Men drive 50 miles to London with 50 litres of water in ‘hosepipe ban hack’

The pair handed out 50 litres of water to around 100 London gardeners amid the hosepipe ban – by transporting it from a non-hosepipe ban area

Two men transported 50 litres of ‘legal hosepipe water’ a distance of 51 miles to London, distributing it free of charge to assist gardeners struggling during the ongoing drought – in a hosepipe ban ‘life hack’.

Creative partners George Lazarides, 30, and Joe Pattern, 27, loaded 25 two-litre bottles of water into their car and made the journey from Brighton to London on August 10.

The London-based duo set up outside Croxted Road Garden Centre and Stockwell station, distributing the water labelled ‘legal hose pipe water’ alongside handy water-saving advice.

Approximately 10 million households across London have been subject to a hosepipe ban since July 23 2026, as the UK braces itself for its fifth heatwave. Brighton, however, remains unaffected by any hosepipe restrictions. Determined to make a statement, George and Joe decided to transport the water to London specifically for the city’s gardeners.

George, who works in advertising, told Talk to the Press: “We saw that in London there is a hosepipe ban and in Brighton there is not, but the whole county is drought ridden.

“We wanted to make a point against the water companies on unfair bans and we also wanted to help Londoners and to try to ensure that they could look after their gardens and their green spaces properly.

“It was partly a joke and partly trying to be helpful. It is strange one county has a hosepipe ban and another doesn’t.”

George drove to Brighton on Sunday evening with Joe, where the pair filled 25 bottles with 50 litres of water, utilising a friend’s hosepipe before heading back to London. The pair then made the 51-mile journey back to London on Monday, distributing water to approximately 100 people along the way.

George commented: “We got a good response so we will definitely do it again. We knew that there was going to be another heatwave coming. And so we wanted to respond to that.

“When we spoke to people and gardeners they were saying how frustrated they were with the hosepipe ban.”

Nine water companies have introduced hosepipe bans throughout the UK, affecting nearly 26 million people. The restrictions prohibit the use of hosepipes for watering gardens, washing cars, allotments, filling paddling pools or swimming pools, or cleaning windows.

Water companies enforce these measures to preserve sufficient water supplies for drinking, vulnerable individuals, and essential purposes.

Those found flouting the regulations face fines of up to £1,000.