Brighton’s hit that glorious pre-Christmas sweet spot where every corner smells like mulled wine and someone somewhere is gluing moss to a wreath. We’ve rounded up the best bits for your weekend wanderings: a mammoth list of festive markets where you’ll accidentally spend your rent, vinyl fairs, a new listening bar, late-night dancefloors and the odd wild card to keep things spicy. Whether you want to shop, bop, sip, stitch or just lurk and look pretty, we’ve got you covered. Dive in, December’s warming up nicely.
BOTI’S BEST BIT
(On)Air we go
Brighton’s newest hi-fi listening bar has landed and it’s got proper audiophile swagger. OnAir opened on Thursday on Western Road, turning the old Health Rebels spot into a co-working haven by day and a deep-listening sonic den by night. Think a custom Audio Gold system, 1BTN DJs doing their thing live in a studio you can actually see, and a launch weekend stacked with Civilisation of the Rough, J-Felix, Taxi and more. Get yourselves over there – OnAir is the kind of place for people who actually listen to music rather than shout over it. We’re already fans. Read more about it here.
SCREEN QUEENS AND DRAMA FIENDS
It’s a Gift
Trade the same old festive fluff for a night with a difference: The Gift at The Old Market is an immersive mash-up of music, cabaret, games and a shared feast – all wrapped up in one joyful package. We don’t want to give too much away as it will spoil the fun, but suffice to say if you enjoy immersive creative mayhem served with a grin, then this is your kind of party. Daily until 21st December(except Mon and Tues); £47.50
Slay in a manger
Felix & Friends are back with O Litl Town, a rollicking Christmas show that blows the nativity to smithereens. Think Lidl car park chic, a maybe-immaculate pregnancy, and a pilgrimage of unhinged characters turning up to witness… whatever Felix is about to deliver. Featuring some of Felix’ guests from 2025, it’s queer, chaotic, camp as Christmas and absolutely not for anyone seeking a wholesome seasonal moment. Sun; 8pm; from £11.53
EXCELLENT EATS
Patio x Tony’s
Patio – THE bar of the moment – has handed the kitchen keys to Tony’s (aka Original Tony’s pizza’s Toby Cackett) for December and the menu is absolute filth in the best possible way: Big Mac tartare with shoestring fries, dirty martini chicken wings dripping in hot honey butter, roasted and fried spuds with whipped Cafe de Paris, plus vodka rigatoni, Sussex blue flatbreads and a Kinder Bueno tiramisu waiting to ruin every other pudding you’ve ever loved. Book if you’re smart, walk in if you’re lucky – but get in there before the month vanishes. Until 20th Dec.
O Crumble All Ye Faithful
Shelter Hall has just levelled up your winter snack game with its latest kitchen: yep, Oh Crumble have landed for December with hot pots of joy in flavours like Berry Bliss, Cinnamon Crunch and a Festive Brûlée that we’re excited to taste. Can’t decide? Get the crumble flight (because self-control is overrated). They’re there Fridays to Mondays all month. Brb, we’re off to feed our crumble addiction.
READ ALSO: THE ROYAL PAVILION’S GETTING THE AUSTEN TREATMENT THIS CHRISTMAS
THERE’S AN ART TO IT
Sun, moon, magic
Helm Gallery is throwing open its doors for Sun Child Moon Child, a gorgeous, deeply personal new exhibition from Brighton fave Marcelina Amelia. You’ll find confessional, folk-tinted paintings and ceramics full of magic, motherhood, and mythology. You can still bag a ticket to Friday’s private view, but the show’s on until 11th January, so you’ve got time to see the dreamy and emotional works up close. Fri; 7pm and exhibition until 11th Jan; free
NIGHT MOVES
Boo-gie nights
Infamous DJ duo The Ghost land at Quarters this Saturday for a no-holds-barred session of garage, house and minimal vibes. Expect deep grooves, wild energy and Brighton’s freshest dancefloor mayhem. Sat; from 11pm; from £12.70
Saturday Night Fever
Get ready for a full-on rhythm riot: African Night Fever are bringing a high-energy double bill to Brighton Dome on Saturday. Expect soulful grooves from Lakuta and legends Saidi Kanda & Mvula Mandondo – warm drums, bold vocals, and an atmosphere built for dancing till you drop. 7.30pm; £22.50
READ ALSO: CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN BRIGHTON & HOVE THIS WEEKEND
THE SPEND IS NIGH
All fired up
Ceramics crush alert: Brickett Davda are flinging open their Portslade studio doors Saturday and Sunday for a studio sale. The shelves are stacked with one-offs, dreamy colourways, and those perfectly imperfect seconds that disappear faster than a flat white on George Street. If you’ve been eyeing up their bowls, now’s your chance to cop them straight from the source at excellent prices. Sat & Sun; 10am – 4pm (until 3pm Sun) ; 17 Gordon Road, Portslade, BN41 1GL
Book yourself in
Brighton Art Book Fair is at Phoenix Art Space this weekend, bringing indie presses, local makers and beautifully unusual artists’ books under one roof. Expect everything from hand-collated photobooks to punk zines, one-offs, weird gems and genuinely affordable editions you’ll actually want to take home. Perfect for those who still love paper more than pixels. Sat & Sun; 11am – 5pm; £2
Spin it to win it
Diggers, limber up: First Press Record Fair lands at The Prince Albert this Sunday, bringing Brighton’s most obsessive vinyl heads and curveball crate-raiders under one roof. Expect jazz deep cuts, punk icons, leftfield soul, soundtracks, rarities and whatever other delicious weirdness the carefully curated list of dealers have hoarded away for just this moment. Plus there’s live sets from Slack City Radio DJs to grease the wheels. Sun; midday – 4pm
