Hello, Brighton & Hove!

Thank goodness it has finally cooled down and become a bit more bearable in the city after that oppressive heatwave. The streets are still buzzing though, as England has officially smashed through to the next round of the football World Cup, giving everyone a perfect excuse to keep the pub sessions going.

If you aren’t shouting at a screen this week, make sure you cast your vote by Friday for Brighton’s Best Restaurant ‘26 to back your favourite independent local spot. Beyond the ballot box, our cultural calendar is packed: you can catch Richard Ayoade’s deadpan anecdotes, pick up a signed fresh new album from Beth Orton, or plug into a sunset silent disco at a Saltdean beachside cafe, before hitting the Glynde Place lawns for a massive weekend of live jazz at Love Supreme. Grab yourself a glass of ice-cold squash, and let’s dive straight in.

Here is what’s squawking this week:

🗳️ Greens storm Goldsmid by-election with a massive win.
🏗️ Council rows heat up over the failed £36 million i360.
🎭 Blue plaque honours legendary Theatre Royal trailblazer.
🏢 Property giant Blue Bombini Group faces total collapse.
📴 Phone-free digital detox music festival set to debut.

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🗳️ Greens storm to victory in Goldsmid by-election

Nadia Barton Ahmad has won the Goldsmid ward by-election for Brighton and Hove City Council, securing 2,037 votes to beat the second-placed Labour candidate by a 680-vote margin. The victory makes the community campaigner the youngest sitting councillor on the local authority, boosting the Green opposition's presence to 11 seats.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏗️ Heated row over delayed £36m i360 financial failure report

Labour councillors have slammed a decision to delay a vital "lessons learnt" public debate on the city's disastrous £36 million i360 loan until September as shameful. The independent report outlines how the council bought into over-ambitious visitor projections and hid the business case under a shroud of commercial confidentiality before the seafront attraction fell into administration.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

📷 New promenade CCTV installed following tragic sea deaths

Brighton and Hove City Council has fitted an advanced network of promenade cameras equipped with specialised search-lighting technology along the lower seafront. The urgent safety investment directly follows the tragic drowning of three sisters in May and aims to help emergency teams monitor coastlines and spot developing incidents early.
→ read more on BBC News

🎭 Blue plaque honors legendary Theatre Royal Brighton manager

A commemorative blue plaque has been unveiled on the 219th anniversary of the Theatre Royal Brighton to honor 19th-century trailblazer Ellen Nye Chart. Chart managed the historic cultural venue from 1876 to 1892, pioneering year-round local programming and the famous "flying matinee" system to bring full London casts to the coast.
→ read more on BBC News

🏅 Brighton and Hove officially named a Council of Sanctuary

Brighton and Hove City Council has won a prestigious national honor from the Sanctuary on Sea network for its comprehensive work welcoming displaced people. The city was recognized for establishing a robust three-year action plan to embed supportive, inclusive public services for refugees, asylum seekers, and unaccompanied children.
→ read more on The Argus

🏢 Property management giant on the brink of administration

Peter Hewett, the sole director of the troubled Blue Bombini property umbrella group, has emailed staff admitting failure as the firm prepares for restructuring. The financial collapse follows months of frozen bank accounts that left millions in client funds inaccessible and dozens of local apartment blocks stripped of essential services and building insurance.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

Also in the news:

🚧 Major road resurfacing blitz begins: Brighton and Hove City Council is deploying a new £8.8 million transport maintenance budget to resurface, patch, and microasphalt 34 deteriorating roads across the city starting this July.
→ read more on The Argus

📡 Rottingdean 5G mast faces refusal: Telecoms giant MBNL faces another potential planning rejection this Wednesday for its revised 5G roof mast layout on the art deco St Margaret’s Court flats over severe skyline conservation concerns.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🎵 Bank holiday festival planned: The Festivals Group UK has applied for an annual premises licence to host a recurring, four-day music, film, and dance festival at East Brighton Park every end-of-May holiday weekend.
→ read more on The Argus

🍻 Cherished Hove pub listed for sale: Iconic seafront-adjacent pub The Better Half has been put on the market with a freehold guide price of £1.05 million as long-term owners Simon and Helen Stern announce their retirement.
→ read more on The Argus

🍾 Brighton Gin reveals Pride bottle: The UK's first LGBTQ+-founded distillery has launched its 11th annual limited-edition Pride bottle, featuring art by Amy Isles Freeman, with proceeds directly benefiting local HIV charity Lunch Positive.
→ read more on The Argus

🍷 Self-pour wine bar bound for Lanes: Majestic Wine-owned brand Vagabond is seeking layout alterations to open its first self-pour wine and tapas concept venue south of London inside the former Browns site on Duke Street.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🧖 Sea Lanes plots second beachfront sauna: Luna Hut has applied for planning permission to add a second outdoor sauna at Brighton's Sea Lanes wellness hub, drawing strong support from local residents and year-round swimmers.
→ read more on The Argus

📴 Phone-free music festival to debut: Innovative not-for-profit arts gathering Faceless Paradise is launching a 500-capacity digital detox festival near Lewes from July 24 to 26, requiring attendees to completely unplug inside the arena.
→ read more on The Argus

Premium family adventures launching

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🌱 The Amnesty Bookshop

📆 Mon-Sat 11:00am - 5:30pm, Sun 11:00am - 4:00pm
📍 15 Sydney Street, North Laine

If you've spent any time wandering down Sydney Street, you've definitely spotted the iconic little pink storefront that's been supplying brilliant books to the city since 2007. The Amnesty Bookshop is an absolute gem of a secondhand bookshop, run entirely by a fantastic volunteer team and stocked by local donors. They always have a warm welcome waiting, alongside an incredible, high-quality collection of pre-loved books ranging from contemporary fiction and social sciences to poetry, drama, and children's titles, plus a great ethical gift range.

What makes this spot so special is how deeply it's woven into our local community—pre-restrictions, they were famous for their monthly Open Mic Nights for local creatives and Charity Quiz Nights over at Presuming Ed's, and they're currently looking to revive that wonderful events programme. They're always on the lookout for fresh donations to keep their shelves exciting, as well as new friendly faces to join their volunteer team. It's the perfect independent corner to find your next great read while supporting vital human rights work across the globe.

🔗 Follow their new arrivals and check out how to volunteer

🍽️ Mange Tout

Tucked away in the heart of the North Laines, Mange Tout is a legendary independent bistro that has been keeping Brighton fed since 2009. Run by long-time chef-turned-owner Greg, the space has a wonderfully warm, unpretentious feel, welcoming everyone (including dogs, as long as it's paws on the floor) into its cosy Trafalgar Street spot.

They serve up one of the absolute best brunches in town seven days a week, but the real magic happens on their weekly changing dinner blackboard. Expect exceptionally executed French classics like steak frites, moules, and indulgent tartiflette, all driven by sustainable, local ingredients. Backed up by an incredible selection of low-intervention natural wines and excellent locally roasted coffee, it is an effortless, deeply charming spot for an intimate evening out.

📍 81 Trafalgar Street, Brighton
🕒 Brunch: 9am-3pm (Daily) | Dinner: 6pm-10pm (Thu-Sat)
🔗 Book a table

🏠 The Hamptons Haven

Once serving as the coastguard headquarters, this reimagined seven bedroom coastal residence brings a slice of refined Hamptons style to the Sussex seafront. The architectural showpiece begins at the five metre glass fronted atrium, which floods the central hallway with warm southerly light before guiding you to an open kitchen with gorgeous sea views. The sprawling property features a dedicated cinema room and four expansive first floor suites, two of which boast direct access to private south facing terraces with glass balustrades. Complete with a luxurious ground floor annexe, a fragrance filled Mediterranean garden, and a massive driveway, it stands out as the ultimate beachside dream home on an exclusive stretch of Roedean Way.

📍 Roedean Way, Brighton
💰 £3,000,000
🔗 View on Rightmove

Tuesday - 30th June

💿 Beth Orton: Live + Signing | 6:30pm @ Resident Music
An intimate in-store performance and signing session celebrating the release of the acclaimed songwriter's raw and deeply emotional new album, The Ground Above. More Info

🎤 Laughter Lounge | 7pm @ The Joker
Brighton's premier neurodiverse+ comedy night returns at its new home to celebrate a partnership with Grace Eyre, featuring an eclectic mix of award-winning comedians. More Info

🎵 The Simon & Garfunkel Story | 7:30pm @ Theatre Royal
A hit West End production charting the folk duo's rise, dramatic breakup, and iconic 1981 Central Park reunion concert with a full live band. More Info

🎤 Open Mic Night | 8pm @ Artista
The South Coast’s premier independent testing ground for new comedy. Watch a packed lineup of circuit pros and rising stars work out their freshest material. More Info

Wednesday - 1st July

🎭 The Scarlet Pimpernel | 7pm @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
A thrilling outdoor staging of the classic adventure, where romance and danger collide under the shadow of the French Revolution. More Info

📚 An Evening with Candice Carty-Williams | 7:30pm @ Komedia
The bestselling author of Queenie joins Afrori Books to discuss her career and highly anticipated new novel following Queenie through her 30s. More Info

🎭 Confessions! by The Maydays | 7:30pm @ Komedia
Brighton’s award-winning improv legends turn your real, anonymous audience confessions into a wild, completely unscripted night of hilarious sketches. More Info

🎤 An Evening with David Sedaris | 7:30pm @ Theatre Royal
The celebrated writer and humorist returns to the stage for an evening of dry wit, sharp storytelling, and brilliant sardonic social observations. More Info

🧠 £2 Talk - Supporting your teen through Sixth Form and Beyond | 7:30pm
@ Exeter Street Hall - Educational Consultant Hannah Reed shares expert tips to help ease the stress of supporting your teen post-16, part of the 'Big Ideas at Low Prices' series. More Info

Thursday - 2nd July

🎤 Richard Ayoade - Afterthoughts | 7:30pm @ Theatre Royal
The BAFTA-winning comedian, director, and IT Crowd star takes to the stage for a characteristically deadpan evening of witty reflections and wry personal anecdotes. More Info

🐉 Palace of Dragons Banquet | 6:30pm @ Royal Pavilion
A glamorous, high-summer dining experience inside the opulent Pavilion, featuring dragon-inspired entertainment and an exquisite three-course Chinese feast. More Info

🎤 Kristin Key: Lesbian Army Tour | 8pm @ Komedia
The viral musical comedy sensation brings her hit global tour to Brighton for an evening of high-energy, queer stand-up and hilarious songs. More Info

🎭 The Improvised Shakespeare Show | 6pm @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
An award-winning, high-energy troupe uses audience suggestions and unscripted Bard-style language to create a brand-new, hilariously bonkers Shakespeare play on the spot. More Info

Friday - 3rd July

🎵 Love Supreme Jazz Festival | 3:30pm Fri 3 - 5 Jul @ Glynde Place, East Sussex
Ezra Collective and DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak) headline a huge Friday lineup, featuring an on-site restaurant by Ottolenghi. More Info

🧛‍♂️ The Slayers | 7pm @ Preston Manor
An immersive, three-hour vampire-hunting experience where you'll join a council of slayers, tackle challenges, form tactical alliances, and root out the undead in disguise. More Info

🎤 Alex Mitchell Headlines | 8pm @ Artista
Fringe award-winner Alex Mitchell takes the headline spot at Brighton's best small comedy venue, backed by MC Ross Smith and a stellar supporting lineup. More Info

🧙‍♀️ Jinkx Monsoon: Speaking Of Witch | 7:30pm @ Theatre Royal
The two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner, powerhouse vocalist, and Broadway star brings her unique blend of comedic theater and spectacular music to the stage. More Info

🎧 Sunset Silent Disco | 7:15pm @ Whitecliffs Cafe, Saltdean
Dance to three channels of classic hits (60s–90s) inside a beachside cafe as the sun goes down, featuring a fully stocked bar and stunning sea views. More Info

🕵️‍♂️ Murder Mystery Night | 7pm @ Brighton Palace Pier
An interactive, immersive murder mystery evening on the iconic pier featuring live actors, a welcome drink, and classic fish and chips. More Info

🎤 Filthy Fridays with Ben Norris | 8pm @ The Brunswick
Catch highly respected TV regular and comedy veteran Ben Norris for a masterclass in relaxed stand-up, razor-sharp crowd improvisation, and expertly crafted material. More Info

🎸 R.E.M. by Stipe | 7pm, @ Concorde 2
A definitive live tribute celebrating the legendary alternative rock icons, bringing enigmatic arena-sized anthems and soaring choruses to the Brighton beachfront. More Info

🎭 Kanpur 1857 by Niall Moorjani | 6pm & 8pm @ The Lantern Theatre
Based on historical events, this provocative new play comically satirizes contemporary conflicts around gender identity, colonial violence, and making art during times of crisis. More Info

Live Music

10cc's Graham Gouldman & Heart Full of Songs | 7:30pm, Tue @ Brighton Dome
Wargasm | 7pm, Tue @ Chalk
Evening of selective music BRIGHTON | 6:30pm, Tue @ The Rossi Bar
Greet Death | 7pm, Tue @ The Green Door Store
The Secret Comedy Club Tuesdays | 8pm, Tue @ Artista
The Simon & Garfunkel Story | 7:30pm, Tue @ Theatre Royal
Speedway & Feels Like Heaven | 7pm, Tue @ The Hope & Ruin

Old Man Luedecke | 8pm, Wed @ The Folklore Rooms
Sound Affects #40| 7:30pm, Wed @ East Street Tap

Alison Cotton | 7pm, Thu @ The Rose Hill
Fighting For Unity 11 | 6pm, Thu @ Daltons
The Lonely Surf | 7:30pm, Thu @ The Prince Albert

The Funky Motown Soul Show | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
Adam Beattie & Fiona Bevan | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Folklore Rooms
Amy Winehouse: A Celebration | 8pm, Fri 3 @ Ironworks Studios
Bazooms | 7:30pm, Fri @ Pipeline
Cryer Mya | 7pm, Fri @ Pink Moon
The Dirty Nil | 7pm, Fri @ The Green Door Store
Ela Southgate's Songs of the Summer | 5:30pm, Fri @ St Andrew's Church
Freaks Off A Leash: Nu Metal Night | 8pm, Fri @ Dust Brighton
Ho99o9 | 7pm, Fri @ Patterns
In Turn | 9pm, Fri @ The Brunswick
Jinkx Monsoon: Speaking Of Witch | 7:30pm, Fri @ Theatre Royal
Mary In The Junkyard: Live + Signing | 6:30pm, Fri @ Resident Music
R.E.M. by Stipe | 7pm, Fri @ Concorde 2
Ruena, Ziggy Phoenix, Spooky Huge | 7pm, Fri @ Waterbear venue

Last week's look back at Pride history was a solid win! A strong 43.18% of you knew that Brighton's very first official march took place in 1973. You can explore the full local archive on the Official Brighton & Hove Pride Website.

This week, we are heading to Madeira Drive for a pioneering moment in motoring history. The Brighton Speed Trials began in 1905, making it the oldest running motorsport event in the world. At that inaugural race, a trailblazer named Dorothy Levitt made global headlines. In her 1909 driver's handbook, she pioneered a simple safety trick that changed automotive design forever.