👋 Good afternoon, Brighton,

As we balance the news of a massive £250 million cancer centre for the city against the loss of a beloved Bert's Homestore, this week’s news has big developments, local politics and a surprise appearance from Olly Alexandre. We’ve also got the month’s best markets, one of the city’s best cocktail bars for your date night this week and an absolutely stacked events calendar!

Here's what's squawking this week:

🏗️ Affordable housing plans unveiled for Preston Circus site
🏥 New £250m cancer hub confirmed for Royal Sussex
🍸 Independent cocktail spot brings refined dates to Duke Street
🛍️ Every market this month from craft fairs to kink markets and more

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🏗️ Developer plans 66 affordable flats near Preston Circus

A developer is drawing up plans for 66 “affordable” homes between Preston Circus and Brighton railway station. QED plans to host a public consultation on Wednesday (4 February) and Thursday (5 February) to share its proposals for the site currently known as Richardson’s Yard. → read more on Brighton & Hove News

🌳 Hundreds of trees felled as ash dieback spreads

Urgent work to remove dead and diseased ash trees in Coldean Woods is under way to ensure the safety of the public. Brighton & Hove City Council stated that while the felling looks severe, it is necessary to manage the fungus and will be followed by a project to improve local footpaths. → read more on BBC News

📉 Auditor prompts key budget risk questions from councillors

Independent auditors have warned that Brighton and Hove City Council faces a serious risk of being unable to set a balanced budget for the next financial year. Without decisive action to bridge a £12.4 million gap, the city could face a "section 114 notice," effectively halting all non-essential spending. → read more on Brighton & Hove News

🏥 Sussex to get state-of-the-art £250m cancer centre

The government has confirmed £250 million in funding for a new regional cancer hub at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. Set to open in 2029, the facility will triple the hospital's clinical space for cancer care and treat more than 60,000 patients every year. → read more on BBC News

🏠 Council criticised over £19m temporary housing contract

Campaigners have attacked the council’s decision to award an £18.8 million direct contract to a small, recently formed company for temporary housing provision. Council leader Bella Sankey defended the move as an "urgent decision" needed to stabilise soaring emergency housing costs and address a growing budget overspend. → read more on Brighton & Hove News

Also in the news:

🛍️ Bert's Homestore on Western Road set to close: The beloved local shop will shut its doors this March after 19 years at the location following the end of its lease, though branches in Hove, Worthing, and the North Laine will remain open. → read more on The Argus

❄️ University of Brighton graduate to join Team GB: Physiotherapist Katy Williams, who graduated in 2018, is heading to the Winter Olympics in Italy to support bobsleigh and skeleton athletes as they endure high G-forces and speeds of up to 90mph. → read more on BBC News

🏠 Teenage campaigner calls on council to build more homes: 15-year-old Scarlett Chapman has urged the local authority to utilise "micro sites" for social housing to help the 1,400 local children currently living in temporary accommodation. → read more on Brighton & Hove News

⚽ UK's first women's sports bar to open in Brighton: Crossbar Brighton is set to launch on Upper North Street this Friday, offering a dedicated "clubhouse" space for fans of women's sport with eight screens and a curated menu. → read more on The Argus

🚶 Popular station shortcut in Hove could be shut: Councillors are considering an application to block a pedestrian route between School Road and Payne Avenue following complaints from residents about anti-social behaviour and privacy. → read more on Brighton & Hove News

💃 Brighton burlesque club repossessed over unpaid rent: The Haus of Cabaret in Kemptown has been taken back by Tokyo Industries following a default on debt and rent by the current operator, leaving the historic venue's future uncertain. → read more on Brighton & Hove News

🏃 Olly Alexander named as Brighton Half Marathon starter: The award-winning singer and Eurovision star will officially start the race on 1 March before joining the Sussex Beacon team to run the course himself. → read more on BBC News

🛍️ This Month’s Markets

🐉 Lunar New Year Market

🕣 Sunday 8 February, 10:30am - 4pm
📍 Brighton City Open Market
🎫 Free entry
The Brighton Open Market celebrates the Year of the Horse this Sunday with traditional lion dances, authentic street food, and handmade crafts from local makers.
🎟️ More Info

⛓️ Brighton Kink Market

🕣 Saturday 7 February, 12pm - 6pm
📍 WERKS Middle Street
🎫 £6 standard / £3 concession
The Werks on Middle Street hosts a specialised community marketplace this Saturday featuring a wide array of creators and sellers from the kink community.
🎟️ Get Tickets

🎨 Rainbow Craft Fair

🕣 Saturday 14 February, 11am - 5pm
📍 Brighton Unitarian Church
🎫 Free entry
The Unitarian Church hosts a collection of local artisans this Valentine's Day for a curated fair featuring bespoke jewellery and seasonal gifts in a historic setting.
🎟️ More Info

🏳️‍🌈 Brokeback Deviants Market

🕣 Sunday 15 February, 10am - 4pm
📍 Komedia Brighton
🎫 Pay what you can (minimum £1)
Komedia transforms into a queer kink marketplace this month featuring over 30 independent makers and a raffle in support of trans charities.
🎟️ Get Tickets

🧶 Brighton Craft Fair

🕣 Saturday 28 February, 11am - 4:30pm
📍 Friends Meeting House
🎫 Free entry
The Friends Meeting House becomes a hub for local creativity on the last Saturday of the month with an eclectic mix of free-to-enter art and handicrafts.
🎟️ More Info

🍊 Clementine & Co.

This classy cocktail date spot brings a refreshing, independent spirit to Duke Street, moving away from the high-street chains towards something far more personal. Founded by a local mixologist with deep roots in the city's bar scene, the space feels like a natural extension of Brighton’s quirky character, complete with hanging foliage and a focus on high-quality ingredients.

The menu prioritises punchy, approachable flavours, balancing well-loved classics with modern twists that change with the seasons. From hand-squeezed citrus to carefully selected local spirits, every drink is built with a level of precision that makes the generous happy hour prices feel like a genuine steal.

Beyond the starring cocktails, a vast selection of spirits and a generous wine list round out the menu. Accompanying bites range from Nocellara olives and smoked salmon pâté to locally sourced Sussex charcuterie and Goan spicy pork batons. It’s an especially good option on a weekday afternoon date too, with £8.95 drinks or a £6 cocktail of the week during their happy hour, which runs from midday until midnight most days.

📍 16 Duke Street
🕣 12pm - 12am, Mon - Fri
🔗 Book a table here

🎩 Regency Masterpiece

This rare Grade II listed villa was the final masterpiece built by architect Charles Busby and spent decades as a world-renowned centre for restoring ancient tapestries. It has been sensitively brought back to life as a massive five-bedroom home featuring a rare west-facing garden and a balcony with proper sea views.

📍 Lansdowne Place, Hove
💰 £2,000,000
🔗 View on Rightmove

Tuesday

🏔️ Banff Mountain Film Festival
7:30 PM @ Brighton Dome
Embark on a thrilling night of adventure with a brand-new collection of short films from the world’s most prestigious mountain film festival. More Info

🙋‍♂️ Marcus Brigstocke: Vitruvian Mango
7:30 PM @ Ropetackle Arts Centre
The award-winning comedian explores the modern role of men in this progressive and hilarious new stand-up show. (LAST FEW) More Info

🕵️ Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger's Drift
(shows all week) 7:45 PM @ Theatre Royal Brighton
A brand-new stage adaptation of the classic mystery series where DCI Barnaby investigates a suspicious death in a picturesque village. More Info

👠 Joe Black’s Kleines Kabarett
8:00 PM @ Komedia
Brighton’s Weimar-infused cabaret extravaganza returns with special guests for a filthy, fun, and musical comedy showcase. More Info

🎨 Painting with Expression: Mixed Media Workshop
10:30 AM @ Eventbrite (Local Venue)
Artist Ruth Egon leads a guided session on expressive mark-making and intuitive painting using inks, pastels, and mixed media. More Info

🏆 Komedia New Comedy Award
8:00 PM @ Komedia
Rising stars battle it out for a spot in the final during this evening of fresh stand-up talent. More Info

Wednesday

🦒 Rob Beckett: Giraffe
8:00 PM Wed, Thu & Fri @ Brighton Dome
The 'Parenting Hell' star hits the road with his brand-new worldwide stand-up tour, smashing the life out of the motorways. (LAST FEW) More Info

📜 David Olusoga
7:30 PM @ Ropetackle Arts Centre
The BAFTA award-winning historian and Traitors finalist appears in conversation to uncover little-known facts from global history. More Info

🔍 Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote
8:00 PM @ Komedia
Experience an interactive screening of a classic Cabot Cove mystery complete with games, a 'Fletcher-mometer', and a prize for the best clue-finder. More Info

🗣️ Brighton Telltales
7:00 PM @ The Yellow Book
A monthly night of spoken word and traditional storytelling open to amateurs and seasoned professionals alike. More Info

🤣 Cool-Aid Comedy - New Material Comedy Night
8:00 PM @ Caroline of Brunswick
Brighton's longest-running new material night features a mix of pro acts and the best up-and-coming local talent. More Info

Thursday

👊 Ria Lina: Riabellion
8:00 PM @ Komedia
The wickedly funny comedian and scientist explores the rules of modern life and the joy of throwing them all up in the air. More Info

🕺 Brighton Soul Club
8:00 PM @ Komedia
The long-awaited return of this vinyl-only night spinning Northern Soul, Motown, and Modern Soul on the dancefloor. More Info

🎤 Jordan Gray: Is That A C*ck In Your Pocket...
8:00 PM @ The Forge Comedy Club
The multi-award-winning star hits the road with her rootinest, tootinest, shootinest hour of musical comedy yet. More Info

🤣 Russell Hicks: This Time It's Personal
8:00 PM @ The Forge Comedy Club
Fresh from a big year in film, the American stand-up returns to the stage with his phenomenally successful improvisational style. More Info

Friday

😅 Matt Forde: Defying Calamity
8:00 PM @ Brighton Dome
The political comedian and star of Unspun returns to the stage following major surgery to deliver his latest satire. More Info

✨ The Brighton Bellesque Experience
7:00 PM @ Horizon Nightclub
An immersive, body-positive celebration of movement and confidence featuring sensual performance and playful interaction. More Info

🤫 The Maydays: Confessions!
7:30 PM @ Komedia
Award-winning improvisers turn audience secrets into a hilarious and entirely unscripted performance based on anonymous confessions. More Info

🏳️‍🌈 A Queer Night at the Museum
7:00 PM @ Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
A special late-night event to celebrate the opening of the groundbreaking new 'Gender Stories' exhibition with tours and performers. More Info

Ongoing

⚧️ Gender Stories Exhibition
Ongoing @ Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
This new exhibition examines the fluid and multifaceted world of gender across different cultures, eras, and personal lived experiences. More Info

🌊 Serena Sussex Back Catalogue Exhibition
Ongoing @ Pretty Neat Gallery
A curated collection of atmospheric, light-filled paintings inspired by nature and the Sussex landscape showing at the Marina. More Info

👞 The Sussex Lancers: Tailor-made Leather Lovers
Ongoing @ Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
A fascinating display tracing the history of Bond Street’s 'Filk’n Casuals' and their role in producing bold menswear since the 60s. More Info

Live Music

Jason Derulo | Brighton Centre | Tue, Feb 3 | Tickets
Junior Brother + support | Prince Albert | Tue, Feb 3 | Tickets
Half Blind Promotions: Fresh Meat II | Rossi Bar | Tue, Feb 3 | Tickets
Mirror for Princes: Wedding in Galilee | Rose Hill | Tue, Feb 3 | Tickets
Tyler Ballgame: Live + Signing | Resident | Tue, Feb 3 | Tickets

Paige Kennedy + support | Prince Albert | Wed, Feb 4 | Tickets
better joy | Dust | Wed, Feb 4 | Tickets
The Rifles: Live + Signing | Resident | Wed, Feb 4 | Tickets
Molly Rose | Green Door Store | Wed, Feb 4 | Tickets
Vukovi | Chalk | Wed, Feb 4 | Tickets
Meryl Streek | Hope & Ruin | Wed, Feb 4 | Tickets

Death of Guitar Pop | Quarters | Thu, Feb 5 | Tickets
The Gulls | Alphabet | Thu, Feb 5 | Tickets
Ellis D + HIGHDRIVE | Prince Albert | Thu, Feb 5 | Tickets
Wyldest | Folklore Rooms | Thu, Feb 5 | Tickets

Sasha | Concorde 2 | Fri, Feb 6 | Tickets
Callum Brown | Folklore Rooms | Fri, Feb 6 | Tickets
Dreamcoaster + Snowy Mountain | Prince Albert | Fri, Feb 6 | Tickets
Fozzy | Chalk | Fri, Feb 6 | Tickets

Last week’s trivia proved to be a breeze for most of you, with 87% correctly identifying 1987 as the year of the Great Storm. 

This week, we’re delving even further back into 16th-century Brighton to explore the history of The Lanes. In the central rectangle of land between Middle Street and East Street, a crop was grown that was used for rope-making to serve the town’s main maritime industry.

(Spoilers!) Read more on Wikipedia about the history of Brighton - including what was grown in Hove at the time to make the sails.