The (Christmas) lights are on… but you’re not home because you’re out having too much fun around the city, right? It’s the last two days of the brilliant Cinecity film festival, the last couple of nights of the brilliant theatre-gig Oedipus Electronica for starters. Now let’s dive into the best of the rest of what’s going on in Brighton this weekend.
Get 50 percent off food at a new Italian restaurant
There’s another new restaurant in town and they’re offering 50 percent off food this weekend for their soft launch. The self-described “friendly neighbourhood restaurant” is on the beach. There’s pizza, pasta, meat and fish on the concise menu with a fair few veggie options, too. If you go, please let us know what you think!
Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th November; midday – 10pm (Sat), midday – 6pm (Sun)
139 Kings Road Arches, Brighton, BN1 2FN
marearestaurant.co.uk
Mark the Trans Day of Remembrance
This important day is a chance to remember community members we have lost in the last year. Head to Jubilee Square from midday where there’s a vigil with speakers and performances – people are invited to bring flowers, candles and signs. The vigil will then move on to the Ledward Centre in Kemptown for a name ritual and community lunch (until 2.30pm). And if you’re not able to make it in person, you can attend remotely, just email navigate@gmail.com to get the link.
Sunday 20th November; from midday
Jubilee Square, Brighton, BN1 1GE
ledcen.org.uk
Go to a fun clothes swap in a cool salon
Cool hair salon Peg Hair is where several of the BOTI team go to get their hair done and we’d highly recommend it (there’s a cute dog, too, if you need an added incentive). This Sunday, they’re holding a clothes swap to raise money for Trans Pride Brighton and the rules are simple: you can swap as many items as you bring, just make sure the clothes are clean and in decent condition.
Sunday 19th November; midday – 4pm; £5 (cash only)
Peg Hair, 44 George St, Kemptown, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 1RJ
peghair.com
Get festive at these Christmas markets
We may not be getting an official city Christmas market this year, but indie festive affairs are a million times better anyway. Fabulous hand-crafted gifts from local creatives beat cheap plastic tat hands down, right? There’s a few going on this weekend: the reliably good Paper Daisy market at Bhasvic, which always has loads of great stalls, a Christmas market at Dyke Road cafe with stalls to shop, mulled wine and “festive fun” (bring cash and card, they say) and a Christmas market at Old Boat Corner in Hollingbury. We’ve not been to the latter one before, but it sounds cute, with handmade goods, stocking fillers, sweet treats, preloved items, and more. Beau-Events are holding an autumn and winter artisan maker’s market at Brighton Unitarian Church and finally, there’s a community craft fair at Exeter Street Hall with gifts, crafts, art and, importantly, cake.
Paper Daisy market at Bhasvic: Saturday 18th November; 10am – 3.30pm; 205 Dyke Road, Hove, BN3 6EG
Dyke Road Park Cafe: Sunday 19th November; 10am – 4pm; Tea Chalet, Dyke Road, Hove BN3 6EH
Beau-Events at Brighton Unitarian Church: Saturday 18th November; 11am – 5pm; New Road, Brighton, BN1 1UF
Old Boat Corner Community Association: Saturday 18th November; 11am – 6.30pm
Carden Hill, Brighton, BN1 8GN
Exeter Street Hall: Sunday 19th November; 11am – 4pm; 16 – 17 Exeter Street, Brighton, BN1 5PG
Celebrate the 80s and get a free cinema ticket
If you’ve ever been to the legendary It is still 1985 party, now resident at one of our favourite venues The Green Door Store, then you’ll know it’s a seriously fun night (And that most of the people there definitely don’t remember the 80s.) And if you haven’t been to the weekly event yet – it’s been going for a whopping 15 years – here’s another reason to get involved: If you head along this Saturday, your £4 entry ticket will not only get you access to fun times, but also secure you a free ticket to a themed screening of outrageously 80s film Masters of the Universe at pop-up community cinema White Wall Cinema (check out our interview with one of the co-founders) the following week. Just scan the QR code on entry to claim your ticket (or you can buy one here).
Saturday 18th November; from 11pm; £4 on the door (or queue jump tickets here)
2 – 4 Trafalgar Arches, Brighton, BN1 4FQ
itisstill1985.com
Come to the cabaret
We’ve always had a soft spot for the LGBTQ+ venue that’s now The Actors (ex The Marlborough) and if you, like us, love a spot of jazz and burlesque, we reckon you’ll enjoy this Saturday’s Bebette’s Cabaret in the pub’s upstairs speakeasy. Take some musical burlesque from The Schleppers trio and some drag king comedy from Veronica Von Beaverhausen, add in beautiful burlesque emcee Bebe Boheme and wash it all down with a tasty tipple or two and a soupçon of debauchery, and you get the picture of a great night out.
Saturday 18th November; 8.30pm; £16.96
The Actors, 4 Princes Street, Brighton, BN2 1RD
Book tickets
Go hang out in a cosy bar
We’re spoilt for choice with these (article on this coming soon), but we’re still enjoying the gothic vibes of the new(ish) Plotting Parlour in Hove. The stained glass windows, dark wood and moody lighting are the perfect foil to some excellent cocktails and an ideal getaway from the dismal dark evenings.
34 Church Rd, Brighton and Hove, Hove BN3 2FN
theplottingparlour.uk
Get thee to an igloo
Once Halloween is over there’s no stopping the Christmas train, so you may as well just get on board. At least that’s what we reckon. Shelter Hall have brought back their popular igloos and they’re available to book now. So if you’re after a private outdoor room with an unbeatable view and some great food choices (we’re rating Conchita’s Mexican Kitchen at the mo), you know what to do.
Kings Road Arches, Shelter Hall, Brighton BN1 1NB
shelterhall.co.uk
And finally… relax at the end of it all at Brighton’s newest community sauna – Stanmer Sauna Garden. Set the heart of the oasis that is Stanmer Organics, bookings are open from this weekend.
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