?
Highly recommend Peter and his crew. They are incredibly professional, friendly, and efficient. The move from the storage unit to my new house was seamless and stress-free with their help. All of the boxes were transported quickly and handled with care. Thank you again!
On moving day we arrive with blankets, straps and covers, and load the van so the things that go to the back of your unit come off first. At Big Yellow Brighton or Hove, reception handles the paperwork while the van sits on the loading bay. Then we trolley everything up in the lifts and stack your room.
If you have booked our removals packing service or furniture dismantling, we do that first, so beds and wardrobes go into the unit flat and take up less room. Fragile or high value items such as art, electronics or instruments are wrapped and placed where nothing can be stacked on them later.
You are welcome to come and see your unit once it is stacked, and we can meet you there to walk you through where everything is.
Local Pro Tip: Checking Out of Big Yellow? We Can Often Clear the Last Load First
The teams at Big Yellow Brighton and Hove know us well, so when you check out of a unit they will often let us take the last load and head off before they do the final empty unit check. On a busy moving day, that keeps the job tighter on the clock.
Ready To Book Your Storage Move?
If you are planning a full move anywhere in Sussex, our page on house removals across Sussex explains how we plan access, timings and the right van for your route. Not sure which company to go with? Our guide on how to choose a calm, reliable Brighton removals team covers what to look for.
Call Peter on 07552 555 820, message us on WhatsApp or request a quote online. Tell us your moving date, how long you need storage for and roughly what is going in, and we will handle the whole job, from packing to storage in Brighton and Hove to redelivery. You can also see recent Brighton storage runs and moving days before you book.
Key Terms For Moving Into Storage
Self Storage
A lockable room you rent inside a staffed, managed facility such as Big Yellow, used to keep furniture, boxes and household items for as short or as long as you need.
Storage Unit Size
The floor area of the room you rent, measured in square feet. At Big Yellow Brighton, rooms run from a 9 square foot locker up to 400 square feet, and most two bedroom flats need 75 to 100.
Unit Setup
How a storage unit is stacked: heavy items low and at the back, fragile pieces where nothing can be stacked on them, and anything you may need before redelivery at the front.
Redelivery
Bringing your items back out of storage and into your new home on the date you choose.
Goods in Transit Insurance
Cover for your belongings while they are loaded, driven and placed into the storage unit, and again when they are collected from storage and redelivered. ESV carries Goods in Transit cover of up to £40,000 per vehicle as standard.
Contents Protection
The cover for your belongings once they are inside a self storage unit. Big Yellow asks every customer to take its own contents protection or show proof of an equivalent policy before storing, as set out in Big Yellow's contents protection FAQs.
Storage Licence
The agreement you sign with Big Yellow to rent your room. You are the named customer on it, so you need your ID to sign it. It has to be signed before the van arrives if you want collection and storage done in one afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving Into Storage In Brighton
Where can I store furniture during a house move in Sussex?
For a short gap between homes we use Big Yellow Brighton on Coombe Road and Big Yellow Hove on Old Shoreham Road, and for longer gaps we use Henfield Storage.
Big Yellow suits a few days to a few weeks. Both stores are a short run from anywhere in Brighton and Hove, which keeps a same afternoon load, drive and stack realistic.
Henfield Storage suits longer gaps, such as a chain that has stalled or a renovation that will run for months. Either way we collect, load the unit and redeliver, so one removals team handles both ends.
Tell us how long the gap is likely to be at quote stage and we will recommend the store and the unit size.
Can you collect and store on the same day, and how long does it take?
Yes. A two bedroom flat into Big Yellow Brighton takes us just under five hours from first box to locked unit, provided the room is booked and the licence signed before we arrive.
That was the timing on a Kemptown job where a couple between homes went into a 75 square foot room in one afternoon. Smaller loads run shorter. A three bedroom house usually needs a longer window or a second run, depending on access at the collection end.
The slow part is never the driving. It is arriving without a confirmed room, a signed licence or a padlock. You are the named customer on the licence, but we liaise with the branch on size and timing so the room is open when the van lands.
Completion day is the usual pressure point, so tell us early if your timings are still moving and we will build slack into the plan.
How do I choose the right storage unit size, and which van will you use?
Pick the unit size from an inventory, never from a guess. Too small means a second booking, and too large means paying for space you never fill.
As a rough guide, a studio or one bedroom flat needs 50 to 75 square feet, a two bedroom flat or small house 75 to 100, a three bedroom house 125 to 150 and a four bedroom house 150 to 200.
We match the van to the unit. A studio or one bedroom load usually goes in the Sprinter, and anything from a two bedroom flat upwards goes in the Luton, whose tail lift matters when white goods, sofas and wardrobes are going into a unit.
Send us a room by room list or a short video walkthrough and we will confirm the unit size, the van and the number of runs before you commit.
Is my move insured in the van and once my items are in the unit?
Our Goods in Transit cover protects your belongings until they are placed inside the unit, and Big Yellow's own contents protection applies from then on.
Our Goods in Transit cover of up to £40,000 per vehicle applies while we load, drive and place your belongings into the unit, and again when we collect from storage and redeliver to your new home. Our £5 million Public Liability covers accidental damage or injury linked to the work at the property, including communal areas and stairwells.
Big Yellow asks every customer to take its contents protection or show proof of their own policy with equivalent cover before storing. Sort that at the same time as the licence and there is no gap on moving day.
Can you store fragile or high value items like art, instruments or electronics?
We can store fragile and high value items provided you flag them before we load, because placement inside the unit matters as much as the wrapping.
If any single item is worth £500 or more, tell us upfront so we can record it, wrap it correctly and confirm how it is covered before it goes into the van.
Art, instruments and electronics are the usual ones. In a unit they need to sit where nothing heavy can be stacked on them weeks later, so we position them deliberately rather than fitting them in at the end. Flagging them early also affects the unit size, since a protected item often needs clear space around it.
What if my completion date changes and I need short term storage in Brighton?
Short term storage is exactly what this setup is built for, and it is the most common reason our Brighton customers use it.
If keys do not line up, we move your belongings into Big Yellow Brighton or Hove and redeliver on your chosen date, rebuilding beds and wardrobes when they come back out.
We can also split the load, sending essentials straight to the new address and the rest into storage on the same run. Tell us before loading which items go where, because the van is packed in reverse order of delivery.
The main thing is to tell us as soon as a date starts to wobble. A room booked with a few days in hand is easy to arrange.
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. Peter first worked in removals in 2019, started running his own van in 2022 and incorporated ESV Removals Ltd in 2025. He holds a 2:1 BA (Hons) in English Literature and Digital Media from the University of Brighton. Peter oversees every job 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 £40,000 Goods in Transit per vehicle and £5 million Public Liability, backed by hundreds of five star Google reviews and was a double winner at the SME Southern Enterprise Awards 2025, with a further nomination for 2026. The company's eco pledge covers a Euro 6, ULEZ compliant Luton, Esso Ethos+ renewable diesel where available, box reuse and paperless bookings. ESV is signed up to the Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign, led by Brighton Chamber, and pays every crew member at least the real Living Wage, because a valued team takes more care on every move. Learn more at www.eastsussexvan.com or follow real move days on Instagram.
