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🐦 Comic Con, Comedy Giants & A Big Announcement!

🐦 Comic Con, Comedy Giants & A Big Announcement!

Cosplay at the Racecourse, coworking and coffee in The Lanes, and a massive update on the future of The Squawk.

Ben Watkins
February 20, 2026

An update on the future of The Squawk 🐣

It’s been nine months since I launched the Brighton Squawk as a little side project, so seeing over 5,000 of you reading every week is incredible.

But to be honest, relying on ads to keep the lights on hasn’t been cutting it, sometimes not even covering the basic costs of running the newsletter. So, to keep The Squawk independent and sustainable, I’m going to try moving toward a reader-funded model through a membership called The Flock.

The goal is simple: keep the Tuesday and Friday editions free as they are (they won’t change at all!), while finally building the "all-access" version many of you have asked for since launching.

The Flock will launch next week for £3.99 a month. As a massive thank you for keeping us squawking, members will get:

📱 The Flock Monthly Web-App

Something that’s been in the works for months, it’s a proper way to plan your month. It’s a searchable, filterable home for only the best events, gigs, exhibitions, and theatre shows in town, with no limit on how many we can include, like with the emails. You can filter by price, location, and category, and save events directly to your profile so you never miss a beat. With weekly picks, what’s on today, a hot tickets section for events beyond that month that are likely to sell out and a calendar for classes, workshops and groups to join that month.

📧 The Sunday Squawk

A brand-new Sunday morning email for a slower pace. Expect more local news, local history deep-dives, an arts section, a full preview of next week’s events, and newly announced big shows and events that are likely to sell out.

I’m looking for a group of Founding Members to help get us off the ground and test out the web app next week. You'll get the app and the Sunday edition, but more importantly, you’ll be the reason The Squawk keeps running.

Would you be up for supporting the Squawk as a founding member?

(I'll send an invite to those who want to join. The Flock officially launches next week featuring the full March edition of the app, founding members will help us test and improve it.)

20/2/26 - 22/2/26

🦸 Comic Con Brighton

⏰ Saturday, 10am - 4pm
📍 Brighton Racecourse

Meet stars from Red Dwarf and Star Wars while browsing out-of-this-world collectables at the racecourse. It’s a massive day for families and fans, featuring top-tier cosplay and plenty of photo ops with iconic movie props.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🔥 The Noise Next Door: Furnace With… Rosie Jones!

⏰ Sunday, 7pm
📍 The Forge Comedy Club

The Taskmaster star joins Brighton’s favourite improv troupe for a night of unscripted, high-stakes comedy chaos. Watch as they throw the rulebook into the fire for a one-off performance that will never be repeated.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🎤 Dave Benson Phillips: SING WITH ME, DBP!

⏰ Saturday, 1:30pm
📍 Ropetackle Arts Centre

The Get Your Own Back legend returns for a high-energy singalong show that’s pure nostalgia for parents. It’s a brilliantly chaotic session for the kids, featuring all the well-known songs you’ll find yourself humming for days.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🍫 Maybe I Should Stop By

⏰ Saturday, 7:30pm
📍 The Lantern Theatre

This darkly funny road trip play explores grief, guilt, and the logistical nightmare of hiding your dad’s ashes in a tub of Celebrations. It’s a sharp, five-star show that proves healing doesn't always go to plan when there's chocolate involved.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

⛪️ Bebe Cave: CHRISTBRIDE

⏰ Sunday, 7:30pm
📍 Komedia

Meet Batilda Bigbum in this wild one-woman show following a medieval teenager fleeing her mother to join a bizarre convent. It’s a hilarious and deathly look at the Middle Ages through the eyes of one very annoying woman.
🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🎭 Schalk Bezuidenhout: Hey Hey Divorcè

⏰ Friday, 8:00pm
📍 Brighton Dome

The South African comedy star hits the Dome with his first post-split show—because talking to an audience is cheaper than therapy. Expect rapid-fire gags and manic energy from a man who desperately needs to check in with you all.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🥽 Double Act: Immersive VR Experience

⏰ Saturday & Sunday, 10:30am - 5:00pm
📍 Hove Museum of Creativity

Dive into the origins of British cinema with a free immersive experience that brings archival moments to life in virtual space. Set against Brighton & Hove's rich history, this tech-forward exhibit is a must for local film buffs.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🎼 Lonely Angel: Mozart and Pēteris Vasks

⏰ Sunday, 2:45pm
📍 Brighton Dome

The Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra presents a soaring afternoon of Mozart concertos paired with contemporary meditations. It’s a discovery of new horizons through the joy of the violin and viola, designed to bring a touch of comfort and healing.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🫖 Haus of Chai

If you’ve had your fill of standard flat whites and big-chain coffee shops, head to Market Street for something with a bit more soul. Haus of Chai is a recent addition to The Lanes, ditching the syrups for authentic, homemade Masala Chai brewed from scratch with freshly ground spices. Founded on a deep love for the craft, the vibe here is all about warmth and proper connection, making it a brilliant spot for working or relaxing, whether you’re flying solo, bringing a friend, or even your dog.

While the ground floor is perfect for a catch-up, the real secret is the dedicated workspace downstairs. For £20 a day, you get access to a quiet hub complete with monitors and soundproof pods for those unavoidable calls, with complimentary chai or coffee included to keep you fueled. If you get peckish, there's a solid selection of light bites, including avocado on toast, PB&Js, local pastries, and their more recent addition of homemade sausage rolls.

It’s a genuine home away from home that has quickly built a real sense of community, especially for members, for which you get members-only booths and desks and unlimited chai for £195 a month. They are now regularly hosting events focused on everything from crafting to music, which you can sign up for via their website. It’s also where you can book your coworking slot ahead of time to make sure you snag one of those booths.

📍20 Market St, The Lanes
🕣 10-5:15pm (Tue-Fri), 10-6pm (Sat), 12-5pm (Sun)
🧑‍💻 Bookings & Memberships

🦐 La Tapa Loca

At the boundary where Hove meets Brighton, is a spot that has mastered the day-to-night transition, serving up Manchego Benedict in the morning before switching to Patatas Bravas, Croquetas, and Padrón Peppers in the evening. The rustic, airy decor feels straight out of Madrid, with plenty of greenery and natural light flooding through the floor-to-ceiling windows, perfect for people-watching with a Cortado. The kitchen is headed up by Gabriele Petrera, formerly of Brighton’s FUMi, who brings a refined, sustainable touch to the Mediterranean menu.

In the mornings, they serve organic coffees alongside a cafeteria-style menu featuring Soufflé Pancakes with Iberico crumb and Bocadillos (stuffed olive-oil flatbreads) with three different filling options. By afternoon, La Tapa Loca shifts into a Taperia, becoming a relaxed, unstuffy wine bar and restaurant with 15 tapas dishes across seafood, beef, and even fried chicken. Their carefully curated wine list offers red, white, rosé, sparkling, and orange options, sticking strictly to the Old World with a few local bottles from the Henners winery.

Everything from the menu to the service feels premium yet relaxed, with sensible prices for both the dishes (£5-£12) and wine (£7-£12 for a 175ml glass). It’s a family and dog-friendly venue, though it’s worth noting that the options for veggies and vegans are a little more limited, as the menu leans quite heavily towards meat and seafood for both brunch and dinner.

📍31A Western Rd, Hove
🕣 8:30-9pm (Sun-Thu), 9-10pm (Fri-Sat)
🧑‍💻 Menu & Bookings (only Tapas reservations)

20/2/2026 - 22/2/2026

Friday

😂 Schalk Bezuidenhout
Friday, 8:00pm @ Brighton Dome
South Africa’s hottest stand-up returns from a world tour with his brand-new show "Crowd Pleaser." More Info

🎩 Professor Elemental
Friday, 8:00pm @ The Prince Albert
Brighton's own pith-helmet-wearing b-boy brings his unique brand of steampunk hip-hop and chap-hop to the Albert. More Info

🎷 Jazz at St Andrews: Nigel Price
Friday, 5:30pm @ St Andrew's Church
Award-winning jazz guitarist Nigel Price performs a blend of bebop lines and deep blues sensibility in this atmospheric session. More Info

🍓 Spoil Your Pet With Jam!
Friday, 8:00pm @ Caroline of Brunswick
Alternative comedy night celebrates the national day to spoil your pet with a lovely evening of jam-themed hilarity. More Info

Saturday

🦸 Comic Con Brighton
Saturday, 10:00am - 4:00pm @ Brighton Racecourse
Meet stars from Red Dwarf and Star Wars, browse out-of-this-world collectibles, and see some top-tier cosplay at the Racecourse. More Info

🥽 Double Act: Immersive VR Experience
Saturday, 10:30am - 5:00pm @ Hove Museum of Creativity
A free dive into the origins of British cinema using virtual reality to bring Brighton & Hove’s rich film history to life. More Info

🎤 Dave Benson Phillips: SING WITH ME, DBP!
Saturday, 1:30pm @ Ropetackle Arts Centre
The Get Your Own Back legend returns for a high-energy singalong show that’s pure nostalgia for parents and chaos for kids. More Info

🧪 Hands-On Half Term: Mad Science
Saturday, 4:00pm - 9:30pm @ 44th Brighton Scout Hut
Eight days of "mad science" kicks off with slime-making, black hole escapes, and chemistry you can actually cook with. More Info

🎻 Candlelight: A Tribute to Queen
Saturday, 19:00 @ Royal Pavilion, Brighton
Experience Bohemian Rhapsody and Killer Queen performed by a string quartet under the glow of a thousand candles in the Pavilion. More Info

🎤 The Forge Comedy Club
Saturday, 20:00 - 22:30 @ The Forge Comedy Club
Catch a mystery pro lineup at the venue recently voted the South’s best comedy night—always a safe bet for big laughs. More Info

🪩 Hold Back The Night
Saturday, 19:30 @ The Koko Club (Queens Hotel)
No MP3s here—just pure vinyl soul gems and disco classics from the 70s and 80s played by DJs who live for the groove. More Info

🍫 Maybe I Should Stop By
Saturday, 19:30 @ The Lantern Theatre
A darkly funny road trip play about grief, guilt, and the logistical nightmare of hiding your dad’s ashes in a tub of Celebrations. More Info

🎸 An Evening With Teenage Waitress
Saturday, 20:00 @ The Folklore Rooms
Daniel J. Ash brings his band to one of Brighton's most intimate rooms for a night of indie-pop stories and "the right kind of mistakes." More Info

Sunday

🍦 Sundae Club: Oskar's Amazing Adventure
Sunday, 11:00am @ Komedia
Three hours of creative fun for kids including a theatre show, craft workshops, and a disco to finish. Ice cream sundaes highly recommended. More Info

🎼 Lonely Angel: Mozart and Pēteris Vasks
Sunday, 14:45 @ Brighton Dome
The Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra presents a soaring afternoon of Mozart concertos and contemporary meditations. More Info

💿 Leigh-Anne: Meet & Greet + Signing
Sunday, 17:45 - 20:45 @ Resident Music
The Little Mix star lands at Resident to celebrate her solo album 'My Ego Told Me To'—pre-order the record to grab your spot. More Info

🔥 The Noise Next Door: Furnace With… Rosie Jones!
Sunday, 19:00 - 21:00 @ The Forge Comedy Club
The Taskmaster star joins Brighton’s favourite improv troupe for a night of unscripted, high-stakes comedy chaos. More Info

⛪️ Bebe Cave: CHRISTBRIDE
Sunday, 19:30 @ Komedia
A wild one-woman show following a medieval teenager fleeing her mother to join a very bizarre convent. More Info

Live Music