We’ve hit December, the temperature’s dropped and the sun is shining, so we’re (finally) starting to feel a wee bit festive over at BOTI Towers. Yes, we have A Tree. We know, we’re late to the party – it feels like pre-Christmas has been going on for weeks. So whether you’re in the mood for fun, festive or not, there’s heaps of good stuff going on this weekend.
Visit an artist’s house
Brighton-based artist Sarah Arnett is opening up her gloriously vibrant, opulent home to the public just for this weekend. She’ll be selling her artwork – including some new prints – her distinctive wallpaper, kimonos, cushions and more, with prices starting at £5. It opens with a not-so-private private view on Friday – email sarah@saraharnett.co.uk if you want to go then. Fancy checking out some more artists’ houses? There are plenty more to see around the city this weekend and next. Find out more here.
Friday 2nd December, 6pm – 9pm; Saturday 3rd December, 10am – 5pm and Sunday 4th December, 11am – 4pm
33 York Avenue, Hove BN3 1PJ
saraharnett.co.uk
Get your Christmas carol on in the park
If you haven’t heard ‘Jingle Bells’ at least 576 times by the end of the first week of December, is it even really Christmas? The Vox Community Choir and the Salvation Army Band will be singing their favourites on Friday evening (we’re hoping for ‘Jingle Bells’, obviously). Importantly, there will also be mulled wine and mince pies. And if you need to fuel up beforehand, brunch bosses Starfish and Coffee will stay open until the carols start for food and festive drinks.
Friday 2nd December; 6.30pm; free
Outside the Royal Spa Nursery in Queens Park
See a new exhibition and peek inside Brighton’s Hippodrome
Do Not Obstruct gallery have decamped for the weekend for a new three-day-only art exhibition inside the historic Brighton Hippodrome Palm Court. The group exhibition features 50 contemporary and urban artists and is a rare opportunity to see inside the Grade II-listed Hippodrome, which has been out of action since 2011. It’s been everything from a circus to an ice rink over the years, but happily, much of the original elaborate interior is still intact, including its Rococo-style mouldings.
Saturday 3rd, 10am – 8pm and Sunday 4th December 11am – 5pm (Friday’s preview is sold out); free
52 Middle Street, Brighton, BN1 1AL
donotobstruct.co.uk
Check out the Christmas markets
We’re spoilt for choice with Christmas markets this weekend! The Spire’s Festive Fair – part of the Artists’ Open Houses – kicks off with a festive party featuring Boogaloo Stu on Friday evening with the sale continuing on Saturday. On Sunday, head to the other side of town for the Exeter Street Christmas market, where some of our favourite sellers are showcasing their goodies. We hear there will be baked goods and bubbles too. Want more? Here’s our full rundown.
Various times and locations
Come to the cabaret
The Black Market has got a seat for you on Friday evening (if you get in quick – there were still a few left at the time of writing). If you like burlesque and drag, all packaged up in a glitzy bow of vintage fabulousness with some mighty fine cocktails on the side, then this will be right up your street. Find out more about what to expect here.
Friday 2nd December; 6.30pm – 11pm; from £35 (discounted prices are available to those who work or have worked in the public services and/or armed forces)
The Old Market, 11A Upper Market Street, Hove BN3 1AS
theblackmarket.com
Buy tickets
Eat some great food at a new residency
If you hadn’t heard, Arissy Kitchen – the brilliant pop-up restaurant that was working out of Cafe Rust for a while and fulfilled loads of our lockdown foodie dreams – has taken up residence in The Kemp in, you guessed it, Kemptown. Take your pick from sharing plates and burgers; their Brighton Blue cheese buñuelos are worth all the cheese dreams.
Kitchen open Monday – Friday midday – 3pm and 4.30pm – 9pm; Saturday midday – 9pm and Sunday for roasts from midday – 6pm
8 St George’s Road, Brighton BN2 1EB
arissykitchen.com
Wander around Hanover’s advent calendar streets
We’ve waxed lyrical about Hanover’s street advent calendar before but it’s a lovely community effort and a great excuse for an after-dark pub crawl around muesli mountain (yeah, as if you needed one). AND it raises money for the Clock Tower Sanctuary. Fortify yourself with a mulled wine at Village and work your way up the hill. You can find which streets are in the Christmas limelight on which days here.
Hanover, BN2
Check out Brighton’s first low-alcohol bar
It’s been a long time coming, but Brighton finally has a low-alcohol bar and bottleshop and it looks delightful. Tørstigbar is whipping up some bloody tasty-looking drinks at the light-filled space in the heart of Kemptown and we are here for it. Today’s fun fact: tørstig is Danish for thirsty.
Open Wednesday – Friday 5pm – 11pm, Saturday midday – 11pm and Sunday midday – 6pm
45 George Street, Brighton BN2 1RJ
torstigbar.com
Feast on great pizza (and watch the footie in style)
There’s only one place in Brighton where you can do this as far as we know and that’s Pizza Pilgrims, home to some mighty fine dough and the epic eight-cheese pizza. And they’ve also turned their downstairs mini-football pitch into a perfect World Cup-watching venue. We’d recommend booking for the bigger games.
35 Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AB
pizzapilgrims.co.uk
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