We’ll keep this intro short and sweet because we don’t know about you, but our brains are rapidly melting into iced lattes. So before we retreat back to the frozen food section here’s your handpicked guide to what’s happening around Brighton this weekend. From whisky tastings, vineyard trips and street parties to designer pop-ups, Latin American feasts and immersive art, there’s plenty to tempt you out of hibernation (or at least away from the fan – more on that here) for a few hours.
Draw what you feel
This isn’t your average life drawing class. Set inside the atmospheric Old Net Loft at Brighton Fishing Museum, The Shape of Longing blends live music with immersive drawing, inviting you to respond to a live performance through whatever unfolds on the page. Artists Lorraine Yu and Julián Gálvez become both performers and subjects, with no words, no instructions and no expectation of getting it ‘right’ (whatever that is). It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned sketcher or haven’t picked up a pencil in years, it’s all about slowing down, tuning in and seeing where the evening takes you.
Fri; 7.30pm; £20.21
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Nab yourself a free paloma
Who says nothing in life is free? José Cuervo (of tequila fame) has popped up in Jubilee Square for the weekend, handing out free mini palomas before sending you off on a boozy treasure hunt around Brighton. Grab a map and a token, then swap it for exclusive two-for-one paloma deals at participating bars across the city (including The Windmill, The Pond and Hector’s). And don’t worry if you can’t make it this weekend, they’re back from 30th July for round two.
Fri & Sat; 12pm – 8pm; free
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Party into the weekend for free
Or maybe you fancy dancing with a drink in hand while the sea breeze whips through your hair (admittedly, that might be a tad more romantic than the reality)? Then Concorde 2’s Disco On The Terrace is a bit of a no-brainer. Oh, and did we mention it’s free? The music venue’s back with another edition of their summer terrace series with a party featuring Brighton faves Wildblood & Queenie and Dan Divine, serving up a feel-good soundtrack of disco, house and summery grooves as the sun goes down over the seafront. And it’s all over by 10pm, which means you can be home at a sensible hour or think of it as your party-starter for a much bigger night. We know how these things go.
Fri; 6pm – 10pm; free, but you need to reserve a tioket
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Catch a beach party by the West Pier
Or if you’re down the other end of town, try this one on for size. After all, it’s sunny and there’s a cool breeze coming in off the sea doing a good job at standing in for aircon, so it’s the perfect time for another beach party. Hot off the heels of last weekend’s brilliant nights, Brighton Sunset Sessions are back on the prom by the West Pier on Friday with Drop Dad Gorgeous on the line-up among others. It’s free, it’s outdoors and it always brings out the best crowds.
Fri; from 6.30pm; free
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Sip your way through Brighton’s first whisky weekend
Brighton’s finally getting the whisky festival it deserves. Bars and venues across the city will be pouring drams, hosting tastings, pairing dinners and welcoming distillers, all building up to a huge Saturday expo at The Old Market featuring over 30 producers from around the world. Better yet, the main tasting session doesn’t do tokens or hidden extras – every whisky on offer is included in your ticket, so you can spend your time deciding what to try next rather than counting vouchers. Whether you’re a seasoned whisky nerd or just fancy swapping your usual pint for something a little smokier, this is one for the diary.
From Fri
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Step into a queer Regency ball
Bridgerton, but make it queer. Fabrica is transforming into a Regency ballroom for one glorious evening of dancing, dazzling outfits and LGBTQIA+ joy. No dance experience is needed – you’ll be taught every step before twirling your way through the evening, with plenty of breaks for drinks, mingling and admiring everyone’s costumes. There’s also a drag performance, a costume competition, a photographer capturing the night’s best looks and a surprise finale. Consider this your excuse to go full Austen for the night.
Sat; 7.30pm; from £16.50
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Shop Brighton’s indie designers
Skip the high street and discover some of Brighton’s best independent makers instead. Werks.Curated is bringing together a handpicked line-up of local designers, curators, artists and ethical brands under one roof, from jewellery and candles to homewares and pre-loved fashion. There’s fresh bagels from Bayit to keep you fuelled, plenty of opportunities to meet the people behind the brands and a lovely community feel that makes browsing feel a lot less transactional. Perfect for anyone who likes their shopping local.
Sat; 11am – 6pm; free
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Hit one of the city’s best street parties
Clear your diary – the Lion and Lobster’s annual street party is back. They’re taking over Sillwood Street for the day, with Mic Records putting together a banging line-up of Brighton brands across blues, folk and rock. Along with outdoor bars, street food and face painting, there’s a reason this is a longstanding Brighton summer tradition. Oh, they’re showing the football too, if you want to stay on afterwards.
Sat; from midday; free
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Sneak into Madam Lola’s for £35
Brighton’s most gloriously over-the-top new night out is nearly out of preview mode. This is your last chance to experience Madam Lola’s immersive cabaret for just £35 before full pricing kicks in. Set in the round, you’re up (very) close and personal with some seriously impressive aerial and circus performances, fire-eating, burlesque, and a hefty dose of hilarious weirdness, all hosted by the inimitable Joe Black. It’s one of the best nights out we’ve had in Brighton for a long time, so if you’ve been meaning to see what all the fuss is about, this is probably the weekend to do it. Oh, and it segues effortlessly into a club night afterwards on Saturdays, so you can get down and debaucherous with the best of them inside Kemptown’s glam copper-domed ballroom.
Sat; from 7pm; £35
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Shop Serving OMV’s new collection
Brighton concept store Serving OMV (that’s Old Money Vintage) is popping up at Gallery 40 this weekend with their hot new summer collection. Created entirely from existing garments, the collection reworks vintage Escada, inherited pieces and 90s sportswear into one-offs inspired by British seaside summers. Expect sun-faded glamour, nostalgic references and plenty of the thoughtful styling that’s helped Serving OMV build a loyal following. We love it.
Fri – Sun; free
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Slurp your way around the city for £15
Brighton has plenty of food festivals, but an entire festival dedicated to oysters feels a little more niche. Running across ten days, this is the last weekend of the inaugural Brighton Oyster Festival that sees restaurants and bars across the city serving oyster-and-drink pairings for just £15, alongside special dinners, tasting events and, yes, a professional oyster shucking competition (that’s on Sunday). Some of our favourite spots are taking part, too, including English’s, Embers, Lost in The Lanes, Crazy Goose and Stem, for starters. Build your own oyster trail, venue-hopping in pursuit of mollusc-based glory or go all in one of the special events, like cocktails under the sharks at Sea Life. Not bad for a food that’s essentially a posh seaside lozenge.
Until Sun 28th June; from £15
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Meet your neighbours in the Pavilion gardens
There’s something rather lovely about an event whose whole purpose is getting strangers to spend a sunny afternoon together while celebrating the history of the Royal Pavilion Gardens. Brighton Museum’s annual free get-together transforms the gardens into one big communal living room, with giant board games, nature activities, pop-up talks, wildlife discoveries, craft workshops, and plenty of picnic space. Bring lunch, borrow a game or just wander over for a chat – everyone’s welcome.
Sun; 11am – 3pm; free
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See Brighton’s trees differently
And in more wholesome programming, how about a guided tree stroll? Jeff of Brighton Tree Walks will meet you at The Level, before you walk to Pavilion Gardens as he reveals the surprising stories behind Brighton’s trees along the way. You’ll discover why the city is home to the National Collection of Elm Trees, learn how trees communicate through the ‘wood wide web’ and pick up plenty of tips for identifying them yourself. What a tree-at.
Sun; 10.30am; £5
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Palmito lands at Unbarred for a day of asado and beer
This is exactly the sort of collab we like to see. Unbarred Brewery is joining forces with much-loved restaturant Palmito for the first-ever Asado Sessions, bringing wood-fired Latin American street food to the taproom, while Sonido Sabroso is providing the soundtrack with cumbia spun on vinyl all afternoon. There’s also the launch of Unbarred’s new Morello Cherry beer, which chef Diego has paired with one of his dishes. The menu looks seriously good too, with everything from pork carnitas tacos and beef pinchitos to vegan empanadas, guacamole and oysters acevichadas. Sunday is looking hot, hot, hot.
Sun; 2pm until sellout
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Drop in on Brighton’s newest community radio station
After a string of pop-ups, takeovers and one-off broadcasts, Offie Radio has finally found a permanent home. Every Sunday, the indie community station offshoot of the Brighton-based music mag is now broadcasting live every week from Pink Moon in the Lanes, with more than 20 recurring shows featuring DJs, hosts and special guests. Grab a coffee and maybe a treat or two, settle in and catch a live set while you’re there.
Weekly from Sun; from midday; free
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GET OUTTA TOWN
Picnic among the vines for English Wine Week
The sun’s shining, the mercury’s gone wild, how about taking a break from the city? It’s English Wine Week, so it’s the perfect time for a stroll and a picnic in the vines (which is every bit as idyllic as it sounds minus the odd pesky wasp). Book a hamper for two at Bolney and indulge in sandwiches and sweet treats, with the option to add a bottle of bubbly.
Daily until Sun 28th June; midday, 1pm or 2pm pick-up; from £40 for two
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READ ALSO: TEN SUSSEX VINEYARDS TO RAISE A GLASS IN THIS ENGLISH WINE WEEK
Got an event you reckon we should know about? Want to take us out for coffee? Or maybe you just want to tell us you love us – we’ll take it all. Just drop us a line here hello@brightontheinside.co.uk (yep, still just the one on).
