Hello Brighton & Hove

Well, here it is: the big Halloween weekend has arrived, and Brighton is predictably losing its collective mind. Whether your street currently looks like a proper zombie apocalypse or you are actively planning your tactical escape to the countryside until Monday, the city is genuinely bursting at the seams with things to do across the next three days. We have everything from full-blown 1866 Victorian silent discos to Cuban salsa masquerade balls and intimate candlelit tributes. If you fancy a palate cleanser after consuming your own body weight in supermarket pumpkin treats, definitely keep an eye out for VegFest landing next Saturday. Otherwise, throw on a costume, embrace the madness, or bolt the front door and turn off the porch light.

Let us jump straight into what is on this weekend.

Here Is What's Squawking This Week

✏️ Over 130 independent illustrators take over The Wing and Wagner Hall.
💃 Fabrica hosts an all-levels Cuban salsa masquerade party.
🕯️ Eerie Victorian ghost play uncovers chilling theatre haunting.
🌌 Jim Al-Khalili demystifies fundamental physics at Brighton Dome.
🎸 Leonard Cohen tribute marks 10th anniversary of poet's passing.

💚 Vegfest is Back in Brighton!

After three years away, VegfestUK is coming back to Brighton, and I reckon this deserves a proper place in the diary. On Saturday 7 November, the Hilton Metropole will be filled with 120 stalls, three talk areas, a performance stage and a dedicated vegan food village. The street food would be my first stop, but I’d be staying for much more.”

Peter Egan and Heather Mills are among the guests, alongside pastry chef Danielle Maupertuis and researcher Dr Andrew Knight, whose talk explores plant-based diets for cats and dogs. There’s also live music and comedy from Dawn Chorus and Andrew O’Neill. Plenty to get curious about between lunch and whatever we’re calling the next round of food.

You don’t have to be vegan to enjoy any of it. Come hungry, have a wander, hear a different perspective. For me, the bigger story is the community: independent traders, campaigners and vegan businesses coming together again in a city that’s been part of Vegfest’s history since 2009. Healthy HR, Just Be Kind Dog Food, Vegan Accountants, No Bloat, Mad Promotions PR and Yaoh Hemp Products are among the sponsors and supporters of this event.

There have been plenty of vegan events over the years, but this is clearly the one you won’t want to miss!

📍 Hilton Metropole - 106-121 Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2FU
📅 Sat, 7th of Nov.
🕚 11am ‐ 6pm
🔗 More Info
🔗 Tickets

🐦 Squawkers! Click the button below for this amazing deal!
It will expire tomorrow! 🏃🏻
⬇⬇⬇

🐈‍⬛ Pussy Boutique

With gift season kicking into high gear, this longtime North Laine treasure is an absolute goldmine for avoiding generic high-street presents. Pussy Home Boutique has been quietly doing its thing since 1997, originally opened simply to share an eye for fun, quirky design with the rest of the city.

Over the decades, it has grown into one of the country’s biggest independent stockists of all things Moomin, from homewares and mugs to stationery and prints sitting alongside standout collections from iconic indie brands like Tatty Devine, Peanuts, and Blue Q. Whether you're searching for playful acrylic jewellery, tongue-in-cheek kitchenware, retro cards, or distinctive homeware accessories that instantly make people smile, the shelves are crammed with brilliant finds.

What makes it special is that staying power: nearly thirty years of independent retail charm without ever losing its sense of humour or playful curation. If your holiday shopping list is looking a little daunting, a quick rummage around these shelves will sort out even the hardest-to-buy-for people in no time.

📍 3a Kensington Gardens, BN1 4AL
🕒 Mon–Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun: 11am-5pm
💰 Moomin collectables, Tatty Devine jewellery, quirky homewares, and gifts
🔗 Visit the store or Shop Online

We’re officially in spooky season, and I’ll tell you what scares me: how early brands are putting out their Christmas displays.

PUT THOSE CANDY CANES AWAY.

There is still so much for us to do before we turn our sights towards the North Pole! 

The cold weather is the perfect excuse to dig into a hot curry, and Indian Summer hits the spot. Rob’s been toying with the idea of opening a jazz bar under the restaurant for a year now– my fingers are crossed he goes through with it. Plus, Scott (previously at etch.) makes my favourite cocktails in Brighton. 

We are officially five months out from the Brighton Marathon and my training has started in earnest. I’m running to fundraise for Chailey Heritage Foundation, who provide life-changing support to kids with complex disabilities. That’s pretty dang good motivation to get outside, even when the rain pelts me sideways. 

And let’s not forget about the new food and drink spots popping up all over town. I visited Dot’s, a dreamy collab between The Botanist Coffee Co. and Barbino’s (their celeriac shawarma was mind-bogglingly tasty). Vagabond also just opened a branch in Brighton, with 100+ wines on self-serve taps, sourced from Sussex grapes. Don’t mind if I do. 

Up next week: my first bonfire night in Lewes (I’ve been cautioned to bring ear plugs). I’m also thinking about hosting a Brighton book swap, like the one Dua Lipa’s currently hosting in London. If you’re interested in attending or supporting, could you shoot me a message? If there’s enough interest, I’ll start looking for a venue. 

Marley x

ps. And if you can’t get enough of me, you can always follow me;

🔗 on TikTok
🔗 on Instagram

🍺 The Farm Tavern

Having grown up with proud Eastern European roots, finding the authentic comforting flavours of home inside a traditional neighbourhood pub always feels like striking absolute gold. Tucked away on Farm Road, just back from the high street, this candlelit gem, with its atmospheric gothic boozer vibe and roaring open fire, delivers that connection in spades.

Behind the bar, they pour fantastic craft beers, Sussex ales, and proper spiced Bloody Marys, but the kitchen is where my heritage truly sings. Alongside their legendary Sunday roasts, they turn out an inspired lineup of authentic Eastern European small plates from Wednesday through Saturday. We are talking proper handmade pierogi dumplings packed with potato and curd cheese, steaming bowls of ruby beetroot borscht, smoked kielbasa with sauerkraut, and crispy pretzel crumb chicken schnitzel. Between lively drag bingo, sea shanty nights, and the incredible food, it is a brilliantly soulful, inclusive haven where two distinct cultures blend in perfect harmony.

📍 13 Farm Road, Hove, BN3 1FB
🕒 Tue 4pm-9pm, Wed to Thu 4pm-11.30pm, Fri 4pm-12.30am, Sat 12pm-12.30am, Sun 12.30pm-11pm
🍽️ Kitchen: Wed to Fri 4pm-9pm, Sat 12pm-9pm, Sun 12pm-6pm
🔗 Visit their website

Fri

🎸 The Album Era Performs Black Sabbath's Paranoid | 7:30pm, Fri @ Komedia (Studio)-A Halloween-season concert featuring a live, full-album performance of the 1970 heavy metal classic, from "War Pigs" to "Iron Man." More Info

🪩 Congregational | 8pm, Fri @ Brighton Dome (Corn Exchange)
Vocal powerhouse Fatt Butcher leads a choral service for the nightclub, backed by a queer choir, a DJ, and virtuosic piano, creating an ecstatic blend of house, trance, and gospel. More Info

🎬 FilmPride: Halloween Queer Horror Shorts | 7pm, Fri @ The Actors
A frightfully fun screening of LGBTQIA+ horror shorts spanning dark comedy, supernatural thrills, and body horror, with dressing up welcome but optional. More Info

🕯️ Candlelight: Tribute to Michael Jackson | 9pm, Fri @ Royal Pavilion
A live, multisensory tribute concert featuring reimagined hits under the glow of thousands of candles in the historic palace. More Info

🧘 Yoga with Live Piano by Candlelight and Cacao Circle | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Unitarian Church-A gentle, restorative candlelit yoga session soundtracked by live piano music, followed by a shared cup of warm cacao to fundraise for community classes. More Info

🎻 The Rock Orchestra | 6:30pm, Fri @ Brighton Centre
A 14-piece classical ensemble breathes dark, symphonic energy into iconic rock and metal anthems across an ethereal 90-minute candlelit set. More Info

🪩 Congregational | 8pm, Fri @ Brighton Dome (Corn Exchange)
Artist and vocalist Fatt Butcher presents a newly composed choral service for the nightclub, transforming the dance floor into a communal space of solidarity, memory, and queer resilience. More Info

🎃 Party Bag: Halloween Edition | 8pm, Fri @ Ironworks Studios
Ophelia Payne and The Madame host a freakishly fun cabaret night featuring devilish drag, burlesque, resident granny Pam, and a late-night karaoke afterparty. More Info

🎃 Halloween With Simon Pegg | 7pm, Fri @ Concorde 2
The beloved actor and comedy icon steps behind the decks for an exclusive headline Halloween DJ set on the seafront. More Info

🚀 Space Olympics | 7pm, Fri @ The British Engineerium
An immersive Halloween party featuring intergalactic team challenges, quirky theatrical performances, and prizes to help you party like it’s 2099. More Info

Sat

✨ Light Party | 4:30pm, Sat @ Calvary Church Brighton
A family-friendly Halloween alternative featuring a disco, games, crafts, food, and bright clothes celebrating light. More Info

🎃 Halloween Cinema | 7pm, Sat @ Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
A one night only pop-up cinema in the Central Gallery in partnership with Picturehouse, screening classic favourites Hocus Pocus and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. More Info

🎻 Tim Burton's Universe by Mystery Ensemble | 7:30pm, Sat @ St George's Church-A magical concert bringing the fantastical worlds of Tim Burton to life through live musical arrangements from films like Alice in Wonderland and The Nightmare Before Christmas. More Info

🎷 Van Morrison | 7:30pm, Sat @ Brighton Dome (Concert Hall)
The legendary Northern Irish singer-songwriter behind Astral Weeks and Moondance brings his transcendental live performance to the Concert Hall. More Info

🕯️ Ghost Light | 9pm, Sat @ The Lantern Theatre
A chilling Victorian ghost play following 1860s London Ghost Club members Henry Webster and Edward Price as they unravel a terrifying theatre haunting. More Info

🔎 The Ghost of Frighton Rock | 7pm, Sat @ Hotel Du Vin & Bistro
A comedic Halloween murder mystery dinner set around a cancelled music festival, complete with a glass of fizz, a three-course meal, and half a bottle of wine. More Info

🎷 Spitnights: Poetry Meets Improv Jazz | 7pm, Sat @ The Old Market
A dynamic collaboration between spoken word and live improvised jazz featuring Georgie Jones, Doella, S-Bars, Erin James, and a wildcard open-mic slot. More Info

🎧 Halloween Silent Disco | 7pm, Sat @ The British Engineerium
A foot-stomping, sing-along silent disco set inside an iconic 1866 Victorian building, featuring killer costumes, immersive haunted vibes, and multi-channel anthems. More Info

🏺 Horrible Histories: Awful Egyptians | 11am, Sat @ Theatre Royal Brighton
Historical figures and gruesome tales come alive on stage with live actors and eye-popping 3D special effects in this family-friendly production. More Info

🧙 The Witchcraft And Vagrancy Act Halloween Party | 8pm, Sat @ Komedia (Studio)-A night of odd-folk and musical curiosities featuring sinister folk frights to make you "wiggle-while-you-weep," complete with a Halloween fancy-dress competition. More Info

💃 The Halloween Masquerade Ball | 7pm, Sat @ Fabrica
An immersive masked evening featuring all-levels Cuban salsa workshops, partner rotation, a collective "Unmasking," and an open social dance floor with rueda and performances. More Info

Sun

💀 Día de Muertos | 10:30am, Sun @ Brighton Open Market
A vibrant celebration of Mexican traditions featuring folkloric dancing, creative workshops, a community ofrenda, and authentic food like tacos and pan de muerto. More Info

🌌 Jim Al-Khalili - How Physics Make the Universe Tick | 1pm, Sun @ Brighton Dome (Corn Exchange)-Renowned theoretical physicist and author Jim Al-Khalili demystifies the fundamental laws of nature and explores how physics governs the cosmos. More Info

🎸 Songs of Love and Hate - A Leonard Cohen Celebration | 7pm, Sun @ The Folklore Rooms-Irish singer-songwriter Pierce Joyce marks the 10th anniversary of Leonard Cohen's passing with an intimate live tribute celebrating the legendary poet's iconic songs. More Info