Fresh off our evening of colander-wielding to watch the eclipse (never thought we’d write that sentence), we’re back with another dose of weekend fun. We’ve already told you about some of the good stuff, like Sunday’s Free The Nipple protest, the emergence of a giant inflatable football to mark the launch weekend of Stand or Fall – a new exhibition that charts The Seagulls’ remarkable rise from the brink of extinction to the Premier League, loads of foodie fun, and more open-air cinema, including some absolutely belters.
Oh, and there’s another super-low tide on Saturday (7.51am and 8.14pm – these alerts are well worth signing up for to hear about when the beach turns gloriously sandy-ish). Read on for our pick of the best of the rest.
FRIDAY
Check out a new sustainable swimwear store
We love a bit of newness here at BOTI and Brighton feeds our magpie curiosity pretty much every weekend. If you’re already familiar with female-founded sustainable swimwear brand SoSo Swim, you’ll be excited to hear founder Romy has opened a flagship store in her home town (yes, that’s Brighton). If you’re not, we reckon you’re going to love this indie brand that uses discarded fishing nets and other waste to make its cossies. Fresh off an extended (until next year) pop-up in Australia’s Bondi Beach, she opened the Brighton store on Thursday, having transformed it into a colourful beacon of swimwear glory – check it out!
Open now; Bond Street; daily; 11am – 6pm
sososwim.com
See a house music legend at Concorde 2
This is a big one. Chicago house pioneer Marshall Jefferson – the man behind 1986 classic ‘Move Your Body’ (aka The House Music Anthem) and one of the key figures in house music’s formative years is playing Concorde 2. He also had a hand in Phuture’s ‘Acid Tracks’, widely credited with kickstarting acid house, and CeCe Rogers’ ‘Someday’, so this is basically a chance to dance to a genuine piece of clubbing history. Warming things up is Brighton’s Sam Moffett of English Disco Lovers, the disco-loving anti-hate movement that reclaimed the EDL initials from the English Defence League and has been throwing some of the best parties around the city for years. Like they say: Don’t hate, gyrate.
Fri; 6pm; from £21.25
Book tickets
Relive a childhood classic at the Theatre Royal
If the words ‘Toot Sweets’ immediately transport you back to childhood, you might like this one. Brighton Theatre Group has brought Chitty Chitty Bang Bang back to the Theatre Royal, complete with Caractacus Potts, Truly Scrumptious, the terrifying Child Catcher and, of course, that flying car. The local company last staged the musical here around seven years ago – and clearly couldn’t resist another spin. The pro-level amateur production comes with a hefty dose of nostalgia as the original 1968 film (based on Bond creator Ian Fleming’s 1964 novel) still tends to get passed down through families. So if you were after adding some some joyful big song-and-dance numbers, silly spies and colourful sets to your weekend, you’re in luck.
Fri – Sun; various times; from £15.60
Book tickets
SATURDAY
Come through for FemRock’s all-dayer
FemRock is taking over Daltons for eight hours on Saturday, with a full day of rock and punk from women-and LGBTQ+-fronted bands, including COWZ, Anserine and Sooks. The volunteer-run, not-for-profit Brighton collective was set up to tackle inequality in the music scene, so this is as much about who gets a spot on stage as what’s being played on it. There’s also a quiet craft space if you need a break from the bands, plus tickets to suit all affordability levels, including a free low-income option, to make it accessible to everyone.
Sat; 2.30pm – 10.30pm; free – £16
Book tickets
Get a taste of Ferragosto at Bar 50ml
Italian-run aperitivo joint Bar 50ml is going even more Italian on Saturday, celebrating Ferragosto with Arkwrights Deli taking over the grill for a proper grigliata, including arrosticini, alongside plenty of Lambrusco and tiramisu. If you’re not familiar, Ferragosto is Italy’s big 15th August summer holiday, when traditionally it’s all about getting out of town, eating and drinking with friends and family and generally taking it easy. Let’s face it, the Italians have got the right idea so it’s a very welcome Brighton addition.
Sat; from 4.30pm
More information
Get your festival on in Hove, actually
The Brunswick Festival team are back with the 43rd edition of their fun August extravaganza. Organised by volunteers and local residents, you can expect a marketplace full of arts and crafts traders, eco-friendly products, local food and drink, a wellbeing area with alternative therapies and massage, plus plenty of other activities to get stuck into. There’s chess club, circus skills and crafty fun, for starters, not to mention a jam-packed music programme covering all the musical bases (see the line-up above). Fingers crossed for sunshine! NB: Dogs are sadly not allowed in the Square so it’s a dog-free event (with the exception of service dogs).
Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August; midday – 8pm; free
More information
Rave for good at Volks
Get your raving shoes on as Dance for Peace is taking over both rooms at beachside club Volks for a six-hour day rave on Saturday, raising money for Medical Aid for Palestinians. The house-heavy line-up brings together Danny Howells, Sophie Joy, Simon Atkinson, Andy Mac, Nick Hook, Mini Da Minx, Affy Go Bang and plenty more, with every DJ playing for free and all proceeds going towards humanitarian aid via the charity. There’ll also be a stall from Revolting Threads, which donates its profits to charities working in Gaza. Dancing for a good cause? We’re in.
Sat; 4pm – 10pm; from £6
Book tickets
SUNDAY
Take home a piece of The Queery
It’s your last chance to take home a little piece of Brighton’s queer history this weekend. The Queery, the LGBTQ+ café, bookshop and community space in Kemptown that closed earlier this summer after a series of longstanding issues and financial pressures, is holding a final closing-down sale on Sunday. And when they say everything must go, they mean it: art, books, café stock, curios, plants, shelves, fridges, hoovers, tables, chairs and even the sofas are all up for grabs. Basically, if it’s not attached to the building, you can buy it. They say money raised will go towards settling debts with creditors and reducing the impact on the co-operative’s guarantors.
Sun; midday – 7pm
More information
Step into an upcycled Dreamland
Sustainable fashion designer and artist Jamie Brown is launching his latest collection with a Sunday takeover at Brusco – and he’s bringing some friends along for the ride. ‘Upcycled Dreamland’ will feature Brown’s signature zero-waste, one-of-one pieces made from fun patterned curtains alongside new merch, paintings, bespoke pieces and clothing repairs, with special collabs created for the day. Komodo Coffee is sorting espresso martinis and a special cold brew, while Brusco will also be serving Venetian cicchetti until 4pm when normal restaurant service resumes. Shop some wearable art, then eat, drink, and enjoy.
Sun; from 2pm; walk-ins only
More information
Have a rummage at Brighton’s newest flea market
Fancy a Sunday rummage? After launching in June, Brighton Met Flea is back at the college’s central Pelham Street campus this Sunday, and the organisers say it’s even bigger and better (it was pretty good last time). In terms of the sort of thing you’ll find: over 40 independent sellers with rails of vintage and Y2K clothing, retro homeware, antique furniture, art, vintage books and magazines, accessories, collectables and other one-off bits, plus good coffee and food (they’ve had Oui Creperie, Boella pizza and Easy Life Coffee recently). It’s all about reuse, upcycling and giving old stuff a new home – and we can definitely get on board with that.
Sun; 10am – 5pm; from £3 (buy on eventbrite or pay on the door)
Book tickets
What else?
Super-cool hifi bar On Air have got a record sale on Sunday (from 2pm) with DJ-sellers bringing a selection of vinyl to buy across a wide range of genres, including hip hop, soul, funk, jazz, disco and house.
GET OUTTA TOWN
Head to the waterfront in Littlehampton
We know, why would you leave Brighton for Littlehampton (we will concede that the West Beach is pretty good)? But this weekend there’s a pretty good reason: the Waterfront Festival is back, with plenty happening on and off the water. Historic Dunkirk ‘Little Ships’ will be sailing into the harbour alongside other visiting vessels, with watersports displays on the river and a line-up of entertainment along the waterfront. That means Morris dancers, sea shanties, plus stalls from local businesses and community groups. Best of all, it’s all absolutely free.
Sat and Sun; 11am – 5pm; free
More information
