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🐦 Vintage Gems, Political Heavyweights and Big Laughs

🐦 Vintage Gems, Political Heavyweights and Big Laughs

Comedy, big ideas and theatre, inspiring local art, a standout restaurant and our weekend picks for what's on

Ben Watkins
January 16, 2026

In partnership with

Happy Friday, Brighton!

The weekend is here, and it’s not absolutely freezing or pouring down with rain! (🤞) We’ve got big laughs, smart talks and plenty to do, from vintage furniture hunting and Fringe-favourite comedy to the heavyweight speakers festival in Lewes, standout theatre, and a brilliant local non-profit championing emerging artists, plus a South East Asian inspired restaurant that’s quickly become a city favourite.

Here’s what’s squawking this week:

🎭 Fringe-favourite comedy and a last chance to catch a cult psychological thriller
🛋️ Vintage furniture and flea market finds at a much-loved indoor market
🎨 A Brighton non-profit creating space and support for emerging artists
🍴 Bold South East Asian small plates and batch cocktails on Preston Street

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16/1/26 - 18/1/26

🛋️ Brighton Vintage Furniture & Flea Market

⏰ Saturday, 10:30am-3:30pm
📍 St Bartholomew’s Church

A popular indoor market packed with mid-century, vintage and retro furniture, homewares and collectables, plus antiques and salvage, all in a relaxed, dog-friendly setting just minutes from the station. (Paid entry: £2-4)

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🎭 Rory Marshall: Pathetic Little Characters

⏰ Saturday, 6:30pm (doors 6:00pm)
📍 Komedia

A sharp, character-led debut hour digging into insecurity, self-delusion and awkward humanity, fresh from a critically acclaimed, sell-out Edinburgh Fringe run. Expect uncomfortable laughs, sad little characters and a show that punches well above its weight.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🎭 Bridget Christie: Jacket Potato Pizza

⏰ Saturday, 7:30pm
📍 Brighton Dome

Bridget Christie returns with a brand new stand-up show that blends surreal storytelling with razor-sharp observations on modern life, relationships and identity, delivered with her trademark wit and warmth.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

💃 Performers of the Future: A Celebration of Youth Dance

⏰ Sunday, 7:00pm (doors 6:15pm)
📍 Brighton Dome

An uplifting evening showcasing talented young dancers from across the South of England, celebrating creativity, diversity and the next generation of dance talent in a powerful live performance.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

🧠 Lewes Speakers Festival 2026

⏰ Friday - Sunday
📍 All Saints Centre, Lewes

Lewes Speakers Festival returns for three days of sharp ideas, serious debate and big conversations, bringing leading political figures, historians, journalists and thinkers to Lewes in an intimate festival setting.

This year’s programme tackles inequality, AI, global conflict, British politics, history and culture, with headline speakers including Jeremy Corbyn, Caroline Lucas, Sir Ed Davey, Dame Penny Mordaunt, Parmy Olson, Claudia Hammond, Iain Dale, Maggie Oliver, Andrew Monaghan and Theodore Dalrymple.

Across talks, panels and workshops, the festival blends major national voices with deep-dive discussions that reward curiosity, challenge assumptions and spark lively debate.

🎟️ Tickets & More Info

Start your year with clarity

Written by Shane Parrish and reMarkable, this workbook helps you reflect without complexity or stress. It guides you through the past year with intention, so insights emerge naturally. 

This isn’t about setting more goals. It’s about understanding what matters, clearly and calmly. 

A simple reset for January. A thoughtful way to review your year.

Download the workbook

🎨 Mid Street Lab

Since launching in 2022, artist-curator JJ Wachter has grown Mid Street Lab into a vital disruptor of Brighton’s famous and well-established art scene. By making "Creative Safer Spaces" in Kemptown and, more recently, the Kings Road Arches, this independent non-profit bypasses the traditional pay-to-play gallery model.

Their Altruistic Art approach provides the support and exhibition space emerging talent actually needs to build a career without being priced out. And there is fresh momentum on the seafront this week as The Vault officially reopened just yesterday, having established itself late last year. The relaunch introduces an expanded programme of labs, workshops, and exhibitions.

The backbone of Mid Street Labs’ 2026 chapter is Flow Mode, a membership designed to combat the burnout and isolation that hits most artists juggling second jobs. It offers 72 members year-round visibility and collective support, backed by 15 dedicated bursaries. For those looking to support their work, the Lab is currently looking for Visionary Patrons (from £90) and volunteers to help champion a resilient, community-rooted ecosystem where art is treated as a right, not a privilege.

🗓️ Upcoming Exhibitions:

🌱 Art Is (Love, Love is a Gift): Throughout January, exploring art as an offering.
🖼️ John Lymer Solo Exhibition: February at The Vault, a study in sensitivity and presence.
🍎 Sussex Art Educators: March/April, celebrating those who teach and create simultaneously.

📍 The Lab: 80 St Georges Rd
🕣 12pm-5pm, Tue-Sat
📍 The Vault: 42-43 Kings Rd Arches
🕣 12pm-5pm, Mon-Sun (Closed Tue & Wed)
💻 More Info & What’s On

🍴 No No Please

If you’re wandering down Preston Street, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of independent spots to choose from. No No Please is one you might not have heard of before, but it’s a must-try for a dining experience you won’t find anywhere else in the city. It’s a brother-and-sister project that stands out not just for its playful name and mid-century decor, but for a genuinely diverse menu and beautifully presented dishes.

The food follows a self-described "all-in" energy, "prancing across Southeast Asia", picking the best, boldest flavours from all over the region and serving them as small plates. It’s a short, sharp menu where the No No Slow beef cheek curry is the big hitter, but even the snacks (like the prawn toast "soldiers") are elevated enough to make it worth a spontaneous walk-in.

The broad selection of food is matched by their cellar-batched cocktails, including well-named options like Rum Milk Punch, Heaven’s Sake, and Sea and T. Instead of watching a bartender shake a tin for ten minutes while your conversation dies, the drinks come out of small batches made in-house with exceptional quality but served at lightning speed by friendly and attentive staff.

📍 30-31 Preston Street, BN1
🕣 Kitchen: Wed-Sun (6pm-Late)
🕣 Bar: from 5pm Wed-Fri, 1pm Sat
💻 Menus & Reservations

16/1/26 - 18/1/26

General Events

🎤 Freak of Nature Comedy
Friday, 8:00-10:30pm @ Caxton Arms
A free Friday night comedy showcase featuring established comedians from across the South Coast. More Info

🎶 Joni Mitchell: A Celebration
Friday, 8:00-10:30pm @ Ironworks Studios
A live tribute celebrating the music and legacy of Joni Mitchell, performed by a curated lineup of musicians. More Info

🎭 Komedia Comedy Club
Friday & Saturday 8:00pm @ Komedia
Three top comedy acts and an MC at one of the UK’s most celebrated independent comedy venues. More Info

🎼 Candlelight: Hans Zimmer’s Best Works
Saturday, 9:00pm @ Royal Pavilion
A candlelit concert celebrating Hans Zimmer’s iconic film scores in a stunning historic setting. Tickets £28. More Info

🍕 Barbara’s Boozy Brunch
Saturday, 2:00pm @ Barbara’s Bier Haus
Bottomless brunch with cocktails, pizza, après-ski vibes and alpine classics. Booking required. More Info

🎼 Classical Concert: Musicians of All Saints
Saturday, 7:30pm (pre-talk 7:00pm) @ St Michael’s Church, Lewes
An evening of classical works by Handel, Mendelssohn and contemporary composers. Tickets £18. More Info

🎭 Single White Female
Friday, 7:30pm & Saturday, 2:30pm and 7:30pm @ Theatre Royal Brighton
Final performances of this tense stage adaptation of the cult 90s psychological thriller. More Info

Family Events

💃 Performers of the Future: A Celebration of Youth Dance
Sunday, 7:00pm @ Brighton Dome
An inspiring showcase of young dance talent from across the South of England, presented by Project Female. More Info

🏛️ Behind the Scenes at the Royal Pavilion: Conservation in Action
Until Friday 23 Jan @ Royal Pavilion
Watch expert conservators at work cleaning chandeliers and historic interiors during this rare behind-the-scenes experience. Free with museum admission. More Info

🎨 The Children’s Gallery: Where the Sound Goes
Saturday 17 Jan & Sunday 18 Jan, 11:00am-5:00pm @ The Coach House
A free exhibition celebrating children’s creativity through art inspired by sound, connection and imagination. More Info

Live Music