Hello, Brighton & Hove!

The city is operating at peak summer capacity, and first up is a gentle reminder: it is Father’s Day this Sunday. Conveniently, World Cup fever is already sweeping the pebbles, and with England vs Croatia tomorrow night, grabbing a pint with your old man is the perfect tactical head start to the weekend.

Aside from the football, the cultural calendar is bursting. We have a massive wave of independent film festivals hitting local screens, alongside a citywide oyster festival for those who fancy some high-end seafood grazing. Whether you are prepping for a low-tide silent disco on the shoreline or tracking down Elton John anthems, put the kettle on and let us dive straight in.

Here is what’s squawking this week:

🎭 A massive £9.5m rescue package finally saves the historic Brighton Hippodrome.
👑 Local legends and charity champions are named in the King's Birthday Honours.
🎧 Dancers head to the shoreline sand for a low-tide silent disco.
🦪 A citywide oyster festival takes over local venues with custom pairings.
🎹 Jess Robinson reimagines Elton John’s hits using pitch-perfect impressions.

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👑 King's Birthday Honours: Royal awards for a host of local legends

Our city is beaming with pride this week after dozens of familiar local faces were officially recognised in the prestigious King’s Birthday Honours list. Former Brighton teacher and Gruffalo creator Julia Donaldson has been made a Dame, while best-selling local crime novelist Peter James picks up an OBE alongside a stellar lineup of our community's dedicated public servants, charity founders, and grassroots champions.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🎭 £9.5m cash injection saves the Brighton Hippodrome

The historic Middle Street venue is finally set to reopen its doors as a live performance hub after sitting empty for two decades. Music giant Academy Music Group has stepped in to run the site, teaming up with local developers Matsim to pump a total of £25 million into restoring the architecturally stunning Edwardian circus theatre.
→ read more on The Argus

🏫 Council moves to close Hove secondary campus

The council has taken the next step toward closing Hove Park School’s Valley Campus on Hangleton Way to consolidate all pupils on a single site by 2028. Driven by declining pupil numbers and financial pressures, the plan has shifted to a four-week feedback period despite 63% of respondents to the consultation opposing the merger.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏗️ Madeira Terrace restoration powers ahead

New aerial photos show significant progress on rebuilding the first 28 arches of Brighton's historic, 3,000-foot cast-iron landmark. The highly complex engineering project has reached an advanced stage on a new step-free lift and has just secured a fresh £240,000 funding boost from Historic England.
→ read more on The Argus

🛑 Hove housing scheme hit by council secrecy row

Opposition councillors are furious after being blocked from reviewing key financial numbers for a new £6 million specialist care housing development at Brickfields. The council heavily redacted the official reports under the guise of commercial sensitivity, sparking warnings that it could repeat the lack of independent oversight that led to the city's notorious i360 financial disaster.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🎨 Nurse creates art from plastic beach litter

Brighton NHS nurse Sammie Aplin is transforming marine waste into bespoke artwork through her viral Instagram page, The Plastic Coast, to help tackle the beach pollution crisis. Local action group Leave No Trace Brighton backed the project, warning that plastic litter remains a severe problem on sunny days after clearing over 800kg of waste from the seafront last year alone.
→ read more on BBC News

Also in the news:

🅿️ Citywide parking shake-up: Brighton and Hove City Council has unveiled a sweeping list of proposed changes to waiting, loading, and permit zones across more than 15 neighbourhoods, giving residents until June 26 to lodge formal objections.
→ read more on The Argus

⚽ Football 4 Peace marks 25 years: A brilliant sports initiative started by the University of Brighton is celebrating a quarter-century of using football to unite deeply divided communities across four continents, having now reached over 8,000 young people from Israel and Palestine to Colombia and The Gambia. → read more on BBC News

👶 Tarnerland Nursery scores top Ofsted: The beloved Brighton nursery is celebrating the best inspection outcome in the city since Ofsted launched its new framework last November, with inspectors highly praising the school's calm, nurturing atmosphere and excellent child development. → read more on Brighton and Hove News

🦀 Free marine life art trail opens: The Sussex Wildlife Trust has launched a stunning, 24-hour outdoor photography exhibition at the Brighton Seafront Gallery, showcasing the hidden underwater creatures of the Sussex coast and the UK's largest marine rewilding project until July 19. → read more on BBC News

📽️ SAMA International Film Festival

I’m always backing initiatives that celebrate independent culture in our city, and this week, something incredibly special is taking over our local screens. The inaugural Sama Brighton film festival was kick-started yesterday, providing a vital international platform that promotes freedom of expression while showcasing brilliant displaced, diasporic, and underrepresented filmmakers. Over five nights, they are bringing an incredible mix of feature films, documentaries, and shorts, complete with live discussions, music, and community connection across a handful of our favourite independent venues in Brighton and Lewes.

What makes this festival so beautiful is its core mission to amplify vital voices that global history so often ignores. Every single film shown is fully subtitled in English, offering us an intimate window into deeply personal stories of survival, identity, and resilience from places like Afghanistan, Iran, and Kazakhstan. It’s exactly the kind of powerful, thought-provoking grassroots cinema that challenges perspectives and brings our community closer together, so please do go out and show them some proper local love.

Just a heads up that tonight is completely sold out, as is Wednesday, but there are still places left for Thursday and Friday, so make sure you hurry up to book your tickets!

📅 Thu 18 Jun, 7pm
🎟️ My Childhood, My Country - 20 Years in Afghanistan + Director Q&A
📍 Duke's at Komedia

📅 Fri 19 Jun, 6pm
🎟️ Bauryna Salu + Producer Q&A & Community Celebration
📍 Fabrica

🔗 Explore the festival line-up and grab tickets

 🍔🦞 Burger & Lobster

If you are craving a proper seaside feast, Burger & Lobster on Market Street is a spot
I always recommend it to everyone. It sits right in the heart of the Lanes, just moments from Brighton Beach and a short stroll from Old Steine Gardens. The space has a brilliant, energetic buzz that makes it a top-tier choice for a fun, lively date night where you can tuck into some serious comfort food.

The concept here is wonderfully simple but executed to perfection, bringing together the finest wild Atlantic lobster and prime beef burgers. If you want the absolute best of both worlds, their surf and turf options are an absolute must. For a fantastic daytime date, they also run a brilliant Surf and Turf Set Menu between 12pm and 6pm daily, which gives you two courses for twenty pounds or three for twenty-five pounds.

The atmosphere is completely unpretentious and filled with a welcoming, vibrant energy from the moment you walk in.

📍 15 Market Street,Brighton BN1 1HH
🕒 12pm-9:30pm (Mon-Wed), 12pm-10pm (Thu), 12:pm-11pm (Fri), 11:30am-11pm (Sat), 11:30am-9:30pm (Sun)
🔗 Book a table

🏠 Seafront Sanctuary

Sitting proudly on the iconic Marine Parade, this magnificent 6-bedroom Grade II-listed Regency townhouse is steeped in celebrity history and remarkable period craftsmanship. The spectacular first-floor drawing room features gilded plasterwork ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto a wrought-iron balcony overlooking the English Channel. The lower ground level houses a jaw-dropping Art Deco cinema room, complete with a high-gloss rosewood bar and its own independent three-bedroom apartment. With a sun-filled, south-facing sandstone courtyard and the rare coastal luxury of secure off-street parking behind electric gates, it is an absolute

📍 Marine Parade, Brighton
💰 £3,000,000
🔗 View on Rightmove

Tue

🎭 Razzle Dazzle | 7:30pm, Tue & Wed @ The Barn Theatre, Southwick
First-year musical theatre students perform in their dynamic end-of-year showcase created by Emma Edwards, Nathan Potter, and Jodie Harrop. More Info

🎼 Federico De Michelis: Tosca | 5pm, Tue @ Glyndebourne, Lewes
Director Ted Huffman makes his debut with Puccini's gripping opera masterpiece accompanied by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. More Info

🎬 Brighton Rocks Film Festival | Mon - Sun @ Various Venues
The ninth annual festival celebrates indie and underground cinema across multiple venues, featuring screenings of over 200 diverse, boundary-pushing films, as well as filmmaker Q&As and exclusive networking hubs. More Info

🎸 Acoustic Night | Intimate Music | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Bees Mouth, Hove
Emerging local talents Oliver Meadows, Mia Nicholls, Dusk, and Riley Viljoen perform an intimate showcase blending flamenco, folk, and soul. More Info

Wed

🏳️‍🌈 Amy Spalding: The Dykonic Tour | 7pm, Wed @ Brighton Dome Studio Theatre
The breakout star of BBC’s I Kissed a Girl hosts a lively guide to sapphic life alongside comedian Sophie Duker. More Info

🌾 The Archers: Live at 75 | 7:30pm, Wed @ Brighton Dome Concert Hall
Comedian Angela Barnes hosts a special anniversary stage tour celebrating 75 years of the iconic BBC Radio 4 serial. More Info

🎧 Low Tide Silent Disco | 7pm, Wed @ Brighton Beach (East Side of Palace Pier)
Dancers can enjoy a unique three-channel open-air silent disco on the shoreline sand and pebbles. More Info

🎤 Rufus Rice plus Special Guests | 7:30pm, Wed @ Komedia Basement
TikTok star Rufus Rice delivers a rambunctious evening of live comedy and music alongside a lineup of special guests. More Info

🎬 Film Screening: 'Nothing Compares' & Live Q & A | 6pm, Wed @ POST
This special screening of the archive-led documentary that tracks the phenomenal rise of Sinéad OʼConnor features an introductory talk and a post-film Q&A with producer Eleanor Emptage. More Info

🏉 Touch Rugby! Free Trial | 6:30pm, Wed @ Hove Lawns (The Lawns Cafe)
Active Co. hosts a mixed-gender, social touch rugby session as part of a four-week multisport free trial for all experience levels. More Info

Thu

🍷 Joanne McNally: Pinotphile | 8pm, Thu @ Brighton Dome Concert Hall
Comedian Joanne McNally returns with her highly anticipated new stand-up show exploring hilarious stories of situationships and rejection. More Info

📝 Poetry Workshop | 4pm, Thu @ Komedia - Brighton Book Festival
Spoken word artist AFLO. the poet and slam champion Keith Jarrett host an interactive, two-hour creative workshop focused on performance and confidence. More Info

🔮 The Good Godling | 7:30pm, Thu @ The Nightingale Room
This immersive live music and storytelling performance weaves together spoken word and a small act of collective magic. More Info

🎬 Virginia Woolf's Night & Day with Q&A | 7:30pm, Thu @ Duke of York's
This event features an exclusive preview screening of the vibrant literary film adaptation followed by a live Q&A session. More Info

🎭 Roedean presents Hetty Feather | 7pm, Thu @ Roedean School
Key Stage 3 pupils perform a bold, high-energy adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's much-loved adventure novel. More Info

🤝 Chamber Breakfast June | 7:45am, Thu @ Bill's Brighton
The Theatre Director at Theatre Royal Brighton speaks about running an arts institution at this monthly business networking breakfast. More Info

🎤 JAWDANCE x Brighton Book Festival | 7pm, Thu @ Komedia Brighton
Apples and Snakes brings its legendary performance poetry night to Brighton for a special partnership event hosted by AFLO. the poet and headlined by Keith Jarrett. More Info

Fri

🧠 Joe Tracini: Ten Things I Hate About Me | 7:30pm, Fri @ Studio Theatre
Actor and author Joe Tracini presents a powerful blend of comedy and storytelling about living with Borderline Personality Disorder. More Info

🎹 Jess Robinson: Elton Reimagined | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Old Market, Hove
Vocalist Jess Robinson performs Elton John's greatest hits using pitch-perfect impressions of legendary female singers. More Info

🎤 Tadiwa Mahlunge at The Secret Comedy Club | 8pm, Fri @ Artista
Headliner Tadiwa Mahlunge performs a stand-up set alongside a full lineup of supporting comedians at this intimate, no-heckling show. More Info

🦪 BITE Brighton Oyster Festival | 12pm, Fri @ Brighton & Hove
This festival invites diners to sample custom oyster pairings across top local venues alongside themed charity dinners. More Info

📽️ Outdoor Cinema - Josie and the Pussycats | 7:30pm, Fri @ Preston Manor
This open-air cinema screening presents the cult-classic pop culture satire on the lawn with included snack and drink credit. More Info

🎸 Fleetwood Mac- A Celebration | 8pm, Fri @ Ironworks Studios
This dedicated tribute night features live performances of the band's greatest hits, a trivia quiz, and a themed after-show disco. More Info

📝 All about Love: The Poetics of Resistance | 6:30pm, Fri @ Afrori Books
Inspired by bell hooks' seminal book, Dr Mona Manjot Dhaliwal leads a poetry workshop exploring themes of freedom, beauty, and hope as detailed in All About Love. More Info

Live Music

Blood Incantation | 7:30pm, Tue @ Concorde 2 Ticket
Folklore Monthly Showcase | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Folklore Rooms (Free entry)
La Dispute | 6pm, Tue @ Chalk Ticket
Tamikrest | 8pm, Tue @ The Hope & Ruin Ticket
Teddy Thompson | 8pm, Tue @ The Old Market Ticket

Floodlights | 8pm, Wed @ The Hope & Ruin Ticket
Maxïmo Park | 6:45pm, Wed @ Chalk Ticket
Twenty One Children | 7pm, Wed @ The Green Door Store Ticket

The Good Godling: Part gig. Part story | 7:30pm, Thu @ The Nightingale Room Ticket
Stefan Mahendra Live + Loie & Babe Sila | 7:30pm, Thu @ The Folklore Rooms Ticket

Alex Clarke | 5:30pm, Fri @ St Andrew's Church Ticket
Chelsea | 8pm, Fri @ The Prince Albert Ticket
Fleetwood Mac - A Celebration | 8pm, Fri @ Ironworks Studios Ticket
The Getaway ‘ashes’ Single Release | 7pm, Fri @ The Rossi Bar Ticket
Ingrown | 7pm, Fri @ The Hope & Ruin Ticket
Jess Robinson: Elton Reimagined | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Old Market Ticket
Junebabies | 6pm, Fri @ Concorde 2 (Free entry)
The Kendall Connection | 7pm, Fri @ Komedia Ticket
Maow Presents SILK | 8pm, Fri @ The Folklore Rooms Ticket
Role Call: a Celebration of Iconic Moments in Musical Theatre | 7:30pm, Fri @ South East Dance Ticket

Last week's spooky trivia was a total ghostly gathering! A massive 55.36% of you were completely correct, easily spotting that a mysterious Lady in Red loves to materialise right next to the bar at The Druid's Head.

This week, we are moving from the paranormal to music royalty. In July 2002, local legend Fatboy Slim threw his Big Beach Boutique II concert right on the pebbles. It became the largest outdoor party in UK history, but it caused total chaos when a massive wave of ravers unexpectedly swarmed the seafront.