Hello, Brighton & Hove!

We've got a seriously busy weekend ahead, so get ready. Fatboy Slim is bringing his legendary Big Beach Boutique back to the seafront for a massive four-day takeover on the shingle. If you'd rather swap the basslines for barbecue, Hove Park is hosting a huge Caribbean food festival on Saturday—think rum punch, live reggae, and endless plates of fiery jerk chicken.

The city will also be buzzing on Saturday as Trans Pride returns for its annual protest march and celebration starting from Valley Gardens. If you're dodging the giant crowds altogether, you can still escape to immersive vampire hunting at Preston Manor, crawl your way through the final days of Beak Week's craft beer tap takeovers, or learn to cook for a cause at the Community Kitchen.

Drink plenty of water, pace yourselves out there, and have a brilliant weekend!

Here is what’s squawking this week:

🏳️‍⚧️ Europe’s biggest Trans Pride march is heading to Hove Lawns.
🍗 Jerk chicken, rum punch, and reggae beats in Hove Park.
🏠 Hunt down bloodsuckers in an immersive vampire game at Preston Manor.
🦀 Sipping late-night cocktails under the sharks at the Sea Life aquarium.
🎸 Belting out theatrical rock anthems at a Meat Loaf tribute night.

👩🏻‍🍳 Community Kitchen

Food has a magical way of bringing people together, and nothing champions that connection quite like the Community Kitchen. Standing right on busy Queens Road just steps from the station, this vibrant cookery school has been cooking up change since 2018. It is a brilliant social enterprise where all profits from public cooking classes fund free sessions for locals in need.

Most people don't realize that every ticket bought helps support vulnerable families, refugees, and people facing food insecurity. From mastering delicate bao buns to crafting fiery Mexican dishes led by top local chefs, their masterclasses are a total joy. It’s a beautiful setup where learning a new skill directly fights social isolation.

What I love most is how they turn simple cooking into a massive force for good. Skip the standard restaurant meal this weekend, book a masterclass with a heart, and go support a true local treasure.

📍 113 Queens Road, BN1 3XG
🕒 Class times vary (Daytime, evening & weekend sessions available)
💰 Profits fund community classes (Gift vouchers available)
🔗 Book a Cookery Class

🍺 Ladies Mile

If you are out in Patcham and looking for the ultimate family-friendly local, you need to head over to Mackie Avenue and check out the Ladies Mile. This place is the absolute epitome of a proper community pub, welcoming everyone with open arms from the moment you step through its spectacular Art Deco front doors. It was famously run by Paul and Gayle for over twenty years, but it is now looked after by Archie, who worked under them for ages and is brilliantly keeping that exact same warm, neighbourhood spirit alive.

While the bar pours a fantastic selection of cask ales, crisp lagers, and fine wines, the kitchen serves up high-quality, fresh food, making it a brilliant dining destination. But the real game changer for parents is the child-friendly garden, complete with a dedicated play area that will keep the kids entertained for hours while you relax in the sunshine. The staff are famously helpful, the atmosphere is completely unpretentious, and it remains a massively loved, independent-spirited powerhouse that proves the best community vibes are found just outside the city centre.

📍 Mackie Avenue, Patcham, Brighton, BN1 8RA
🕒 Mon-Thu 12pm-11pm, Fri & Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 12pm-10.30pm
🔗 Visit their website

Fri

🍛 Friday Night Jollof | 6:30pm, Fri @ Dorset Gardens Methodist Church
A community supper fundraiser for Trans Pride hosted by the Jollof Café, featuring global cuisines cooked by volunteers to support migrant community initiatives. More Info

🎧 Silent Disco | 8pm, Fri @ Brighton Beach (East Side of Palace Pier)
A shared-channel sunset silent disco on the low-tide sands led by movement director Rosaria Gracia, featuring a collective mix of global rhythms spanning the decades. More Info

🌭 Wild Wurst Returns | Fri–Sun, @ Wild Flor
A special weekend residency featuring house-made bratwurst, schnitzel, curry ketchup, and beer cheese, paired with German and Czech beers. Note: Bookings are required for the "Knuckle Sunday" lunch. More Info

🎸 Anything for Love: The Meat Loaf Story | 6:30pm, Fri 17 Jul @ Brighton Centre
A high-energy tribute production starring Stars In Their Eyes alum Steve Steinman, delivering a powerful live performance of Meat Loaf's iconic rock hits. More Info

🎭 Act Graduate Showcase 2026 | 8pm, Fri @ The Lantern Theatre
A diverse showcase spotlighting the best and brightest of Brighton's emerging acting talent, featuring performances from five versatile ACT Drama School graduates. More Info

🐠 Animal Crossing Night | 6pm-9pm, Fri @ SEA LIFE Brighton
An after-hours, adult-only aquarium crossover event where you can explore underwater exhibits with a drink in hand and meet Tom Nook and Isabelle. More Info

🎭 Northanger Abbey | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
Moving Parts Theatre Company presents a lively adaptation of Jane Austen's classic tale, following the imaginative Catherine Morland through a delightful blend of Gothic suspense and Regency romance. More Info

Sat

🍙 RICEBALL SOCIAL - Onigiri Workshop | 7:30pm, Sat @ Kantenya
A hands-on Japanese cooking workshop hosted by Kantenya & FUJI3 where you'll learn to roll, shape, and fill three custom onigiri using authentic Japanese rice. Includes complimentary iced barley tea. More Info

🧛 The Slayers | 7pm, Sat 18 Jul @ Preston Manor
An immersive, three-hour live social deduction game inspired by The Traitors. Compete in challenges and form alliances to root out the hidden vampires infiltrating the council before you get turned. More Info

🎨 The Magic of the Mixtape: Zine-making Workshop | 1pm, Sat @ Lighthouse
An interactive, two-hour creative session exploring the art of song curation as a love language, guiding you to design and construct your own custom zine. More Info

🔮 The Tarot Fayre | 10:30am, Sat @ St Augustine's Arts and Events Centre
Brighton's dedicated festival of tarot and oracle wisdom, bringing together readers, workshops, and spiritual stalls in a stunning creative hub. More Info

✨ Brighton Girls Clubbing Night | 6pm, Sat @ Horizon Nightclub
A welcoming, women-only club night offering a safe space to dance, have fun, and connect with new people, whether you are arriving solo or with friends. More Info

🏳️‍🌈 Trans Pride: The Official Afterparty | 7pm, Sat @ Brighton Dome Corn Exchange - Hosted by Polyglamorous, this official afterparty features seven hours of live music, cabaret, and club classics from over 30 trans artists, raising funds for Trans Pride Brighton. More Info

🧩 Lightworks Daytime: Mind, Body + Earth Space | 1pm, Sat @ Earthship Brighton
A drop-in mindfulness space featuring three interactive connection stations alongside live music and art installations. More Info

Sun

💃 Sunday T-Dance for Trans Pride | 3pm, Sun @ Fabrica
A joyful, inclusive afternoon of partner dancing, pop-up classes, cake, and conversations exploring queer history in a gender-neutral space, raising funds for Trans Pride Brighton. More Info

🛍️ Brighton Makers Market | 11am, Sun @ Hove Lawns (by the Peace Statue)
A vibrant seafront market showcasing talented independent creators, featuring handcrafted homewares, unique jewellery, local artwork, artisan treats, and hot sauce. More Info

Live Music

Cameron Knowler, Adeline Hotel & more | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Brunswick
Deaf School | 8pm, Fri @ The Prince Albert
Faade | 8pm, Fri @ St Mary's Church
Fatboy Slim | 1pm, Fri @ Brighton Beach
Hollowpoint + Every Face Becomes A Skull + Brach | 7:30pm, Fri @ Pipeline
Magdalena Reising | 5:30pm, Fri @ St Andrew's Church
Sounds Familiar Music Quiz | 6:30pm, Fri @ Horizon Nightclub
Wait & Bleed | 6pm, Fri @ Dust Brighton

80s HiFi | 8pm, Sat @ The Brunswick
4tothefloor - Silas (UK) | 7pm, Sat @ Tempest
As It Is | 7pm, Sat @ Dust Brighton
As It Is | 7pm, Sat @ Zahara
The Brighton Warmup - Live Music with Matt | 7pm, Sat @ Laughing Horse @ a&o Hostel Bar
Dolly Parton- A Celebration | 8pm, Sat @ Ironworks Studios
Faade | 8pm, Sat @ St Mary's Church
Fatboy Slim | 1pm, Sat @ Brighton Beach
Howells : Hymnus Paradisi | 7:30pm, Sat @ All Saints Church, Hove
Louder Than Silence Refuge Benefit | 7:30pm, Sat @ Pipeline
Oh What A Night | 7pm, Sat @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
R&B Lovers | 2pm, Sat @ Central Park, Brighton
Ska(Ish) Fest on the Beach | 1:30pm, Sat @ Daltons
Spellbound | 9pm, Sat @ Komedia
The Spirit of Gravity - 25 Years | 3pm, Sat @ The Green Door Store
Terrace Party: Asa Tate All Day Long | 3pm, Sat @ Patterns
Trans Pride at Black Lion | 2pm, Sat @ Black Lion

Artista Jazz Jam | 6pm, Sun @ Artista
As It Is: Live + Signing | 6pm, Sun @ Resident Music
Fatboy Slim | 1pm, Sun @ Brighton Beach
Nailbreaker X Nerveagent | 7pm, Sun @ The Hope & Ruin