The Brighton Squawk
Posts
🐦 £50m Decisions, Bus Fare Hikes & Brighton's Best Brunch

🐦 £50m Decisions, Bus Fare Hikes & Brighton's Best Brunch

From film festivals to housing plans, fare hikes, art fairs and the city’s best brunch date spot.

Ben Watkins
November 04, 2025

Hello Brighton 👋

A few changes are rolling through the city this week, from rising bus fares to fully digital parking permits, as the council tightens budgets and residents rally to save libraries and local paths. Still, Brighton does what it does best: keeps its creative spirit alive, with CINECITY bringing world cinema to town, the Brighton Illustration Fair returning after six years away, and Oeuf Café reminding us that brunch might just be the city’s finest art form.

Here’s what’s squawking this week:

🚌 Bus fares rise, parking goes digital, and locals fight to save their cut-through
🎬 CINECITY Film Festival and Brighton Illustration Fair hit town
🍳 Brunch spot serving up Frumpets for this week’s Date Spot pick
🎤 Bob Dylan, Annie Mac, and a packed week of live music across the city

Got an event or business to promote?

Fancy reaching 5,000+ Brightonians? Just reply to this email to enquire. We’ve got a range of options for small to big budgets and everything in between.

🚌 Short Hop Bus Fares to Rise 30%

Short hop fares in Brighton and Hove are increasing from £1 to £1.30 this Saturday, as the council subsidy that kept them low runs out faster than expected. The council says its budget for the £1 fares was "depleted due to popular demand" but insists it will still provide some support to keep fares below full price.

Medium single fares will also rise from £2.50 to £2.60, while the daily citysaver ticket goes up to £6.60 when paying onboard. The weekly pass will rise to £28.70 unless bought in advance. The £27.9m Bus Service Improvement Plan will continue to fund free travel for children and support new express routes across the city.
→ Read more on Brighton & Hove News

🚗 Brighton Parking Permits Go Fully Digital

Brighton and Hove’s resident parking permits have now gone completely paper-free, with all permits checked digitally from Monday. Drivers no longer need to display a paper permit, as enforcement officers will use an online system to verify parked cars.

Council leaders say it’s a move to cut fraud and modernise the process, but critics warn it could disadvantage older or offline residents. Applications can still be made by post, but all permits will be digital-only once processed. Public reaction has been mixed, with some praising convenience and others worried about “digital exclusion.”
→ Read more on BBC News

🚶 Residents Fight to Keep Local Cut-Through

Dozens of residents are fighting to stop a neighbourhood cut-through in Hove from being gated off, after developers applied to block access between School Road and Payne Avenue. The shortcut, created in 2020, has become a popular walking route for school runs and commutes.

The Pinnacle Freehold Ltd argues the access has led to drug dealing, bike thefts and antisocial behaviour, and wants to install gates with coded access for residents only. Over 90 objections have been lodged, with locals saying closing the path would “take something from the community and give nothing back.”
→ Read more on Brighton & Hove News

🏗️ D-Day for £50m Hove Housing Scheme

Plans for 306 new flats on the old Sackville Trading Estate go before councillors this Wednesday in what’s being called a major £50m redevelopment for Hove. If approved, 183 flats would be for social rent and 123 for shared ownership, delivered jointly by the council and Hyde Housing.

The proposed blocks would rise up to 10 storeys high, replacing existing buildings on the northern half of the site. Supporters, including Labour MP Peter Kyle, say the scheme will boost affordable housing, while opponents argue it’s “over-development” that could strain local infrastructure.
→ Read more on Brighton & Hove News

📚 Public Push Back on Library Closures

More than 1,000 residents have objected to council proposals to close three Brighton and Hove libraries and reduce opening hours at others. The most passionate appeals came for Rottingdean and Westdene libraries, which locals say are vital community hubs.

The council is trying to cut £210,000 from its £4.3m library budget over two years, with the final decision expected next month. Respondents warned that closures would hit families, schoolchildren, and the digitally excluded, removing warm spaces and accessible toilets in local areas.
→ Read more on Brighton & Hove News

Also in the news:

🌼 Wildflower project restores rare chalk habitats: Conservation teams and volunteers are planting over 1,400 wildflowers across Hove’s Wish Park and Portslade’s Vale Park to revive chalk downland habitats. The council says it’s part of a long-term effort to boost pollinators and biodiversity in urban green spaces.
→ Read more on BBC News

🚁 Hospital helipad expected to open seven years late: The £14m helipad at the Royal Sussex County Hospital is now set to open in 2026, almost seven years behind schedule, after safety concerns delayed progress. Once operational, it will allow around 150 airlifted patients a year to be brought directly to A&E, improving emergency response times.
→ Read more on BBC News

🦠 UKHSA monitoring meningitis cases in Brighton: Two University of Brighton students have been hospitalised with meningitis, prompting health officials to monitor the situation closely. The UKHSA urged students to stay alert to symptoms such as fever, headache and rash, which can be easily mistaken for a hangover or flu.
→ Read more on BBC News

🏫 Woodingdean Primary joins academy trust: Woodingdean Primary School will join London-based Eko Trust next year, alongside Hangleton and Benfield Primary. The headteacher says the move will bring greater resources and opportunities while keeping the school’s unique local identity.
→ Read more on Brighton & Hove News

🚴 Bonfire Bike Train returns from Brighton to Lewes: Hundreds of cyclists are expected to join the annual illuminated ride to Lewes for Bonfire Night, leaving The Level at 6pm on November 5. The free event has been running since 2010, lighting up Lewes Road with music, lights, and community spirit.
→ Read more on The Argus

🎤 Charity pitch event to award £100k fund at Brighton i360: Ten local charities will pitch live for a share of £100,000 at the Angels’ Den event on November 6, hosted at the Brighton i360. Backed by the Focus Foundation, the event will feature a panel of high-profile ‘Angels’, including Dragons’ Den’s Sarah Willingham.
→ Read more on The Argus

🎬 CINECITY: The Brighton Film Festival

CINECITY is underway and runs until 16 November, bringing world cinema, live soundtracks and local premieres to Brighton’s best venues. Described by The Guardian as “eclectic and imaginative”, it’s your passport to global storytelling and creative filmmaking.

🎞️ Divia - Tue 4 Nov, Depot (UK Premiere)
🇮🇹 La Grazia - Tue 4 Nov, Dukes at Komedia
🎭 It Was Just an Accident - Wed 5 Nov, Duke of York’s
🌈 Funeral Parade of Roses - Thu 6 Nov, Fabrica
👻 The Haunted Moustache - Thu 6 Nov, Duke of York’s

🎟️ Explore the full programme at cine-city.co.uk

🎨 Brighton Illustration Fair | 8-9 Nov

The Brighton Illustration Festival returns this weekend after six years away, taking over The Brighton Centre and Wagner Hall. Expect over 140 artists, stalls, zines, talks and creative workshops celebrating illustration in all its weird and wonderful forms.
🎟️ Tickets £7-£10, free for kids. More info

🍸 Sussex Distiller’s Festival | 29 Nov

Later this month, PLATF9RM in Hove hosts the Sussex Distiller’s Festival, uniting local makers of gin, rum, beer, wine and cocktails under one roof. Expect live music, food, and plenty of tasting from the county’s top distillers and brewers.
🎟️ Tickets £12.50. More info

🥞 Oeuf.

My favourite meal of the day is brunch, and Oeuf Café in Hove is the ultimate place to enjoy it. This independent café and restaurant is as pretty as it’s dishes, all warm lighting, soft chatter, and beautifully presented plates. They’re serious about sustainability too, using locally sourced produce and even having their coffee delivered by bike.

If you like French toast (and honestly, who doesn’t?), their trademarked Frumpets (pictured on the right) are an experience worth the trip alone. These French toast-battered crumpets come in all kinds of irresistible combinations, from Melt in the Middle Cheese & Chive to Croque Madame with ham hock and fried egg, or the standout Korean Fried Chicken stacked with bacon crumb and avocado. And don’t think twice about ordering the Honey Butter, Chipotle, Fried Chicken Waffles, a sweet-and-spicy masterpiece that hits every note.

Pair your brunch with a Spiced Pear Mimosa, Breakfast Martini, or a classic Aperol Spritz, and you’ve got yourself a perfect late-morning weekend date. Whether it’s a first meet-up or a weekend ritual, Oeuf proves that the best dates don’t always happen after dark. Why not make it a brunch date this week?

📍 8 Third Avenue, Hove
⏰ Mon-Thu 9am-3pm, Fri-Sun 9am-4pm
🍳 Bookings & Menu

🏡 New Build Nirvana

A four-bed, three-bath new build in a gated Ovingdean enclave, The Orchard combines eco credentials with luxury modern design, cascading quartz kitchen islands, gold-accented bathrooms and woodland views from the main suite’s balcony. Modern Brighton living at its sleekest, with stamp duty currently covered

📍 Ovingdean, Brighton
💰 £1,725,000
🔗 View listing

events marked with a * are sponsored

Tuesday

🎨 Painting Party in Brighton: The Victory
Tue 4 Nov, 7-9pm @ The Victory Inn
A relaxed evening of painting with all materials included - food and drink sold separately. More Info

🎭 Michael Akadiri: Don't Call Me Uncle!
Tue 4 Nov, 7:30pm @ Caroline of Brunswick
Award-winning comedian and doctor Michael Akadiri previews his new show about perception, identity and growing older. Tickets

🎭 We Are The Lions Mr Manager
Tue 4 Nov, 7:30pm @ Brighthelm Centre
The story of Jayaben Desai and the Grunwick strike - a powerful tale of workers’ rights and resistance. Tickets

🎭 Scoops Improv Comedy Night
Tue 4 Nov, 8-10pm @ The Actors
A night of completely improvised comedy from Brighton’s funniest troupes. Tickets

🎨 Art & Wellbeing Sessions
Tue 4 Nov, 6-8pm @ Brighton Natural Health Foundation
Relax and get creative with guided art sessions focused on mindfulness and self-expression. Tickets

Wednesday

🎤 La Voix: The Show Isn’t Over Tour
Wed 5 Nov, 7:30pm @ Brighton Dome
A night of music, comedy, and glamour from RuPaul’s Drag Race star La Voix and her live band. Tickets

🎟️ Meet the Professionals: How AI is Shaping the Professional Services Industry
Wed 5 Nov, 6-9pm @ Plus X Innovation
A panel discussion on how AI is transforming law, finance, design and more. Tickets

🎭 We Are The Lions Mr Manager
Wed 5 Nov, 9:30pm @ Brighthelm Centre
Second night of the inspiring play about Jayaben Desai’s fight for workers’ rights. Tickets

🐦 Evening Roost Event
Wed 5 Nov, 4-5:30pm @ WWT Arundel
Watch pied wagtails, egrets, and marsh harriers arrive for their evening roost. More Info

🎄 Hove Christmas Trail
Wed 5 Nov - Tue 24 Dec @ Hove
Explore local shops, check in to win festive prizes, and support independents this Christmas. More Info

Thursday

🎭 Brian Bilston & The Catenary Wires: Sounds Made By Humans
Thu 6 Nov, 8pm @ Komedia
Poet Brian Bilston and The Catenary Wires perform from their new album of song-poems. More Info

🎤 Mark Nelson: Liquid Gold
Thu 6 Nov, 8pm @ Komedia
Multi-award-winning Scottish comedian Mark Nelson returns with sharp wit and dark humour. Tickets

🤠 Line Dancing with The Double Dolly’s!
Thu 6 Nov, 7-9pm @ Saltdean Lido
A hilarious Dolly Parton-themed hoedown with live music and line dancing. Tickets

🎓 The Quantum Universe
Thu 6 Nov, 7-9pm @ Wagner Hall
Professor Stephen Wilkins explores how quantum physics shapes our understanding of the cosmos. Tickets

🎨 When Vincent Met John
Thu 6 Nov, 7:30-9pm @ Ropetackle Arts Centre
A creative imagining of what might have happened if Vincent van Gogh and John Lennon had met. Tickets

🍊 Jägermeister Orange Launch Party
Thu 6 Nov, 8pm-2am @ Black Lion Brighton
The official national launch party for Jägermeister Orange with DJs and giveaways. More Info

Friday

🎭 The Maydays: Confessions!
Fri 7 Nov, 7:30pm @ Komedia
Improvised comedy inspired by anonymous audience confessions. Tickets

🎙️ Goblins Podcast: Stellar Firma LIVE
Fri 7 Nov, 6:30-9:30pm @ Wagner Hall
A chaotic sci-fi comedy podcast brought to life with absurd antics and audience energy. Tickets

🎤 Bob Dylan
Fri 7 Nov, 6:30-10:30pm @ The Brighton Centre
Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan returns to the Brighton stage. Tickets

🎭 How Very Hannah - Live
Fri 7 Nov, 7:30pm @ Brighton Dome
TikTok star and West End performer Hannah Lowther brings her stagey live show to Brighton. Tickets

🎤 Emmanuel Sonubi: Life After Near Death Tour
Fri 7 Nov, 7:30pm @ The Old Market, Hove
One of the UK’s most in-demand comedians delivers powerhouse storytelling and sharp humour. Tickets

Ongoing

⛸️ Royal Pavilion Ice Rink
Until 4 Jan 2026 @ Royal Pavilion
The UK’s most beautiful solar-powered ice rink returns for the festive season. More Info

Live Music

Last week’s question had you guessing which Brighton landmark is said to be the city’s most haunted landmark and 69% of you got it right! The answer was Preston Manor, where the council has done a short article mentioning some of the sightings:

Tales of ghostly sightings and supernatural experiences at Preston Manor go back through history, including Sister Agnes, the medieval nun who helped travellers on their way; a body buried under the patio; a disembodied hand floating by the four-poster bed; the White Lady and the elegant Lady in Grey who descends the grand staircase with nowhere to go. One friendly ghost was even seen trying out a child's toy tractor during the 1960s.

Brighton & Hove City Council

Ready for another round? Here’s this week’s question based around the ongoing CINECITY Brighton Film Festival: