Love or loathe Valentine’s Day, it’s undeniably a great excuse to load up on half-price chocolate and fizz, revisit the cheesiest Meg Ryan-fronted film you can stream, and take advantage of one of the great events happening across Brighton in and around 14th Feb.
Whether you choose to spend the day belting out ballads at drag queen karaoke, quarrelling over how to divide up a sharing menu or watching a rom-com alternative at a film screening, there’s something to suit even the most romantically cynical in the city.
Go to a drag queen-fronted karaoke party
What better way to exorcise a heartbreak or impress a Hinge date than by showing off that you’ve learnt the lyrics to ‘Yes, and?’ word perfectly? Spend V-day evening with our favourite drag queen nurse, Brandy Bex, who’ll be leading the screeching of power ballad classics and dancing to break-up anthems, at a Valentine’s Day karaoke session at Kemptown’s Glamorous bar. Although Bex has announced/warned that they’ll be singing, too, everyone will get a chance to perform. And if you need any encouragement to put your name down to sing, everyone who takes to the stage gets a free drink on the night!
Wednesday 14th February; 8.30pm – late; free
Glamorous, Brighton, BN2 1RP
glamorous.bar
Learn all about the most romantic vital organ
Sure, the dinner-and-a-movie date combo is nice, but have you ever watched a live organ dissection on Valentine’s Day? Join the Brighton and Sussex Medical School’s anatomy team for an evening learning about all things related to the heart, complete with a live analysis of a real (animal) heart. All proceeds from the event will go to heart health charities and there’ll be opportunities for those with the strongest stomachs to stick around for a Q&A after the demo.
Wednesday 14th February; 6.30pm – 7.30pm; £5
The Walrus, 10 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AD
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Watch a classic play
Add some drama to your V-day plans by booking a ticket to see Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the intimte New Venture Theatre. Fans of the Glenn Close interpretation and/or Cruel Intentions (arguably the best film of the 90s) will be familiar with the tale of romantic jealousy, plotting, political revolutions and familial betrayal. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, now’s the perfect time to get up to speed on this story of sexual politicking. The perfect alternative to a Richard Curtis marathon.
Friday 16th – Sunday 24th February; 7.30pm; from £10
23 Bedford Place, Brighton, BN1 2PT
newventure.org.uk
Have dinner with a difference
Want to use your V-day plans to help out a good cause? The Sussex Refugee and Migrant Self Support Group and their sister organisation Jollof Café are hosting a Valentine’s Day dinner to help raise money for their vital work supporting migrants in the local community. Enjoy a delicious meal while you meet some of the people who’ve been welcomed to Brighton and supported by the charity.
Friday 16th February; 7pm – 10pm; from £10
Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, Dorset Gardens Brighton, BN2 1SA
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Watch a cult classic at the cinema
Our favourite film collective, White Wall Cinema have chosen cult comedy Little Shop of Horrors as their alternative Valentine’s Day film screening. The city’s self-professed ‘film geeks’ have chosen a ‘romantic’ cut of the flower shop-set fling between Seymour and Audrey especially for the occasion. We can’t think of a better V-day film than one which focuses on the blood-lust of a plant-based (definitely non-vegan) malevolent alien.
Wednesday 14th February; doors open at 7.10pm for a 7.40pm start; £9.40
Wagner Hall, 2 Regency Road, Brighton, BN1 2RU
whitewallcinema.co.uk
Drink the pinkest of drinks
One of the city’s most Instagram-friendly locations (and a perennial BOTI favourite), Oeuf Café has created a special V-Day-themed drinks menu. It’s not just on Wednesdays that you can drink pink here, as they’ll be serving their rose-coloured drinks all week. Start with a raspberry sorbet and mimosa cocktail, before moving onto a strawberry margarita and finish the evening by splitting (or not) a fondant hot chocolate with your date. They’ll also be serving their usual egg-focused menu to help soak up the copious amounts of pink booze being served. FYI, the frumpets go with everything.
Monday 12th – Sunday 17th February
8 Third Avenue, Hove, BN3 2PX
oeuf.cafe
Make some delicious dinner plans
If the excuse for extravagant food is your favourite part of Valentine’s Day, what better way to spend V-day evening than enjoying a four-course feast at a friendly Kemptown boozer? Local European small plates pop-up Arissy are hosting a Valentine’s Day dinner at the pub, and there are still a final few spaces available. They’ll be serving up an epic spread, which includes a choice of baked seabream with salsa, pan-fried duck breast or roasted celeriac with gnocchi and dark chocolate cremeux for dessert.
Wednesday 14th February; £85 for two
8 St George’s Road, Brighton, BN2 1EB
kemp.pub
Watch an award-winning recent release
As part of LGBTQ+ History Month, you can catch a Valentine’s Day screening of last year’s indie hit, Pretty Red Dress. Starring Natey Jones, and X Factor alumni Alexandra Burke, the film follows Travis, who, recently released from prison, buys his partner a dress that changes the course of their relationship. Hosted by The New Black Film Collective and the University of Brighton’s Donor Research, after watching the film at Duke’s at Komedia, there will be a Q&A about the film and a Tina Turner drag performance to end the night.
Wednesday 14th February; 7.30pm; £8
Gardner House, 44 – 47 Gardner Street, Brighton, BN1 1UN
picturehouses.com
Have a mate date at the salon
Hairdressers and beauty spot Copper Colour Collective are hosting a Mates & Dates pop-up event with a gift shop for any last-minute present buying for your significant other. As well as pop-up stands from local creators and designers, the team will be serving complimentary drinks and screening some classic romantic films. And for anyone whose V-Day mantra is ‘treat yo’ self’, there’ll also be a chance to take advantage of some great deals on beauty treatments. Wholesome vibes guaranteed.
Monday 12th February; 6pm – 9pm; £3
Copper Colour Collective, Western Road, Hove, BN3 1AE
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Have a gourmet meal from the comfort of your home
If the thought of venturing out into the wild for Valentine’s Day doesn’t appeal, get your order in for one of Riddle & Finns ‘finish at home’ dinners for two. Crack open the bubbles and impress your date with a spread of caviar, lobster raviolo and chocolate and hazelnut cake. Each recipe box has been created so that even the most clueless of cooks can put an impressive dinner together, without the stress of following a three-page Ottolenghi recipe.
Wednesday 14th February; collection on Wednesday between 11am – midday and 5pm – 6pm; from £80
The Lanes, 12b Meeting House Lane, Brighton, BN1 1HB
riddleandfinns.co.uk
Make new friends at Queer Galentine’s social
Celebrate with your current pals AND make some new ones at Queer Galentine’s V-Day social. Hosted by Brighton drag icon Bobby Dazlar at the North Laine Brewhouse, there’ll be a queer speed social (a much more fun and less cringe style of networking), games to help break the proverbial ice and DJs playing uplifting tunes till late.
Tuesday 13th February, 7pm – 11pm, free
North Laine Brewhouse, 7 Gloucester Place, Brighton, BN1 4AA
northlaine.pub
Have a carb-filled evening
Spend the evening being transported to the romantic Italian Rivera without venturing outside of BN1. The Windmill pub’s kitchen residents Alberta’s are swapping their usual spicy subs and roast chicken for Sicilian fare and hosting an Italian-themed dinner at the OG backstreet boozer for one night only. For £30 a head, you’ll get a three-course, limoncello-punctuated feast that includes oysters, sage and ricotta farfalle and lamb shoulder.
Wednesday 14th February, 5pm – 9pm, £30pp
The Windmill Inn, 9 Upper North Street, Brighton, BN1 3FL, UK
thewindmillbrighton.co.uk
Find out what your future holds
Whether you want to know the fate of your love life or have a long list of burning questions about your future, all will be revealed if you book a Valentine’s Day tarot reading session. If you’re dying to know what the cards have in store for you, Brighton-based tarot reader, Tarot in Technicolour will be holding readings with his trademark colourful cards at the Daddy Longlegs pub. It’s slightly off the beaten track, but worth heading out of town for. You can turn up on the evening or leave a comment on his Instagram post to book a slot.
Thursday 15th February, 6.30pm – 9pm
1 Arundel Road, Brighton, BN2 5TE
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Attend a charity gala
If you feel like spending Valentine’s Day giving something back, why not buy a ticket to the city’s annual fundraising event, Wave of Love? Taking place at the Palm Court Restaurant, the evening will raise money for four local charities: RSPCA Brighton, Impact Initiatives, Together Co and the Mayor of Brighton and Hove’s chosen charity, Rise, an organisation that supports people impacted by domestic abuse. An event ticket will get you a two-course dinner, a drinks reception, live music, a quiz with prizes from local vendors and a gift bag full of freebies.
Thursday 15th February; from 6.30pm; £45
Brighton Palace Pier, Madeira Drive, Brighton, BN2 1TW
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