Black cab drivers in Norwich say they were left out of pocket after security fears saw a taxi rank closed during the Lord Mayor's Celebration.
They say the move also meant some members of the public were left without a way home.
Thousands of people packed into the area outside City Hall on Saturday night to watch the fireworks as part of the weekend celebrations.
The number of spectators meant Norwich City Council had to follow national guidance relating to security, which saw the taxi rank on Gaol Hill closed.
In the past, the council has asked cab drivers to park facing Exchange Street, rather than towards City Hall, so the area can be closed off for pedestrians.
But this year a bin lorry was blocking access to the rank, with a temporary one opening on St Giles Street after 11pm instead.
Taxi drivers say they were not told about the closure and that it meant they lost out on trade from a traditionally busy night.
Jon Power, a driver who worked late on Saturday night, said: 'I've been doing this job for 31 years and it has never happened before.
'With the other main taxi ranks, on St Stephen's Street and Tombland, not accessible until late on, it meant that hackney drivers were effectively excluded from the city.
'We understand the security risks, but there was no consultation or conversation with us. It stopped us from making a living but, more importantly, it meant that members of the public weren't able to get a cab home and had to walk.'
Another driver agreed and said they felt that 'hackney drivers were left in the dark' .
A spokesman for the city council said: 'Some arrangements for this year's Lord Mayor's Celebration had to be changed in light of updated national security guidance from the police.
'Arrangements were agreed by the event's Safety Advisory Group and included measures that meant affected vehicle access to the taxi rank on Gaol Hill.
'A new taxi rank was created on St Giles Street while Gaol Hill was unavailable.'
They said the nature of the adjustments meant they were 'subject to change close to and during the event'.
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