Hello, Brighton & Hove!

This week’s news brings a big update for Hove with a recommendation to reject that 24/7 McDonald’s drive-thru, whereas the city’s controversial e-scooter scheme gets the green light for a trial. Meanwhile, we take a peek inside an aperitivo bar, and we’ve got everything you need to know about the Foodies Festival landing at Preston Park this coming weekend.

Here’s what’s squawking this week: 

🍔 McDonald's drive-thru rejection recommendation
🛴 400 hire e-scooters officially green-lit
🍹 Italian aperitivos and Lambrusco at Bar 50ml
🍗 Foodies Festival hits Preston Park for a stacked May calendar

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🍔 McDonald’s drive-thru plans hit a massive speed bump

Council planners are recommending that the bid for a 24/7 McDonald’s on Old Shoreham Road be rejected next week. They’re worried it’ll wreck green travel goals, clog up the dual carriageway, and put junk food way too close to our schools. Local campaigners are buzzing after their recent protest, but the final verdict lands at Hove Town Hall on Wednesday 6 May.
→ read more on Brighton & Hove News

🛴 Hire e-scooters are officially hitting our streets

The council’s just green-lit a two-year trial to add 400 hire e-scooters to the city’s fleet by next summer. Cllr Trevor Muten says it’s better to regulate them with insurance and licence checks than let illegal ones keep running riot. To keep the streets tidy, they’ll use mandatory docking and geofencing for no-go zones on the seafront.
→ read more on Brighton & Hove News

Not everyone’s sold on the idea, though, with some residents telling the BBC they’re terrified of a spike in "reckless" riding and hospital visits. On the flip side, supporters reckon we just need the same clear rules and curfews that have worked across Europe. Safety features will include 12.5mph speed caps and a total ban on pavement riding to protect pedestrians.
→ read more on BBC News

🏗️ Council claps back over £65m King Alfred plans

Senior councillors have slammed "political actors" and previous delays as they push ahead with the massive redevelopment of the Hove leisure centre. Cabinet just unlocked £3.5m for early demolition work to stop the site's "managed decline" and turn it into a modern beacon for the city. The message is clear: no more burial in the long grass for this long-overdue pool project.
→ read more on Brighton & Hove News

🏛️ Town Hall row over "petty" complaints

A long-serving Tory councillor claims the city's complaint process has lost its way and its objectivity. She reckons genuine issues against the leadership get ignored while small-time grumbles against other members are pursued "with gusto." Legal chiefs deny any bias, but it’s getting a bit spicy ahead of the 2027 local elections.
→ read more on Brighton & Hove News

🌍 Historic return of Botswana artefacts is a UK first

Brighton & Hove Museums is handing back 45 cultural treasures to Botswana in what’s being hailed as a groundbreaking move for UK heritage. The collection, which includes 19th-century clothing and hunting gear, will be reunited with its home community in time for a major exhibition in May. It’s an act of restoration that lets the Batswana people tell their own story on their own terms.
→ read more on BBC News

Also in the news:

🏥 Surgeon Must Use Chaperone for Female Patients: Senior surgeon Jeremy Stuart Clark is under GMC investigation and is currently barred from consulting women alone at the Royal Sussex or Nuffield. → read more on BBC News 

🚦 Red Routes Linked to Huge Drop in Injuries: Road injuries on London, Lewes, and Preston Roads have plummeted by nearly 50% since the 2024 crackdown on anti-social parking began. → read more on BBC News 

🌳 Victory Pub Set to Reclaim Its Garden: The Middle Street local has applied to reopen its original courtyard now that the old Browns restaurant extension has finally been knocked down. → read more on Brighton & Hove News 

🏗️ Hanover Townhouse Build Follows Community Battle: Work has finally started on eight new homes in Lincoln Cottages after a long legal fight between the residents and original developers. → read more on Brighton & Hove News

🐦 Geography Teacher Vies for Seagull Screeching Title: Rochester-based Sam is heading to Belgium this weekend to prove he has the most authentic coastal squawk in all of Europe. → read more on BBC News

🎡 i360 "Lessons Learnt" Debate: Labour is pushing for a public airing of a report that claims the council was sold over-ambitious visitor numbers for the failed tower. → read more on Brighton & Hove News 

🏊 Kemptown Pool Needs £50k for Repairs: The Brighton Swimming Centre is appealing for help to fix urgent structural issues with its 50-year-old building to keep lessons running. → read more on BBC News 

🚌 Bus Routes 18 and 50 to Merge: A new combined service, the 20, will link Hollingdean to Queen's Park via Brighton Station starting this summer. → read more on Brighton & Hove News 

🚫 Islingword Road Off-Licence Bid Opposed: Police and neighbours are fighting plans to sell booze at a former post office, citing high crime and enough local shops already. → read more on Brighton & Hove News 

🌿 Pocket Park Campaign for Hove Seafront: Residents want to turn a bin-heavy corner on St Aubyns into a green space with maritime plants and a sculptural wall. → read more on Brighton & Hove News 

🏫 Middle Street Audit Highlights "Failings": A report has detailed financial and administrative concerns at Brighton's oldest school prior to its controversial closure proposal. → read more on Brighton & Hove News

🏦 Leaseholders Fear Millions in Frozen Funds: Flat owners are in a panic after property firm PS&B had its accounts frozen for money laundering checks, leaving bills unpaid. → read more on Brighton & Hove News

🍔 Foodies Festival Comes to Brighton!

📅 Sat 2 May - Mon 4 May
📍 Preston Park

Preston Park hosts the Foodies Festival this Bank Holiday weekend for the very first stop of its UK tour before it heads to London later this month. The event brings together a mix of independent food traders, well-known chefs, and live performers.

The three days are split between cooking demonstrations, music sets, and various family-oriented and adult zones with a huge selection of food stalls, bars, stages and foodie theatres. You can expect to see MasterChef winners in the theatres or browse stalls from the nation’s top producers. It’s a straightforward way to spend an afternoon outside with a focus on local hospitality and producers too.

🎟️ Get Tickets & See What’s On

👨‍🍳 Chef Demonstrations

Tom Rhodes and Lottie Bedlow are appearing in the cooking theatres to share specific recipes and kitchen techniques. Several local restaurant owners will also be showing how they put their menus together. It’s an easy way to pick up new ideas for home cooking without much fuss.

🎸 Music Lineup

The main stage features several familiar names, including Scouting For Girls and B*Witched, throughout the weekend. It serves as the backdrop for the various bars, which include local options like Bedlam Brewery. Music starts in the afternoon and runs until the park closes in the evening.

🌶️ Food Challenges

The chilli-eating contest returns for those who want to participate or just watch from the sidelines. There is also a silent disco tent and a dedicated area for dogs and their owners this year. Younger visitors have their own space with supervised cooking sessions and traditional fairground rides.

🛍️ Artisan Market

A range of independent businesses covering everything from rum to cupcakes are setting up in the shopping village. It’s a good opportunity to find products from smaller Sussex makers and award-winning small producers that aren't usually on high street shelves. The street food area covers a wide variety of global cuisines from Jamaican jerk to Ethiopian stews.

📣 Reminder: Both Brighton Fringe and Brighton Festival are also starting next month, check out their packed schedules below!

🎭 Brighton Festival | Fri 1 May - Mon 25 May | Full Schedule

🎪 Brighton Fringe | Fri 1 May - Sun 31 May | Full Schedule

🍸 Bar 50ml

Sitting right on the edge of the city centre at St Georges Place, Bar 50ml is a proper love letter to the Italian aperitivo tradition. Owner Stefano has designed the space to channel the specific warmth of the Emilia Romagna region (a Northern region home to Bologna), decked out in a distinct burnt-orange glow that feels a world away from the grey pavement outside. The bar is a cosy and intimate setup that only holds about 44 guests, so the whole experience feels like a shared secret between you and the staff.

The drinks list moves well beyond the basics, with the team mixing up unique serves like their signature 50ml Martini and the dessert-heavy Tiramisu Della Mara for a more unique tipple. They are also big on Lambrusco, putting this bright, sparkling red right at the centre of their hand-picked wine selection instead of the usual house whites. It is a rare chance to try a specific slice of Italian drinking culture that is often overlooked in most UK cocktail bars.

To keep things authentic, every round comes with a focus on shared Mediterranean flavours, ranging from fresh focaccia to carefully sourced Italian nibbles. The focus here is on a slow-paced session where the food and drink are treated with equal weight, leaning on Stefano’s own heritage to keep the experience genuine. It provides a more memorable date than your standard pint, focusing on refined hospitality rather than the rowdy and chaotic feel of a typical high-street bar.

📍 10 St Georges Place
🕒 5-10:30pm (Wed-Thu), 3-10:30pm (Fri), 1-10:30pm (Sat), 3-8pm (Sun)
🔗 Make a Reservation

🏛️ The Amon Henry Wilds Original

Designed in the 1840s by one of Brighton’s most legendary architects, this Grade II-listed semi-detached villa is a perfect example of Regency restoration. It balances soaring 19th-century ceilings and bow bay windows with some very clever 21st-century tech, including invisible solar slates on the roof and a hot water loop system.

📍 Montpelier Villas
💰 £3,250,000
🔗 View on Rightmove

Tue

🎬 Movie after Hiroshima | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Southern Belle
A screening of Nobuhiko Obayashi’s final film exploring cinema's relationship with war and history. More Info

🎤 Topic Storm: Daliso Chaponda | 8pm, Tue @ Komedia
A stand-up comedy show examining the lives of blacklisted historical and modern figures. More Info

Wed

🎷 Speakeasy Jazz Club | 8pm, Wed @ The Wick Inn, Hove
Saxophonist Donovan Haffner performs with the house band in a relaxed jazz club setting. More Info

📜 The Brighton Slamologue | 7:30pm, Wed @ The Yellow Book
A competition where local performers deliver three-minute theatrical monologues. More Info

🧛 Buffy: Once More With Feeling | 8pm, Wed @ Ironworks Studios
A drag-led performance of the musical episode from the supernatural TV series. More Info

🩰 Carlos Acosta's Carmen | 7:30pm, Wed @ Theatre Royal
A professional ballet production featuring the celebrated Cuban dancer. More Info

🎭 Cool-Aid Comedy | 8pm, Wed @ Caroline of Brunswick
A stand-up night where comedians test new jokes in a small venue. More Info

📷 Echoes: Photography | 12pm, Wed @ Fishing Quarter Gallery
An exhibition showcasing new photographic works by local artist Nicole Donne. More Info

🧠 How To Stop Overthinking | 7pm, Wed @ Brighthelm Centre
A workshop offering practical, evidence-based methods for managing anxious thoughts. More Info

🤣 Rotunda Comedy | 8pm, Wed @ Rotunda Cafe
A mid-week comedy show featuring sets from professional touring stand-ups. More Info

Thu

🧺 Sussex Peasant Spring Event | 9am, Thu @ The Bull Ditchling
A seasonal market featuring local food producers and samples of regional farm products. More Info

🎶 Rock Choir | 10am, Thu @ Central United Reformed Church
A contemporary choir session for singers of all abilities to perform popular music. More Info

🎤 Confidence Through Comedy | 7:30pm, Thu @ The Railway Inn
A showcase of local students performing their first stand-up comedy sets. More Info

✨ Comic Boom | 7:30pm, Thu @ Komedia
A fast-paced comedy night featuring an established headline act and new talent. More Info

⚽ Jim Daly: Match of the Daly | 8pm, Thu @ Komedia
A stand-up show blending football-themed stories with original comedic songs. More Info

🎭 Fringe Preview Showcase | 7pm, Thu @ The Lantern Theatre
A showcase featuring excerpts from multiple theatre shows performing at the Brighton Fringe. More Info

📖 Nina Antonia & Lunar Moths | 7:30pm, Thu @ Hotel Pelirocco
A performance that combines spoken word poetry with live rock instrumentation. More Info

❤️ Quiz Dating | 8pm, Thu @ Mrs Fitzherberts
A social event combining a pub quiz with an opportunity to meet people. More Info

📝 Steve Mason Signing | 6:15pm, Thu @ Resident Music
A talk and book signing with the frontman of the Beta Band regarding his autobiography. More Info

Fri

🐝 A Head Full Of Bees | 5pm, Fri @ The Lantern Theatre
A solo comedy play exploring the intersection of motherhood and creativity. More Info

🏆 Best of the Fest | 6:30pm, Fri @ Artista
A curated showcase of top comedy acts performing in the upcoming Brighton Fringe. More Info

💃 Brighton Bellesque | 7pm, Fri @ Horizon
A burlesque show focused on movement and body confidence. More Info

🇷🇺 Chekhovian | 9pm, Fri @ The Lantern Theatre
A play exploring the personal life and struggles of Russian writer Anton Chekhov. More Info

🔥 Celebrating Beltane | 6pm, Fri @ Plot 22 Hove
A community event marking the season with meditation and movement under the full moon. More Info

🏛️ Eurydice | 7pm, Fri @ The Lantern Theatre
A modern gig-theatre adaptation of the classic Greek myth set in the underworld. More Info

🎙️ The Final Episode | 7pm, Fri @ The Lantern Theatre
A thriller play about a podcast host who becomes embroiled in a conspiracy. More Info

🤡 Kate-Lois Elliott: TRAD | 9pm, Fri @ Presuming Ed
A stand-up comedy show examining modern relationships and monogamy. More Info

🥪 TOAST | 6pm, Fri @ Caxton Arms
A two-person play about friendship set during the end of the world. More Info

Live Music

Crying Loser | The Pipeline | Tue, Apr 28
Division Of Mind | Dust | Tue, Apr 28
Penelope Trappes | Green Door Store | Tue, Apr 28
Studio20 | The Rossi Bar | Tue, Apr 28

Donovan Haffner | The Wick Inn | Wed, Apr 29
Juliet Lloyd | Folklore Rooms | Wed, Apr 29

Blackgold | Chalk | Thu, Apr 30
Goostavo UK Tour | Folklore Rooms | Thu, Apr 30

Barefaced Violas | St Luke's Church | Fri, May 1
Barrington Levy | Chalk | Fri, May 1
Beat Contact: Lewis Carroll | Waterbear Venue | Fri, May 1
Beverly Glenn-Copeland | Brighton Dome | Fri, May 1
Chopchop | Rose Hill | Fri, May 1
Deeper Purple | The Barn Theatre | Fri, May 1
Dirty Talk 03 | Chalk | Fri, May 1
Dire Straits Tribute | Brighton Open Air Theatre | Fri, May 1
Fighting For Unity 9 | Daltons | Fri, May 1
Tony Kofi: Jazz | St Andrew's Church | Fri, May 1
Jesca Hoop: Live | Resident Music | Fri, May 1
Kae Tempest | The Old Market | Fri, May 1
One World Orchestra | Brighton Dome | Fri, May 1
Paul Oakenfold | Quarters | Fri, May 1

Last week we asked which film was the first produced by Walt Disney, catapulting the studio to global fame. The correct answer was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which stumped a fair few of you, with only 46% getting it right. Most votes went to Fantasia, but that was actually their third feature, released in 1940.

This week, in a nod to our date spot of the week and the upcoming foodie festival, we’re celebrating what I’d argue is the best cuisine going: Italian!