Hello, Brighton & Hove!

If you’ve been down Hove seafront lately and thought a weird alien biology lab had set up camp on the lawns, don’t panic. It’s just the newest festival art installation. It is perfect for a coastal stroll, assuming you can dodge the rogue tents currently causing an absolute stir over on the naturist beach. 

Away from the front, a 96th minute winner for Leeds dealt a proper "head in hands" blow to Albion's European hopes on Sunday. Still, we’ve got plenty to distract us this week, including an Eastbourne row over flowerbeds that apparently look like cat litter trays, and a café offering free coffee if you bring in a photo of yourself as a one year old. Grab a brew and let's get stuck into it.

Here’s what’s squawking this week: 

🏖️ Campers and litter spark furious complaints on Brighton’s naturist beach.
☕ A neighbourhood café offers £2 brews or a free coffee if you bring a baby photo.
⚽ Stoppage time heartbreak at Leeds deals a massive blow to our European ambitions.
🎾 Eastbourne Open to go ahead despite mindless vandals gouging the courts.

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🗳️ Caroline Lucas hits out at Green by-election strategy

Former Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas has expressed disappointment over the Green Party's decision to contest the upcoming Makerfield by-election. Lucas argued that the party should step aside to give Labour's Andy Burnham a clear run, stating that his commitment to electoral reform is crucial to countering the political threat of Reform UK. → read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏖️ Tents spark fury on Brighton naturist beach

Local residents have slammed the return of campers to Brighton’s dedicated naturist beach, reporting widespread littering and instances of anti-social behaviour. Critics warn that the eyesore is creating an intimidating environment for genuine users and could severely damage local tourism if authorities fail to intervene.
→ read more on The Argus

🌹 Labour selects podcaster for Goldsmid by-election

The Labour Party has chosen local resident, journalist, and podcaster Philip Berman to contest the Goldsmid ward by-election on 25 June. Berman, who has lived in the ward for 13 years, will seek to retain the seat for Labour following the recent resignation of former mayor Jackie O’Quinn.
→ read more on Brighton and Hove News

♿ Brighton study exposes failure in UK beach disability access

A landmark study by the Beach Access Project and the University of Brighton has revealed that only 13% of wheelchair users in the UK can actually reach the water at the beach. Highlighting the findings, Brighton disability ambassador Peyton Vellaa called on policymakers and councils to prioritise shoreline equality, noting that the UK lags significantly behind France and Spain in accessible coastal infrastructure.
→ read more on BBC News

🌸 Brighton designer brings 'imperfect beauty' to Chelsea

Landscape designer Patrick Clarke has collaborated with young people from The Children's Society to create a Japanese wabi-sabi inspired garden for the Chelsea Flower Show. Following the prestigious event, the therapeutic space will be permanently relocated to a youth club in Bedfordshire to serve as an emotional wellbeing hub.
→ read more on BBC News

🎾 Eastbourne Open to go ahead despite court sabotage

The Lawn Tennis Association has confirmed that the Lexus Eastbourne Open will proceed as scheduled from 20 June despite mindless vandals gouging deep lines into the grass courts. Council groundskeepers are working around the clock to repair the damage at Devonshire Park while Sussex Police review local CCTV footage.
→ read more on BBC News

🏏 Hughes century kept in check by Somerset and rain

Daniel Hughes struck a resilient 107 for Sussex on day three at Taunton, but a late batting collapse left the visitors reeling at 236 for eight in reply to Somerset's mammoth 526. With two first-innings wickets remaining and a 290-run deficit, Sussex face an uphill battle to avoid the follow-on on the final day.
→ read more on BBC Sport

Also in the news:

📸 AI camera fine dispute: Sussex Police have defended their new mobile infrared road cameras after several motorists claimed they were incorrectly fined for seatbelt offences due to the technology misidentifying dark clothing. → read more on The Argus

🔌 Pavement gullies trial: Brighton and Hove City Council has backed a £232,000 pilot scheme to install cross-pavement cable channels, allowing EV owners without driveways to safely charge their cars from home. → read more on Brighton and Hove News

🏃 Five marathons in five days: A dedicated team from the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex is embarking on a gruelling 131-mile walk across the region to raise vital funds for life-saving helicopter operations. → read more on BBC News

🌊 Thirty years of Blue Flags: West Wittering beach has retained its prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Award status for summer 2026, celebrating three decades of uninterrupted excellence in water quality and safety. → read more on The Argus

⚽ Albion End-of-Season Players' Awards Ceremony | Tue @ The Amex
Brighton & Hove Albion invites fans to its annual awards night, honouring top players from the men's and women's teams while celebrating 125 years of the club. The ticketed event features a pre-show screening of the official club documentary Stand or Fall. More Info

🧼 Hove sauna changes hands: The gay sauna on Denmark Villas has reopened under completely new ownership as The Hove Den Ltd, distancing itself from a linked Sheffield venue that was closed down by police over drug offences. → read more on The Argus

🎬 Danny Dyer 'The Siege' Filming | Until Fri 22 May @ Palmeira Square, Hove
Hove’s historic Palmeira Square has been transformed into 1980s Kensington for the filming of The Siege, an upcoming Channel 4 drama about the Iranian Embassy siege. Adapted by Slow Horses writer Will Smith, the six-part series stars Danny Dyer as heroic police officer Trevor Lock and David Morrissey as Scotland Yard's John Dellow. More Info

👮 Police museum reopens: The Old Police Cells Museum inside Brighton Town Hall has welcomed visitors back after a three-year hiatus caused by funding shortages and health and safety concerns. → read more on BBC News

🍽️ Luxury restaurant plans: The historic Grade II-listed Tower House on Carlisle Road in Eastbourne could be transformed into a high-end restaurant and lounge bar, complete with a modern rear courtyard extension. → read more on The Argus

☁️ Lost Chance! - Soft Machines on the Prom

📆 Running until Sun 24 May
📍 Hove Promenade (Near the Lawns)

If you’ve walked down the Hove seafront over the last few days, you might have noticed some strange, large-scale structures that look like a cross between futuristic shelters and abstract biology. This is Soft Machines, a massive free public art installation by artists Ivan Morison and Heather Peak, commissioned specially for the 60th Brighton Festival.

Designed to explore how our bodies interact with the city's architecture, the installation serves as a communal meeting point, a playground for kids, and a spot for quiet reflection by the sea. It’s entirely interactive, built for clambering over, sitting under, or just debating what it means over a flask of tea. It only runs for one more week, so make sure to check it out on your next coastal stroll before it disappears.

🔗 Event information

🐟 The Salt Room

For many of you, The Salt Room needs absolutely no introduction. It has been a staple of the Brighton seafront for years, sitting right opposite the West Pier with some of the best views in the city. They have very recently reopened after an incredibly beautiful and tasteful refurbishment, giving the whole place a fantastic facelift while keeping that proud Brighton soul we all love. The absolute highlight is the reimagined terrace, now fully weatherproof for all seasons, so you can sit out and enjoy the fresh sea air without worrying about the British weather.

The food is still exactly what made them famous in the first place, focusing on brilliant local seafood and fire-led cooking. They cook everything over charcoal, which gives an amazing depth of flavour to whatever comes in fresh with the tide that morning. If you are heading down, the move is to go for one of their shellfish sharing platters or a whole charcoal-grilled fish on the bone, which just makes a dinner feel like a proper event.

It is a fantastic option if you want to treat a date to something special but still want a relaxed, energetic atmosphere. If you cannot make it for dinner, pop down for their Lunch by the Sea menu or just grab a table on the terrace during aperitivo hour for a cocktail while the sun goes down. Have a look at their Instagram to see just how stunning the new space is, and then book a table to see the updates for yourself.

📍 106 King's Road, Brighton BN1 2FU
🕒 12pm to 10pm (Mon to Thu), 12pm to 10:30pm (Fri to Sat), 12pm to 9pm (Sun)
🔗 Make a reservation

🏠 The Regency Royalty

This six-bedroom Grade II listed terrace is a masterclass in mid 19th century elegance, situated a mere moment from the Kemptown seafront. It boasts a traditional gas fired Aga range cooker at its heart alongside a jaw dropping first floor drawing room where windows stretch almost to the floor to frame sea views. The home features a sun drenched walled garden perfect for a quiet retreat and a primary suite complete with a luxurious claw foot tub. It is the ultimate dream for anyone wanting to practice their wealthy heir look while living down the road from Soho House.

📍 Belgrave Place, Brighton
💰 £1,650,000
🔗 View on Rightmove

Tue

🎬 Exhibition On Screen: Frida Kahlo | Various Times, Tue 19 May @ Duke’s at Komedia Catch the newly updated cinema re-release of this deep-dive documentary exploring the brilliant art, feminism, and layered reality behind Frida Kahlo’s global icon status, produced by Brighton-based Seventh Art Productions. More Info

🎤 Will Owen: Looking Fab At Fifty | 7:30pm, Tue @ Komedia
Fresh from Edinburgh Fringe success, award winning comedian Will Owen brings his acclaimed UK tour show to the Komedia Studio for a hilarious night of brilliant wit, light entertainment, and top tier stand up. More Info

🎬 Bauhaus: Film and Performance | 7:00pm – 9:30pm, Tue @ The Southern Belle
Explore the radical performance legacy of the iconic 1919 art school at this free evening showcase, diving into early avant-garde experiments with colour, form, and geometric abstraction that changed modern design forever. More Info

🌿 Culpeper's Medicine Garden | 6:00pm – 8:30pm, Tue @ At The Coach House
Discover the healing and magical uses of local plants on a fascinating herbal walk up Whitehawk Hill, led by herbalist Sara Jane Glendinning and musician Jo Burke, complete with traditional folk songs and plant folklore. More Info

Wed

☕ Bärchen Kaffee 1st Birthday Party | 10:00am – 5:00pm, Wed @ Bärchen Kaffee Celebrate this cozy spot's first anniversary with coffee for just £2 all day long. Want it completely free? Bring along a picture of yourself as a one-year-old to claim your complimentary birthday brew. More Info

🎤 Funnier Than Your Mum | 7:30pm, Wed @ Komedia
Skip the dating apps for a high energy comedy led social experience combining top-tier stand-up sets, playful interactive games, and casual icebreakers designed to help you connect naturally over shared laughs. More Info

🎼 Delphine Trio | 1:00pm, Wed @ Brighton Dome Studio Theatre
Catch the award-winning international ensemble as they perform a vibrant chamber programme, blending early Beethoven, modern impressionistic miniatures by Camille Pépin, and a lush post-Romantic masterpiece by Carl Frühling. More Info

🎭 Ben Hur: Cue Fanfare | 7:00pm, Wed, Thu & Fri @ Brighton Open Air Theatre
The powerhouse team behind last year’s hit adaptation of The 39 Steps returns to the open air stage with a hilariously ambitious production of Ben Hur, bringing a massive epic to life with a cast of just four actors. More Info

Thu

🦋 Sussex Butterfly Gardens VIP Pre-Opening | 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Thu @ One Garden Brighton Be among the very first to walk through the brand new Sussex Butterfly Gardens at Stanmer Park before the official public launch, featuring hundreds of beautiful butterflies in an exclusive pre-opening showcase. More Info

🎤 Juliette Burton: Best Of Burton | 9:30pm, Thu @ Komedia
Cram a decade of laughter into one jubilant hour as award winning comedian Juliette Burton brings the absolute best bits of her sold out Edinburgh Fringe shows to Brighton, tackling mental health, queer identity, and social justice. More Info

📚 Feminism for a World on Fire | 7:00pm, Thu @ Brighton Dome Studio Theatre
Writers Natasha Walter, Shahed Ezaydi, and N.S. Nuseibeh come together for a vital panel discussion chaired by Azieb Pool, exploring a more connected, intersectional feminism in the face of modern global threats. More Info

🎭 Brighton Festival: Dark Noon | 8:00pm, Thu & Fri @ Brighton Dome
Experience a mind-blowing and brutal theatrical reimagining of the American Wild West by fix+foxy, featuring an extraordinary cast of South African actors who rebuild a pioneer town in real time on stage. More Info

🎵 Chris Brain | 8:00pm, Thu @ The Prince Albert
Catch one of the brightest talents from the Leeds folk scene as he performs tracks from his critically acclaimed albums, showcasing an evening of intricate fingerstyle guitar and deeply moving, self-reflective contemporary folk. More Info

🎵 Lily Moore | Thu @ The Hare & Hounds
Brighton-born singer-songwriter Lily Moore, daughter of legendary Northern Irish blues-rock guitarist Gary Moore, brings her soulful vocals and intimate, storytelling lyrics back to her hometown for an unforgettable headline set. More Info

Fri

🎬 FilmPride: LGBTQ+ Short Film Showcase | Times vary, Fri, Sat & Sun @ The Actors Pub Brighton's dedicated LGBTQIA+ film festival returns with six uniquely themed short film screenings, featuring independent queer filmmaking from across the globe, fully captioned presentations, and live filmmaker Q&As. More Info

🌹 World Goth Day Celebration | 12:00pm – late, Fri @ The Yellow Book Celebrate World Goth Day at Brighton's premier steampunk goth bar with an all day party featuring classic darkwave bangers, great drink deals, prizes, and a special live DJ set from Freakwensiz starting at 7:00pm. More Info

🍺 Southwick Beer Festival | 6:00pm, Fri @ The Barn Theatre
Enjoy a fantastic selection of cask ales, keg beers, and a dedicated cider bar at this annual community festival, raising vital funds for the Southwick Community Centre while serving up great drinks and welcoming vibes. More Info

🎨 Helm Gallery: Take The Streets | 6:00pm, Fri @ Helm Gallery
Flip the script on your Friday night with an electric weekly takeover fusing art, live music, guest tattoo artists, and cocktails in one of Brighton's most vibrant and dynamic creative gallery spaces. More Info

🎭 Malory Towers | 7:30pm, Fri @ Theatre Royal Brighton
Back by popular demand, Emma Rice's magical musical adaptation of Malory Towers returns to the stage. Expect a delightful production packed with nostalgic schoolgirl hijinks, high drama, and high spirits, all set to sensational live music. More Info

Live Music

Charlie Parr | 7:30pm, Tue @ The Green Door Store
Culpeper's Medicine Garden | 6pm, Tue @ At The Coach House
Ganser | 8pm, Tue @ The Hope & Ruin
TAKKUUK | 6pm & 7:30pm, Tue @ The Old Market

Ivo Neame Trio - Jazz Connections | 8pm, Wed @ Brighton Dome
Ed O'brien: 'blue Morpho' Listening Event | 5pm, Wed @ Resident Music
Iestyn Davies & Oliver Wass | 8pm, Wed @ Royal Pavilion
The Puppini Sisters | 7:30pm, Wed @ Komedia
Slim Krusty | 7:30pm, Wed @ The Folklore Rooms
Speakeasy Jazz Club; Dave O'Higgins | 7:30pm, Wed @ The Wick Inn
TAKKUUK | 6pm, 7:30pm & 9pm, Wed @ The Old Market
Weatherday | 7:30pm, Wed @ The Hope & Ruin

Chris Brain | 8pm, Thu @ The Prince Albert
Fomies | 7pm, Thu @ The Green Door Store
Lily Moore | 7pm, Thu @ The Hare & Hounds
Radical Folkmongers | 8pm, Thu @ The Folklore Rooms
TAKKUUK | 6pm, 7:30pm & 9pm, Thu @ The Old Market
Travelogue, a Joni Mitchell Journey | 8pm, Thu @ Bom-Bane's

Brighton Reggae Rhythms | 7:30pm, Fri @ The Prince Albert
Dame Area | 7pm, Fri @ Volks Club

Humour | 7pm, Fri @ Dust Brighton
Jazz at St Andrews; Claire Martin | 5:30pm, Fri @ St Andrew's Church
Kenny Dope | 8pm, Fri @ The Arch
Lone Assembly & Ro Nova | 7:30pm, Fri @ Patterns
A Night Of Jagged Little Pill | 7pm, Fri @ Concorde 2
Popchestra: Maxed Out! | 8pm, Fri @ Ironworks Studios
Single Release Party | 8pm, Fri @ The Folklore Rooms
Smoove & Turrell Brighton Fringe | 7:30pm, Fri @ Caravanserai

Last week's trivia was a certified page-turner! 11% of you knew that Brighton's own literary legend, Peter James, actually had himself screwed inside a coffin just to research a scene. Now that is what we call dead dedication. Read about it here.

This week, we’re moving from crime fiction to absolute, high-flying reality. Brighton Beach has seen its fair share of eccentric stunts, but in November 2019, a crowd gathered by the Palace Pier to watch an inventor officially smash a Guinness World Record over the water.