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🐦 Four Brighton Festivals You Can’t Miss This October

🐦 Four Brighton Festivals You Can’t Miss This October

Wellness, laughter, music, and more: Brighton’s festivals have it all!

Ben Watkins
September 30, 2025

Good morning Brighton,

Sussex politics is heating up with housing battles and supermarket protests, but Brighton also has a softer side this week as the Royal Pavilion unveils a science-led Baby Colour Trail. Meanwhile, October is shaping up to be festival season, with everything from wellness and comedy to early music and later-life celebrations filling the city calendar.

Here’s what’s squawking this week:

🏥 Campaigners push for public housing at Brighton General
🛒 Kemptown MP leads Morrisons development protest
🎉 October festivals galore across the city
🇧🇷 Brazilian spice meets Hove date nights

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🏥 Campaigners Push for Public Housing at Brighton General

A community campaign is urging NHS bosses to keep the Brighton General Hospital site in public hands, calling for low-cost homes, green space, and a new NHS health hub. The Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust is pressing ahead with a business case for the hub, but critics fear it will be funded by selling off land to private developers.

Campaigner Jerome Cox-Strong said the plan risks being a “missed opportunity that would deepen inequality,” warning against turning the city’s former workhouse into unaffordable housing. Support has come from local MPs and councillors, but the trust board has so far refused to commit to public ownership. Campaigners say they’ll keep fighting to ensure the site benefits the community, not developers.

→ read more on Brighton & Hove News

🛒 MP Leads Morrisons Protest in Peacehaven

Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven MP Chris Ward led a protest outside the long-delayed Morrisons site at the Meridian Centre on Saturday. Campaigners brandished a banner reading “build it or sell it,” after years of waiting for a replacement for the old Co-op. Morrisons recently admitted the project is “under review” with no delivery date in sight.

Ward said Peacehaven has “waited long enough” and urged residents to sign his petition, insisting the town deserves the investment and community benefits a major supermarket brings. Locals say the delays are leaving the town behind. You can view and sign the petition here.

→ read more on Brighton & Hove News

⚖️ Sussex Council Shake-Up Hits Gridlock

Plans to redraw Sussex’s local government map have reached deadlock, with councils unable to agree on how many new authorities should replace the current patchwork. East Sussex leaders largely back a single new authority for the county, while West Sussex is split between one giant model and two smaller north-south councils. Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove has proposed expanding into Peacehaven, Saltdean, and Falmer, sparking fierce opposition.

Consultations show most residents oppose boundary changes, with Lewes District Council reporting 86% against being absorbed into Brighton. The government will now consider all proposals and launch a public consultation in November. Sussex is set to elect its first regional mayor in 2026, with new councils taking over in 2028.

→ read more from BBC News

👶 UK’s First Baby Colour Trail Launches at the Pavilion

Brighton’s Royal Pavilion has released probably the cutest photos we’ve featured yet after they unveiled the UK’s first science-led Baby Colour Trail, created with researchers from the University of Sussex Baby Lab. The trail is inspired by new studies showing babies can see colour from birth and by four months have surprisingly advanced vision. Using eye-tracking headcams, scientists found infants are most fascinated by faces, patterns, and shiny objects: all on display in the Pavilion’s famously extravagant interiors.

Families can now follow a route highlighting baby-friendly details, from dragons and phoenixes in the Great Hall to gleaming copper pans in the kitchen and the spectacular painted ceiling of the Music Room. A special “Baby Basket” lets little ones gaze upwards, while facilities for parents make visits easier. Organisers say the project combines cutting-edge science with Brighton’s most colourful building to create a unique experience for families.

→ read more from B&H Museums

Also in the news:

🍻 Community pub launches £2k repair crowdfunder: The Bevy in Moulsecoomb, the UK’s only community-owned estate pub, is appealing for donations to fix its broken oven and gas line. Without repairs, the venue may have to halt its popular meals for kids, seniors, and community groups.
→ read more on Brighton & Hove News

🎤 Fans queue for Nick Cave tickets: More than 200 people lined up outside Resident Music in Brighton for presale tickets to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ Preston Park show next July. Some fans arrived before 8am to secure a spot for the homecoming gig.
→ read more from BBC News

🏛️ Row over Sussex mayoral voting powers: West Sussex County Council leader Paul Marshall has criticised plans giving Brighton and Hove equal voting power in the new £1bn Sussex mayoral authority. He says it’s “disproportionate” given the city has just 16% of the population.
→ read more from BBC News

🐾 Rare baby binturong born at Drusillas: Drusillas Park has welcomed its first ever baby binturong, a vulnerable species also known as a bearcat. The female, named Boots, marks a major success for the European breeding programme.
→ read more from BBC News

📱 Council warns smartphones ‘not safe’ for kids: Brighton & Hove City Council is urging parents not to give children smartphones until 14, citing risks of exploitation and disturbing online content. Some local schools have already banned devices or introduced lockable phone pouches.
→ read more from BBC News

🎉 October Festivals Galore!

October is bursting with festivals that bring people together in very different ways. From wellbeing to belly laughs to baroque, here’s what’s on next month:

🌿 Brighton Wellness Festival | 1-8 Oct | More Info

Wellness isn’t just green juices and yoga mats. Brighton Wellness Festival is on a mission to challenge outdated wellness narratives and make health accessible for all. Across a week of workshops, talks, and community-led sessions, the festival tackles real issues, from the rise of chronic conditions to the need for inclusive, authentic spaces. Expect connection, conversation, and a new vision for what it truly means to be well.

😂 Brighton Dome Comedy Festival | 17-26 Oct | More Info

Nine days. Three venues. Dozens of comedians. After a smashing debut last year, Brighton Dome Comedy Festival is back and bigger than ever. The line-up features everything from improv with Paul Merton & Suki Webster, to stand-up from Suzi Ruffell and Joanne McNally, to family-friendly chaos with Olaf Falafel. With captioned performances throughout, it’s a festival where accessibility and laughter go hand in hand.

🎶 BREMF: Brighton Early Music Festival | 2-26 Oct | More Info

Prefer harpsichords to hecklers? BREMF returns this October with an ambitious programme of opera, workshops, immersive performances, and intimate concerts. Highlights include the UK premiere of Les Caractères de l’Amour, a lantern-making workshop with Same Sky, and community singing in Stanmer Park. Whether you’re a seasoned early music fan or just curious, BREMF blends history, creativity, and community spirit in true Brighton style.

👵 Ageing Well Festival | until 10 Oct | More Info

Now in its annual run, the Ageing Well Brighton & Hove Festival invites people aged 50+ to explore new experiences, learn fresh skills, and meet others in a welcoming, supportive environment. With a packed programme of talks, activities, and social events, it’s all about celebrating later life while building stronger community connections.

🇧🇷 Buteco BH

For a date night with real spice and soul, step into Buteco BH on Church Road. A buteco is a Brazilian neighbourhood bar where people gather for drinks, snacks, and conversation. Buteco BH brings that same spirit to Hove, serving up the lively comida de buteco culture of Minas Gerais. Expect small, flavour-packed bar snacks designed for sharing, from golden coxinha (crispy chicken croquettes) to fluffy pão de queijo (cheesy bread you’ll fight over), plus cocktails and cold beers.

For something heartier, there’s feijoada on Sundays, Brazil’s ultimate comfort stew of black beans and meats, or picanha, the famous beef cut served with cassava fries. Pair with a round of caipirinhas or take advantage of deals like 2-for-1 cocktails or £10 off £25, and you’ve got the makings of a perfect night.

The atmosphere is cosy in their little garden, lively at peak times, and just the right mix of romance and fun. Whether it’s a first date or a night with someone special, Buteco BH brings the rhythm, flavours, and charm of Brazil straight to Hove. Muito bom!

📍 196 Church Road, Hove
⏰ Tue-Sun 12pm-12am, Closed Mon
🔗 Book your table

🏙️ Brighton’s Most Expensive Flat

Flats don’t get much more lavish than this Regency showpiece on Clarendon Terrace. With its very unique interior design that even features a living wall in the bathroom, the flat spreads across nearly 2,000 square feet of bold, maximalist style. From Art Deco wallpaper to walnut panelling, statement lighting, and a glamorous sitting room that opens onto two sea-view balconies, it’s pure coastal opulence.

📍 Clarendon Terrace, BN2
💰 £1,500,000
🛏️ 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
🔗 View on Rightmove

events marked with a * are sponsoredTuesday

Tuesday

🎵 Pop, Soul and Gospel Choir Taster
7:30-9pm @ St Mary Magdalen's School
Try singing in a fun, no-pressure choir taster session covering pop and soul classics. More Info

😂 The Secret Comedy Club Open Mic
7-11pm @ Artista Cafe and Gallery
Brighton’s leading open mic night, attracting professionals, semi-pros and newcomers alike. More Info

🎭 The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
Multiple showings this Week @ Theatre Royal Brighton
Epic musical adventure where Percy Jackson discovers he’s the son of Poseidon. Tickets

Wednesday

🎸 Grace Petrie: This Is No Time To Panic!
7:30pm @ Komedia
Folk singer Grace Petrie swaps protest songs for a feel-good show packed with humour and heart. Tickets

📖 Brighton Telltales
7:30-9:30pm @ Yellow Book Bar
Monthly spoken word and storytelling night open to all, from amateurs to pros. More Info

😂 Cool-Aid Comedy
8-10:30pm @ Caroline of Brunswick
Brighton’s longest-running new material comedy night with a fresh line-up every week. More Info

🚲 City Cycle Tour (Ageing Well Festival)
10:30am-1pm @ Brighton Unitarian Church
A gentle 11km ride with stops to explore local history and landmarks. Tickets

Thursday

😂 Harriet Dyer: Easily Distracted
8pm @ Komedia
Quirky stand-up from Harriet Dyer with tales of wetsuits, buses, and cow encounters. Tickets

🎭 Shoreham Wordfest: Sary - A Folkloric Play
7:30-9pm @ Ropetackle Arts Centre
A feminist folk-horror play inspired by Sussex’s Ol’ Sary Weaver legend. Tickets

😂 Judi Love: Work In Progress
8-9pm @ Ropetackle Arts Centre
Loose Women star Judi Love tests new material ahead of her next tour. Tickets

🎶 Emily Baines Early Music Open Mic
8-10pm @ The Rose Hill
An open mic and jam for sharing traditional tunes, led by Emily Baines. More Info

🌿 Grow How: Autumn Gardening Tips
10:30am & 3:30pm @ Dobbies Brighton
Free in-store demos covering pruning, soil prep, and wildlife-friendly gardening. More Info

🍵 Tea Blending Workshop
6:30-9pm @ Bird & Blend, Gardner Street
Hands-on blending and tasting session as part of the Ageing Well Festival. Tickets

😂 Emmanuel Sonubi: Life After Near Death Tour
8pm @ The Forge Comedy Club
High-energy stand-up from one of the UK’s most in-demand comics. Tickets

🌈 Flirt Club (LGBT+ Dating Night)
8-10pm @ The Archives
A playful, colourful night of games and mingling designed for connection. Tickets

🎵 Shamanic Sound Journey with Cacao
6-8pm @ Fine Feathers Wellness, Hove
Ceremonial cacao, sound healing, and shamanic journeying for past life healing. Tickets

🧘 Introduction to Embodied Leadership
10:30am-12:30pm @ The Jing Institute
Somatic practices to explore body-held patterns and reconnect with presence. Tickets

Friday

😂 Henning Wehn: Acid Wehn
8pm @ Brighton Dome Concert Hall
The German Comedy Ambassador tackles climate change with his trademark wit. Tickets

🎭 Story Magic (for toddlers)
10am & 11am @ Komedia
Award-winning company Fideri Fidera presents playful music and storytelling for ages 9 months to 4 years. More Info

😂 The Maydays: Confessions!
7:30pm @ Komedia
Improv comedy based on audience secrets and confessions. Tickets

😂 Filthy Fridays with Alisdair Beckett-King
8-9:30pm @ Nautilus Lounge
Monthly comedy night headlined by the surreal Alisdair Beckett-King. Tickets

😂 Carl Carzana of the Year 2025
7:30-10:30pm @ The Actors Pub
Comedy competition to crown the best Carl Carzana impersonator. Tickets

🍻 Brighton’s Oktoberfest
@ Shelter Hall
Beer, bratwurst, and Oompah tunes in true Bavarian style. Tickets

🎭 The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
7:30pm @ Theatre Royal Brighton
Musical adaptation of Rick Riordan’s bestselling fantasy series. Tickets

💘 40+ Singles Mixer
7-10:30pm @ Bohemia, Brighton
A first-of-its-kind singles event blending astrology with real-world connection. Tickets

Live Music

Last week we asked: In what country was the Karaoke Machine invented in 1971? Most of you (63%) nailed it with Japan. There are a few claimants to the invention of the first karaoke machine (all from Japan) though the earliest prototype appeared there too, called the Sparko Box. Which was created by Japanese engineer Shigeichi Negishi, who never actually patented it, meaning he potentially missed out on millions!

This week though, we’re going back to our local trivia roots…