Bespoke Wooden Signs in
Brighton & Sussex

Handcrafted wooden signage for shops, pubs and businesses. Designed, made and finished to last, indoors or out.

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CUSTOM WOODEN SIGNS, MADE IN BRIGHTON

Not every business wants a brushed aluminium fascia or a backlit lightbox. For a lot of the independents, pubs and creative businesses that make Brighton what it is, wooden signage is the right fit. It has a warmth and a sense of craft that other materials simply do not replicate, and when it is made well, it tells people something about the business before they have even read the name.

At Odysea Signs, we design and produce bespoke wooden signage for businesses across Brighton, Hove and Sussex. Whether you need a hanging pub sign, a shopfront fascia in painted timber, an engraved door plate or a weatherproof outdoor sign, we handle the design, manufacture and installation from our base at Hove Enterprise Centre.

Every sign is made around your brief. There are no catalogue options and nothing off the shelf.

15+

Years of signage experience

100%

Custom, tailored designs

200+

Projects

Fast

Turnaround on quotes

OUR WOODEN SIGN SERVICES

We make a range of wooden signs for different settings and purposes. If what you need is not listed here, get in touch and we will advise on what is possible.

Wooden Shop Signs and Fascias
A painted or stained timber fascia gives a shopfront a character that vinyl wrapping and composite materials rarely match. Particularly well suited to independent retailers, boutiques, delis and artisan businesses. Pairs naturally with our broader shop signs service for shopfronts that need more than one element.
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Wooden Pub and Hospitality Sign
Hanging pub signs, external bracket signs, menu boards, entrance signs and interior feature pieces for pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes. Wooden signs suit the hospitality sector particularly well because they read as considered and permanent rather than temporary. We design these to hold up to regular use and, where needed, the British weather.

  • Wooden Business and Office Signs
    Reception plaques, door signs, directional signs and branded interior pieces for offices and commercial premises. Can be finished to complement a corporate identity as well as a more artisan aesthetic. See our business signage service for the full range of commercial sign options.

  • Outdoor and Weatherproof Wooden Signs
    For signs that need to live outside year-round, we use exterior-grade timbers and protective finishes rated for outdoor exposure. This covers gate signs, post-mounted signs, A-boards, park and wayfinding signs, and any application where the sign is permanently exposed to the elements. More detail on our approach to exterior materials is on the outdoor signs service page.

  • Hand-Painted Lettering and Engraving
    For businesses that want something with genuine craft behind it, we offer hand-painted lettering and routed or laser-engraved text and graphics. Gold leaf finishing is available for signs where a premium, heritage feel is appropriate. These finishes work equally well on shopfront fascias, hanging signs and interior pieces.

Recent Projects

AllSaints, Cardiff, UK

Star & Garter - Brighton UK

Biamp UK, Brighton, UK

FROM DESIGN TO INSTALLATION

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Free consultation and quote

Tell us about the sign, the space and your brand. We will advise on timber, finish and mounting options, and give you a clear, itemised quote.

Design and digital proof

Our design team produces a visual proof showing how the finished sign will look. Nothing goes to production until you have signed off on every detail.

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In-house manufacture and finishing

We produce everything ourselves. The sign is cut, shaped, painted or engraved and finished at our Brighton unit.

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Professional installation across Sussex

Our fitting team handles installation at our Brighton workshop. For fleet projects, we can discuss on-site options where needed.

Indoor or Outdoor: Built to Suit

The most common concern with wooden signage is durability, particularly for anything going outside. It is a fair question. Timber that is not treated correctly will absorb moisture, split and deteriorate quickly in a British climate. Done well, it is a different story.

We use exterior-grade timbers, proper priming and sealing processes, and topcoat finishes appropriate to the exposure level of each sign. For interior wooden signs, the finishing requirements are different, and the options broaden considerably, including more delicate paint finishes, gilding and decorative detail that would not survive outdoors.

If you are considering a timber fascia for a shopfront, the section on shopfront materials in our shopfront signage blog covers the relevant options and trade-offs in more detail.
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TIMBER OPTIONS AND FINISHES


The character of a wooden sign depends as much on the finish as the timber itself. We work with a range of materials and finishing techniques depending on the brief, the setting and the budget.

Timber choices include oak, tulipwood, MDF and exterior plywood, with the selection driven by the application, required durability and whether the natural grain is intended to show or be painted out. For most painted signs, a stable, smooth-grained timber or exterior MDF provides the best results.

Finishing options include:
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Painted finishes in any RAL or brand colour, with a smooth or brushed texture

Stained and sealed timber where the natural grain is part of the design

Routed lettering and graphics cut directly into the timber surface

Hand-painted lettering for a craft finish that digital production cannot replicate

Gold leaf and gilding for signs where heritage feel and premium positioning are important
Protective clear coats for exterior signs requiring UV and moisture resistance

Every job starts with a design proof, so you can see exactly how the finish will look before anything goes to production.If your business has a van, there is almost certainly a signwriting solution that will make it work harder.Our vehicle sign writing clients include:
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WHY ODYSEA SIGNS?

You can see how we work and what we make on our sign makers in Brighton page, or browse completed projects in our works portfolio.

FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS

How much does a custom wooden sign cost?
Wooden sign costs depend on the size, timber type, finish and complexity of the lettering or artwork. A small engraved door plate or indoor sign can start from around £100 to £200. A painted exterior shopfront fascia or a bespoke hanging pub sign will sit at a higher price point depending on size and finish detail. We provide free, itemised quotes based on your specific requirements, so there are no surprises before the work starts.

Are wooden signs suitable for outdoors in the British weather?
Yes, when they are made and finished correctly. We use exterior-grade timbers and protective topcoats appropriate for outdoor exposure, including UV-resistant finishes for signs in direct sunlight. Properly treated wooden signage can last many years outside without significant deterioration. The key is in the preparation and finishing, which is why material choice matters as much as the design.

How long does a bespoke wooden sign take to make?
Lead times vary depending on complexity and our current schedule, but most standard wooden sign projects are completed within two to three weeks of design approval. Simpler signs can be turned around faster. We will always give you a realistic timeline at the quoting stage, and we will keep you updated at each stage of the process.

Can you match my brand colours and logo on a wooden sign?
Yes. We work from your existing brand assets, matching paint colours to your specific brand palette using RAL references or your supplied colour codes. If you have a logo file, we can incorporate it into the design through painting, routing or a combination of both. If you are starting from scratch, our design team can help develop something that works for your business.

Do you make hanging pub signs?
Yes. Hanging pub signs, bracket-mounted signs, and double-sided signs on external ironwork are all within our range. We design and produce these in timber with painted or gilded finishes, and we can work with your existing bracket and ironwork or advise on mounting options if you are starting fresh.

Do you cover my area in Sussex?
We are based at Hove Enterprise Centre in Brighton and install across Sussex, including Hove, Worthing, Lewes, Eastbourne, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and Horsham. We can also discuss installation logistics for projects further afield across the South East.

GET A WOODEN SIGNS WITH REAL CHARACTER

A well-made wooden sign does what cheaper materials cannot. It gives a business a sense of place, permanence and craft that customers notice, even if they cannot immediately say why. If that is the kind of impression you want to make, it starts with the right maker.
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‍Request a free, no-obligation quote from Odysea Signs. Most enquiries receive a response within 24 hours.
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