The Brighton Squawk
Posts
🐦 Hove’s New Restaurant & The World Championship of Toads

🐦 Hove’s New Restaurant & The World Championship of Toads

Plus FREE outdoor cinema in Stoneham Park, a block party and sustainable living with Harriet’s of Hove.

Ben Watkins
September 12, 2025

Happy Friday Brighton!

From Eric Idle’s one-man show to Six The Musical, salsa on the pier and a toad-in-the-hole championship, we’re back with big nights out and quirky festivals, while in Hove a Michelin-starred chef’s new Brazilian-Italian spot is making waves and Harriet’s of Hove keeps flying the flag for plastic-free living.

Here’s what’s squawking this week:

🎤 Comedy icons, salsa nights, musicals and a toad championship
🎬 Free outdoor cinema all weekend at Stoneham Park
🌱 Sustainable shopping at Harriet’s of Hove
🥗 Brazilian-Italian dining at new Hove restaurant Marea

Got an event or business to promote?

We’re opening up spots for local ads and our 4,500+ Brighton readers are all ears. Just reply to this email to enquire for our media pack and prices.

🎤 Eric Idle: Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, Live!

⏰ Fri 6:30-10:30pm
📍 The Brighton Centre

Monty Python legend Eric Idle takes to the stage for an evening of nostalgia, mischief and sharp wit. Expect a one-man show that mixes storytelling, comedy, music and philosophy, peppered with memorable tunes (yes, including that one) and classic British absurdity.

It is part reflective memoir, part live cabaret, and entirely Eric Idle. A rare chance to see one of comedy’s greats in Brighton.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

💃 Salsa on the Pier Pt.5

⏰ Fri 6:30pm-12am
📍 Horatios Bar, Brighton Palace Pier

Brighton’s hottest salsa night is back with a bigger line-up, a buzzing atmosphere and the waves crashing just outside the dance floor. DJ Jimmy Lobe and DJ Katanga set the pace with salsa, bachata and Latin rhythms, while special guest Maikel Mota brings the energy that makes the night unforgettable.

Whether you are a seasoned dancer or just fancy trying your first steps with a cocktail in hand, this night always delivers that Brighton-meets-Havana vibe.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🍻 International Toads Championship

⏰ Sat from 12pm
📍 Church of the Annunciation Ballroom

Forget darts and forget pool. This is Sussex’s true pub sport and Brighton is hosting its very first international toad-in-the-hole festival. Watch players from across the UK and Europe battle in Women’s, Doubles and Team tournaments, with leagues, knockouts and nail-biting finales.

But it is more than just sport. DJs, food stalls, live commentary, brewery bars and player interviews make this a full festival atmosphere. Grab a pint, heckle politely and see why locals take their brass-disc tossing so seriously.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🎉 Patch Block Party

⏰ Sat 4-9:30pm
📍 William Clarke Park

The Patch transforms into Brighton’s answer to a Brooklyn block party with DJs, street art and a buzzing community vibe. This year features live mural painting by Brighton street artist Cassettelord, plus DJ Frank and others keeping the beats flowing all evening.

Expect families, neighbours and partygoers sharing food, dancing and laughter in one of the city’s most loved green spaces. It is free, it is local, and it is the kind of event that makes Brighton feel like a big village.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

👑 Six - The Musical

⏰ Sat 4pm & 8pm
📍 Theatre Royal

The six wives of Henry VIII finally get the mic in this smash-hit West End musical that remixes history with sass, sequins and pop power. Each queen takes the stage to tell her story through witty lyrics, bold choreography and powerhouse vocals.

With its infectious energy, laugh-out-loud humour and chart-worthy songs, Six has become a global sensation that feels more like a pop concert than a history lesson. If you have not seen it yet, this is your chance to join the party.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🎬 Stoneham Park Cinema: Greatest Showman, Wicked, Top Gun

⏰ Fri 7pm, Sat 7pm, Sun 7pm
📍 Stoneham Park, Hove

Three nights, three films, one big community cinema screen under the stars. Friday kicks off with The Greatest Showman for singalong fun, Saturday brings family favourite Wicked, and Sunday rounds out the weekend with the high-flying classic Top Gun.

Screenings are free but donations are encouraged to support the organisers. Bring blankets, camping chairs, snacks and friends. The atmosphere is always relaxed, welcoming and family friendly, with that special Brighton magic that only comes from a film under the open sky.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🌎 Harriet’s of Hove

With a desire to minimise plastic and a passion for plant-based living, Harriet’s of Hove is much more than a refill shop. Hidden away on Blatchington Road, this independent Aladdin’s cave is filled with organic foods, eco-friendly home swaps and zero-waste gifts, all offered with warm recommendations and a real community spirit.

Bring your own jars, bags and bottles to stock up on everything from oats and olive oil to chocolate buttons and household cleaners. Shopping here is about more than filling your cupboards. You are reducing waste, supporting small producers and backing a team that is committed to positive change.

Upstairs, Harriet’s has a bright and welcoming event space that is ideal for workshops, talks and small group gatherings, with discounts for attendees to shop in-store afterwards.

📍 86 Blatchington Road, Hove
🕒 Mon–Sat, 10am–6pm; Sun, 11am–5pm
🌐 harrietsofhove.com

🥗 New Spot: Marea

Rafael Cagali’s latest venture, Marea, has just opened on Church Road and it is already making waves. Cagali runs London’s two-Michelin-starred Da Terra as well as Elis, a much-loved neighbourhood spot, and now he is bringing his Brazilian-Italian flair to Hove with a fine dining restaurant that feels both ambitious and welcoming.

The menu features small bites, sharing plates and mains built around seasonal Sussex produce. Highlights include fried oysters with hot sauce emulsion, lobster rice with dendê, pumpkin ravioli with jalapeño and choux buns filled with fig leaf ice cream.

For those who prefer to hand over the decisions, there is also a carefully chosen tasting menu with a wine list to match the food with a depth of choices, offering French and Italian classics, as well as some of Sussex’s finest fizz from Rathfinny and Langham.

📍 60 Church Road, Hove
🕒 Open Wed–Sun (dinner Wed–Sat, lunch Sun)
💷 Small plates from £8, mains £25+
🔗 More Info / Bookings

Events marked with a * are sponsored

General Events

🎧 Degrade (Audio Arts Installation)
Fri & Sat 12-5pm @ Lighthouse Project Space, Brighton
Immersive audio-arts installation by Adrien Châtelain exploring climate catastrophe through degrading tape loops. Free entry. More Info

💃 Regency Dance Workshop
Sat 2-3:15pm @ Brighton Unitarian Church
Step back in time for a lively Regency dance session as part of Heritage Open Day. Tickets

🎭 AndAlso Improv Drop-In
Sat 2-4pm @ BHASVIC, Hove
Boost creativity and confidence with this fun improv session. Tickets

🔪 Pink To Crimson (Murder & Comedy Play)
Sat 2:30-4:30pm @ Cornerstone Community Centre, Hove
A mix of murder mystery and comedy theatre from the Sackville Players. Tickets

😂 The Comedy Experiment
Sat 4-6:30pm @ Caroline of Brunswick, Brighton
Free-entry afternoon comedy with a surprise TV comedian. Tickets

🪩 Day Fever - Daytime Clubbing
Sat 3pm @ Concorde 2, Brighton
A daytime disco playing the greatest hits of the 20th century. Tickets

🖼️ Wayzgoose Print Festival
Sat & Sun 11am-4pm @ Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft Two-day celebration of printmaking with stalls, demos and heritage talks. More Info

⛪ Heritage Open Day
Sat 11am-5pm @ All Saints Church, Patcham
Talks, choir performance and homemade cakes at this historic open day. More Info

🪩 Tropicana Nights - 80s Party
Sat 7:30pm @ Saltdean Lido
Dig out your legwarmers and neon for the ultimate retro 80s party. Tickets

😂 Cambridge Footlights International Tour Show
Sat 2pm @ Komedia Brighton
Comedy from the legendary Cambridge Footlights troupe. Tickets

🎷 Jazz Breakfast
Sun 10am @ Ironworks Studios, Brighton
A relaxed Sunday morning with live jazz, coffee and pastries. Tickets

🎧 Record Box 360 - Gazelle Twin Double Bill
Sun 11:45am-1:40pm @ The Old Market, Hove
Immersive 360º listening session of Gazelle Twin’s dark, powerful works. Tickets

🧘 Brighton Authentic Relating Experience
Sun 12-5pm @ The Loft, Little Dippers, Brighton
Deep connection workshop with circling and conscious conversation. Tickets

📚 Nova Scotia House - Book Talk with Charlie Porter & Omari Douglas
Sun 5:30pm @ Charleston Lewes
Conversation about love, memory and queer imagination. Tickets

😂 CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation
Sun 6pm & 8pm @ Komedia Brighton
Improvised comedy show where the audience decides the crime. Tickets

🚶 Kemp Town as it is: 1831 (Heritage Tour)
Sun 2-3:30pm @ Royal Crescent, Brighton
A Regency-costumed guide transports you back to 1831 Kemp Town. More Info

Family Events

🐞 Professor Slug’s House of Bugs
Sun 2pm @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
An interactive kids’ theatre show where children help solve buggy problems before the Queen Bee arrives. Tickets

🐶 Saltdean Lido Dog Swim - Sighthounds
Sun 3pm @ Saltdean Lido
Bring your dogs for a swim in the pool with splash zones and play areas. Tickets

🎨 Inspired by Nature - Children’s Art Exhibition
Sat–Sat 6–20 Sept @ Mid Street Lab, Kemptown
Creative art exhibition showcasing works by children inspired by nature. More Info

Live Music