🐦 £22m Seafront Arch Repairs, Brighton Welcoming Peacehaven & Madness on the Beach!

Hello, Brighton & Hove!

What an absolutely amazing opening weekend to our fortnight of beach takeovers! Fatboy Slim's phenomenal nights brought an unmatched buzz to the city, perfectly setting the tone for this incredible summer already.

If you need to refuel away from the crowds, a brilliant new Thai spot has just opened its doors on Preston Street. Otherwise, you can catch an open-air comedy of Jekyll and Hyde, hunt down a Fatboy Slim signed coffee tin at The Brighton Box Gallery, or dive into a night of 360° queer chaos at The Old Market.

Shake the last of the beach sand out of your shoes, grab a cold drink, and let's dive into another brilliant week!

Here is what’s squawking this week

🏗️ A £22m makeover secured for the failing King's Road seafront arches.
🏖️ Ska legends Madness headlining the On The Beach this weekend.
🎭 Classic Victorian horror gets a comedic open-air spin at BOAT.
☕ Fatboy Slim signing exclusive coffee tins at The Brighton Box Gallery.
🍜 Delicious authentic Thai dishes landing on Preston Street at Tamarind.

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🗺️ Brighton boundary to expand in major council shake-up

Brighton and Hove's official council boundaries will expand to absorb Peacehaven, Telscombe, and East Saltdean from April 2028 under government reorganisation plans. The expansion faces a potential legal challenge from neighbouring East Sussex council leaders who claim residents strongly oppose being absorbed into the city.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏭 New England House rescue bid gains momentum

An application to designate the closed New England House as an Asset of Community Value is being formally evaluated by planning chiefs. If approved, the local creative community will have a 12-month window to raise funds and submit a community-led purchase offer before the council can put the £26 million fire-damaged building on the open market.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🚌 Tories launch campaign to block bus network takeover

Conservative councillors have put forward a full council motion urging the local authority to abandon plans to franchise or take greater control over local bus routes. Opposition members argue the city's bus network is already one of the highest-rated in the country and warn that council intervention risks driving up fares and harming service quality.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

📉 Clashes erupt over projected £37m town hall deficit

A fierce row has broken out over city finances as new month-two budget forecasts project a £20 million overspend alongside £17 million in additional financial risks. Opposition Green councillors have slammed the new single-page reporting format as lacking clarity, while Labour leads defend the report, citing severe demand-led pressures in adult social care and children's placements.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🌊 DfT funding triggers King's Road arches overhaul

More than £22 million in Department for Transport funding has been secured to replace the failing Victorian arches supporting the A259 King's Road. The structural works will ensure the long-term safety of the highway, but the nearby paddling pool, playground, and public toilets must remain closed for the duration of the project.
→ read more on The Argus

🦺 Council plans £1.3m investment ahead of fortnightly bin shift

Brighton and Hove City Council is preparing to invest £1.3 million to hire extra vehicles, recruit 17 new staff, and tackle missed collections before switching to fortnightly bin rounds. Senior councillors insist the move will not go ahead until general collection reliability improves and residents fully adopt the new weekly food waste service.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🛟 Coastal safety measures debated after fatal drownings

Councillors are set to debate enhanced seafront safety measures following five tragic drownings along the coastline over the past few months. Proposed actions include expanding the council's seafront patrol boat operations, deepening working partnerships with the RNLI, and maintaining high beach safety standards to safeguard Blue Flag designations.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

Also in the news:

🏬 Hove Waitrose prepares to reopen: The Nevill Road Waitrose branch is scheduled to reopen to customers on July 24 following extensive repairs after an accidental refrigerator fire closed the store last month.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏘️ Developer cash builds council homes: Financial contributions paid by developers in place of on-site affordable housing are funding the buyback of former council properties and major new housing developments across the city.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏳️‍🌈 Rent talks stall Ledward Centre reopening: The reopening of the Jubilee Street LGBTQ+ community centre remains delayed while new management team TLC negotiates lease terms with building landlords.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

📋 City Plan 15-year blueprint opens for feedback: A major public consultation is underway until September 7 to allow residents to help shape Brighton and Hove's planning, housing, and green space priorities for the next 15 years.
→ read more on The Argus

🍺 The Font closes for O'Neill's transformation: Historic pub The Font in Union Street has closed its doors to undergo a major interior redesign and reopen as an O'Neill's bar.
→ read more on The Argus

🍕 Kids eat free deals launch for summer: Restaurants across Brighton, including Bill’s, Zizzi, and Las Iguanas, are launching free children's meal promotions to support families throughout the six-week school summer holiday.
→ read more on The Argus

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🌶️ Guru World Foods

⏰ Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm
📍 Unit 35, The Open Market, Brighton BN1 4JU

If you love exploring vibrant flavours and independent local food, Guru World Foods in The Open Market is an absolute gem you need on your radar. Rooted in family traditions spanning three generations, this lovely local spot crafts small-batch spices, incredible world foods, and some of the best homemade chai and samosas in Brighton. Beyond their incredible standard of flavour, it’s the kind of warm, welcoming place where the owners always greet you like an old friend, making it a true staple of our local food community.

Right now is the absolute best time to pop in and show them some love, as their stall is getting an exciting makeover over the next couple of weeks. To make room for brand-new family recipes landing on the shelves, they're running special offers and clearance deals on existing lines while stocks last. Whether you're stocking up your spice cupboard, grabbing a hot meal, or just wanting to check out their fresh new vibe, drop by Unit 35 and support this wonderful independent business as they start their next chapter.

🔗 More Info
 

🌅 Tamarind (my review)

Having only opened its doors a couple of weeks ago, Tamarind is the newest addition to Preston Street’s vibrant dining strip, and I dropped in for a meal last week to check it out. It comes from the same team behind the brilliant Chilli Thai restaurants across Brighton and Hove, so you already know the food pedigree here is rock solid.

The space itself is small and intimate, wrapped in calm, soothing colours that instantly make you feel at home, while the staff couldn't have been friendlier from the moment I walked in. I tucked into a proper spread of classic Thai deliciousness, starting with crispy prawn toast and calamari before diving into some fantastic, aromatic fish dishes. Whether you are popping in for a quick midday bite or settling down for a long evening meal, it is a lovely new spot to get your Thai fix.

📍 65 Preston Street, Brighton
🕒 12pm-3pm & 5pm-10pm (Mon-Fri), 12pm-10pm (Sat), 12pm-9:30pm (Sun)
🔗 Book a table

🏠 The Secret Retro Palace

On the market for the first time in 53 years, this grand 5-bedroom Queen Anne-style residence on prestigious Tongdean Avenue is an absolute time capsule of pure scale. Spanning nearly 6400 square feet, the interior boasts 4 vast reception rooms, including a magnificent curved 'James Bond-style' room framed by floor-to-ceiling glass looking straight down to the sea. The south-facing rear garden is a massive secluded oasis that unfurls in landscaped zones down to a separate indoor pool complex, complete with a tiled pool and Jacuzzi spa under soaring wooden ceilings. It is an incredible retro canvas ready for a high-end modern makeover on one of Hove's finest plots.

📍 Tongdean Avenue, Hove
💰 £3,995,000
🔗 View on Rightmove

Tue

🎵 Folklore Monthly Showcase | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Folklore Rooms
A monthly showcase presenting three featured artists: The Gulls, Dan Pye, and May Payn with free seated entry on a first-come, first-served basis. More Info

🎤 Chris Grace: 88percent | 7:30pm, Tue @ Komedia
Actor and comedian Chris Grace brings a UK world premiere stand-up show tackling politics, AI, and social divides to explore if people can get along when they mostly agree. More Info

🎭 Twice Nightly - The Glory Days of Variety | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Lantern Theatre - Dominic Goodwin stars in a nostalgic one-man show portraying 1950s comic Freddie Francis as he looks back on a lifetime of touring the UK variety circuit. More Info

🎙️ Chloe Petts: Work in Progress | 7:30pm, Tue @ Caroline of Brunswick
One of the comedy circuit's most compelling rising stars tests out fresh material in an intimate, work-in-progress stand-up show. More Info

🎸 Jay Buchanan | 8pm, Tue @ Komedia
The frontman of Grammy-nominated rock band Rival Sons performs an intimate solo show in support of his debut album, Weapons Of Beauty. More Info

🐷 Peppa Pig's Big Family Show | 4pm Tue, 1pm & 4pm Wed @ Theatre Royal
Peppa Pig and her family return with an interactive stage show full of music, home decorating, and big surprises as they prepare for a new arrival. More Info

Wed

☕ Fatboy Slim Pepita Coffee Signing | 5pm, Wed @ The Brighton Box Gallery
An exclusive signing event with Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim celebrating the release of limited-edition coffee tins featuring artwork by Emily Bowyer. More Info

🎬 In the Dark Movie Club Special: Spirited Away Live | 7pm, Wed @ Presuming Ed Coffeehouse - A memorial film screening of Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away, raising funds to support the daughter of a beloved late friend. More Info

🎭 Jekyll and Hyde | 7pm, Wed @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
A comedic open-air adaptation of the classic tale exploring Dr. Jekyll's chaotic scientific quest in Victorian London. More Info

🎤 Lily Lyons | 7:30pm, Wed @ The Folklore Rooms
An intimate live acoustic performance reflecting the comforting, open-road influences and hopeful folk storytelling of London and Somerset native Lily Lyons. More Info

🎨 Open Studio Residency with Caroline Beavon | 3pm–6pm, Wed, Thu & Fri @ Mid Street Lab - Digital artist Caroline Beavon opens her studio doors for live making, interactive artwork testing, and public drop-ins during a four-week creative residency. More Info

Thur

📚 Writing Our Legacy @ Changing Chalk Anthology Book Launch | 6:30pm, Thu @ Ironworks Studios - A celebratory launch event for a new anthology bringing together the diverse works of 36 Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse creators. More Info

🎱 Penny Pounds Musical Bingo | 7:30pm, Thu @ Hotel Pelirocco
An upbeat, musical twist on traditional bingo packed with silly games, fabulous prizes, flowing cocktails, and captivating live vocals. More Info

🎺 On The Beach: Madness presents Madrophenia | 3pm, Thu @ Brighton Beach - A major beachfront party featuring legendary ska-pop group Madness alongside supporting acts The Blockheads, The Selecter, Craig Charles, and The Beatles Dub Club. More Info

🎭 Jeeves and Wooster in ‘Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves’ | 7pm, Thu @ Brighton Open Air Theatre - An uproarious outdoor theatrical production following the whimsical misadventures of Bertie Wooster and his razor-sharp valet, Jeeves. More Info

🎻 Marey + Matt Clarke | 7:30pm, Thu @ The Coach House
An evening of experimental improvised music featuring Icelandic duo Marey—combining poetry, vocals, violin, and custom electronics—alongside Brighton guitarist Matt Clarke. More Info

Fri

🎸 The Brunswick 20th Birthday Bash| 8pm, Fri @ The Brunswick
A late-night celebration featuring outlaw boogie, Southern rock, Americana, and honky tonk to kick off a full weekend of live music. More Info

🏳️‍🌈 The Power of Love: A Day of Curated Queer Chaos | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Old Market - An immersive 360° pre-Pride takeover featuring live music from DJ collective HIVE alongside performances by 201 Dance Company, Tayris Mongardi, and Em Li. More Info

🕺 Deptford Northern Soul Club | 9pm, Fri @ Concorde 2
A next-generation, gimmick-free soul night bringing classic Northern Soul tracks to the dancefloor until late. More Info

🎷 Julian Nicholas | 5:30pm, Fri @ St Andrew's Church
Veteran saxophonist Julian Nicholas teams up with Chris Coull to pay tribute to Chet Baker and Stan Getz's legendary 1958 album. More Info

🎺 On The Beach: Madness presents Madrophenia | 2pm, Fri @ Brighton Beach - Legendary ska-pop group Madness headline the seafront with support from David Rodigan and the Hot 8 Brass Band. More Info

💃 Saucy Songs at Sunset | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
A cheeky evening of musical theatre and cabaret packed with sass, sparkle, razor-sharp comedy, and double-entendre under the open sky. More Info

🎸 Yard Act: Album Launch Show | 7pm, Fri @ Chalk
The Leeds post-punk quartet perform an album launch show celebrating their new record You're Gonna Need A Little Music. More Info

Live Music

Bat Sabbath | 7pm, Tue @ Concorde 2
2 Step Launch Party | 7pm, Tue @ Pipeline
Clit Spit | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Rossi Bar
Folklore Monthly Showcase | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Folklore Rooms
Jay Buchanan | 8pm, Tue @ Komedia

Bhos Musical Theatre Choir - Summer Showcase | 8pm, Wed @ Church Of The Good Shepherd
Humdrum | 7:30pm, Wed @ The Rossi Bar
Lily Lyons | 7:30pm, Wed @ The Folklore Rooms
Tracey Nelson | 8pm, Wed @ The Hope & Ruin

Baby Queen | 6:30pm, Thu @ Resident Music
The Human League | 4:30pm, Thu @ Brighton Beach
Madness | 3pm, Thu @ Brighton Beach
Marey + Matt Clarke | 7:30pm, Thu @ At The Coach House
Nia Archives: Album Launch Show (b2b Dj Set) | 7:30pm, Thu @ Quarters
Night House + Sekinue | 7:30pm, Thu @ Brighton Unitarian Church
Screening of the 'best live album of all time' Portishead Live in NYC | 7:30pm, Thu @ The Rose Hill
We Are Scientists | 7pm, Thu @ Concorde 2

Alive at The Barn! Music Festival | 6pm, Fri @ The Barn Theatre, Southwick
The Brunswick 20th Anniversary Summer Beer Festival | 12pm, Fri @ The Brunswick
Deptford Northern Soul Club | 9pm, Fri @ Concorde 2
Julian Nicholas | 5:30pm, Fri @ St Andrew's Church
Madness | 2pm, Fri @ Brighton Beach
Racetraitor | 7pm, Fri @ Daltons
Saucy Songs at Sunset | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
Summer Songs of Kate Bush and More | 8pm, Fri @ Ironworks Studios
Speedial + Cordelia Gartside + More | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Hope & Ruin
Yard Act: Album Launch Show | 7pm, Fri @ Chalk

Last week's beach hut trivia was an absolute landslide! An impressive 73.53% of you correctly knew that Hove beach hut owners must use uniform council-specified paint colours for their roofs and side panels. You can view the exact guidelines and colour codes directly on the Brighton & Hove City Council Beach Huts Page.

This week, we are looking high up at the corner of Lace House (39 Old Steine), where a famous ceramic black cat can be seen climbing the building. Installed in the late 1920s when the site was used as a motor showroom, the feline statue was mounted for a very specific, practical purpose.