Hello, Brighton & Hove!

We have stepped into June, which means our coastline is finally taking centre stage for the summer. This week brings insight into the city's future, with the council teasing a conceptual master plan to completely rewrite the seafront, with thousands of new Marina homes and a total overhaul of Pool Valley. At the same time, our local independent pubs are passionately standing their ground to protect traditional late-night weekend hours for the community. Whether you are keeping an eye on these major local talking points or just looking to track down a tiny 20-seat open-fire date spot in Hove, put the kettle on and let’s dive straight in.

Here is what’s squawking this week:

🔮 AI conceptual art reveals a master plan for 1,000 new Marina homes.
🍺 A popular Kemptown pub locks horns with the police over 4am Pride hours.
🏗️ Historic England allocates an extra £240k to restore Madeira Terrace arches.
🎾 Fisherman’s Wharf is set for a major transformation with a large indoor padel club.
🏫 Empty student blocks seek permission to house young professionals.

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🔮 AI imagery reveals ambitious new look for Brighton seafront

Brighton and Hove City Council has published a striking new prospectus using conceptual artwork to inspire major external investment for our coastline. The master plan suggests transforming the unloved Pool Valley coach station into a bustling market square, building a bridge from the Brighton Centre to Churchill Square, and constructing 1,000 new homes at the Marina.

🍺 Pride extension row sparks heated clash between police and local pub

The Camelford Arms has locked horns with Sussex Police over a bid to keep its traditional 4am weekend opening hours and street-facing window bar for this summer's Pride festival. Police licensing officers claim late-night takeaway drink sales trigger a spike in beach-related crimes, a stance the pub's directors strongly reject by pointing out their regular clientele averages in their 50s.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏗️ World-first structural cast iron tech secures Madeira Terrace boost

Historic England has handed over an extra £240,000 to Brighton and Hove City Council to fund meticulous testing and restoration on the first 28 arches of Madeira Terrace. Specialist contractors are utilising innovative eco-friendly welding techniques to save the original Victorian framework, an approach that cuts potential carbon emissions by seven-eighths.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🎾 Exploding trend secures massive new indoor padel club at harbour

Shoreham's Fishermans Wharf is set to undergo a massive sports transformation after Club Padel snapped up an acre of waterfront land for a brand new complex. Slated to open this autumn, the indoor venue will tackle the local shortage of accessible courts by building six separate playing zones alongside a high-end viewing bar.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏫 Empty student blocks push for permission to house young professionals

Property developer CKC Properties Ltd has launched an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate after the council blocked a request to rent out its vacant Hollingdean Road flats to non-students. The builders argue that current market shifts have left the 135-room Holden Court scheme facing a deep 30% vacancy rate that is helping nobody in the midst of a city housing crisis.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

Also in the news:

🚗 Seafront parking anger: Local seafront businesses and parents have slammed an astronomical 256% parking fee hike on Madeira Drive, warning the new £5.70 hourly rate is pricing families out of community activity classes. → read more on The Argus

🚶 Tragic memory march: The family of murder victims Josh and Chloe Bashford has conquered a brutal, non-stop 66-mile trek from London to Newhaven to raise over £4,000 for Victim Support's homicide team. → read more on BBC News

🎬 Exile cinema debut: The Sama Brighton Film Festival is coming to local venues from June 15 to 19, bringing political documentaries and underrepresented stories from exiled global filmmakers to our community. → read more on The Argus

🐉 Mythical palace feast: The Royal Pavilion will transform into an immersive fantasy world on July 2, hosting its first-ever Chinese theatrical banquet beneath its iconic two-story dragon chandelier. → read more on The Argus

🎨 Inclusive museum residency: Brighton grad Jess Starns has landed a prestigious year-long residency at the V&A, creating brilliant neurodivergent-friendly tools like an illustrated "cooking card deck" to make everyday life more accessible. → read more on The Argus

🛍️ Free retail pop-up: Small businesses can apply for a free two-week stint in a prime Duke’s Lane shop this July through a new partnership designed to let local brands test out physical retail completely risk-free. → read more on The Argus

🫶🏻 The Clock Tower Sanctuary

🕥 10:30 am - 1:30pm (Drop-in hours)
📍 Just off Ship Street (next to Trading Post cafe)

We all know how tough the housing situation is in Brighton, but it's especially brutal for the young people in our city who find themselves with nowhere to go. That's why I absolutely love what the team at the Clock Tower Sanctuary are doing. They're the only drop-in day centre in Brighton & Hove specifically for 16 to 25-year-olds experiencing homelessness, giving them a safe, warm space to just breathe and get back on their feet.

They don't get a single penny of government or council funding, running entirely on donations from local people and businesses. Last year alone, they saw nearly 3,000 visits, helping young people secure safe housing, find jobs, or simply build their confidence through cooking classes, sports, and support groups. They're right in the heart of the city, doing the kind of crucial, non-judgmental work that changes lives every day.

🥾 Up & Coming Event:

Hike for the Clock Tower Sanctuary | 9:30am, Sat 11 Jul @ Lewes to Brighton
Take on a scenic half-marathon charity hike along the South Downs. Raise vital funds and awareness to support young homeless people in Brighton & Hove. More Info

🔗 More info on drop-in services and support

 🌮 Palmito

For anyone looking for a truly unique date night, Palmito is a spot I always recommend. It is a tiny, informal 20-seater restaurant located in a former takeaway on Western Road near the Brighton-Hove border. The space has a brilliant, intimate energy, built around an open kitchen with a charcoal grill at its heart. It has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its troubles, but it completely sheds any stuffy fine-dining pretence.

The founder, Diego, draws on his roots in Ecuador and his travels across Latin America, Southern Europe, and South Asia to create an eclectic, spice-driven menu that changes weekly. They work closely with small local farmers and dayboats, meaning the food focuses entirely on fresh, seasonal ingredients combined with bold, far-flung flavours. The cooking here is all about simple, vibrant open-fire dishes like crispy Cornish sardines, Sri Lankan grilled lamb chops, or pork cochinita pibil tacos, all designed to be shared across the table.

Have a browse through their Instagram to see what vibrant dishes they are cooking up this week, and make sure to get a table sorted well in advance since those twenty seats fill up remarkably fast.

📍 16 Western Road, Hove
🕒 5pm - 11pm (Tue-Thu), 12:30pm - 2:30pm & 5pm - 11pm (Fri-Sat)
🔗 Book a table

🏠 The Arts and Crafts Mega Mansion

You have to check out this absolute beast of a seven-bedroom house hidden behind private gates on Withdean Road. Spanning 5,680 sq ft, it is an incredible Arts and Crafts dream home that has me desperately wishing my bank account had a few extra zeros.

It boasts five sprawling reception rooms with gorgeous period herringbone brickwork and a massive contemporary kitchen flooded with light from two giant skylights. The real showstoppers the stunning tiered garden out back, with its own fully equipped gym, and a massive, separate three-bedroom annexe that is practically a house in its own right. It is the ultimate fantasy home for anyone who wants to live like a golfing legend in one of the absolute leafiest corners of the city.

📍 Withdean Road, Brighton
💰 £3,350,000
🔗 View on Fine & Country

Tue

🎙️ Tarang Hardikar: If I'm Not Wrong | 8pm, Tue @ Komedia
Rising comedy star Tarang Hardikar makes his UK debut with a fresh, fearless stand-up show tackling cultural chaos, life’s sharp contradictions, and everyday absurdities. More Info

🎭 Abigail's Party | 7:30pm, Tue-Sat @ Theatre Royal Brighton
Tamzin Outhwaite stars in Mike Leigh's razor-sharp, satirical class comedy about a 1970s suburban drinks party that hilariously unravels into total disaster. More Info

🍷 Discover Sussex - Wine Tasting | 4:30pm & 6:30pm, Tue-Thu @ The Wine Cellar
Uncover award-winning local bottles in this guided tasting. Sample distinct sparkling and still varieties while learning how the county’s unique chalky soil rivals Europe's top wine regions. More Info

Wed

🎬 Blue Rose Brighton: Twin Peaks Part 6 | 7pm, Wed @ Presuming Ed Coffeehouse
Join fellow fans for a screening of The Return Part 6. Witness Richard Horne's dark turn, Hawk's bathroom discovery, and Albert's encounter with the mysterious Diane. More Info

🏃 Active Co. Free Trial: Kickball Rounders | 6:30pm, Wed @ The Lawns Cafe Hove
Join a welcoming new social community for a fun, mixed-gender game of kickball rounders on the seafront. Perfect for meeting new people. More Info

🎸 Damian Lewis: Live & Signing | 6:30pm, Wed @ Resident Music
The acclaimed actor showcases his lifelong passion for music, performing tracks from his bluesy rock album, followed by an exclusive in-store signing session. More Info

🎹 Anna Lapwood | 7pm, Wed @ Brighton Dome Concert Hall
Stellar organist Anna Lapwood performs a trademark fusion of iconic film scores, including Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, on her brand-new bespoke touring organ. More Info

📸 Brighton Lanes Street Art Photo Walk | 11am, Wed @ Jubilee Library
Explore Brighton's backstreets, hidden murals, and rebellious street art culture on an immersive, guided photography walk. More Info

🎭 Jane Eyre | 7pm, Wed-Fri @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
Experience Polly Teale's bold, psychological reimagining of the classic novel, where Bertha Mason steps from the shadows as the embodiment of Jane’s suppressed rage. More Info

🌱 Vegan Food Tour | 11am & 1:30pm, Wed & Thu @ Church of Saint Bartholomew
Taste your way through Brighton's vibrant independent plant-based food scene while uncovering the city's hidden streets and creative history. More Info

Thu

🎙️ Momma's Got a Brand New Toy Kitchen | 7:30pm, Thu 11 Jun @ The Yellow Book
Join whimsical comedian Bex Turner for an hour of surreal stand-up weirdness, exploring human desire, modern anxieties, and the act of hiding behind a 1991 toy kitchen. More Info

💼 Inside Leadership: A Conversation with Kate Prince | 5:30pm, Thu @ PLATF9RM
Brighton Chamber hosts an evening with Kate Prince, CEO of the rapid-growth wellness brand Ancient + Brave, who discusses the realities of scaling a sustainable business. Includes a live Q&A, welcome drinks, and networking. More Info

📚 Matt Johnson: In Conversation & Signing | 6:15pm, Thu 11 Jun @ Resident Music
Join THE THE's Matt Johnson in conversation with writer Jason Wood to celebrate his new book, Cognitive Dissident, charting his journey from East London to global stardom. More Info

🤠 Line Dancing with Lee! | 7:30pm, Thu @ The Railway Inn
Stomp, slide, and spin your way through a fun, high-energy line dancing class. All levels are welcome, no experience or partner required, just bring your boots and a smile. More Info

🍷 Curio Wine Club: English Wine Tasting | 6pm, Thu @ Curio Cafe & Bar
Sample an exceptional flight of five English wines from top producers like Langham Estate and Domaine Hugo. Enjoy a custom small-plates menu and get 10% off any bottles purchased during the evening. More Info

📚 Imani Thompson-Krystle Zara Appiah In Convo | 6:30pm, Thu @ Afrori Books
Join authors Imani Thompson (Honey) and Krystle Zara Appiah (Half Lives) in conversation with Antonia Jade King as they discuss their brilliant new novels exploring power, race, and sisterhood. More Info

Fri

🎨 Pop Art Panic Party! (Private view) | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Rocks Bar
Brighton artist Barrie J Davies opens his chaotic new exhibition. Expect loud, funny street-pop art that remixes popular culture icons through a wonderfully irreverent lens. More Info

🎙️ Filthy Fridays with Spencer Jones & Gail Porter | 8pm, Fri @ The Brunswick
Catch a hilarious night of comedy featuring BAFTA-nominated Spencer Jones. Expect his signature surreal style blending loop pedals, prop work, and physical clowning. More Info

🎸 Could Be Real Tribute Festival | Fri @ Hove Lawns
Catch some of the UK's finest tribute artists performing classic tracks from ABBA, Queen, Oasis, and Fleetwood Mac live on the seafront. More Info

📸 A Mindful Discovery Photo Walk | 7pm & 9pm, Fri @ Jubilee Library
See Brighton's urban core through a gentle, slower lens designed to teach creative smartphone or camera framing techniques. More Info

🎸 Elvis Costello & The Imposters | 7pm (Doors), Fri @ Brighton Dome Concert Hall
Two-time Grammy winner Elvis Costello returns to Brighton, performing alongside Charlie Sexton and special guest Chris Difford for an unforgettable night of classic hits. More Info

Live Music

Dope Purple (Taiwan) Riot Season Records | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Hope & Ruin
Dune Rats | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Green Door Store
Not Coping at The Rossi | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Rossi Bar
Notes: A Wine and Music Pairing Night | 7:30pm, Tue @ Bar at The Old MarketThe Secret Comedy Club Tuesdays | 8pm, Tue @ Artista

Damian Lewis | 6:30pm, Wed @ Resident Music
Militarie Gun | 6:30pm, Wed @ Chalk
Alyssa Bonagura | 7pm, Wed @ The Hare & Hounds
Anna Lapwood | 7pm, Wed @ Brighton Dome
Bic Runga | 7pm, Wed @ The Green Door Store
Gretel Hänlyn | 7:30pm, Wed @ The Folklore Rooms
Toadstool | 7:30pm, Wed @ The Rossi Bar

Matt Johnson: In Conversation + Book Signing | 6:15pm, Thu @ Resident Music
Billy Fuller (beak>) | 7pm, Thu @ Zahara
Bruno Berle | 7pm, Thu @ Alphabet
Strictly Dan Playing The Music Of Steely Dan | 7pm, Thu @ Komedia
Urzah/Smouldering Tomb/Gloma @ The Pipeline | 7pm, Thu @ Pipeline
Gravedancer | 7:30pm, Thu @ The Folklore Rooms
Lime | 7:30pm, Thu @ The Hope & Ruin

Simon Spillett | 5:30pm, Fri @ St Andrew's Church
Elvis Costello | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Dome
Leon Vynehall | 7pm, Fri @ Concorde 2
Punchlove | 7pm, Fri @ The Brunswick
Die Twice | 7:30pm, Fri @ Alphabet
Joe Carnall Jnr | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Hare & Hounds
Spanish Horses+The Roebucks+Motor Show+More | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Hope & Ruin

It turns out our collective imagination is wilder than reality. A full 32.84% of you guessed that Sea Life Brighton featured a private hot-air balloon launch pad, while only 26.87% knew the actual truth. Back in the 1870s, it was a fully functioning rooftop roller-skating rink! You can read all about its history on the Official Sea Life Brighton Wikipedia Page.

This week, we are heading into the winding alleys of The Lanes. Brighton is regularly crowned one of the most haunted cities in the UK, but one historic pub, The Druid's Head, holds the local record with well over 100 logged paranormal incidents. Alongside flying bottles and sudden freezing spots, the pub is home to two very famous resident phantoms.