Hello, Brighton & Hove!

People always talk about the "calm before the storm," but right now, we are well and truly in the calm after the storm. In the middle of August, half the city is off on holiday, and we are just coming down from the absolute whirlwind that was Pride weekend. After an event that massive, vibrant, and fun, dropping back into a normal gear can almost feel a bit quiet by comparison.

Don't let that fool you, though Brighton never actually goes to sleep. The city is still buzzing, the weather is delivering, and there is a proper bumper stack of goodness happening all weekend long.

If you are looking to soak up the sun and fuel your weekend, make sure to pop over to Hove and grab a coffee with me at the Brighton Coffee Festival. I’ll see you there!

Let’s dive into the week!

Here is what’s squawking this week:

🧠 Neurodiverse-city party brings free day celebrations to New Road.
🖼️ Phoenix Art Space celebrates over 30 years as a creative powerhouse.
🍕 The Prestonville Arms pairs 1869 history with New York-style pizza.
🪩 Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp spins 80s hits live at Pryzm this Saturday.
💿 First Press Record Fair hits Brighthelm Church.

🖼️ Phoenix Art Space

It’s incredibly easy to stroll past Waterloo Place without realising you’re walking right by a massive beating heart of Brighton’s creative scene. Phoenix Art Space is far more than just a gallery; it’s a dynamic powerhouse that has spent over 30 years championing social change through art and keeping our culture beautifully inclusive.

Most people don't know this registered charity was born out of the grassroots artist-led movement of the 1990s. Instead of just hanging art on walls, it provides crucial studio space for over 100 working artists under one roof. They bring 20,000 people together every single year, running everything from brilliant family fun days and drop-in workshops to talks that genuinely inspire the community.

What I love most is the profound impact they have on real lives, with local community group participants crediting the space for giving them a daily sense of purpose and connection. Skip the standard weekend routine, head over to discover their latest public exhibitions, and go support a true local treasure.

📍 10–14 Waterloo Place, BN2 9NB
🕒 Open for public exhibitions, short courses, and community events
🔗 Discover What's On

🍺 The Prestonville Arms

If you are walking between Seven Dials and Brighton Station and need a legendary watering hole, you have to track down The Prestonville Arms. Established way back in 1869, this spot has been quenching local thirsts since before electricity was even trendy. It effortlessly captures that proper, classic British pub vibe without feeling like a dusty museum piece.

The atmosphere here is built entirely around bringing the local community together. If you fancy some friendly competition, they have free darts and even a traditional Sussex toad table. For food, they have teamed up with Jago’s Pizza to serve incredible New York-style pies like the Fire & Ice, complete with hot honey and mascarpone. Pair one of those with their rotating local ales or a happy hour cocktail, and you are winning. It is unpretentious, packed with genuine history, and a brilliant example of a proper neighbourhood local that has perfected good company for over 150 years.

📍 64 Hamilton Road, Brighton, BN1 5DN
🕒 Mon-Thu 4pm-11pm, Fri & Sat 12pm-11.30pm, Sun 12pm-10.30pm
🔗 Visit their website

Fri

🔍 Free We Love Brighton Heart Trail | Daily @ Brighton City Centre
A family-friendly citywide scavenger hunt tracking down hidden hearts in summer banner art across 14 local shop windows for a chance to win a Brighton Gift Card. More Info

🍄 Brighton Fungi Social | 6pm, Fri @ Stanley Road Department Store
A relaxed evening exploring the world of mushrooms with urban fungi talks, botanical papermaking, health discussions, product samples, and synth music. More Info

🎸 Neurodiverse-City Big Show | 5pm, Fri @ Unitarian Church
Purple Productions presents an inclusive showcase celebrating neurodiversity with comedy, dance, beatboxing, live folk, and rock performances by Daniel Wakeford, Strenuous, and more. More Info

🎙️ FILTHY FRIDAYS with JOE FOSTER | 8pm, Fri @ The Brunswick
Award-winning comedian Joe Foster brings razor-sharp stand-up to Hove alongside Komedia New Comedy Award winners Michael Campuzano and Sydney May. More Info

🎧 Sunset Silent Disco | 7pm, Fri @ Whitecliffs Cafe, Bar and Grill
A beachfront sunset silent disco featuring three channels of music spanning 60s/70s hits, 80s/90s classics, and party anthems. More Info

🎵 Arrival Gallery presents Doran Fixes Everything | 7:30pm, Fri @ Arrival Gallery-Brighton-based multidisciplinary artist Doran performs a dreamy live set blending synth-pop, lo-fi electronic music, hip-hop grooves, and nostalgia. More Info

🕺 ELVIS w/Mark A. Wright | 9pm, Fri @ Hove Park Tavern
Entertainer Mark A. Wright performs as Elvis Presley for a lively night of classic rock 'n' roll hits and live music. More Info

Sat

🛍️ Brighton Makers Market | 11am, Sat @ Jubilee Square
An outdoor indie pop-up market hosted by Paper Daisy Events, featuring up to 40 rotating local artists, makers, and small-batch producers. More Info

🪩 Martin Kemp - Back to the 80's - DJ set | 5pm, Sat @ Pryzm
Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp takes to the decks to spin iconic 80s hits for an ultimate nostalgic DJ set and singalong. More Info

🎶 The Brighton Moon-Hop | 9pm, Sat @ Komedia (Studio)
Brighton's monthly reggae dance party club night bringing a mix of reggae, roots, ska, rocksteady, and lovers rock to The Studio. More Info

💿 First Press Record Fair | 12pm, Sat @ Brighthelm Church
A massive vinyl fair featuring 20 curated sellers and collectors spanning various genres, accompanied by vinyl DJ sets from DJ Format and an afterparty. More Info

🇯🇲 Dancehall Day Party – Jamaican Independence Celebration | 3pm, Sat @ Horizon Nightclub-A beachfront day party celebrating Jamaican Independence with dancehall, soca, and reggae hits hosted by DJ Kingsol and DJ Dubl. More Info

🎭 PRIDE 2026! QUEERS | 2:30pm & 8pm, Sat @ The Lantern Theatre
Thick As Thieves presents a series of dramatic monologues exploring a century of queer British life, depicted through stories of persecution, activism, and liberation from 1917 to 2017. More Info

Sun

🎨 Art + Makers Market | 11am, Sun @ New Road
A curated outdoor market celebrating independent artists and makers, featuring unique handmade goods, fine art, and local crafts presented by Beau Events.  More Info

🎶 Brighton Beach Boys: Dearly Departed | 2pm, Sun @ Brighton Open Air Theatre-The Brighton Beach Boys return with a musical tribute marking the icons, heroes, and mavericks of popular music who passed away in 2025. More Info

😂 Comedy on Sunday | 6pm, Sun @ The Caxton Arms
A free Sunday afternoon stand-up comedy session hosted by Vaiga Perkauskaite, featuring a line-up of emerging comedians. More Info

🏃 Sunday Run Club | 8:30am, Sun @ Little Bruce Coffee
A friendly 5km community group run hosted by KiwiRose Fitness, starting and finishing at the shop, welcoming runners of all paces. More Info

🎭 ACT New Plays New Playwrights | 7:30pm, Sun @ The Lantern Theatre
Students from ACT's Introduction To Playwriting Course showcase original 20-minute play extracts, performed script-in-hand by professional actors. More Info

🎤 SOOZ KEMPNER: Imposter | 4pm, Sun @ Caroline of Brunswick
Award-winning comedian Sooz Kempner performs a final preview of her stand-up show about imposter syndrome, voice loss, internet trolls, and Princess Diana. More Info

Live Music

Eli | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Folklore Rooms
Blood Hex + Pain Itself + secret set + Spree | 7pm, Fri @ Pipeline
Lonnie Gunn | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Rossi Bar
The Music Of Laurel Canyon | 8pm, Fri @ Ironworks Studios
Rachel Love | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Prince Albert
Tim Whitehead | 5:30pm, Fri @ St Andrew's Church
Wrestless / Not Coping / Looseleaf | 8pm, Fri @ The Bee's Mouth

Bora Bora Music - Gee Moore & Friends | Sat @ Patterns
Man/Woman/Chainsaw: Live + Signing | Sat @ Resident
BATTLE HYMNS (FREE!) | Sat @ Caroline of Brunswick
Vwayaz Presents: Lady Shaka | Sat @ Quarters
THE GULLS | Sat @ Alphabet
Leigh K | Sat @ Rossi BarA
ddicted to Amy | Sat @ The Brunswick
James Sebastian/Ziggy Phoenix/Third Time Luckie | Sat @ The Brunswick
Maezo, RP & Pablo Ballesta LATIN SPECIAL | Sat @ Fortune of War
The Brighton Moon-Hop | Sat @ Komedia
HOT VOX: Quarter Final | Sat @ Folklore Rooms
Moody Disco - Tee Dee | Sat @ Concorde 2
Saturday Afternoon Jazz Jam | Sat @ The Brunswick
200 Stab Wounds | Sat @ Dust
TELEOLOGY + MULOS | Sat @ Daltons
KRAPEOKE V'S GUITAR HERO | Sat @ Daltons
Big lemon + Fractured | Sat @ Prince Albert
Porcelain Doll | Sat @ Hope & Ruin
Metalheadz x 30 years of Volks - GOLDIE, Submotive | Sat @ Volks

Battlesnake | Sun @ Concorde 2
Hurry U.S. Highball, Music City | Sun @ The Pipeline
Agenda Collective Presents: | Sun @ Folklore Rooms
Brighton Sundae | Sun @ Fortune of War