Events and ConcertsPanto coach hire is the easy answer to a very Scottish Christmas question: how do you get thirty pupils, a works team or three generations of one family to the theatre and home again, without anyone missing the jokes because they’re worrying about parking? The first of Glasgow’s big pantos opens on 18 November. December weekends and school matinees are popular times for group trips, so it’s worth booking your seats and your coach at the same time.
Below you’ll find the pantos we’d happily drive a group to this season, with every date checked against the venue’s own listings, plus a few tips for getting everyone there and back without any fuss. Oh yes you will.
Why Groups Choose a Coach for Panto Night
Panto starts the moment you leave the house. Put everyone on one coach and nobody drives, nobody gets lost, and you can hand the tickets out on board instead of on a cold pavement outside the theatre. Counting heads takes seconds. The trip home becomes part of the night rather than a long wait for taxis.
Then there’s parking. City centre theatres weren’t built for groups arriving in a convoy of cars, and on a December Saturday you’ll feel it. The Pavilion, for example, points visitors to the Concert Square car park as its nearest option. Fine for a couple. Less fun with a P5 class.
With a coach, the driver drops you at the door and picks you up again once the curtain comes down. We run vehicles from 19 to 74 seats, so the same service works for a family outing or a whole year group.
Pantos Within Easy Reach of East Kilbride and Glasgow This Season
Here’s the 2026 line up. The chart shows where the runs overlap, which helps if your group can only manage certain weeks.
King’s Theatre Glasgow: Aladdin
Aladdin is this year’s King’s Theatre panto, on from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. For plenty of Glasgow families, this one is simply part of Christmas. ATG Tickets has a family rate on selected performances, so check that before you book.
Pavilion Theatre Glasgow: Goldilocks and the Three Bonnie Bears
Goldilocks and the Three Bonnie Bears runs at the Pavilion from 26 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, with Liam Dolan and Grado back in the cast. The run goes well into January, which is handy if your group can’t get a night out before Christmas.
Tron Theatre Glasgow: The Snaw Queen
The Snaw Queen marks four decades of panto at the Tron. It opens on 18 November and runs to 31 December 2026, earlier than the other big city centre shows, so it suits a late November outing.
Rutherglen Town Hall: Sleeping Beauty
A short run up the road from East Kilbride, Rutherglen Town Hall is staging Sleeping Beauty, with school performances on 9 and 10 December at 9:45am and 1pm, then public shows from 18 to 23 December. South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture lists a price of £12 a head for groups of 20 or more, plus a booking fee. For a school or a youth club, that’s hard to beat.
East Kilbride Arts Centre: Dick Whittington
Closer still, East Kilbride Arts Centre has Dick Whittington on from 9 to 13 December 2026. It’s a smaller venue, which suits community groups and clubs who want something local.
Gaiety Theatre, Ayr: Dick Whittington
Down the coast, the Gaiety in Ayr has given Dick Whittington a Scottish pirate makeover. It runs from 27 November 2026 to 2 January 2027 with plenty of afternoon matinees, so you could easily make a day of it.
King’s Theatre Edinburgh: The Adventures of Pinocchio
Fancy the capital? Allan Stewart and Grant Stott star in The Adventures of Pinocchio at the King’s Theatre Edinburgh from 28 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. Capital Theatres has a group booking line for parties of eight or more.
Panto Trips for Schools
Teachers have enough on in December without worrying about transport. Every Hire Society driver holds up to date PVG clearance, and we’re an approved supplier for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). Our coaches are single deck with seat belts, so staff can keep an eye on the whole group.
We’ll help with the paperwork side too: journey planning, risk assessments and itinerary advice. If you’re taking a whole year group, the Rutherglen school performances on 9 and 10 December are worth pencilling in. You’ll find more on our school coach hire page and in our school trip organisers’ guide.
Choosing the Right Coach Size for Your Panto Group
Numbers decide it. As a rough guide:
- A 19 seat vehicle suits a family get together, a small club or a team night out.
- A 53 or 55 seat coach suits a class, a church group or a sports club with parents.
- Our 74 seat Mercedes Benz Tourismo takes a whole year group or a big works party in one go.
The 74 seater is also PSVAR compliant, with low entry access and kneeling suspension, which makes life easier for anyone using a wheelchair or a walking aid. You can read more about accessible coach hire, or browse our fleet. Bigger group than that? We can send more than one coach.
Planning Tips for a Smooth Panto Trip
A few things that make panto day run smoothly:
- Get your theatre tickets first. Then send us the venue, show time, numbers and pick up points, and we’ll quote.
- Leave extra time for December traffic in town, especially at weekends.
- Pick one meeting spot outside the theatre for after the show, so the head count takes a minute.
- Mention anyone who needs step free access, so we send the right vehicle.
- Want to make a day of it? Add a Christmas market or a meal before the show. Planning the work night out as well? Our Christmas party coach hire guide has you covered.
Book Your Panto Coach Hire with Hire Society
Hire Society has been moving groups around Scotland for over 25 years from our base in East Kilbride. School matinee, works night out or family treat, our professional drivers will get everyone there and home again safely.
Send us your theatre, date, show time and group size, and we’ll come back with a clear quote. Get a quote online, find out more about private coach hire, or call us on 0141 641 5222.
Panto Coach Hire: Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should we book panto coach hire?
As soon as your theatre tickets are confirmed. December evenings and weekends are a busy time for group travel, so the earlier you get in touch, the easier it is to secure the right vehicle for your group.
Can you plan the pick up around our show times?
Yes. When you ask for a quote, tell us the venue, the start time and roughly when the show finishes, and we’ll plan the drop off and collection around your performance.
What size coach do we need for a school panto trip?
It depends on numbers. A 53 or 55 seat coach suits most single classes with staff, while our 74 seat coach can take a whole year group. For larger groups, we can arrange more than one coach.
Are your drivers PVG checked for school trips?
Yes. Every Hire Society driver holds up to date PVG clearance, and we’re an approved supplier for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.
Can you take our group to the panto in Edinburgh or Ayr?
Yes, we travel all over Scotland, so the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh or the Gaiety in Ayr is no problem. Just give us your pick up points when you ask for a quote.
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