The Brighton Squawk
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🐦 Big Builds & Big Returns

🐦 Big Builds & Big Returns

From £10m flats and a £65m leisure centre to Nick Cave’s Preston Park homecoming.

Ben Watkins
September 16, 2025

Hello Brighton,

From £10m flats in Whitehawk sparking parking rows to a £65m new leisure centre planned for Hove seafront, it’s a week of big city projects, plus the news that Nick Cave will return for an exclusive Preston Park show in 2026. Add in a chocolate festival, charity fundraisers and the perfect new date spot, and there’s plenty to keep you busy.

Here’s what’s squawking this week:

🏗️ Parking concerns over £10m Swanborough Drive flats
🏊 £65m new leisure centre planned for Hove seafront
🎸 Nick Cave returns to Brighton for an exclusive show
🍫 Chocolate festival, community fundraisers and a top date spot

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🏗️ £10m Swanborough Drive flats face parking concerns

Plans for two new six-storey council blocks in Whitehawk have sparked neighbour objections over limited parking, particularly for disabled residents. The £10m scheme would house more than 110 people, but only five disabled bays and one visitor space are included.

Locals fear traffic and long-term parking problems will worsen, with some worried it could push the council to introduce permit schemes. Others argue it risks overcrowding the area and stretching local services.

The council says the plans meet national standards, with 44 secure cycle spaces, five motorcycle bays and new bee and butterfly banks to offset habitat loss.

→ read more from Brighton & Hove News

🏊 £65m new leisure centre for Hove seafront

Brighton & Hove City Council has unveiled plans for a £65 million leisure centre to replace the ageing King Alfred. The new venue will feature swimming pools, a gym, a café and more.

The project promises to be modern, sustainable and accessible, keeping a leisure hub on the seafront where residents want it. Councillors say it will be a space the city can be proud of.

Designs will go out for public feedback this autumn, with a planning application expected by year’s end. Work could start in 2026, though the opening is not expected before spring 2028.

→ read more from BBC News

🎸 Nick Cave returns home for exclusive show

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have announced an exclusive UK headline show in Brighton for summer 2026. The band will take over Preston Park on Friday 31 July in what Cave has called “a homecoming.”

The singer lived in Brighton for over two decades, with the city inspiring much of his work. The show will mark a significant return for one of the world’s most acclaimed performers.

Fans can expect songs from across the band’s four-decade career alongside tracks from last year’s album Wild God. Presale tickets open 25 September, with general sale on the 26th.

→ read more from Brighton & Hove News

Also in the news:

🍻 Hove seafront micropub gets green light - BeerBelly wins a drinks licence for 15 Victoria Terrace with strict conditions. Specialist small batch drinks only, no off sales of spirits or draft, no drinking outside, and sealed containers for takeaways.
→ read more from Brighton & Hove News

🚴 Brighton duo cycle USA with a bag for life - Matt Garman sets off from San Diego to St Augustine to raise money for Rockinghorse. Around 3,000 miles in 6 weeks with 8 to 9 hours in the saddle most days and 100 plus miles on some stages.
→ read more from BBC News

🗑️ Weekly food waste collections begin in the east - Saltdean, Rottingdean, Ovingdean, Woodingdean and the Marina start on Monday with caddies and liners supplied. North rolls out in October, west in November, and central plus communal areas by March 2026.
→ read more from BBC News

☀️ Solar boost for Brighton leisure centres - Panels on five city leisure centres have produced one million kWh of energy, enough to power 370 homes. Withdean alone generated half, while Prince Regent used 97% on-site. Any excess is sold back to the grid.
→ read more from BBC News

🎟️ Community & Charity Events Picks

💨 Inflatable 5K: Brighton for Sussex Beacon

Run, bounce and scramble your way through giant inflatables on this 5K fun run, raising funds for the Sussex Beacon. It’s open to all fitness levels, with plenty of laughs along the way and a great atmosphere.

🎟️ More Info
📅 Sat 18th Oct
📍 East Brighton Park

💃 Dance for Charity 3.0: International Dance Festival

A three-day celebration of dance with performances, workshops and community sessions, all in support of local charities. Expect international styles, live music and a chance to join in yourself.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info
📅 Fri 3 - Sun 5 Oct
📍The British Engineerium, Hove

🌅 Together Co Sky Walk 2025

Step into the i360 pod for a sunset ride with a difference. This charity walk under the stars raises funds for Together Co, the Brighton organisation tackling loneliness and isolation. Minimum sponsorship applies.

🎟️ More Info
📅 Tue 7 Oct, 5:30pm
📍 i360

🍫 Brighton Chocolate Festival

Indulge your sweet tooth at this weekend festival dedicated to artisan chocolate. Expect tastings, demos, stalls from local and international makers, plus talks on sustainable cocoa. Family friendly with plenty of samples.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info
📅 27 - 28 Sept
📍 Hilton Metropole, Brighton

❤️ VOYA

Some places just click, and VOYA is one of them. Equal parts listening bar, brasserie and cocktail lounge, it’s intimate, stylish and warm. The small space hums with high-fidelity sound and hand-picked records, setting the perfect backdrop for plates and drinks that are thoughtful, seasonal and generous.

The small plate menu changes month by month, keeping things fresh for food lovers, and don’t be fooled by the word “small”, a few dishes and cocktails will leave you happily full. Expect mostly vegetarian plates, refined yet approachable, each one crafted with care. Pair it with a negroni, a natural wine or whatever takes your fancy from the bar’s carefully chosen list.

What makes Voya really special is its atmosphere. It feels like part gig, part gallery, part house party with DJs spinning from 7-11pm and a crowd that’s there to soak it all in. There’s a glow to the place, where art, food, music and conversation weave together into something you’ll remember long after. For a date night, it’s a winner.

📍 North Road, North Laines
⏰ Thurs - Sat evenings (5pm to late), Sat lunch (12–3pm)
🔗 See What’s On & Bookings

🏡 For the Modern Tudor

Behind the Tudor frontage of this Hove home lies 3,500+ sq ft of sleek open-plan living, with Crittal windows, stone floors, a showpiece kitchen-diner, and a principal suite with dressing room and terrace. Traditional charm, modern finish.

📍 Cromwell Road, Hove
💰 £2,250,000
🔗 View on Rightmove

events marked with a * are sponsored

Tuesday

🎬 Brighton Queer Film Club
7pm @ The Rose Hill
A curated evening of queer short films from around the world. More Info

🎭 Private Lives
7.30pm @ The Barn Theatre, Southwick
Noël Coward’s razor-sharp comedy of romance and dysfunction comes to Southwick. More Info

🎣 Paul Whitehouse & John Bailey: How We Fish
7.30pm @ The Old Market, Hove
The duo share funny tales and reflections from a lifetime of fishing. More Info

🎨 Georgian Colour: Finding Miss Gartside
7pm–9pm @ The Hove Club
Alexandra Loske discusses Mary Gartside’s pioneering colour theory. More Info

💘 Speed Dating in Brighton (Ages 45–65)
7.30pm–9.30pm @ The Fitz Regent
An evening of mingling for singles 45–65. More Info

Wednesday

🎤 Helen Bauer: Bless Her
8pm @ Komedia
Stand-up powerhouse brings her new hour to North Laine. More Info

🧪 Brighton Blockchain Weekly Social
7pm–9pm @ The Southern Belle, Hove
Casual meet-up for crypto and web3 enthusiasts. More Info

🎤 Cool-Aid Comedy
8pm–10.30pm @ Caroline of Brunswick
Brighton’s longest-running new material comedy night. More Info

💘 Brighton Gay Speed Dating (Ages 24–40)
7pm–9.30pm @ The Bootlegger
Face-to-face singles night in central Brighton. More Info

👑 SIX
5pm and 8pm (several dates) @ Theatre Royal
The queens remix Tudor history into a pop concert. (multiple dates) Tickets

Thursday

🎭 Shakespeare’s Hamlet
7pm @ Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT)
A full-scale outdoor production of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. More Info

🎙️ Dead Ringers: The 25th Anniversary Tour
7.30pm @ Brighton Dome, Concert Hall
BBC Radio 4’s legendary satire show live on stage. More Info

🗳️ Is the UK Politically Corrupt?
7pm @ Brighton Dome, Studio Theatre
Panel discussion and audience Q&A. More Info

🎤 Siobhán Winifred
7pm doors @ Patterns
Rising alt-pop songwriter in an intimate club setting. More Info

👡 Socks and Sandals: Fashion Faux-pas or Political Statement?
6pm–7pm @ Brighton West Pier Centre
Annebella Pollen on seaside fashion, socialism and subversion with complimentary wine. More Info

🎨 Paint Your Partner Workshop
7pm–9pm @ Puzzle Bored, Brighton
Swap Netflix for canvas and paint your partner or bestie. More Info

🎤 He Huang: Live in Brighton
8pm @ Komedia
Sharp comedy about travel disasters, dating fails, and life’s absurdities. More Info

🎵 The Free Brighton Choir
7pm–8pm @ Brighton Youth Centre
Inclusive community choir, free and open to all. More Info

🎨 Heritage Open Days: Historic Silhouette Machines
4pm @ Regency Town House, Hove
Hands-on workshop exploring 200-year-old portrait machines. More Info

🤝 Connection Jam
6.30pm @ Neighbourhuud, BN3
Guided games and activities designed to spark meaningful conversations and friendships. More Info

🎉 Lilith’s Lair – Sensual Sapphic Party (18+)
8pm–1am @ Top Secret Brighton
A space for women and femmes to explore away from the male gaze. More Info

🎶 Splendid Blends Finale
4pm–10pm @ Volks Nightclub
End-of-season rave with DJs and Brighton underground vibes. More Info

Friday

🎶 South Downs Music Festival 2025
from 12.30pm @ Waterloo Square, Bognor Regis
Folk, dance, street shows, craft stalls, and food across town. More Info

💿 Kojey Radical: Live + Signing
6.30pm @ Resident Music
In-store set celebrating new album Don’t Look Down. More Info

🎻 The Music of The Lord of the Rings: Tribute to Howard Shore
7pm @ St George’s Church, Brighton
A concert of the trilogy’s most iconic themes. More Info

🎭 Private Lives
7.45pm @ The Barn Theatre, Southwick
Noël Coward’s razor-sharp comedy of love and chaos. More Info

🧒 Story Magic
10am and 11am @ Komedia Studio
Interactive storytelling sessions for little ones. Tickets

🍷 Sign and Wine: Learn BSL + Portuguese Wine
7pm–9.30pm @ Projects Nile House
Taste, learn basic sign languagre (BSL), and meet new people. Tickets

🖼️ Helm Gallery: Take The Streets
from 6pm @ Helm Gallery
DJs, immersive art, live tattooing, and cocktails. More Info

😂 Freak of Nature Comedy
8pm–10.30pm @ Caxton Arms
Free standup night with rotating pro and rising acts. More Info

🌿 The Social Society & Friends
from 10am @ Crockstead Fields, Halland
A one-day festival of connection, community and doing good together with music, wellness, and talks. More Info

Live Music

We asked which oldest thing Brighton doesn’t lay claim to. Most of you (60%) guessed the pier, and you were right! While our West Pier is iconic (and skeletal), it’s not the oldest. Brighton does, however, boast the UK’s first nudist beach, the world’s longest-running aquarium, and the UK’s oldest cinema still in operation.

This week we’re flipping it: instead of the oldest, what does Brighton have the largest of in Europe?