Things to do in Brighton this weekend | 26th – 28th April

Another week, another weekend! This is the last one before our favourite month of the year gets its party pants on, so we’ll be getting stuck into some hard-core May planning. Until then, we’ve got a weekend of parties, pop-ups and patties for you, with a healthy helping of art and music. And don’t miss the first edition of BOTI Burps, our foodie news-you-can-use round-up! Come on in…

See a new exhibition

Head to Ditchling to see a new exhibition featuring never-seen-before items and artworks from popular British illustrator and storyteller Raymond Briggs (yep, he of Christmas must-watch The Snowman). The exhibition opens on Saturday and brings together a collection of items, such as notes to self and family photos, from the late author’s home in Westmeston in Sussex that give an insight into his personality, together with over 100 original artworks. While you’re over that way, we’d recommend a stroll up to the Beacon, stocking up on freshly laid free-range eggs at The Mac’s Farm, before relaxing over a glass of something bubbly at Ridgeview. Saturday sorted.
From Saturday 27th April; £9
Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, Lodge Hill Lane, Ditchling, Hassocks, BN6 8SP
ditchlingmuseumartcraft.org.uk

Get your sustainable shop on

Harriet’s of Hove are hosting their first event – a pre-loved clothes sale – in their new George Street store (Saturday; 6pm – 8.30pm; free; 31 George Street, Hove, BN3 3YB). They’ll have women’s (sizes 8 – 16) and kids’ (age 0 to 10) clothes, plus shoes and accessories. And, if you get there early, you’ll be rewarded with a glass of the bubbly stuff. Plus, everyone will get 10 percent off any refills and shopping you do on the night, so it’s well worth stocking up! And if you’re after more pre-loved and creator-made gems, Saturday is also the Silver Spur makers’ market (10am – 4pm; Knowles Hall, Knoyle Road; free; 10am – 4pm) with everything from pre-loved fashion to ceramics, jewellery, prints, and more. Or head over to Trenchmore Farm for their Saturday Spring Market (11am – 4pm; free; Burnthouse Lane, Cowfold, Horsham, BH13 8DG) – it’s a celebration of Sussex with makers, farmers, chefs, and brewers and distillers, plus music, hot food, and more.

Go to an entirely different kind of gig

This isn’t your usual type of gig. Swap sticky floors for the woods, guitars and drums for nature’s best songbird and you might start to get the picture. Singing With Nightingales is an immersive concert in the outdoors starring folk singer and author Sam Lee duetting with the majestic nightingale. As well as musical performances and folk tales by the campfire, the evening includes a two-course vegan dinner with drinks and a tour of the woods before you’re led in silence and darkness into the woods for the epic finale. You can also add on camping if you want to make a night of it.
Friday 26th and Saturday 27th April; 7pm; from £100
thenestcollective.co.uk

See a powerful cinematic masterpiece

A far cry from the mainstream fare that often gets repeated ad nauseam at other pop-ups, White Wall Cinema are known for showing cinematic thrills and cult classics to (re)discover. This Friday’s film is a 25th anniversary screening of the daring masterpiece that is Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia. Featuring an incredible ensemble cast (Phillip Seymour Hoffmann, Julianne Moore and Tom Cruise, for starters) playing inter-related dysfunctional characters, it’s a multi-layered tale of love, forgiveness and meaning.
Friday 26th April; 7.20pm; £9.40
Wagner Hall, Regency Road, Brighton, BN1 2RU

whitewallcinema.co.uk

Get your Party (Bag) on

If you’re after a night of silliness and songs with an extra-large helping of fun, then we’d recommend a trip to Ironworks’ Party Bag night. Hosted by two great Brighton drag queens, Dick Day and Ophelia Payne, you can expect cheeky, weird, and wonderful performances from three different drag acts – Small Willy Nelson, Gaylien de Mars, and Deeva D are on Friday’s eclectic line-up.
Friday 26th April; 8pm – 11pm; from £12.50
Ironworks Studios, 30 Cheapside, Brighton, BN1 4GD
ironworks-studios.co.uk

Try a flavour-packed limited-edition burger collab

As popular as they are, it’s not always easy to nail a fried chicken burger. The seasoning, cheese, toppings, and sauce – they’ve all got room for missteps. But burger trailblazers Honest Burgers, in collaboration with Southern US-style Homewrecker cheese, have crafted another delight this month: the Carolina Fried Chicken burger. The creamy heat of the pimento cheese harmonises with the crispy chicken, while tangy pickles and crunchy lettuce balance each bite. Honest Burgers always impress us, but the Carolina Fried Chicken (available until 6th May) takes it to another level – if you’re a fried chicken burger lover, we’d recommend giving this one a go.
Honest Burgers, 8 Duke Street, Brighton BN1 1AH
honestburgers.co.uk

Coming up next week…

And because the weekend is the perfect time to start planning your week ahead, here are just a few of the things we’re looking forward to next week… beautiful Grey Gardens documentary at The Old Market on Monday 29th April; eclectic singer-songwriter Marta Del Grandi at The Folkore Rooms also on Monday; cult hit Solve-along-a Murder She Wrote on Tuesday 30th April at Komedia; local natty wine producers Titch Hill and Quatro Mustachios are bringing their glorious bottles of Pet Nat (maybe you tried them at the Brighton Natural Wine Fair) to Vine Street Tap on Wednesday 1st May for a truly pétillant party; and Dandy coffee shop are back with a new edition of their sell-out Espresso Martini Nights on Friday 3rd May.