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🐦 E-scooter plans, tourist tax talk and jazz on the pier

🐦 E-scooter plans, tourist tax talk and jazz on the pier

Plus: floral clock petitions, Fatboy Slim's book launch and Brighton’s coolest coffee date spot

Ben Watkins
October 14, 2025

Good afternoon Brighton 👋

From tourist taxes to jazz on the pier, this week is equal parts local politics, rhythm, and a bit more floral drama. The council’s debating a visitor levy, a 72-year-old clock might be saved by public outcry, and e-scooters could soon zip down our streets. Plus, a spotlight on Loam, the city’s most effortlessly stylish coffee spot, and the return of the Brighton Jazz Festival bringing serious seaside swing.

Here’s what’s squawking this week:
💷 Council leader renews push for a Brighton tourist tax
🛴 Council to decide on new e-scooter trial
🎷 Brighton Jazz Festival brings seaside swing to the pier
☕ A calming café for this week’s date spot for coffee lovers

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💷 Brighton Council Leader Pushes for Tourist Tax

Council leader Bella Sankey is renewing her call for a tourist tax in Brighton and Hove, arguing the levy could support local services and reinvest in the city’s visitor economy. Speaking at the Labour conference, she urged the government to grant councils the power to introduce local visitor charges.

While Downing Street has said there are “no plans” for such taxes nationally, Cllr Sankey says even a small nightly charge, like the £2 fee introduced in Bournemouth, could bring “huge benefits” to residents and businesses.

→ read more from The Argus

🅿️ Paper Parking Permits Scrapped

Paper parking permits for Brighton and Hove residents will be phased out from November as the system goes fully digital. From Monday 3 November, renewals will no longer include a paper copy for display, instead, vehicles will be registered digitally, allowing enforcement teams to check permits electronically.

The council says the move mirrors vehicle tax, cuts printing costs, and reduces environmental impact. Those unable to renew online will still be supported through non-digital routes but won’t need to display a permit in their car.

→ read more on Brighton & Hove News

🛴 Council to Decide on E-Scooter Trial in Brighton

Around 300 electric scooters could soon hit Brighton’s streets under a new trial proposal. Councillors will vote Thursday on whether to launch the scheme, which would see e-scooters available for hire from 30 hubs across the city, limited to 12.5mph and available only to riders over 17 with a provisional licence.

The council says the scheme would cut illegal e-scooter use, reduce congestion, and improve air quality. GPS tracking would prevent riding on the promenade or Undercliff Path, while a curfew would restrict late-night hires.

→ read more from BBC News

🌸 Floral Clock Petition Triggers Council Debate

A petition to save Hove’s 72-year-old floral clock has gathered over 3,000 signatures, enough to trigger a full council debate. Installed in Palmeira Square Gardens in 1953 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the clock faces removal after Brighton & Hove City Council said it could no longer afford to maintain it.

Campaigner Laura King called the potential loss “a crime,” urging the council to use community infrastructure funds or sponsorship to preserve the landmark. Councillors debated the issue on Monday, following a public consultation that drew more than 1,100 responses.

→ read more from BBC News

Also in the news:

🛹 Brighton Youth Centre to reopen after £7.5m rebuild: The city’s new youth hub reopens this month with a skate park, sports hall, and arts spaces after major renovations.
→ read more on Brighton & Hove News

🎬 Tom Hardy spotted enjoying a day out in Littlehampton: The actor was seen at Harbour Park arcade with friends and kids, posing for photos and clutching two giant rubber ducks. It’s his third Sussex visit this year.
→ read more from The Argus

🏳️‍🌈 Controversial lapdancing club closes its doors: The Pussycat Club on Grand Parade has shut and will reopen as a gay bar under new ownership in December.
→ read more on Brighton & Hove News

🚧 Road closed after crash leaves oil spill on busy road: A car and van collision shut Sackville Road for four hours while crews cleared spilled oil.
→ read more on Brighton & Hove News

🏠 Council proposes £10m plan to tackle homelessness: The city plans to buy 200 temporary homes after 36 homeless deaths were recorded in 2024.
→ read more from BBC News

🎧 Fatboy Slim reflects on 40 years in music and Brighton love: Norman Cook says his 2002 Big Beach Boutique gig “cemented” his bond with the city.
→ read more from BBC News

🎷 Brighton Jazz Festival Returns!

📆 16-19 Oct | 📍 Brighton Palace Pier | 🎟️ More Info

The Brighton Jazz Festival swings back into town this weekend with four days of world-class performances, from Grammy-winning legends to Brighton’s brightest new talent. Expect everything from big-band swing to soulful modern grooves, all set against the seaside backdrop of Horatio’s Bar and Palm Court.

🎷 Allexa Nava & Poppy Daniels
Thu 8pm @ Horatio’s Bar | Peruvian-inspired sax meets London jazz flair. Followed by Poppy Daniels at 9.30pm with a punchy jazz-Latin fusion.
🎶 Camilla George & Steam Down
Fri 8pm @ Horatio’s Bar | Afrofuturist grooves with Nigerian rhythm. Then Steam Down at 9.30pm bring their explosive jazz-hip hop sound.
🎹 Atlanticus & Randy Brecker & Ada Rovatti
Sat 8pm @ Horatio’s Bar | Brighton meets Washington DC in a Hammond-fuelled collaboration. Followed by Randy Brecker & Ada Rovatti at 9.30pm, a rare UK appearance.
🎵 Sultan Stevenson & Chip Wickham
Sun 8pm @ Horatio’s Bar | Soulful, modern jazz from a rising star, before Chip Wickham closes with deep, spiritual sounds.

Most weekend daytime shows are free, perfect for soaking up the pier-side atmosphere and discovering jazz’s next generation of talent:

🎷 Create Music Big Band | Sat 12.45pm @ Horatio’s Bar | Brighton & Hove’s youth ensemble take on jazz greats with big, brassy energy.
🎸 Paul Richards & Rachel Myer | Sat 12pm @ Palm Court | Local duo blending jazz standards with smooth Latin rhythm.
🎤 We Bop Choir | Sun 12pm @ Horatio’s Bar | All-women a cappella group with shimmering harmonies and uplifting grooves.

💞 Loam Coffee & Store

Just off Gloucester Road, Loam is a pastel-pink café and boutique coffee store that’s quietly set a new standard for Brighton coffee culture. Sunlight fills the pared-back interior, highlighting the pale wood, soft colours and neatly stacked ceramics that define its effortless style. Every detail is intentional yet understated, creating a space that feels calm and quietly confident.

Loam’s coffee is exceptional, featuring boutique roasters such as DAK, Sweven and Curve. The line-up changes regularly, keeping things fresh and exciting, while playful specials like the cereal iced latte or coffee sangria add a bit of Brighton creativity to the mix. Each cup is brewed with care and precision, striking the perfect balance between craft and simplicity.

Their food deserves its own applause. The team put it best: “We’re not a bakery, we just bake really well.” Expect homemade buns, cookies and cakes that are every bit as good as the coffee beside them, rich, soft and perfectly baked without fuss or fanfare.

Beyond the counter, the store shelves showcase handpicked homeware and coffee to take away, from elegant ceramics to small-batch beans. With its refined design, warm atmosphere and genuine craftsmanship, Loam is one of Brighton’s most effortlessly impressive date spots.

📍 111 Gloucester Road, BN1
⏰ Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm
🔗 Instagram

💎 An Architectural Gem

A modern showstopper tucked away on Mallory Road. This six-bedroom, six-bathroom home spans over 4,600 sq ft of striking, light-filled living with panoramic views to the sea and South Downs. With bold design, a sculptural spiral staircase, open-plan living, and a full-floor principal suite complete with twin dressing rooms and a private balcony.

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

events marked with a * are sponsored

Tuesday

😆 Comic Baby Boom
7pm & 9pm @ Komedia
Fresh new stand-up from Jill Edwards’ comedy workshops. More Info

📘 It Ain’t Over… ’Til the Fatboy Sings (Book Launch)
8:15pm @ Theatre Royal
Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) in conversation for his debut book. More Info

🎭 Detention
7:30pm + Weds Showing @ Corn Exchange
Dance-theatre exploring the legacy of Section 28. More Info

🎭 Ordinary Decent Criminal
7:30pm @ The Old Market
Mark Thomas stars in a sharp new prison drama. More Info

Wednesday

🎭 MindOut for Laughs
7:30pm @ Komedia
Comedy fundraiser for LGBTQ mental health. More Info

🎤 Cool-Aid Comedy
8pm-10:30pm @ Caroline of Brunswick
New-material night with pros, semi-pros and newcomers. More Info

👑 Glamrou: Drag Mother
7:30pm @ Komedia
Drag, music and mayhem as Glamrou battles for the spotlight. More Info

🚋 Volk’s Electric Railway - Driver Experience Days
9:30am-3:40pm @ Aquarium Station
Drive the world’s oldest operating electric railway. More Info

Thursday

🎯 Bogan Bingo
8pm @ Komedia
Aussie bingo-meets-comedy chaos with 80s anthems. More Info

🎶 Music Divine: Gibbons 400
7:30pm @ St Paul’s Church
BREMF Consort of Voices marks 400 years of Gibbons. More Info

🎙️ The Portrait Guy with Paul Foot
7:30pm @ The Pink Moon
Live podcast where guests paint each other while chatting. More Info

🎸 Leopard Print Pig (Charity Show)
7pm @ The Hope & Ruin
Alt-rock lineup raising funds for adults with disabilities. More Info

🎧 The Long Play Sessions - Portishead & Massive Attack Special
7:30pm-midnight @ The Bees Mouth
Album playbacks in full with a guest DJ. Free entry. More Info

🚋 Volk’s Electric Railway - Driver Experience Days
9:30am-3:40pm @ Aquarium Station
Hands-on heritage railway experience. More Info

Friday

🎭 Short Stories Tall Tales: Adventures of an Ugly Duckling
11:30am @ Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham
Interactive storytelling for little ones aged 0–4. More Info

🎪 Kamperfest
From 2pm @ Plumpton Racecourse
Weekend of camping, live music, food and classic cars. More Info

🎻 Baroque Odyssey
6pm @ St George’s Church
Immersive musical journey inspired by Telemann’s Water Music. More Info

🎤 Lou Wall: Breaking the Fifth Wall
7pm @ Studio Theatre
Meme-fuelled musical comedy exploring performance and reality. More Info

🎤 Jen Brister: Reactive
7:30pm @ Concert Hall
Sharp new stand-up show from the Live at the Apollo comic. More Info

🎤 Rob Newman: Where The Wild Things Were
8pm @ Corn Exchange
New stand-up from Rob Newman about nature and the future. More Info

🎭 God Don’t Live On A Council Estate
8pm @ Lantern Theatre
Gritty play exploring life, faith and survival on the margins. More Info

Ongoing

🎥 Play Back Forward (Exhibition)
10am-5pm @ Hove Museum of Creativity
Immersive look at Brighton and Hove’s early film pioneers. More Info

🎨 COLOUR (Final Week)
@ Royal Pavilion
A sensory journey through the power and beauty of colour. More Info

🪡 Materialised
11am-5pm @ Regency Town House
Free exhibition from 18 leading designers and craftspeople. More Info

📸 Picture This: A Public Image
12pm-8pm @ Gallery40, Gloucester Rd
Unseen LA punk photos from 1978-80 by Spike. More Info

Live Music

Last week’s answer? Drinking seawater! Only 29% of you got it right, and yes, the grim mix of sea water, heated milk, and crushed cuttlefish bones really was a Victorian’s 1820s version of a health tonic. No wonder Marianna wasn’t feeling too well after that one…

This week, inspired by the Brighton Jazz Festival, we’re switching from saltwater to smooth sounds 🎷