☀️ Hello, Brighton & Hove!

We’re stepping inside a hidden creative sanctuary in the Lanes and tucking into the timeless history of a seafood landmark that’s seen it all. Plus, we’ve got everything from DIY zine fairs and community plant sales to a deep dive into the world of animation, loads is happening in the sunshine this weekend to keep you busy.

Here’s what’s squawking this week:

🧺 Local spring produce at Preston Park
🌱 Community plant sales in Prestonville
🦪 Timeless seafood and sparkling at English's
📽️ International animation takes over at the Dome

Want to get your business in front of 5,000+ locals? Reply to this email for the details.

🖼️ Liberation Art Gallery

Squeezed into the narrow, alley-like stretch of Meeting House Lane among the jewellery shops is the UK’s first trauma-informed art gallery. It’s the brainchild of qualified art psychotherapist Caroline Pendray, who has turned this tight corner of the Lanes into a space where creativity and mental health actually rub shoulders. After 15 years in mental health, Caroline created this multi-level space to bridge the gap between high-end art and genuine well-being.

The gallery is split across three distinct floors, with thought-provoking exhibitions on the lower level, a creative workshop space in the middle, and a dedicated art therapy room at the top. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, they reinvest all proceeds into community programmes, including free weekly psychotherapy for young people currently unable to attend school.

Right now, you can visit their Art In Bloom 2026 exhibition (shown in the images) with pieces on sale from £50 all the way up to £1,800, or you can sign up for their regular paint and sip workshops or the popular monthly Music and Painting workshops. These sessions are BYOB-friendly and designed to help you explore how different sounds can influence your use of colour and form. It is a brilliant way to slow down and reconnect with your creative side while supporting a not-for-profit that actively works to challenge mental health stigma.

Regular Workshops at Liberation:

🎸 Music and Painting Workshop
Monthly on a Friday (Next: Fri 22 May)
Explore how different sounds and genres fuel your creativity and influence your experience of colour and form. Tickets

🥂 Paint & Sip!
Every Fri & Sat (Multiple Times)
A social, BYOB workshop with a glass of fizz on arrival and step-by-step guides for painting anything from wildflowers to funky disco balls. Tickets

📍 38 Meeting House Lane
🕒 10-5pm (Mon-Sat), 11-4pm (Sun)
🔗 View the Current Exhibition

🦪 English’s of Brighton

Few spots in the city carry as much weight as this East Street landmark, which has been an anchor of the local dining scene since the late nineteenth century. The Leigh-Jones family took the reins back in the mid-forties and have spent the last eight decades refining a service style that feels both timeless and surprisingly relaxed. It is a place that has survived every passing trend by simply focusing on the quality of the catch and a genuine sense of hospitality.

Inside, you are surrounded by snapshots of legendary diners like Charlie Chaplin and Judi Dench, giving the dining room a bit of a classic stage-door energy. The decor keeps things smart with crisp tablecloths and an intricate mural, though the atmosphere is lightened by tales of a top-hatted spirit supposedly roaming the back of house. It works brilliantly because it offers a touch of old-world glamour without making you feel like you need to whisper into your wine glass.

The kitchen is famous for its raw bar where you can grab fresh oysters and local fizz, or you can go all-in with a bottle from their massive collection of over 120 labels. While the menu spans everything from indulgent lobster to a very posh take on fish and chips, the real standout is how they manage to keep traditional seafood dishes feeling relevant for a modern crowd. Because they source so much of their produce from nearby waters, the flavours are consistently sharp and reflect exactly what is in season right now.

If the sun is out, their heated pavement seating is arguably the prime spot in the Lanes to grab a seafood platter while watching the heavy foot traffic walk past. They often host live musical performances ranging from jazz to opera, turning a standard afternoon meal into something that feels significantly more special. It is a total Brighton staple that has earned its reputation through sheer longevity and a refusal to compromise on the high standards they set over a century ago.

📍 29-31 East Street
🕒 12pm-10pm, daily
🔗 Book a table & View the Menus

Fri

☕ Josh Widdicombe: Not My Cup of Tea | 7:30pm, Fri @ Brighton Dome 
Expect fewer production values than the Eras Tour, but significantly more references to tea. Limited tickets available. (LOW TICKETS) More Info

🎸 Imagine Lennon | 7pm, Fri @ Concorde 2
Tyson Kelly (Broadway’s "Let It Be") brings an intimate portrayal of John Lennon’s legacy to the seafront. More Info

🏺 Hand-Building Pottery BYOB | 6:30pm, Fri @ Cornerstone Community Centre
Slow down and get hands-on with pinching and coiling techniques in this relaxed, creative environment. More Info

✨ Forge Comedy Club | 8pm, Fri @ The Forge Comedy Club
Brighton's top-rated comedy night featuring a pro lineup in the venue voted Chortle's Best in the South. More Info

🎺 Jazz at St Andrews: Jazz Mafia | 5:30pm, Fri @ St Andrew's Church
The 15-piece big band led by Alex Bondonno returns with a concert full of local star soloists. More Info

🎭 The Choir of Man | 4pm and 8pm, Fri @ Theatre Royal Brighton
Nine talented guys serve up foot-stomping hits in an uplifting celebration of community and friendship. More Info

🔥 Shots Fired | 6:30pm, Fri @ BHASVIC
A dystopian drama set in a Britain on the verge of civil war, exploring class and racial tensions. More Info

✨ Komedia Comedy Club | 8pm, Fri & Sat @ Komedia
The biggest comedy night in Brighton with three top-tier acts and a resident MC in the city's best comedy basement. More Info

Sat

🎥 Industry Talk: Golden Wolf | 4pm, Sat @ Brighton Dome
Learn about crafting bold motion design with the award-winning creative agency behind global commercial campaigns. More Info

💃 The Female Gaze | 6pm, Sat @ Brighton Dome
A selection of films presenting the world through the eyes of female directors, subverting traditional cinematic tropes. More Info

🥂 Mystery Musicals Bottomless Brunch | 12:30pm, Sat @ Komedia Brighton
Sing along to hit movie musicals with host Lee Peart. Theme revealed upon booking. Curfew at 4pm. More Info

🚺 Funny Women Live | 8pm, Sat @ Komedia Brighton
A showcase of the best new female-identifying and non-binary talent on the professional comedy circuit. More Info

🏉 An Adequate Abridgement... | 7:30pm, Sat @ The Lantern Theatre
Ned Blackburn's lens on boarding school life, rugby, and finding connection in an all-boys environment. More Info

🦀 The Big Rock Pool Challenge | 11:30am, Sat @ Ovingdean Beach
Become a citizen scientist for the afternoon and connect with the local coastal environment. More Info

🧺 The Sussex Peasant Spring Market | 9am-3pm, Sat @ Preston Park
Direct connection with local farmers and artisans in the heart of Preston Park. More Info

🏐 Netball Super League | 1:30pm, Sat @ Brighton Centre
The London Mavericks face Manchester Thunder in the only professional netball game on the south coast. More Info

🦪 Oyster Master Class | 10:30am, Sat @ Riddle & Finns
An immersive experience designed to transform you into a connoisseur of history and provenance. More Info

💿 Late To The Disco | 7pm, Sat @ The Freemasons
Codesouth presents an evening of disco energy as the nights begin to shift. More Info

Sun

🚲 Kidical Mass 2026 | 2pm, Sun @ Peace Statue, Hove 
A marshalled, family-friendly cycle ride through the streets of Hove. This gentle-paced circular route is open to everyone, starting with four feeder rides converging on the seafront. More Info

🌿 The Natural World | 12pm, Sun @ Brighton Dome
Animation focusing on nature and creatures, featuring films from Ireland, Canada, and Bulgaria. More Info

🎞️ Emma Calder Retrospective | 4pm, Sun @ Brighton Dome
A tribute to the British animation legend, including her final work 'House of Love' and panel discussions. More Info

🍞 German Bread Baking | 1pm, Sun @ Open Bakery
Learn sourdough secrets from Bake Off semi-finalist Jürgen Krauss in this unique late-Oktoberfest class. More Info

👠 Kate Butch: Choose Your Own Cabaret | 8pm, Sun @ The Old Market
RuPaul's Drag Race UK star returns with trademark wit and campery for a custom cabaret experience. More Info

📓 Rose Tinted Spectacular Zine Fair | 12pm, Sun @ The Rose Hill
A celebration of small-press publications and DIY art. Browse alt zines and chat with local makers. More Info

🍳 Soul Supper Immersive Dining | 3pm, Sun @ Brighton i360
Immerse yourself in Motown magic with a live tribute show and a two-course menu on the seafront. More Info

🌱 Prestonville Plant Sale | 10am, Sun @ Exeter Street Hall
Snag seedlings, cuttings, and house plants at this community sale. Free entry. More Info

🤡 Mark Steel + Marjolein Robertson | 7:30pm, Sun @ Caroline of Brunswick
Double bill of work-in-progress comedy from a veteran political firebrand and a Shetland storyteller. More Info

Live Music

Kneecap | Chalk | Fri, Apr 24
The Bros. Landreth | The Old Market | Fri, Apr 24
African Night Fever: BCUC | Brighton Dome - Studio Theatre | Fri, Apr 24
Memorials | Prince Albert | Fri, Apr 24
The Dutty Moonshine Quartet | Volks | Fri, Apr 24
Cheap Dirty Horse | Daltons | Fri, Apr 24
Hidden Herd: White Magic For Lovers | Hope & Ruin | Fri, Apr 24
THE OFFIE MAG SOCIAL | Alphabet | Fri, Apr 24
The Guest List | Komedia | Fri, Apr 24
Imagine Lennon | Concorde 2 | Fri, Apr 24
World News | Dust | Fri, Apr 24Hekatones | Rose Hill | Fri, Apr 24

The Charlatans | Brighton Dome - Concert Hall | Sat, Apr 25
Austen Gasten Memorial Gig | Prince Albert | Sat, Apr 25
IST IST | Quarters | Sat, Apr 25
Lee Ainley’s Bluesstorm | The Brunswick | Sat, Apr 25
The Brighton Moon-Hop | Komedia | Sat, Apr 25
Moon Idle | Hope & Ruin | Sat, Apr 25
Pouch | Green Door Store | Sat, Apr 25

Paul Carrack | Brighton Centre | Sun, Apr 26
The Cynz | Daltons | Sun, Apr 26
Tudo Bem! | Fortune of War | Sun, Apr 26
Eliksa + Máidin | Folklore Rooms | Sun, Apr 26
B-Town Indie Night | The Pipeline | Sun, Apr 26

🏏 Brighton & Hove Crescent CC - Players Wanted!

Friendly, long-established cricket club seeking players of all ages and abilities. Qualified coaches, quality practice nets, and a great social scene. Enjoy our lovely home ground (BN1 8UB) and idyllic away fixtures across Sussex.

Contact: www.pitchero.com/clubs/brightonandhovecrescent