Local Brighton Taxi Drivers Struggle Amid Rising Out-of-Town Private Hire Competition

Brighton has always been a busy city. Early-morning airport runs. Late-night lifts home when the buses thin out and the seafront finally goes quiet. Taxis sit in the middle of it all, quietly keeping things stitched together. But drivers say that balance is slipping. Slowly. Then all at once.

Since Covid, the number of locally licensed taxi and private hire drivers in Brighton and Hove has dropped hard. Before the lockdowns, there were around 1,800 drivers on the books. Now it’s closer to 1,100. That’s not a small dip. That’s a chunk gone. Fewer drivers on the road, while demand — especially for airport trips — keeps climbing.

Rail delays haven’t helped. Engineering works. Cancellations. Last-minute changes. Passengers don’t always trust the train anymore, not when a flight’s involved. So they turn to taxis. Or private cars. Especially for those awkward early departures and late arrivals. The result is more vehicles chasing the same roads, at the same times, squeezing already tight spaces.

Drivers say they feel it most around taxi ranks and bus lanes. Places that are meant to keep things moving are turning into pressure points instead. Ranks are busier. Lanes clog up. Pickup spots become arguments waiting to happen. It doesn’t take much. One car in the wrong place and suddenly everything backs up.

Then there’s the out-of-town issue. More private hire vehicles licensed outside Brighton and Hove are working the city, often through app-based platforms. It’s legal. No one’s denying that. But local drivers argue it’s not equal. They pay higher fees. Follow stricter rules. Fit CCTV. Meet council standards that cost real money. Vehicles licensed elsewhere don’t always have to do the same, yet they’re competing for the same passengers.

Kevin Thomas says:

“Whether its doctor’s appointments, shopping, hospital appointments, helping in the night-time economy, Brighton and Hove taxi drivers and private hire drivers are essential.”

He mentions that public transportation in the city, while usually very strong, does not serve every need. Particularly in the early morning. Or late at night. Or when luggage and time pressure come into play.

Kevin Thomas also says

"Before Covid there were around 1,800 licensed drivers here. Now it’s less than 1,100. One of the major reasons is the influx of private hire vehicles licensed by other authorities working in Brighton through app-based operators."

The misuse of taxi ranks has become a particular sore point. Only licensed hackney carriages are allowed to wait there for street pickups. In theory. In reality, drivers say ranks are being used by vehicles that shouldn’t be stopping at all. Bus lanes tell a similar story. Designed to keep traffic flowing, they’re now often blocked during peak travel times, especially near Brighton station.

For airport passengers, all of this matters more than it might seem. A few minutes lost trying to find a pickup point. A delay caused by congestion around a rank. A longer wait because there simply aren’t enough local drivers available. When you’re watching the clock before a flight, small problems feel bigger.

Fare confusion has added another layer. Drivers say there are cases where passengers pay high prices for long journeys — Brighton to London airports, for example — while the driver ends up receiving far less once platform fees are deducted. Passengers don’t always realise. Drivers don’t always know either, until the trip’s done. It leaves a bad taste on both sides.

Labour councillor Trevor Muten says

"The council values the professionalism of its licensed drivers and encourages collaboration to address issues like bus lane obstruction and illegal ranking, while also supporting cleaner air and a more accessible city."

He added that information from drivers about illegal activity around ranks and busy areas such as Brighton station was welcome, and that fare transparency would be raised through the local taxi forum.

It is simple, if not optimal, advice for travelers. It is simple advice for a reason. It is optimal advice only in its simplicity. Plan in advance. Allow for longer times than you think you need. Check where you will be collected, most importantly for airport transfers. The taxi system in Brighton is still functioning. It is functioning, but at present, it is functioning against the grain.