Would it be wrong of us to say we’re starting to feel a teensy bit festive? We’ve got a Christmas tree and cocktail comp on the go, we’ve had our first festive menu of the season (Wild Flor, if you’re wondering, and yes, it was excellent), and the annual Christmas ad debate has started. Well, ready or not, as the Coca Cola ad says, the holidays are coming, and Brighton’s getting prepped: the Royal Pavilion’s had its 22-foot Nordmann Fir delivered and it’s the Brighton light switch-on this weekend (more on that below). Come on in for some festive (and some not-so-festive) things to do this weekend and beyond.
Get your festive on at the city light switch-on
If you’re struggling to ban your inner Scrooge, Brilliant Brighton (the not-for-profit made up of 517 city centre businesses) have got you with a jam-packed festive afternoon this Saturday. You’ll find roaming carolling choirs and Christmassy performances around the Lanes, North Laine and Western Road areas, elves giving out goodies and spreading joy, the launch of the best-dressed Christmas window competition (vote for the chance to win a £75 gift card), a bauble hunt at Snoopers Paradise, and a sleigh-load of discounts and offers at loads of the city-centre businesses. And, of course there’s the annual light switch-on to provide a sparkling backdrop to all the festive fun. The Christmas lights are only changed every five years (they’re eye-wateringly expensive for the Brilliant Brighton businesses funding them) so we’ve got the return of Brighton street artist-designed (Sinna, Mowgli, Cassette Lord and Bintley are among the creators) lights to North Street and Western Road, with more traditional lights elsewhere.
Saturday 16th November; 2pm – 6pm; around the city centre
brilliantbrighton.com
Check out some Christmas markets
‘Tis the season of the Christmas market and there are two out-of-town goodies this weekend (our full guide will be out next week). First up, Lewes: there’s a Christmas market upstairs at The Royal Oak pub on Saturday. The historic county town is a haven of unusual goodies all year round and this festive market is no different. From decorations for your festive table, colourful leather accessories, hand-crafted jewellery, vintage homeware, upcycled sari silk dresses, woodwork, ceramics, skincare and more. We reckon it’s worth the trip just for the chance to see Brighton creator Fumbalinas‘ sequin-studded kaftans and turbans IRL. And if that’s not enough, there’s a choir belting out the Crimbo tunes, plus plenty of mulled wine and mince pies. Meanwhile, over in Chichester, it’s the Rare Brand Christmas market all weekend. If you’ve been to the beautiful shop and eatery at The Barn Little London before, you’ll know just how exciting this is. (If you haven’t, trust us, it’s very exciting.) The carefully curated market features an array of indie makers and creators, so if you’re looking for some unusual products that not everyone’s got, this is a great place to go. Plus you’ll find live music and food and drink tasting to make your shopping experience even more festive.
Lewes: Saturday 16th November; 10am – 4pm; free
The Royal Oak, 3 Station Street, Lewes, BN7 2DA
Lewes Christmas Market
Chichester: Friday 15th – Sunday 17th November; 9am – 5pm (4pm Sunday); free
40 East Street, Chichester, PO19 1HX
thebarnlittlelondon.com
Eat this cheese-laden limited-edition burger
Don’t miss your last chance to get your chops around Honest’s latest limited-edition burger, The Ultimate Cheddar. Honest’s burgers are always headliners on our best burgers’ list and this cheesy treat is no exception. Combining the comforting juiciness of an Honest patty with the sharp tang of a really good cheese toasty, this is the ultimate beer food (we’d recommend popping in to Mad Dog over the street for a couple of craft beers beforehand). Unusually for their specials, you can choose your patty from the chicken, beef or veggie fritter. We recently tried the beef version and it’s the most succulent pink vessel just waiting to receive its melting medley of toppings: crispy bacon, sweet-and-smoky chipotle jam, chive confit garlic mayo, tangy pickles, and, of course, the triple Godminster Cheddar blend. Sweet dreams are indeed made of cheese. Get on this one by its last day, Monday 18th November.
Honest Burgers, 8 Duke Street, Brighton, BN1 1AH
honestburgers.co.uk
Party at the opening of the new Kindly store
Independent vegan supermarket Kindly of Brighton have filled the empty spot left by Hisbe on London Road with their second shop in the city. To mark their move-in and five years of Kindly, they’re having a bit of a shindig with goodie bags, store-wide discounts, freebies, bubbly and a DJ set. You’ll also be able to taste Booyah Vitality’s Kombucha and health drinks and Oatopia’s flapjacks.
Saturday 16th November; 3pm – 6pm; free
20 – 21 York Place, Brighton, BN1 4GU
kindlyofbrighton.com
Go to Curio Cafe’s festive launch party
It’s all about the launches this weekend! The lovely Curio Cafe (awesome sandwiches, excellent wine) on the corner by the Duke of York cinema is having an-all day party to celebrate their opening. Yes, they may have opened seven months ago, but stuff this good is well worth celebrating, not least when they’ll also be launching their tasty Christmas menu, new Milk Shed Coffee cocktails and spinning the tunes from 9pm.
Saturday 16th November; sandwiches from 10am
1 Clyde Road, Brighton, BN1 4NN
curio.cafe
Celebrate 10 years of the Private Press
If you’ve been in Brighton for a bit, you’ll probably be familiar with the Private Press, either because you’ve bought a print or you’ve been on one of their fantastic screenprinting workshops. This year marks their 10th anniversary and, to celebrate, the screenprinters have got an exhibition and pop-up shop at Gallery 40 until Sunday. (And while you’re in the area, do yourself a favour and pop over the road to the beautiful Soliflore perfume boutique.)
Until Sunday 17th November; free
Gallery 40, 40 Gloucester Road, Brighton, BN1 4AQ
theprivatepress.org
What else?
Style curator and all-round style icon Alexis Foreman is selling off some of her enviable wardrobe – clothes, accessories and beauty – this weekend in Hove (Saturday and Sunday; 1pm – 7pm; 50 Tongdean Avenue). It’s also the Brighton Vegan Festival on Sunday (10.30am – 4pm; from £5); the Royal Pavilion Christmas trees – all 16 of them, from trees featuring teeny-weeny copper pot baubles to a full-on Bridgerton extravaganza – are in situ, as are the Pavilion Christmas mice; Well Rounded Records are going to be spinning the vinyl at The Well’s new(ish) Hove spot (it’s THE place to head for excellent natural wines, craft beers and good vibes) on Sunday (3pm – 9pm; free); check out comedian and actor Dylan Moran’s latest mini portraits at Two Kats and a Cow gallery on Saturday (3pm – 6pm; free) and meet him and other guest artists over drinks; and finally, it’s the last weekend of the brilliant CineCity film festival.
Coming up next week…
Take part in a computer game as a IRL runner in this intriguing chase game at the Attenborough Centre (Tuesday – Thursday; free, but booking required for IRL play); go to a mezcal and tequila tasting with The Lost Explorer at Curio Cafe and Bar on Tuesday (£10); then line your stomachs for another one as Gente de Mezcal team up with the Plotting Parlour on Wednesday (£15); it’s the first of The Social Society x The Badger supper club’s charity supper clubs; don’t miss seeing excellent chef and all-round lovely guy Michael Notmann-Watt (he did a cooking demo for us way back in lockdown and is now cheffing the hell out of Arundel’s The Brewhouse Project) on MasterChef: The Professionals (Monday 18th November; 9pm, BBC1); and Video Affects is back on Thursday (7pm; £8) featuring a premiere of the Lush, A Far From Home Movie doc, and excellent film chat from the 90s band and other speakers.
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