🐦 Save Western Road High Street, £300k Seafront Facelift & A Mindful Hove Coffee!

Hello, Brighton & Hove!

We are tumbling straight into another glorious, sun-drenched week, with forecasts teasing that we might even punch past the 30°C mark by mid-week. Whether you are seeking refuge in a shaded pub garden, cooling off with a seafront dip, or just soaking up the summer vibes, the city is giving us plenty of reasons to stay outdoors and enjoy the heat.

If you are looking for plans, there is a proper mix on offer over the next few days: you can catch Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing under the stars at BOAT, sink into an immersive Little Simz album session at Capsule Records, or head down to Hove beach on Thursday for a sunset silent disco at low tide. Whatever you get up to, stay hydrated and enjoy the sunshine!

Let’s dive into the week!

Here is what’s squawking this week

🛑 Community launches legal fight against Western Road Red Route.
🏳️‍🌈 Seafront staple Charles Street Tap closes after 25 years.
🏫 Varndean School wins approval for 10ft perimeter fence.
🎧 High-end Little Simz hi-fi playback hits Capsule Records.
🚗 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang lands at Theatre Royal this week.

Fancy reaching over 9,000+ Brightonians? Just reply to this email to ask about our options.

🏗️ Hove seafront railings set for £300m specialist facelift

Contractors will begin eco-friendly garnet blasting next week to restore 300 metres of historic Hove seafront railings west of the Meeting Place cafe. The project aims to strip back decades of paint to reveal original Sussex County emblem details before re-coating the ironwork in time for autumn.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏫 Varndean School granted planning permission for 10ft perimeter fence

Brighton and Hove City Council's planning committee has approved a 500-metre, 10ft-high mesh fence around Varndean School's playing fields. Despite 37 objections from local residents concerned about lost open space and access, councillors voted through the application on statutory safeguarding grounds.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🛑 Council removes car-free restriction on Buckingham Road development

Councillors have voted 6-3 to lift a car-free planning condition on a new 20-flat development at the former Sussex Maternity Hospital site. However, new residents will still be unable to obtain parking permits due to an existing Traffic Regulation Order covering the area.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏚️ Temporary housing numbers hit record high

The number of households in temporary accommodation in Brighton and Hove has reached a new record of 2,292, with nearly 50 families a week qualifying for homelessness support. The surge has triggered a forecasted £1.3 million budget overspend, prompting the council to use £16.4 million in government grants to buy back homes.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏛️ Outrage over plans to replace mock-Tudor home with "1980s shopping centre" design

A planning application to demolish a 1930s mock-Tudor house on Roedean Crescent and build a modern five-bedroom home with a swimming pool has drawn fierce criticism. Objectors have slammed the proposed modern box design, describing it as featureless and lacking architectural merit.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏳️‍🌈 Iconic LGBTQ+ venue Charles Street Tap announces closure after 25 years

The Charles Street Tap on Brighton seafront will close its doors in mid-September as its lease comes to an end. General manager Chris Marshall announced the closure after 20 years at the helm, thanking the community, staff, and performers who built the venue's quarter-century legacy.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

💔 New social care funding fails to stop Wellington House day centre closure

Families protesting the planned closure of Wellington House learning disability day centre have expressed dismay that new national social care funding will not save the facility. Brighton and Hove City Council will vote on the proposed closure in September as part of plans to cut £400,000 from its adult social care budget.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

📸 Aerial photos show final phase of Brighton Valley Gardens project

New aerial imagery reveals that Phase 3 of the Valley Gardens regeneration is nearing completion around the Old Steine and Royal Pavilion. The final works include fresh road resurfacing, new pedestrian pavements, dedicated cycle lanes, and extensive landscaping surrounding the central fountain.
→ read more on The Argus

Also in the news:

🧖 Second sauna approved for Sea Lanes: Brighton and Hove City Council has granted planning permission for Luna Hut to install a second temporary outdoor sauna on the seafront at Sea Lanes following overwhelming public support.
→ read more on The Argus

🗑️ Thousands of bins missed weekly: Official council figures show thousands of household bins continue to be missed across Brighton and Hove almost every week, despite a new £1.3 million investment in mechanics, management, and digital monitoring.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

📜 North Laine holiday let appeal dismissed: A planning inspector has upheld the council's refusal for an unauthorised tourist let on Tidy Street, ruling the property caused harmful noise and loss of residential housing.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏀 Recycled games pitch installed at Knoll Park: Work has begun to fit Knoll Park in Hove with a refurbished multi-use games area repurposed from materials saved during the Moulsecoomb redevelopment.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

⚽ Albion beat Roma 3-0 in Amex pre-season friendly: Brighton and Hove Albion secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Serie A side AS Roma at the Amex, thanks to a Georginio Rutter strike and a brace from Yasin Ayari.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

✉️ Carer receives court summons over £88 council tax arrears: A Hove resident was shocked to receive a court summons for three weeks of unpaid council tax following his mother's death, after system errors failed to register his online direct debit.
→ read more on The Argus

🛑 Help Us Save Western Road / No To Red Route

⏰ 11 Days Left to Reach Target
📍 Western Road, Brighton

I am wholeheartedly backing our local traders and residents on this one, and as a community, we have a real chance to step up and make a difference. Brighton & Hove City Council is pushing ahead with a Red Route along Western Road banning stopping, enforcing £70 camera fines, crippling independent high street businesses, and severely restricting essential access for Blue Badge holders and carers. Over 3,800 locals agree that the council acted unlawfully by approving this before consulting the community, leaving our small family-run shops and residents facing a potentially disastrous impact.

This is our absolute last chance to stand up for our high street. The Western Road Community Group (represented by local favourite Real Patisserie) has taken legal advice and is bringing a Judicial Review to hold the council to account before the red lines are painted this autumn, but they urgently need our help to fund it. Small businesses and residents shouldn't have to carry the financial burden of fighting for a fair process, so whether you're an individual or a local business, please dig deep and toss a few quid into the pot to help them push past their £10,000 target.

To kick things off, the Brighton Squawk donated £50 to the cause.
If you are able to join us and donate, please make sure to mention "Brighton Squawk" in the notes so we can show just how powerful our local voice really is when we stand together!

🔗 Donate now and back the Western Road legal fight

🪴 The Botanist Coffee Co

Finding a peaceful, truly welcoming spot to sit back with an exceptional coffee is always a win. This brilliant independent sanctuary effortlessly blends a dedication to great brews with serious plant power.

Everything here is done with incredible care: rooted in sustainability, they source responsibly alongside local legends like Horsham Roasters, Real Patisserie, and Downsview Dairy. From running on 100% renewable electricity down to sending their spent coffee grounds off to Sussex composting projects, they genuinely choose the mindful route over the easy one. It is a wonderfully calm space to recharge, catch up with mates, or just enjoy a feel-good brew made by people who truly care about what they do.

📍 67c Church Road, Hove, BN3 2BD
🕒 7:30am to 5pm (Mon to Fri), 8am to 5pm (Sat to Sun)
🔗 Check them out

🏠 The Withdean Road Mega Estate

Set behind electric gates with a sweeping carriage driveway and central fountain approach, this monumental 9-bedroom detached residence spans an astonishing 11,148 sq ft on one of Brighton's most exclusive roads. Designed for ultimate luxury living, the property features an indoor swimming pool complex with a sauna and Jacuzzi, a private top-floor cinema room, and a beautiful oak library beneath a glazed atrium. The expansive kitchen/breakfast room flows seamlessly out through bi-fold doors to manicured grounds, while a self-contained annexe above the garage offers flexible space for staff or guests.

📍 Withdean Road, Brighton
💰 £4,500,000
🔗 View on Rightmove

Tue

🎨 Poets Corner Offline Arts Lab | 6:30pm – 9:30pm, Tue @ Poets Ale & Smokehouse Pub-A free weekly meet-up for artists of all disciplines to network, share ongoing creative projects, and discover local collaboration opportunities. More Info

🎭 The End of the Pier Show | 1pm & 3pm, Tue- Fri 14 @ Horatio's Bar, Brighton Palace Pier-A vibrant 50-minute family musical celebrating the history of the pier through story, comedy, dance, and a soundtrack of seaside classics and modern hits. More Info

🎭 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | 7pm, Tue @ Davis Park
This Is My Theatre presents an outdoor adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic tale filled with live music, humour, and iconic characters like the Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts. More Info

🧩 August Puzzle Night | 6:30pm, Tue @ Puzzled Pint Brighton (Location revealed via online puzzle)-A casual, free evening of code cracking, wordplay, and logic puzzles hosted by Puzzled Pint in a local pub, suitable for both newcomers and regular puzzle enthusiasts. More Info

Wed

🎧 The Listening Room Event #14 - Little Simz | 6:30pm, Wed @ Capsule Records-An immersive hi-fi album listening experience dedicated to Little Simz's Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, played in full on a high-end Audio Note valve sound system. More Info

📺 Blue Rose Brighton: Twin Peaks The Return Part 8 | 7pm, Wed @ Presuming Ed's Coffeehouse-A big-screen screening of David Lynch's masterpiece episode "Gotta Light?", followed by an open group discussion. More Info

🎭 Much Ado About Nothing | 7pm, Wed & Thur @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
Changeling Theatre gives Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy a gothic makeover filled with glitz, scandal, decadent costume balls, and witty sparring between Beatrice and Benedick. More Info

🚗 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang | 2:30pm & 7:30pm, Wed–Sat | 1pm and 6pm Sun Theatre Royal Brighton-The classic family musical featuring a live orchestra, exuberant choreography, and iconic songs as Caractacus Potts and Truly Scrumptious take on the Child Catcher and Baron Bomburst. More Info

Thur

🎬 Outdoor Cinema: Muriel's Wedding | 8:30pm (Doors 6:30pm), Fri @ Preston Manor-An outdoor screening of the kitsch, ABBA-laden Australian comedy classic starring Toni Collette as a misfit dreaming of escape and romance. More Info

🏖️ British Airways Holidays Beach Club Pop-Up | Thu & Fri @ Hove Promenade-A beach club-style pop-up offering a taste of the Algarve and Cyprus, complete with mini ice creams, local treats, destination competitions, and holiday discounts. More Info

🧠 ADHD The Experience 8 - Take 2 | 6:30pm, Thu @ The Brunswick
Hosted by Suzi Payton, this community evening features talks, personal storytelling, and stand-up comedy by and for neurodivergent folks, headlined by Pearl & Dean. More Info

🎸 BREAM. - Live at The Hope & Ruin | 7:30pm, Thu @ The Hope & Ruin
A high-energy night bringing together 3 Sussex-based songwriting groups. The Attic and The Willis Ordeal for sing-along tunes, catchy riffs, and epic guitar solos. More Info

💃 WildBops | 6:45pm, Thu @ Hove Beach (Low Tide)
An outdoor, unguided silent disco movement journey on the beach, featuring optional cacao, gentle breathwork and stretching, a full elemental dance flow through wireless headsets, and a closing meditation. More Info

Fri

🎙️ Freak of Nature Comedy | 8pm, Fri @ The Caxton Arms
A free Friday night stand-up comedy showcase downstairs at The Caxton Arms, featuring six established comedians from the South Coast and beyond performing their best material. More Info

🎵 Poolside Live: Midnights at Saltdean Lido | 7:30pm, Fri @ Saltdean Lido
A poolside summer concert featuring South Coast live band Midnights performing hits from the 80s to the 2020s, alongside food from the Reading Room, cocktails, and DJs. More Info

🎷 Jazz at St Andrews Presents: Nat Steele | 5:30pm, FRI @ St Andrew's Church-Acclaimed vibes player Nat Steele returns to perform a concert of modern jazz classics alongside trumpeter Chris Coull, pianist Sean Fyfe, bassist George Trebar, and drummer Angus Bishop. More Info

🌴 Reggae Party | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
African Night Fever and friends bring Caribbean rhythms to BOAT, featuring African-Caribbean cuisine from the Soul Food Sisters, rum cocktails, and non-stop reggae beats. More Info

🧘‍♂️ Kirtan Festival | 6pm, Fri @ Brighton Unitarian Church
Hosted by Bhakti Yoga practitioners and the UK Kirtan Festival Team, this evening of musical mantra meditation features visiting young kirtaniyas, interactive group singing, and a free vegan/vegetarian feast. More Info

🎧 Daylight Disco Club: Low Tide Silent Disco | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Beach (East of Palace Pier)-A 3-channel beachfront silent disco taking advantage of low tide and sunset, featuring music playlists shaped by attendee requests. More Info

☕ Middle Kid Coffee & Records | 12pm, Fri @ Capsule Records
A relaxed community coffee and record meetup hosted by Middle Kid Club at Capsule Records, where attendees can chat, connect with like-minded music lovers, and browse vinyl. More Info

Live Music

Borderline | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Green Door Store
Nighttime | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Folklore Rooms
Jazz Jam | Tue @ The Brunswick
CACHE | Tue @ Rossi Bar
HELL CAN WAIT + STRAIN + MONOVOID + INFINITE AMMO | Tue @ Daltons

Mini August Choir Brighton | 5pm, Wed @ Brighton Electric
Latin-American alt-pop | Wed @ The Brunswick
BRICK + KALOPSIA + SPREE + PRIMITIVE FUTURE | Wed @ Prince Albert
La Luna | Wed @ Rossi Bar
Bennie Jetz | Wed @ Green Door Store
elentári + render. + is this ok + clouded | Wed @ Hope & Ruin

BREAM. | 7:30pm, Thu @ The Hope & Ruin
Brighton Kollab | 7pm, Thu @ Ironworks Studios
Champion Trees / Kaspar Hauser | 7pm, Thu @ The Rossi Bar
Form Affinity | 8pm, Thu @ The Prince Albert
LP Sessions: Aphex Twin & Chemical Bros: Full Debut Album Playback. Basement Rave! | Thu @ The Brunswick
INTOX EXTRAVAGANZA #XXI | Thu @ Daltons
ADHD The Experience 8 - Take 2 | Thu @ The Brunswick
Phoebe Bridgers: 'Lost Weekend' Late Night Listening Event | Thu @ Resident
Anton Pearson – Debut Album Launch ( SQUID ) | Thu @ Rose Hill
Not Richard & Her Majesty | Thu @ Green Door Store

Andrea Von Kampen | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Folklore Rooms
Britpop -A Celebration | 8pm, Fri @ Ironworks Studios
Fightmilk | 8pm, Fri @ Pipeline
Jazz at St Andrews Presents; Nat Steele. | 5:30pm, Fri @ St Andrew's Church
Marshall Jefferson | 6pm, Fri @ Concorde 2
Prom + Funeral + Mishikui + Wimp | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Hope & Ruin
Reggae Party | 7pm, Fri @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
Ruth Eliza With Matthew Ord and Tom Kimber | 7pm, Fri @ At The Coach H.
Matt Hennessy + special guests | Fri @ Prince Albert
Midnight Salad – Free Live Electronic Party | Fri @ Rossi Bar
ALENA ARPELS | Fri @ Alphabet
Alfa Nova & Friends / Live Music & DJs | Fri @ The Brunswick
Prayer Tech TV For Cats + DJ Acid Mojito | Fri @ Prince Albert
BRIGHTON IS ANTIFASCIST CARNIVAL AFTER PARTY | Fri @ DaltonsBig Fabulous Anthems | Fri @ The Brunswick
Could be huge? Could be massive? | Fri @ Fortune of War
BIGHEAD | Fri @ Green Door Store

Last week's shipwreck trivia caught most of you out! A leading 34.78% of voters were tricked into picking tropical pineapples, but the MS Athina B was actually carrying 3,000 tonnes of volcanic rock when she ran aground in 1980. You can read the full account of the wreck and cargo on the Wikipedia MS Athina B Article.

This week, we are taking a trip along the coastline to look at one of the most eccentric inventions in Brighton's history. In 1896, local inventor Magnus Volk built a bizarre railway extension that ran directly through the seawater between Brighton and Rottingdean. The train carriage sat high above the waves on four massive stilts, earning it an unforgettable local nickname.