Our favourite month of the year is finally here – Fringe, Festival, open air theatre, artists’ open houses – May has got it going on. It’s great, but it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with everything suddenly happening all at once. So we’re here to (hopefully) help by bringing you our picks of the best of what’s going on in Brighton and beyond this long weekend.
Watch the Children’s Parade
It’s not just the Fringe that’s in full swing this weekend, the main Brighton Festival launches on Saturday, too, with the annual must-see Children’s Parade, a collaboration with Same Sky artists. Every year, around 5,000 children take to the streets for an explosion of bright colours, sculptures and sounds. Festival guest director Anoushka Shankar has chosen the theme ‘New Dawn’ for this year’s festival, inviting schools and community organisations to come together to think about the future and how to change the world for the better. Cheer the procession on by following the route from Jubilee Street to Madeira Drive.
Saturday 3rd May 2025 from 10.30am; free to spectate
Route runs from Jubilee Street to Madeira Drive
brightonfestival.org
Soak up the rays on a sunny terrace
We’ve been basking in deliciously summer-like weather and if you get the chance to check them out this long weekend, these are the terraces we’re loving right now. Pearly Cow has just launched its terrace and it’s a goodie. Perched directly opposite the West Pier with the i360 to the right, it’s the perfect spot for a long lazy lunch or for settling in to watch the sun go down with an excellent cocktail, some oysters or a pizzette fresh out of the outdoor pizza oven. Over past the pier, we’re still loving the newly democratised Cecconi’s for northern Italian dishes, decent wines and wide-ranging sea views from under those scalloped umbrellas and old favourite Bison Beach Bar at Sea Lanes for a livelier vibe with a side of seaview action. And you can’t beat The Setting Sun from near the top of hilly Hanover for a spot of, no surprises here, sunset-watching.
Hang out at the Spiegeltent’s successor
Sadly, we’re not getting the Spiegeltent this year, but instead there is the new Spiegelgardens, which promises similarly eclectic festival magic. The fun kicks off on Friday from 6pm with English Disco Lovers playing the opening party and on Saturday and Sunday Brighton laser artist Seb Lee is putting on a fabulous free show to mark the launch weekend (from 10pm both days). Just like the Spiegeltent, you can grab a drink and soak up the atmosphere and free entertainment, or head into the Wundabarn for more Fringe fun.
From Friday 2nd May; from 6pm; from free
Victoria Gardens North, Brighton, BN1
spiegelgardens.co.uk
Catch a Fringe show
Part of the joy of the Fringe is being able to see a show impulsively, without too much forethought. It gives you the chance to discover things that you might not normally gravitate towards, but which can end up being ridiculously fun. Despite our conviction that can be an excellent way to Fringe, here are some of our recommendations for things to see this first Fringe weekend, just to get you started: an improvised comedy entirely set in a women’s loo; a couple of anarchic potatoes in a surreal fever dream; a fabulously off-the-wall night of bingo fun; and the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus retrospective. Read more of our recommendations here!
brightonfringe.org
Discover Kemptown’s no-longer-so-secret garden
We love it when we uncover somewhere that’s been right under our nose but we’ve somehow missed. This Kemptown slice of heaven in garden form is exactly that. Only it’s not so secret any more. Run by the Antony Dale Trust (Dale founded Brighton’s Regency Society), the beautifully planted walled garden holds temporary exhibitions. This year, they’re hosting a new exhibition of sculptures by German-born, Sussex-based sculptor Almuth Tebbenhoff and they’ve been open since the Easter bank holiday weekend. Brighton caterers Table are also in situ to cater for foodie needs (big up the wild garlic and Cheddar scones), serving up supremely tasty sweet and savoury homemade treats. Perfect for enjoying in this little dog-friendly oasis of calm, a welcome world away from the frenzy of nearby Eastern Road.
Open Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday Monday; 11am – 5pm; free
Bristol Gardens, Kemp Town, Brighton BN2 5JE
secretgardenkemptown.co.uk
Pay what you like at a cult Malaysian street food restaurant
Yep, Roti King is opening its first restaurant outside London in the heart of the Lanes and from Saturday, for four days, they’ve got one hell of a deal: pay what you like. Literally. You’ve probably heard of them if you’ve lived in London or are a regular visitor – they’ve built up one hell of a following since they launched over a decade ago thanks to their freshly made roti, rich curries and bold Malaysian flavours. At the 50-cover Brighton site, guests can watch roti being hand-stretched and cooked to order in the open kitchen. Must-eat dishes include the roti canai with dhal, chicken, mutton or fish kari and the char kway teow – chewy rice noodles stir-fried with prawn and egg. We went to the launch night on Thursday and are big fans of the flavour-packed dishes and the flaky buttery roti.
From Saturday 3rd May from midday to 10pm (walk-ins and card payments only)
57 Ship Street, Brighton
rotiking.co.uk
Snap up the bargains at a yard sale
Plant and lifestyle shop Hi Cacti is back for the second week running for the final (final) stage of their spring clear out. Head along to get some beautiful bargains (prices start at just a quid) across plant pots, candles, Mexican imports, art, ex-shop fittings and displays, plus clothes, vintage, glassware and furniture. In true yard-sale fashion, you’ll find them set up outside the shop, which is currently closed for a makeover.
Saturday 3rd May; 10am – 3pm; free
83 Dyke Rd, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 3JE
hicacti.com
Cosy up at an exciting cocktail collab
Creative cocktail masters GungHo are back! They may have said goodbye to their neon-fuelled dream of a bar on Preston Street (now home to the brilliant Halisco Margarita bar) but great cocktails never die. And their first pop-up with L’Atelier du Vin a couple of weeks ago was such a success, they’re doing it all over again. Yep, they’re bringing their sustainably crafted drinks back to Atelier’s intimate Hove basement speakeasy (aka Cases Wine Bar). Think seriously good Prohibition-style cocktails, cosy vibes and excellent tunes. And, if the weather’s good, you can also enjoy their drinks on the street-level terrace.
Friday to Sunday, 6pm – 11.30pm, walk-ins only
35 Western Road, Hove
gunghobar.com
Treat your belly at Foodies Festival
Yep, ‘Gastro-Glasto’ is back. Prepare for a smorgasbord of mouthwatering interactive demos from multi-award-winning and Michelin-rated Brighton and Sussex chefs, and some from further afield. Think Cin Cin’s Jamie Halsall, 64 Degrees’ Michael Bremner, Etch’s Steven Edwards, Chilli Pickle’s Alun Sperring, Furna’s Dave Mothersill, and Audrey’s chocolatier Carl Thomas, for starters. You can also take your pick from tutored masterclasses; dive into the tasting theatre; sign up at the cooking school; shop at artisan food and drink stalls; test your mettle at a chilli-eating competition; and, of course, eat and drink your way around the producer stalls. Tunes-wise, you’ll find Pixie Lott on Saturday, The Wanted 2.0 on Saturday and Scouting For Girls bringing it home again on the Monday. We’ve got a discount code for you, too: pop OFFER20 in at the checkout and you’ll get 20 percent off the ticket price.
Preston Park, Preston Road, Brighton, BN1 6SD
Saturday 3rd – Monday 5th May; 11am – 9pm (8pm Monday); adult day tickets from £21
foodiesfestival.com
Head to Lewes for a spot of dwyle flunking
Home of quirky events, the Lewes Arms pub, is back with another helping of dwyle flunking this May bank holiday. For the uninitiated, this consists of dressed-up teams taking it in turns to hold each other’s hands, forming a circle and dancing ring-a-roses style around a member of the opposing team. In the centre of the circle, a rag attached to a pole is submerged into a bowl of beer slops, and the rival team member in the middle holds the pole while spinning around the bucket. Once they’re suitably dizzy, they whip the rag out of the bucket and fling it at one (or ideally more than one) of the dancing team. Points are then awarded based on the body part and person hit. Got it? Us neither, but that’s all part of the fun. Oh, and if the players aren’t suitably sozzled by the end of the game, they lose points. Top tip: don’t stand too close – we learnt this the hard way.
Sunday 4th May; from 1pm (ish); free
The Lewes Arms, 1 Mount Place, Lewes, BN7 1YH
lewesarms.co.uk
Visit a community festival
The St Ann’s Well Gardens Spring Festival is back! This central Hove park is pretty lovely in its own right, but it’s all the more worth a visit when this free festival is on. There’s live music all day, from singing barber Peter Joannou to party-rocking headliners Dub Pistols, local food and drink, a craft market from local designers and creators, plus a whole host of fun activities, from music workshops to yoga and healing and beer tents. (Drinking’s an activity, right?) Basically, there’s something to suit everyone.
Saturday 3rd May; midday – 7.30pm; free
St Ann’s Well Gardens, Somerhill Road, Hove BN3 1NF
springfestival.garden
What else?
Pink Moon are back with another edition of their garden party. Expect good tunes, good food (vegan dim sum!) and good people in their chilled outdoor space on Ship Street (Sunday; from 3pm; free). Then head over to local boozer The Robin Hood for their famous bank holiday street party, featuring local bands, DJs and food from Ditch Brisket (Sunday; midday – 8pm; free). Head over to Brighton’s newest bakery – Bee May Bakery – to check out their delicious bakes. The first 100 customers on Saturday AND Sunday will get a free cookie! The store opens at 9am and you’ll find them at 16 Gloucester Road. And if you head over to indie community space the Cowley Club on London Road, you’ll find the Brighton Vegan Beer Festival (Saturday – Monday; midday – late; free). And, of course, it’s Cinco de Mayo on Monday, too. If you’re quick, there are still a few tables left for the legendary fun at Halisco on Preston Street. Failing that, nab a spot at their sister venue Anakuma, just a few metres away. Tequila, tacos, and a Mariachi band (from 6pm) at both venues, these guys know how to bring the vibes. And as they’re turning eight on Monday, expect last year’s shenanigans to reach a whole new level. Or just rock up at their new Bar Halisco – handily on the same road – for some truly excellent margaritas (also available to take away!).
