With World Earth Day and Record Store Day both falling this weekend, there’s loads going on to keep us entertained. Keep things local and explore the elements of earth, fire and water by discovering an(other) secret garden, grab a wood-fired bite at a newly opened restaurant, or relax at a soundbath with a classical twist.
Get your thrift on
This Saturday is World Earth Day, so do the planet and your pocket a favour and head over to the yard sale at Hove co-working and events space, Platf9rm. Expect to find a wide selection of pre-loved clothes, shoes, ceramics and books, as well as tasty treats from the Real Junk Food Project and funky tunes from local broadcaster Platform B. And if that isn’t enough to convince you, they’re also offering a free coffee to anyone who purchases a £5 ticket in advance. Plus, with all proceeds going to Hove Cornerstone Community Centre food bank, it’s a no brainer, really.
Saturday 22nd April; 10am – 3pm; £5
The Grounds, Church Road, Hove, BN3 2AF
Book tickets
Dive into (natural) history
Have you been to the Booth Museum yet? Brighton’s natural history museum – think everything from butterflies to bones, plus a good old Victorian taxidermy parlour – is one of our favourites and this Earth Day you can head along to find out more about our planet in general and how to support wildlife locally, as well as get stuck into some craft and science activities.
Saturdays and Sundays; 10am – 5pm (and Tuesdays and Wednesdays; midday – 5pm); free
194 Dyke Road, Brighton BN1 5AA
brightonmuseums.org.uk
Head to the (open air) theatre
Yes, one of our favourite hangouts, Brighton Open Air Theatre, aka BOAT, is back for its ninth season! It all opens with a bang this weekend with music with a comedy twist from the super-talented Joe Stilgoe and his band on Friday and a drag show hosted by the hilarious drag prince Alfie Ordinary on Saturday. There’s heaps more good stuff to look forward to this season, with shows encompassing everything from theatre and musicals to comedy, cabaret, live music and drag. Let the fun commence!
From Friday 21st April; various times and prices
Dyke Road, Brighton, BN3 6EH
brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk
Go green
Yep, as part of the National Garden Scheme open days, another of Brighton’s blooming secret gardens is opening its doors this Friday and Saturday to raise money for nursing and health charities including Macmillan, Mind and Marie Curie. It’s a great opportunity to sip on tea and feast on a slice of home-made cake amongst the gorgeous foliage and flowers of this Victorian gem in the Round Hill area, all while donating to a great cause. And if you’re feeling green-fingered, you can also snap up some plants to take home. It’s dog-friendly, too!
Friday 21st April – Saturday 22nd April; 1.30pm – 4.40pm; £6, children go free (tickets available in advance or on the door)
The Garden House, 5 Warleigh Road, Brighton, BN1 4NT
gardenhouse.co.uk
Pop to a pop-up
If you love a pop-up shop as much as we do, you’ll love this gem from local afrocentric lifestyle brand Goki this Sunday, featuring seven creatives showcasing gorgeous goods across custom jewellery and grillz, vibrant art, skin and hair care products and flowers, as well as food, cocktails and great music.
Sunday 23rd April; 11.30am – 7pm; free
2 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1AE
shopgoki.com
Root and rejuvenate
Become one with Mother Nature and learn all about the medicinal properties of our native plants with qualified herbalist Jessie Martelhof. This two-hour walk will focus on spring-time medicine and flowers, teaching you not only how to identify and harvest these plants, but also how you can make oils with them at home. You’ll also learn about the fascinating folklore and medicinal traditions surrounding some of our native shrubbery. This promises to be a slow and relaxing walk, with more of a focus on rambling and learning rather than working up a sweat.
Sunday 23rd April; 2pm – 4pm; £22
Hollingdean Skate Park, 10 Shenfield Way, Brighton, BN1 7EX
Book tickets
Sip on a cup of joe
If you find yourself in The Lanes this weekend, we’d recommend stopping by the newly opened Komodo Coffee. This tiny coffee shop serves up a unique selection of Kofra blends and vegan snacks. They also have beans available to purchase which will look just as good sat on your kitchen counter as they taste in your morning java. It’s perfectly located for a spot of people-watching and they even have a selection of records to enjoy.
Daily 9.30am – 5pm (8.30am – 4pm during the week)
19a Brighton Square, Brighton, BN1 1HD
Have fun at a fundraiser
This Sunday, non-profit art space Petal Project Brighton are holding a fundraiser to help build an all-weather shelter for their community workshops at the gorgeous Stanmer Organics plot at Stanmer Park. There’ll be live music from Solebound and art from Jim Sanders (you might have been to his Spirit House), plus workshops and, of course, food.
Sunday 23rd April; 12.30pm – 4.30pm; entry by donation
Stanmer Organics, Stanmer Park, BN1 9PZ
stanmerorganics.com
Spin the vinyl
Continue your Record Store Day celebrations this Saturday with the best of Brighton’s indie record stores. Rarekind Records on Trafalgar Street will have a handful of records up for grabs with a first come, first served approach. They open at 9am and, with the first 25 customers receiving free tote bags, too, we’d recommend getting there early. For the night owls who’d rather have a lie in, from 7pm onwards, there will be live music courtesy of Sonnyjim and DJ MK. Over at Resident Records on Kensington Gardens, there’s an all-day event with over 400 RSD exclusives available to buy (in store only) from 8am, and DJ sets and signings over the course of the day, finishing up with a raffle at 6.30pm. In Hove, Capsule Records, the city’s newest record (and coffee) shop may not be part of the official RSD yet, but they’re still celebrating indie record shops and great music with DJ sets, and album and beer (or coffee) giveaways with a purchase. And the bijou Bella Union Vinyl in central Brighton opens its doors this Saturday with signed goodies and RSD picks and Stalk Cult Hero in the Lanes has also got some RSD bangers. May the music be with you!
Saturday 22nd April; various times and locations
Fire up your taste buds
Embers, the hotly (pun totally intended) anticipated food lovechild of Dave Marrow and Isaac Bartlett-Copeland, opened its doors a few weeks ago, and it’s a great addition to the thriving Brighton food scene. The stylish eatery’s menu focuses on wood-fired small plates that showcase the chefs’ incredible way with flavours, with meat and non-meat eaters alike in for a treat. Expect brilliantly unexpected flavour combinations and well-executed dishes from the open kitchen. (Ed – look out for our review, coming very soon!)
42 Meeting House Lane, Brighton, BN1 1HB
embersbrighton.co.uk
Bathe in sound
Melt all your stresses away and enter the serene world of Pianobath. Lay down and relax on your yoga mat and let the minimalist piano and hypnotic chant-like vocals heal your soul ready for the week ahead. Penny Loosemoore’s unique Pianobath concert combines her experience as a pianist, singer and composer with her holistic background in yoga. Sounds just like the TLC we need!
Sunday 23rd April; 7.30pm – 9pm; from £8
Unitarian Church, New Road, BN1 1UF
pianobath.co.uk
Walk up an appetite
Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and head on over to Firle for a BOTI-approved pub walk. This five-mile, circular pub walk along the South Downs is suitable for the whole family and offers some lovely views of the East Sussex countryside. Start off from the cosy Ram Inn and head south through the beautiful village of Firle. You’ll get spectacular views on the way up and down and a well-deserved pit stop at the end. The 500-year-old Ram is a picture-postcard country pub with open fires, excellent roasts and a decent beer garden. They’ve got all the pub classics needed to fill your boots after the two-and-a-half-hour walk, and are dog-friendly, of course! It gets very busy, so it’s worth booking, especially if you’re going on a Sunday.
The Street, Firle, West Firle, Lewes, BN8 6NS
raminn.co.uk
Birthday bonanza
Happy birthday to Shelter Hall! To celebrate their second birthday, they’re having some pretty epic celebrations this weekend. Two years old means two days of celebrations, so as well as sunset DJ sessions on both days, on Saturday, there will be performances from disco ball dancers (are they dancing on disco balls? We’re not sure), aerial artists, fire breathers and stilt walkers, while on Sunday it’s samba time, with dancers stepping out from 1pm. Plus lots of great food, obviously. Speaking of food, 23rd April is your last chance to try Chick Chick Crew’s and Zest’s dishes before they head off to make way for new kitchens Rybka (from 27th April) and Cairovan (from 4th May).
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd April; 10am – midnight (10pm Sunday)
Kings Road Arches, Shelter Hall, Brighton BN1 1NB; various opening times
shelterhall.co.uk
Birthday brunch
From one birthday to another! Celebrate nine wonderful years of StephieAnn Design and her move from working on her kitchen table to her gorgeous new shop this Sunday. To mark the occasion, she’ll be serving up brunch and fizz, so it’s the perfect occasion to check out the boutique and shop her beautiful range of hand-embroidered gifts. Expect to find tote bags, eye masks, socks, pyjamas and more, all with original designs or the option to personalise. Whilst you’re over that way, we’d suggest checking out the neighbouring indie shops, too. Don’t miss gorgeous candle boutique Wick, Eternal of Hove and Harlem for preloved fashion, jewellery store Brass Monkeys and Katherine Richards contemporary art gallery.
Sunday 23rd April; 11.30am; free
87 Portland Road, Hove
stephieanndesign.com
By Lauren O’Brien
Photo credits: Max Langan (Shelter Hall)
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