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Hello Brighton, Hello Hove!

I am ridiculously excited this week, as you'll see when you scroll down. Marley’s Squawk is our brand-new feature, and I’ve been so looking forward to officially welcoming Marley to the Brighton Squawk community! Beyond that, we’ve got an absolute feast of a weekend ahead, from a fast, pancake-flat coastal 10k run along the prom and a live-scoring improv comedy showdown with Deborah Frances White to a hands-on early-music baroque workshop at The Rose Hill.

Let’s jump straight into it.

Here Is What's Squawking This Week

📚 Britain's biggest LGBTQ+ literature festival lands at Brighton Dome.
🕯️ Fleetwood Mac hits by candlelight at the Royal Pavilion.
🎸 Shock-rock legend Alice Cooper launches new memoir.
🎨 Notorious master art duplicator unmasked in gallery talk.
🐟 Marine crisis documentary screens with live director Q&A.

📚 The Book Nook

If you have young kids, the pirate ship inside the Little Nook Cafe at The Book Nook makes it an absolute lifesaver of a spot and with half term just around the corner, this place should be at the top of every local parent's list. Tucked away on First Avenue in Hove, this award-winning independent children’s bookshop has been run with immense passion by co-founders Julie Ward and Vanessa Lewis since 2009.

It is no surprise they have been crowned Children’s Bookseller of the Year three times (2012, 2015, and 2018). Beyond their amazingly curated shelves of stories, picture books, and YA reads, the space functions as a proper community hub where kids can dive into play while parents grab a tea and a slice of cake. They were also just in the news after securing a £1,000 grant from HarperCollins, proving that even major international publishers recognise the vital role this local shop plays in fostering a love of reading in our city.

Whether you are stocking up on fresh half-term reads or needing a warm, welcoming play spot on a rainy afternoon, pop in; it's a guaranteed winner for both you and the kids.

📍 1st Avenue, Hove, BN3 2FJ
🕒 Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm, Sat: 9:30am-5pm, Sun: 11am-3pm
💰 Children's books, cafe treats, play area, and author events
🔗 Explore & Shop Online

I am of the firm and controversial belief that October is the best month in Brighton. I used to dread the dark and cold and sideways rain that lashes you back inside. But now I know that October is for the locals, the hardcore, the people who know Brighton rocks all year round. And I’m taking full advantage.

Last Thursday, I did a whiskey tasting with Drink This Socials. Becky Paskin is a drinks writer and the person I want to be when I grow up. I made a new friend at the tasting and am headed to his place for a curry next Monday!

And because my world revolves around food, I’ve started organising a monthly Support Local Supper Club. It’s open to anyone who wants to make new friends, eat great food, and support local businesses. I’m not vegan, but our Bonsai supper convinced me I’d have a great time if I was.

While I am the master of yap (as the header of this article accurately portrays), I do enjoy some peace and quiet. And nowhere is the silence more golden than at the 5AM writing club at Kemptown Bookshop. 

But sometimes, October invites us to stay at home and get cosy. I’ve picked up some new Gamely games from Dave’s Comic for our low-key (or high-key, I am competitive) game nights: we’re loving Bang Out of Order and Six Second Scribbles. 

And there’s still so much coming up in October: Octoberbest, Oktoberfest, October Unpacked, oh my! And you want to tell me October ISN’T the best month in Brighton??!

Marley x

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

🔗 on TikTok
🔗 on Instagram

🍺 The Chimney House

Tucked away in the quiet backstreets of Prestonville, just north of Seven Dials, this classic red-brick neighbourhood spot effortlessly rewrites the rulebook on modern-day pub charm and phenomenal food. It is the kind of hidden sanctuary you almost want to keep as your own secret, though word is well and truly out about their spectacular kitchen.

While the weekday menu features fantastic small plates like cider-poached chorizo and Brazilian coxinhas alongside hearty mains, Sunday is where the real magic happens. Their roasts are an absolute masterclass, featuring options like slow-roasted pork belly with proper crackling, chicken supreme, topside of beef, leg of lamb, or a rainbow vegetable pie. Every plate lands with massive Yorkshire puddings, crisp roasties, seasonal veg, and a deeply rich, soul-warming gravy. Paired with a real fire, a brilliant pint, or a fiery Bloody Mary, it is a quintessential neighbourhood gem well worth the pilgrimage.

📍 28 Upper Hamilton Road, Brighton, BN1 5DF
🕒 Mon to Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-9pm
🍽️ Kitchen: Mon to Thu 12pm-3pm & 5pm-9pm, Fri to Sat 12pm-9pm, Sun 12pm-6pm
🔗 Visit their website

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Fri

🎙️ Celya AB: We Must Stop Meeting Like This | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Dome (Studio Theatre)-Critically acclaimed comedian Celya AB brings her stand-up show about overthinking life choices and overcoming shame to Brighton following sold-out runs. More Info

🎤 Tom Davis: Spudgun | 7:30pm, Fri @ Brighton Dome (Concert Hall)
A massive new stand-up tour exploring life as a perennial longshot, packed with hilarious personal anecdotes about how a beloved television comic navigates unexpected success. More Info

🎤 Alfie Brown: the Entertainer | 7pm, Fri @ Komedia (Studio)
An existential crisis meets sharp stand-up comedy in a show grappling with tech, modern meaning, and the true purpose of laughter. More Info

🎙️ Catherine Bohart | 8:30pm, Fri @ Brighton Dome (Corn Exchange)
A brutally honest stand-up show taking a sharp look at sex, sexuality, and relationships from a critically acclaimed television and podcast regular. More Info

🖼️ Ukraine: Life Un/Broken | 6pm, Fri @ POST
Part of Photoworks Festival ‘26, an evening of documentary film, powerful photography, and live artist talks exploring the human cost of war, raising funds for Ukrainian charities. More Info

🎸 Damian Lewis | 7pm, Fri @ Quarters
An intimate live acoustic performance featuring soulful roots music and personal songs born from early days busking across Europe. More Info

🎹 Flo & Joan | 7:30pm, Fri @ Theatre Royal
Multi-award-winning sisters bring their wildly clever, dark, and harmony-packed satirical songs to the stage for a night of brilliant musical comedy. More Info

🎨 The Forger’s Game | 6pm, Fri @ Helm Gallery
A provocative one-night exhibition showcasing hand-painted recreations of masterpieces alongside a fascinating live discussion between a notorious master art duplicator and a crime novelist. More Info

🎷 Jazz Emu | 6pm, Fri @ Brighton Dome (Corn Exchange)
The viral online comedy character and musical sensation delivers a slick, high-energy live performance blending absurd humour with impeccably smooth tunes. More Info

🧱 The Brilliant Brighton Bricks Trail | Fri 16 – Sun 1 Nov @ City Centre (The Lanes, North Laine, Western Road)-A family-friendly Halloween half-term trail hunting for 25 hidden LEGO Minifigures in city centre shop windows with a chance to win Brighton gift cards. More Info

Sat

🪩 All My Friends Day Disco | 3pm, Sat @ Brighton Dome (Concert Hall)
The legendary indie club night makes its local debut for a massive afternoon day rave packed with wall-to-wall indie and pop bangers from the eighties through today. More Info

🕯️ Candlelight: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac | 9pm, Sat @ Royal Pavilion
Experience the timeless hits of Fleetwood Mac, performed live by a talented string ensemble bathed in ambient candlelight, in an iconic historic venue. More Info

🎶 Amidst the Shades | 9pm, Sat @ Fabrica
Soprano Ruby Hughes and lutenist Jonas Nordberg deliver an intimate late-night festival performance weaving Renaissance lute songs with modern classical works. More Info

🎭 Lara Ricote: Inkling | 8:30pm, Sat @ Brighton Dome (Studio Theatre)
The Edinburgh Comedy Award winner brings her stupidest and smartest stand-up hour yet to the stage, navigating the silly, absurd, and mysterious parts of being alive. More Info

🎻 Vivaldi: The Four Seasons – Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague | 7:30pm, Sat @ All Saints Church, Hove-The Prague-based chamber ensemble brings Vivaldi's masterpiece to life, featuring Czech violin soloist Matteo Hager as part of their autumn 2026 tour. More Info

🎈 Comedy Club 4 Kids | 2pm, Sat @ Komedia (Studio)
Top circuit comedians drop the rude bits and perform family-friendly stand-up routines designed to entertain kids and adults alike. More Info

🎙️ Fin Taylor: The Pre-emptive Comeback Special | 7:30pm, Sat @ Theatre Royal Brighton-The outspoken stand-up comedian returns with a brand-new hour of sharp, unfiltered, and painfully funny observations. More Info

🎙️ Stevie Martin: Clout | 7pm, Sat @ Brighton Dome (Corn Exchange)
The Taskmaster and online comedy star brings her sold-out Edinburgh Fringe stand-up hit on tour, translating millions of viral views into high-energy live sketch and observational comedy. More Info

🎨 Jungle Harpies and African Vistas | Sat & Sun @ The Regency Town House-A vibrant collaborative art exhibition celebrating 50 years of combined tattooing and painting traditions, concluding on Sunday from 2pm with drinks, cake, and a final opportunity to view the works. More Info

🎹 The Piano Music of Ludovico Einaudi | 6pm & 8pm, Sat @ St Mary's Church
An intimate candlelit performance celebrating the modern classical composer's best-loved piano works inside a beautiful historic church. More Info

Sun

🐟 All Rivers Spill Their Stories To The Sea | 5:30pm, Sun @ Dukes at Komedia
A powerful documentary screening following a coastal fisherman whose livelihood is upended by a massive marine crisis, followed by an exclusive director Q&A with Jeanie Finlay. More Info

🎭 Robin Ince & Joanna Neary | 7:30pm, Sun @ Komedia (Studio)
An intimate evening of storytelling, poetry, and comedy from two firm creative friends, featuring insights into neurodivergence and brand-new poetry. More Info

🎻 A=415 Instrumental Workshop | 1pm, Sun @ The Rose Hill
A hands-on monthly workshop hosted by BREMF for amateur baroque instrumentalists to explore historical performance practices and ensemble repertoire. More Info

🧘 Sauna and Soup Fundraiser | 12:45p, Sun @ Beach Box Sauna
A charity wellness session featuring access to four saunas, guided sauna rituals, and post-sauna vegan soup, with 100% of proceeds supporting youth charity Flourish Mentors. More Info

⚽ Premier League: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Crystal Palace | 2pm, Sun @ AMEX Stadium-Brighton & Hove Albion take on arch-rivals Crystal Palace in an intense Premier League derby clash at the AMEX Stadium. More Info

🎙️ The Noise Next Door: Furnace With… Deborah Frances White! | 8pm, Sun @ The Forge Comedy Club-The quick-witted improv squad teams up with 'The Guilty Feminist' host for an unpredictable night of high-energy off-the-cuff comedy and unscripted mayhem. More Info