Free chips, full moon shenanigans and a whole lot of caffeine? That’s just for starters. Join us in the (very long!) full-length guide below as we dive into another weekend of music, magic and mayhem across the city. (Prefer us on Instagram? You’ll also find a mini version of this guide over there.)
EXCELLENT EATS (AND DRINKS)
Free chips! Ah, now we’ve got your attention. ICYMI, Ikea is landing in Brighton very soon – like, next Thursday soon. But this weekend, you can get free chips from their cheeky ‘chip theft insurance kiosk’ stationed at the i360 to make up for all those chips lost to feathered thieves. Hands off, seagulls, these are ours. [Read more here]
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th August; midday – 6pm; free
Want some cheap-but-great coffee to go with those chips? (Ok, maybe not with them, mayo’s probably a better dip.) You’re in luck: if you head to the Botanist Coffee Co on Friday between 9am and midday, you’ll get yourself a coffee for a quid as Horsham Coffee are in town for Brighton Coffee Festival. And Oui Creperie are serving up coffee for £2 before 11am on the daily. Budget brew lovers unite.
Speaking of Brighton Coffee Festival – it’s back in Hove all weekend with more latte art battles, panel discussions, espresso martinis and more tasters than you can shake a KeepCup at. [Read more here.]
Saturday and Sunday; 9.30am – 5pm; from free
brightoncoffeefest.com
All the eights, 88. Well, sort of. All-day restaurant Lost in the Lanes is turning eight on 8th August and, for one glorious day, they’re serving up their breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes for just £8 (excluding tasting menus). Yep, eight quid. Happy birthday, bellies.
lostinthelanes.com
After a blink-and-you-missed-it sell-out a couple of weeks ago, cookie queen Bee May Bakery is back with more of her dangerously good tiramisu. Doors open, spoons ready – you’ll need to be at Vine Bar early if you want to make sure you secure the goods.
Sunday 10th August; from 1pm ’til sell out
vinestreettap.com
(While we’re on the subject of epic tiramisu, there’s more where that came from. One of our all-time favourite Brighton restaurants, The Set, is cooking up a limited batch of the good stuff on 14th August.)
What makes brunch even better? A side of a sea view, sure. Add in a free Aperol spritz and we’re basically parked for the day. Shelter Hall are throwing one in gratis when you drop £15 on their newish brunch menus (the Kolkati egg paratha rolls are our new go-to). Cheers to that.
Daily; 10.30am – midday
shelterhall.co.uk
Cin Cin’s (all-too-brief) Barbino small plates pop-up at Cases has got a fresh lease of life with a cheeky weekend residency at Little Bruce speciality coffee shop in Portslade.
Thursday 7th – Saturday 9th August; 4pm – 10pm
Little Bruce
There’s a new plant-based kitchen over at relaxed North Laine pub the Earth and Stars. If you want to be one of the first to give it a go, they’re soft-launching this weekend. Head down for a smorgasbord of smash burgers, vegan pork belly, Thai-inspired salad, ‘fish’ and chips, and three different Sunday roast options.
Friday, 4pm – 9pm; Saturday, midday – 9pm; Sunday, midday – 6pm
earthandstars.pub
PARTIES, PERFORMANCES, PAINTINGS
First Press Record and Art Fair is leaving dry land for one day only and heading poolside to the 1930s beauty that is Saltdean Lido this Saturday. Think pool party but with records, art, DJs, and immaculate vibes – all totally free. Stay on for the moonlight swim! [Read more here]
Saturday; midday – 5pm; free
firstpressrecordfair.com
Brighton’s got no shortage of places to stay, but the hottest new ‘hotel’ in town? Doesn’t have any rooms. Or beds. Or breakfast buffets. Instead, Hotel Helm has transformed the city’s boldest gallery into a mid-century fever dream – complete with premium cocktails, big-name artists, and a whiff of retro escapism.
Until 26th August; free, but need to book
helm-gallery.com
Don’t miss your last chance to check out ‘Still, I am Because You Are’ at Mid Street Lab. This brilliant Kemptown exhibition reclaims Pride as protest, sanctuary, joy and collective becoming through work from queer, trans, disabled, neurodivergent and working-class artists and “holds space for stories that don’t fit on a float”. Here, here.
Until Sunday; midday – 5pm; free
midstreetlab.com
Yoga, dancing, paddleboarding, a salty swim if you’re game – every month, Ruby Moon brings Brighton together to see the old moon out in style. Expect good people, good energy, and maybe a little moon magic at this Saturday’s event.
Saturday; 8.30pm
Meet on the beach in front of Hove Lawns Cafe (look for the Ruby Moon banner)
rubymoon.org.uk
Into live music and some seriously good vibes? You need Brighton’s sunset music sessions, which showcase the best of local talent in their usual spot by the bandstand. Extra bonus? It’s all absolutely free.
Friday; from 6pm; free
Sunset music sessions
If you’re still riding high on the Oasis wave, dive (back) into the 90s with an Oasis versus Blur music-off at the Hope and Ruin. Indie anthems, pints and petty 90s rivalries. Who’s winning? You are.
Saturday; 9pm; free
Hope and Ruin
Tucked away in Brighton Square, The Secret Comedy Club is quite possibly the city’s top spot for intimate stand-up minus the rowdy chaos – just proper laughs from top comedians in a super-cosy space that actually feels friendly and fun. This Saturday, Adam Coumas, Jeff Innocent, Stephanie Laing and Will Duggan are bringing the funny.
8pm (doors at 7pm); from £19.25
thesecretcomedyclub.com
The sun is back (for now), so make the most of it with some open-air cinema action this weekend. Noughties fun fest Muriel’s Wedding and Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic is on in the grounds of Preston Manor and, if you prefer, a totally free (more family-oriented) day out, head to Sussex Cricket Ground on Saturday or Sunday for Wicked, Mamma Mia and Frozen. You’ll need to book your free ticket in advance, though.
GIVE A BIT BACK
It’s a triple-whammy beach clean this weekend: over in Hove, you’ll find the Leave No Trace gang at Babble on Sunday. Join them to help keep our beaches in tip-top condition and earn yourself a free coffee at Babble for your hard work. Or, for full-on party vibes, pop over to the i360 on Saturday for a spot of beach cleaning, then head to Fatboy Slim’s Big Beach Cafe for the fundraiser after-party with banging tunes from Woody Cook and more. And, as part of their Million Mile Clean action, Surfers Against Sewage are hosting a beach clean further east at the Peace Statue on Sunday. Your incentive? Making our beaches better for everyone, of course.
Babble: Sunday; 9.30am – 11.30am; meet on the beach directly in front of Babble
Big Beach Cafe: meet at i360 at midday; party from 2pm ‘til 9pm; £11.25
Peace Statue: Sunday; 10am – 11.30am; meet at the Peace Statue
GET OUTTA TOWN
Peas. The rockstar of veggies in our opinion. Tasty, healthy and endlessly fun to chase around your plate with a fork. Turns out they’re quite good for lobbing at people, too. The Lewes Arms have taken that one step further with their rather wonderful pea-throwing championship – running strong for over 20 years. Get involved this Sunday. [Read more here.]
Sunday 10th August; 2pm (registration from 12.30pm – 1pm); free
lewesarms,co.uk
Beak Brewery’s chilled and intimate These Hills Festival is back at Glynde Place (a 10-minute walk from Glynde station, just outside Lewes) this weekend. Expect a dreamy mix of the world’s best breweries (40+ of ’em), street food, sunset DJ sets, natural wine, and laidback countryside vibes – all with a side of brilliant folk weirdness. Whether you’re there for the day session or the golden hour wind-down, your ticket gets you a limited-edition festival glass, a free pour, and 10 percent off at the Lewes taproom all weekend. Sip, snack, dance, repeat.
Saturday, 11am – 10.30pm; Sunday, midday – 6pm; from £27.50
beakbrewery.com
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT
There’s a(nother) new spa in town. Opal Medispa is launching in Patcham on Friday and bringing free bubbly, goodie bags and one-night-only promos.
Friday; 5pm – 8pm; free
Book here
Free The Nipple is back this weekend and, no, you don’t have to be topless to attend! The event is about changing attitudes, fighting gender inequality and welcoming all bodies, and it’s a peaceful, inclusive and accessible protest with body-painting, sign-making, good music and even better vibes. The short march towards the i360 kicks off at 3pm. [Read more here.]
Saturday; meet at the Peace Statue at 2pm
Free the Nipple
It’s getting very lunar this Saturday as excellent music and dim sum bar Pink Moon hosts the Sturgeon Moon Festival – a dreamy day-to-night celebration of music, ritual, poetry, songwriting and intention-setting under the full moon. Expect witchy workshops and moon circles and live music acts (including Vanity Fairy, Delphine and more), plus plenty of cosmic connection, into the evening.
Saturday; 2pm – midnight; from £8.95
Book tickets
Join Creative Club Brighton this Sunday at chilled cafe and puzzle spot Puzzle Bored for a wholesome afternoon of tote bag painting, disco funk, and good company. No skills needed – just turn up, grab your free hot drink, and let your creativity do its thing. All materials (and good vibes) provided.
Sunday; 2pm – 4pm; £12
Book tickets
GET THEE TO A TERRACE
We’re resharing this because, well, it’s summer. And when you’ve got views like ours, there’s really no excuse not to head for a terrace. These are some of our favourite spots right now.
We spent Pride morning at Drift, the new restaurant and bar at the i360 and can safely say she’s a stunner. We haven’t tried the food yet, but can vouch for the drinks and the lounging vibes – those West Pier views are pretty unbeatable (see below pic).
The Winkle, the new restaurant from co-owner couple Owen and PJ, has taken over the old Drifter (and Due South before that) site right on the seafront. It’s a place that captures the spirit of Brighton – creative, welcoming, a bit special without being exclusive. That warmth runs through everything, from the food and drink to the hospitality. Nab a table on the patio or upstairs by the window for brunch, dinner or just drinks and nibbles. And don’t skip the crab mac and cheese bites – they’re good enough to order twice. [Read more here]
In Hove, Babble – the new triple-terrace venue from the Bison Beer crew — is now fully open. Expect a banging line-up of Bison brews, killer food from Sam Lambert of Slam Tacos, sunrise yoga (8am if you’re feeling virtuous), and views for days. [Read more about it here.]
Over by the i360 and West Pier, Pearly Cow has launched its terrace and, with Friday DJs, it’s a strong contender for best spot to watch the sun go down. Grab a pizzette straight from the outdoor oven, a few oysters and a cocktail, and settle in for a session.
Still on our radar: Cecconi’s, now fully democratised and still delivering northern Italian dishes, great wines and scalloped umbrella-covered sea views; The Reading Room, newly kitted out with umbrellas and sofas for lazy brunches or weekend supper clubs; and of course, Bison Beach Bar at Sea Lanes, where good times and great views are always on tap.
And if it’s sunsets you’re chasing, you can’t beat The Setting Sun, perched up near the top of Hanover, for golden-hour magic.
Want more of this – and a first look at our pick of the week’s events? Sign up to our newsletter here and we’ll see you in your inbox!
And if you’d like the chance to win a bottle of Sussex sparkling and tell us what you love (and hate – be brutal, we can take it. Maybe) about BOTI, fill in our survey here. Thank you!
