Hello Brighton & Hove!

It looks like we are in for a proper late-summer mix on the coast this weekend. A bit of breeze, a hint of drizzle, but absolutely nothing that will stop us from getting out and about. If you need me over the next few days, you will almost certainly catch me making my way through the Brighton Cocktail Festival, testing out a few of those £6 creations across town! But whether you are sipping cocktails, catching live comedy, or taking your dog for a dip in the lido, the city is packed with incredible things to do. Let's get straight into what's happening!

Here is what’s squawking this week:

🐾 Saltdean Lido opens its pool for a four-legged splash.
🕶️ Duke of York's runs a four-film Matrix All-Nighter
🍸 Cocktail Fest: 50+ local bars serve up £6 signature creations.
🦪 Oyster bar marks 20 years with a big seafood boil.
📚 Independent bookshops hosting guided citywide tours.

🖼️ They Made This

I love anything and everything printed, whether it's books, cards, or posters. So it's no surprise that They Made This on Dukes Lane is one of my favourite spots to spend some time browsing in town. This is a female- and LGBTQ+ founded contemporary art shop, founded and run by Áine and El. This print shop and gallery is a true haven for graphic art, printmaking, and modern illustration.

Inside, they showcase and curate work from over 50 top UK and international graphic artists, illustrators, and designers, including icons like Anthony Burrill, Supermundane, and Marylou Faure alongside emerging local talent. From affordable risographs and screen prints to hand-embossed limited editions and original porcelain artworks, they make collecting real art genuinely accessible and fun.

What I love most is how expertly curated yet completely unpretentious the space feels. Whether you're hunting for a bold statement piece for your living room wall, a unique gift, or just want to support independent artists, pop into Dukes Lane and give one of our finest local creative hubs the love they deserve.

📍 15-16 Dukes Lane, BN1 1BG
🕒 Mon, Wed–Fri 10:30am-6pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm
💰 Contemporary art prints, limited editions, risographs, and framing
🔗 Browse Prints Or Order Online

🍺 The Wick Inn

Whenever I am running around my favourite shops along Western Road and need a much-needed thirst-quencher, popping in here for a cold pint is an absolute personal ritual. Behind the striking Victorian green tiling, tinted windows, and hanging flower baskets lies a proper, bustling neighbourhood local centred around a gorgeous island bar.

Beyond the fantastic selection of Sussex microbrewery ales and global craft beers, what makes this place a genuine destination is its brilliant family-run Thai kitchen, serving up authentic, flavour-packed dishes alongside a cracking weekly schedule. Whether you are dropping by for their popular Tuesday pub quiz, settling in for live jazz on Wednesdays, or sneaking upstairs to their hidden private speakeasy bar, the atmosphere is reliably warm, convivial, and buzzing every single night of the week.

📍 63 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1JD
🕒 Mon to Wed 11.30am-12am, Thu 11.30am-1am, Fri to Sat 11.30am-2am, Sun 11.30am-12am
🍽️ Kitchen: Mon to Sat 12pm-3pm & 5pm-10pm
🔗 Visit their website

Fri

🎼 BPO Listening Club: Rach Pag And Janáček’s Sinfonietta | 6pm, Fri @ Brighton Unitarian Church-Joanna MacGregor hosts an informal, illustrated one-hour talk exploring the composers' intentions, historical context, and musical themes behind the season's repertoire. More Info

🎭 Ginger Johnson | 8pm, FRI @ The Old Market
Drag Race UK winner Ginger Johnson swaps stilettos for safety goggles in a death-defying, high-energy comedy show packed with big hair and big laughs. More Info

🎶 Paul Simon's 'Graceland' Reimagined | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Dome
The London African Gospel Choir returns with a full band to deliver an electrifying, soul-filled performance celebrating 40 years of Paul Simon's iconic album Graceland. More Info

🎤 The Take That Experience | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
Celebrating over a decade together, this popular tribute act recreates the magic of Take That with acclaimed vocals, replica costumes, and iconic dance routines. More Info

🎭 Musical Theatre Raves: Brighton 2026 | 9pm, Fri @ Revenge
An all-night rave-style party featuring non-stop West End and Broadway anthems, themed performers, mass singalongs, and lip-sync battles. More Info

Sat

🎵 Nick Cope's Family Show | 11am & 2pm, Sat & 11am, Sun @ The Old Market
CBeebies star Nick Cope performs a delightful family concert filled with his unique, charming songs for children, accompanied by guitar and animations. More Info

🎭 Austentatious: An Improvised Novel | 7:30pm, Sat @ Theatre Royal
An irreverent comedy show performed in full period costume with live musical accompaniment, improvising a brand-new Jane Austen novel based on a single audience suggestion. More Info

📚 Irvine Welsh: In Conversation | 2pm, Sat @ Komedia
The iconic author of Trainspotting discusses his life, career, and literary journey from punk and rave culture to international acclaim. More Info

🎤 Sara Pascoe, Jack Skipper and MC Stephen Grant | 7:30pm, Sat @ Brighton Open Air Theatre-A stellar lineup featuring TV star Sara Pascoe (Taskmaster), award-winning newcomer Jack Skipper, and multi-award-winning resident MC Stephen Grant. More Info

🎤 Vittorio Angelone | 7:30pm, Sat @ Concert Hall, Brighton Dome
Italian-Irish Belfast comedian and viral stand-up star brings his sharp observational humour and quick-witted storytelling to Brighton. More Info

🤼 Wrestling Q&A with Cara Noir | 7:30pm, Sat @ Caroline of Brunswick
British wrestling legend Tom Dawkins pulls back the curtain on his career and the creative process behind his captivating, ballet-inspired "Black Swan" persona. More Info

🌮 Pollito Boogaloo | 3pm, Sat @ Old School Studios
Artcore Brighton & La Cantina present an end-of-summer garden party in a sunny sculpture garden featuring live Latin rhythms from Pollito Boogaloo and Buena Familia, plus tacos, cocktails, and DJ sets. More Info

🎪 Le Cluck's Variety Show | 7:45pm, Sat @ The Brunswick
Hosted by comedian Tori Bond, this vibrant show features an eclectic lineup of comedy, close-up magic, mind reading, musical cabaret, and vocal performances. More Info

🛍️ Artisan Makers Market | 10:30am, Sat @ Brighton Friends' Meeting House
A free-entry community market in the main hall and garden, filled with unique, one-of-a-kind handmade gifts, crafts, and goods from local artisan makers. More Info

Sun

🎷 Ezra Collective: Album Launch Terrace Party (DJ Set) | 2pm, Sun @ Concorde 2-A seafront terrace party celebrating the launch of Ezra Collective's new album Here Because of Hope, featuring a special DJ set from the band. More Info

🎤 Jonny Cole | 7pm, Sun @ Komedia
Social media phenomenon and Midlands comedy star Jonny Cole brings his unique blend of hilarious musical observations and Black Country humour to the stage. More Info

🎺 Swing That Music with The Down for the Count All-Stars | 2pm, Sun @ Brighton Open Air Theatre-The UK's hardest swinging band delivers a lively celebration of vintage swing and big band classics live outdoors. More Info

⚽ Women's Super League - Albion vs Aston Villa | 2pm, Sun @ AMEX Stadium-The Barclays Women's Super League returns to the Amex Stadium as Brighton take on Aston Villa, featuring live music, entertainment, and fan activities around the ground starting from 12pm. More Info

🎤 David Correos: Noise Zealand | 7:30pm, Sun @ Komedia Studio
Award-winning New Zealand comedian and Taskmaster star David Correos brings his wonderfully chaotic late-night comedy rave to Brighton. More Info

🎸 Scott Lavene - Acoustic Songs & Stories | 7pm, Sun @ The Folklore Rooms
British singer-songwriter Scott Lavene brings his distinctive blend of dark humour, kitchen-sink realism, and poetic grit for an intimate acoustic set. More Info

🎭 Drop In Improv | Sun @ Presuming Ed's Coffee House
A fun, supportive drop-in workshop for improvisers of all skill levels to build performance tools, boost confidence, and enjoy plenty of laughs. More Info

Live Music

Wyld Rose Blues Bash | Fri @ The Brunswick
Bela Fool X Undereel (+Support) | Fri @ Komedia
Ctrl Alt Del Birthday – Currls + more | Fri @ Rossi Bar
Think Twice w/ DJ Barry Dust & Friends | Fri @ Fortune of War
Rave At Your Fictional Borders (Album Tour) | Fri @ Rose Hill
Osaka Sun | Fri @ Folklore Rooms
Ctrl Alt Del Birthday – Dark Mode club night | Fri @ Rossi Bar
Beck 'Ride Lonesome': Album Listening Event | Fri @ Resident
A NIGHT OF EUROPEAN MUSIC | Fri @ Caroline of Brunswick
Wyld Rose Blues Bash | Fri @ The Brunswick
The Mechanist | Fri @ Dust
Sofia Kourtesis | Fri @ Quarters
WU LYF | Fri @ Patterns
THE OFFIE MAG SOCIAL | Fri @ Alphabet
Get The Water + Bone Bag + Your Majesty + Arbie | Fri @ Prince Albert
Guns N' Roses Experience | Fri @ Concorde 2
Polite Bureaux | Fri @ Green Door Store
TV Smith & The Bored Teenagers + Fractured | Fri @ Hope & Ruin

IMMERSION | Sat @ Alphabet
Russ Dewbury | Sat @ Fortune of War
Love is Everywhere | Sat @ Rose Hill
Moody Disco - Sosa | Sat @ Concorde 2
DIE FEST AFTERSHOW PARTY FREE ENTRY | Sat @ Daltons
CATLEA | Sat @ Folklore Rooms
Memory Box: Disco in The House with Joe Goddard | Sat @ Patterns
Sanctum Sanctorium - The Dark Side Of The 80s | Sat @ Concorde 2
Flote Sulu Khoshekh, Danger of Death, Blow Up Doll | Sat @ The Pipeline
Groove Cartel Presents Tommy Phillips | Sat @ Quarters
Spellbound | Sat @ Komedia
Jungle is Massive – Goofy Remixes Club Night | Sat @ Rossi Bar
Lovers II Friends – 90s/00s Day Party | Sat @ Komedia
GET YOUR ROCKS OFF KARAOKE (FREE!) | Sat @ Caroline of Brunswick
Gyasi + guests | Sat @ Prince Albert
Saturday Afternoon Jazz Jam | Sat @ The Brunswick
Dakka Skanks + Faintest Idea | Sat @ Hope & Ruin
Aquatic Ape Theory | Sat @ Green Door Store
Vexed | Sat @ Volks
Sub-liminal - Konichi, Teej, PA | Sat @ Volks

Bluegrass Jam | Sun @ The Brunswick
Psychedelic Skies + More | Sun @ The Brunswick
Gildas Quartet | Sun @ Brighton Dome - Corn Exchange
Glasshouse Red Spider Mite + guests | Sun @ Prince Albert
Scott Lavene | Sun @ Folklore Rooms
Resident Presents Ezra Collective DJ | Sun @ Concorde 2
Sylvan Esso: Album Launch Show | Sun @ Resident
Patrick Circus | Sun @ Green Door Store