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🐦 Jerk Chicken, Spring Markets & IWD Takeovers

🐦 Jerk Chicken, Spring Markets & IWD Takeovers

Antique hauls at the Racecourse, Churchill Square pop-ups, and the last chance to vote for your local favourites in the 2026 BRAVO awards.

Ben Watkins
March 06, 2026

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Happy Friday, Brighton!

There’s a market on for everyone this weekend with makers markets, plant sales and antiques hitting the streets and Brighton Racecourse. We’re also tucking into authentic Jamaican jerk spice on Preston Road and hunting for independent gems at Churchill Square.

Here’s what’s squawking this week:

🌷 Handcrafted treasures at the Kemptown Makers Market
🇯🇲 Authentic Jerk Chicken & Curry Goat arrives on Preston Road
💃 Slipped Disco, literary legends, and over 180 antique stalls
🗳️ Final countdown to cast your votes for the BRAVOS 2026

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6/3/2026 - 8/3/2026

✊ Churchill Square x Brighton Girl Takeover

🕣 11:15am – 5pm, Sun
📍 Churchill Square

Brighton Girl transforms the shopping centre into a massive celebration of local women for International Women’s Day. Expect a packed day featuring a wellness space with laughter yoga and boxing, a curated marketplace of local brands like Cielo Cakery, and live music from the City of Stars Choir.

🎟️ More Info

🌷 Spring Kemptown Makers Market

🕣 10am - 3pm, Sat
📍 Brighton College

Kick off the season by browsing a beautiful selection of handmade gifts, local art, and delicious bakes in the heart of Kemptown. It’s a dog-friendly community event located right opposite The Pickle, perfect for a Saturday morning stroll.

🎟️ More Info

🌿 Circus Street Plant Sale

🕣 11am - 1pm, Sat
📍 Circus Street

The first plant sale of 2026 features hundreds of home-grown seedlings, flowers, and succulents grown in organic compost from local food waste. Even better, 10% of all sales go directly to supporting Martlets Hospice.

🎟️ More Info

📚 Forthwrite Festival

🕣 10am, Sat
📍 Various Locations

The UK’s only literary festival dedicated to celebrating women writers over 50 returns with a packed programme of workshops and panels. It’s a vital space for storytelling and industry insight from some of the most experienced voices in the business.

🎟️ More Info

📻 Ida Barr: Slipped Disco

🕣 6:30pm and 9pm, Fri
📍 Brighton Dome

The inimitable Ida Barr hosts a joy-filled party that mashes up old-school Music Hall tradition with modern Hip Hop and R&B. Expect a high-energy, inclusive atmosphere that’s guaranteed to get the room moving.

🎟️ More Info

📖 Harry Baker: Tender

🕣 1:30pm, Sun
📍 Komedia

World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker brings his characteristic warmth, wit, and wonder to a show exploring the euphoria and panic of new parenthood. Expect laughter and tears as he shares poems from the first hundred days of new life.

🎟️ More Info

🏺 Brighton Racecourse Antiques Fair

🕣 9:30am, Sun
📍 Brighton Racecourse

Hunt for hidden treasures among over 180 indoor stalls featuring everything from vintage clothing to rare collectables. Swing singer Steve Conway will be performing throughout the day to keep the vibes high while you browse.

🎟️ More Info

🌙 Lucy Pearman: Lunartic

🕣 7:30pm, Sun
📍 Brighton Dome

The BAFTA nominee brings her brilliantly optimistic and interactive lunacy to the stage as the Moon dreaming of Hollywood stardom. It’s a surreal, heartwarming, and deeply funny hour of character comedy.

🎟️ More Info

💢 Gearóid Farrelly: Gearóid Rage

🕣 8pm, Sun
📍 Komedia

The Irish comedy favourite takes to the stage to air his grievances about the many, many things that make his blood boil. Expect sharp observations and rapid-fire wit from a comedian at the top of his game.

🎟️ More Info

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🏆 Final Call: BRAVO 2026

It’s the last days of voting for the BRAVO 2026 awards before it closes on the 10th of March! Whether you want to back your favourite Sunday roast, the best plant champions, or that wine list you can't stop thinking about, now is the time to make your voice heard.

🗳️ Head over to the BRAVOS site to cast your votes and support our local legends before the window shuts.

🛍️ Local Hero

Hidden amongst the big-name giants in Churchill Square is a proper dose of small business discovery: Local Hero (you'll find it right next to the new H&M). Launched just last year, this revolving pop-up space run by the Lone Design Club, is Brighton’s first permanent home for pop-ups from independent brands without a physical storefront. It’s designed to be a ‘revolving door’ of retail, meaning no two visits are the same; one month you’re browsing activewear from Brighton-born ETERNA, and the next you’re discovering the best in coffee equipment from espresso machines to bean grinders with Espresso Solutions.

The concept has been a massive hit, with the space moving from short pop-ups to now longer four-month residencies. It’s become a launchpad where small businesses can test, learn, and scale right in the heart of the city’s shopping scene. With a fresh brand residency kicking off in the coming weeks and plenty more lined up for 2026, you can follow Lone Design Club on Instagram to find out more about the latest independent setting up shop.

📍 Churchill Square Shopping Centre
⏰ 9-8pm (Mon-Sat), 11-5pm (Sun)
📷 Follow Lone Design Club

🇯🇲 Natty’s Jerk Kitchen & Rum Stop

During my final year of Uni up in Leeds, I became properly obsessed with a local Jerk chicken takeaway spot. My order never deviated from the classic: jerk chicken and rice with a side of fried plantain, which, if you haven’t had it, is like a sweet and savoury hybrid of a sweet potato and a banana.

Authentic Caribbean flavours like that are a rare find in Sussex, so the arrival of Natty’s Jerk on Preston Rd last week is highly welcomed. While they’re the new kids on our block, they’ve been winning awards and getting rave reviews since 2017, including the Uber Eats restaurant of the year in 2024. Brighton marks Natty’s 4th location, following their original Portsmouth home, a spot at Southampton’s cricket ground, and even a residency at Selfridges in London.

The man behind the grill is Natty, a former London black cab driver turned home chef and restaurateur. His mission is simple: spreading Jamaican culture through rich flavours and ‘family’ vibes. The menu is simple but packed with flavour, featuring their box meals with a choice of jerk chicken or curry goat, served with rice and peas, plantain, Caribbean-inspired cucumber salad, and an apple and mango slaw. If you’re not a meat eater, they’ve mirrored the menu with a Jerk Jackfruit option, alongside a creamy ‘Mac & Cheezus’ that can be topped with even more jerk goodness.

To wash down the heat, they’ve got a massive selection of Jamaica’s favourite sodas like Ting Grape and Pineapple, plus, like the name suggests, a serious rum list for those looking for something stronger. You’ll find everything from Wray & Nephew and Mount Gay to the owner's own ‘Dutty Rum,’ which are best enjoyed alongside one of their Jamaican Patties (kind of like a Jamaican Cornish Pasty). It’s a soulful, vibrant addition to the city, and they’re open for dining in, taking out or delivery to you at home with Uber Eats.

📍 70 Preston Road
⏰ 12-9pm (Wed-Thu), 12-10pm (Fri-Sat) 12-8pm (Sun)
🧑‍💻 Menu & Uber Eats delivery

6/3/2026 - 8/3/2026

Friday

♀️ The Fearless and Fabulous Women of Brighton & Hove
6pm, Fri @ The Old Courtroom
Author Louise Peskett leads an inspiring journey through the trailblazers and activists who shaped our city’s history to celebrate International Women's Day. More Info

✨ Komedia Comedy Club
8pm @ Komedia
Three top acts and an MC showcase the best of the UK's independent live comedy circuit. More Info

🎭 The Bazaar Presents: Arabian Nights Live
8pm @ Ropetackle Arts Centre
A high-energy variety show from a BAFTA-winning troupe mashing Middle Eastern epics with the chaotic reality of modern diaspora life. More Info

📻 Ida Barr: Slipped Disco
6:30pm and 9pm @ Brighton Dome
A joy-filled evening mashing up Music Hall tradition with Hip Hop and R'n'B, hosted by the inimitable Ida Barr. More Info

🏛️ Rosie Holt: The Illegal Aliens Have Landed
7:30pm @ Artista
Satirical comedian Rosie Holt brings her 'MP' alter ego to the stage to tackle UFO invasions. More Info

🎨 Helm Gallery: Take The Streets
6pm @ Helm Gallery
A weekly Friday night takeover fusing art, music, tattoos, and cocktails in one of the city’s most electric creative spaces. More Info

Saturday

🎪 Barnum
2:30pm and 7:30pm @ Theatre Royal
Step right up for a dazzling world of imagination and ambition in this circus musical following the career of P.T. Barnum. More Info

🎤 Cilla & The Swinging 60s
7:30pm @ The Barn Theatre
A stylish celebration of the music of Cilla Black alongside contemporaries like Dusty Springfield, Lulu, and The Beatles. More Info

📚 Forthwrite Festival
10am @ Brighton (Various)
The UK’s only literary festival dedicated to celebrating women writers over 50, featuring workshops and panel discussions. More Info

💖 Judi Love: All About the Love
7:30pm @ Brighton Dome
The Loose Women panellist brings her first official tour to Brighton with unapologetic charismatic real talk and life anecdotes. More Info

🕯️ Candlelight: Coldplay vs Ed Sheeran
9pm @ Royal Pavilion
A multi-sensory musical experience featuring the hits of Coldplay and Ed Sheeran performed by a string quartet. More Info

🔭 Birdsong Academy Walkshop
7:15am @ Stanmer Park
Early morning outdoor workshop in Stanmer Park learning to identify common and early spring bird sounds. More Info

🧪 The Comedy Experiment
4pm @ Caroline of Brunswick
Enjoy afternoon comedy with a famous TV comedian in a relaxed atmosphere, featuring happy hour drinks. More Info

Sun

🥨 Preston Park Market
10am - 3pm @ Preston Road
This weekly Sunday staple brings together the best street food, artisan crafts, and cakes in the city. More Info

🏺 Brighton Racecourse Antiques and Vintage Fair
9:30am @ Brighton Racecourse
Browse over 180 indoor stalls featuring unique items, with live performances throughout the day from swing singer Steve Conway. More Info

🌙 Lucy Pearman: Lunartic
7:30pm @ Brighton Dome
BAFTA nominee Lucy Pearman returns with her optimistic and interactive lunacy as the Moon dreaming of stardom. More Info

💢 Gearóid Farrelly: Gearóid Rage
8pm @ Komedia
A hilarious new stand-up show touching on the many, many things that make Gearóid’s blood boil. More Info

💀 Creativity & Conversations About Death
11am @ Brighton (Various)
An open day exploring death and dying through creative practice, featuring photography, burial shrouds, and live talks. More Info

Live Music