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Bolstered by a growing reputation, Shoreham Wordfest returns on Sat 30 Sept – Sun 15 Oct. Formed from a community of local writers and literary enthusiasts, this annual event has been supporting local creativity and attracting high profile authors and speakers to the south coast since 2011. Around 20 events are being packed into its busy schedule, including author talks, concerts, poetry and walks.
This festival of words and ideas starts with an immersive theatre trail, Tales of Shoreham: The Big Picture! Journeying through Marlipins Museum, the oldest secular building in Sussex, visitors will meet characters from Shoreham’s history - including its glamorous connection to the early film industry.
More original work is on offer with Idle Women, a new musical play based on the lives of women working on canals during World War Two, nicknamed ‘Idle Women’ due to their ‘IW’ (Inland Waterways) badges.
Shoreham Wordfest is one of the first festivals to hear the acclaimed poet and author Lemn Sissay reading from his brand-new poetry collection, Let The Light Pour In. Lemn will discuss his work with the audience including the award-winning memoir, My Name Is Why
The Fatal Shore Crime Writing Festival has already sold out within weeks. Hosted by authors Elly Griffiths and William Shaw the festival features top authors Richard Osman, Nicci French and Kate Mosse. There’s also the exciting Houseboat of Death, an original whodunnit by Elly Griffiths, later in the evening.
Caitlin is a one-woman play performed by Brighton actress Christine Kempall, portraying Caitlin Thomas’s stormy marriage with Dylan Thomas. Shorehambased actress and playwright Janet Behan celebrates the centenary of her uncle Brendan’s plays and novels such as Borstal Boy
Shoreham Wordfest continues its sessions on topical issues. Journalist Rafael Behr launches his new book Politics – A Survivor’s Guide, a masterclass in how to ‘stay engaged without getting enraged.’ Foreign correspondent Gabriel Gatehouse will discuss the increasingly complex and concerning international perspective.
For tickets and further information on their full range of compelling events, visit the festival’s website at:
www.shorehamwordfest.com
AudioActive, a non-profit organisation creating social change through music and develops emerging talent across Sussex, is excited to launch two brand new rehearsal rooms at its creative hub on Worthing’s Montague Street.
Available to hire on Mon – Thurs, with plans to expand opening hours in the near future, the rooms include amps, drumkits, mics, PA and keyboards and are recording-ready with a mixing desk.
Since forming in Brighton in 1999, AudioActive has built a unique community of artists and young people across Sussex. With the simple aim of giving local young people the chance to access and create music, our team of musicians and music lovers restlessly develop artists and reach the sort of arch young talents that so often fall through the cracks.
For more info, head to:
wwwaudioactive.org.uk
A bit of Bavaria comes to Sussex on Sat 16 Sept, as Lewes Oktoberfest heads to the Corn Exchange. There’ll be a range of fantastic food, beer and music. A range of local breweries, including Abyss, Beak, Only With Love and Harveys, will be offering their own German style beers. There’ll also be Gluwein and Schnapps on offer if you’re looking for something warming.
German food will be represented, with plenty of different sausages, including a veggie option and a curry wurst. And you cant have an Oktoberfest event without some Oompah! Deutschland Blasmusik Oompah Band will be playing throughout the evening, bringing you traditional German music with a few modern twists thrown in. You might even get to take part in a few songs and games as they mingle with the crowd during the evening.
Tickets are priced at £10 and with limited numbers, so get in there fast. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter:
www.lewesoktoberfest.co.uk
Curated by Broken Grey Wires, Broken Grey Wires and Phoenix Art Space present an exhibition of work by artists who explore empowerment, gender, and community in their practice. Open Sat 30 Sept – Sun 19 Nov (Weds–Sun) at Phoenix Art Space, Are You A Woman in Authority? communicates the powerful rhetoric behind key social issues: mental illness, class struggles, race, queerness and feminist discourse, and how these intersect.
How much does identity, gender, sexual preference and disability impact our opportunities in society? Do women, or those identifying as non-binary need to work harder to be successful? These questions preoccupy the curatorial vision behind Are You A Woman in Authority? with works by leading artists, including Sarah Lucas, Jade Montserrat, Zanele Muholi and 2018 Turner Prize winner Charlotte Prodger.
The exhibition also sees the second iteration of the Mad Manual Toolkit and The Comfort Zone. Featuring photography, interactive installation, video and painting, the exhibition works resonate with the personal mental health experiences of Brady herself, having founded Broken Grey Wires in 2016 after a period of continued mental health crisis. Rooted in the lived experience of illness, the Mad Manual Toolkit gives audiences the autonomy to explore the exhibition in their own way, with a range of suggested activities, themed around writing, drawing, mindfulness and movement.
Red, yellow and green badges accompany the toolkit to encourage or discourage approaches to visitors by gallery staff, creating a safer environment to experience the artwork. The Comfort Zone is a space where people can reflect on the exhibition, rest, read zines, drink tea or simply lie on the sofas with a blanket.
“The Are You A Woman in Authority? project has been a much quicker process, from my initial ideas to reality,” says Lizz Brady, curator and Director of Broken Grey Wires. “That burning desire to create a space for people to interact, to relax, to learn and to connect, has increased.
“Because it is vital to explore these issues, it is vital to communicate our fragile emotions and to develop opportunities for communities to relate to one another. I hope that by building this vulnerable, strange, joyful, precious, somewhat broken space, I can convey the power of conversation, of sharing and how healing it can be when we can relate to others.”
Throughout the term of the exhibition there will be a programme of artist residencies, talks and a family focused workshop, including collaborations with Outside In and Brighton’s Women Centre.
If I loved you it was because of your hair. Now that you are without hair, I don’t love you anymore by Sarah Maple
A collection of rarely seen drawings by one of our most popular and recognisable artists go on display this autumn. On Sat 23 Sept – Sun 10 March, Charleston will present Love Life, a collection of works by David Hockney. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to marvel at the extraordinary power of observation and artistic finesse which characterises Hockney’s early works.
In 2017, prior to the opening of a retrospective exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, David Hockney (b.1937) painted the words ‘Love Life’ on the final wall of the show. Explaining his actions, he said: “I love my work. And I think the work has love, actually ... I love life. I write it at the end of letters – ‘Love life, David Hockney.”
The exhibition showcases a remarkable series of drawings that encapsulate Hockney’s love for life and his profound connection with the world around him. During the formative stages of his career, Hockney’s artistic brilliance manifested through his ability to capture the essence of his subjects with remarkable economy, using pencil, coloured crayon, and pen and ink.
Visitors to the exhibition will be enthralled by Hockney’s depictions of everyday objects, still-lifes and architectural works. From a box of matches on a table to bunches of spring onions and leeks, Hockney’s works exemplify his ability to find beauty in the more intimate and seemingly ordinary aspects of life. Whether capturing the character of his subjects, or rendering furniture and empty spaces with sensitivity and wit, Hockney’s drawings capture a depth of emotion that cannot be easily replicated in grand painted portraits.
The exhibition is organised by the Holburne Museum, Bath. With many of Hockney’s drawings on loan from private collections, Love Life is a wonderful way to enjoy his artistry. “I am so excited to present this wonderful show of master drawings, some well-known and some rarely seen,” says curator, Chris Stephens. “I have long believed David Hockney to be one of the greatest draughtsmen of all time and I consider his drawings of the later 60s and 70s being among the greatest works by him and, for that matter, by anyone else.”
To mark the opening weekend of Love Life, Charleston is hosting artist Ian Giles’ performance A Clear Comfort which engages with legacies of queer homemaking. Offering a rare opportunity to get inside Charleston’s house out-of-hours, this promenade performance will transport intimate audiences beyond the physical walls of Charleston and into the homes of pioneering queer artists such as filmmaker Derek Jarman’s Prospect Cottage in Dungeness; American photographer Alice Austen’s home Clear Comfort on Staten Island and trace the origins of House Music in gay clubs in 1970s Chicago. This event is commissioned and presented in partnership with Van Gogh House.
For more information, visit:
www.charleston.org.uk
You can explore the ruins of a Benedictine Priory, unravel the stories of heroes, police officers and politicians buried in Eastbourne, and discover the heritage, history and folklore of the cliffs of Seaford in this year’s Heritage Open Days. Running on Fri 8 Sept – Thurs 17 Sept, historic sites will throw open their doors for England’s largest festival of history and culture.
Councillor Margaret Bannister, Eastbourne Borough Council’s Lead Member for Tourism, Leisure, Accessibility & Community Safety said: “There is something to interest everyone of all ages during the Heritage Open Days and I hope people enjoy discovering our wonderful town’s rich heritage.
“It is an ideal opportunity for people to discover the stories behind the buildings and places in Eastbourne we walk past. This gives people the chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are free to explore.”
Eastbourne Heritage Centre will be open on Fri 8 - Sun 10 Sept for people to discover and explore Eastbourne’s story. Visitors can learn about the glorious seafront parades, pier, bandstands, architecture, how the railway brought prosperity, the town’s survival of more than 90 Second World War air raids, east end fishing and working communities.
Wilmington Priory will also be offering free admission to its historic site on Sat 16 - Sun 17 Sept. Dating back to 1215, this former Benedictine Abbey just below the Long Man of Wilmington is a complex puzzle of structures. This is a rare chance to stroll the ruins and see inside the Landmark Trust’s restoration of the farmhouse, now normally let for holidays.
On Mon 11 - Sat 16 Sept, there will be a chance to explore the inside of Motcombe Garden’s historic Dovecote and learn about the history of one Eastbourne’s most important medieval farms. Opening especially for Heritage Open Days, visitors will also get the opportunity to learn about the archaeology, history and stories of the site and there will be a small display of finds and photographs.
There will be a guided tour of Ocklynge Cemetery on Sun 10 Sept. This will include a history of burial in Eastbourne and of the cemetery and explain some of the symbolism shown on gravestones. There will be stories of both local and national heroes from police officers to politicians and several war graves.
There will also be a Motcombe Meander on Mon 11 Sept with Kevin Gordon, who will talk about the historic Dovecote and medieval tales along with a tour exploring local history illustrated with copies of old photographs.
On Sat 9 & Sat 16 Sept, the Walk the Chalk team will be meeting in Seaford for a tour which teaches us about the ground beneath our feet. Daring smugglers and determined Excisemen, stoic Coastguards and the thousands of men who journeyed through on their way to the Frontlines of the First World Waryou’ll discover art installations, tales will be told and stories unravelled in this exciting tour put on only for Heritage Open Days! Booking is essential.
Sir Charles Lucas and his heritage will be uncovered at a Heritage Open day at the home of his ancestors in Compton Place Road when visitors can view portraits and objects relating to the history of the family. Sir Charles Lucas, who was the third son of a wealthy and not particularly well-behaved Essex family, rose to be a senior cavalry commander under King Charles I until he was executed after the siege of Colchester at the end of the Civil War. With hourly tours running Frid 15 - Sat 16 Sept, you can discover the story of his family, and of what happened over the next 370 years, all framed around the portraits which document their history.
Some of the events taking place are pre-bookable. For further information visit:
www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Interweaving Spaces exhibition, by award-winning artist Dr Gil MualemDoron, is a large-scale immersive installation conflating biodiversity with cultural diversity. The installation simulates an underwater kelp forest using over one hundred bespoke textile strips designed by the artist and suspended in the eight-meter-high gallery, film projections and special lighting. Interweaving Spaces will be displayed in Worthing Museum’s Main Gallery from Saturday 12 August to Sunday 5 November 2023.
Originally commissioned by the Sussex Wildlife Trust, the project’s textiles mash-up of dozens of traditional designs from coastal areas around the world that sit near Kelp forests - from Britain to the Scandinavian countries, South Africa to North America. Some of the textiles were printed on fabric made out of recycled plastic bottles. Visitors can move through this “textile forest” and dance to the bespoke soundtrack.
The installation includes a large projection on a screen made of dozens of gauze bandages of the dance film ‘Code Red! Code Red!’, created in collaboration with the dancer and choreographer Lya Abdou Issa. The dance sound piece is created around the sampling of the inspirational speech by Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley at COP26, original rave music and sounds from Extinction Rebellion demonstrations.
The other film, ‘The Calling’, with the performer Dimitris Galanakis is filmed underwater, in a sunken ship, and it is a muse about the mythological Sirens and their role as nature guardians. The film and a series of underwater photographs documenting the death of corals in the Red Sea due to rising temperatures are shown through ship portholes.
The installation also includes a hidden intervention commenting on the relationship between climate change and the refugee crisis, a painting depicting the Mona Lisa with the view of her North Italian landscape underwater due to rising sea levels, and an installation created with the outcomes of a creative workshop by visitors to the museum.
Gil Mualem Doron [PDH] is a British/Israeli award-winning transdisciplinary artist. His work has been exhibited in Tate Modern, Turner Contemporary, South Bank Centre, People’s History Museum [Manchester], galleries, and Museums in Europe and the Middle East. His work is a reflection on social and political burning issues, and it is often created with the participation of other artists and communities. Currently, other works by him are exhibited at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich and P21 Gallery, London.
Interweaving Spaces will be on display in Worthing Museum’s Main Gallery from Saturday 12 August 2023 to Sunday 5 November 2023. For more information on this or any of the events, visit www.wtm.uk or call the WTM Box Office on 01903 206 206.
On Sat 16 and Sun 17 September, Brighton Chocolate Festival will be returning to the Brighthelm Centre. Last year saw a large group of artisan chocolate makers set up stalls for visitors to browse, try and buy their products. Exhibitors included J.Cocoa, Dormouse Chocolate, Eponine, Anisa and more from near and far. Taking centre stage at the event is immaculate flavours, and ethical sourcing. Learn more about the journey from bean to bar, and find a new appreciation for the craft in cacao.
The list of exhibitors at this year’s festival includes the return of the above businesses, as well as Terre de Sienne (Worthing), Contour Chocolate (London), Cocoa Retreat (Kent), and many more from across the nation. This year the event will be heavily focussed on those who source cacao beans ethically, or use chocolate that is made with ethically sourced beans. For example, last year Eponine used chocolate made by Dormouse to make some amazing filled chocolates.
Rachel Paton and her partner James from J. Cocoa first attended Brighton Chocolate Festival as stall holders before the pandemic, when it was run by Susan Sheen. They loved having a place to showcase and celebrate their chocolate so close to home. So, when Sheen decided to no longer organise the event, Rachel and James took on the challenge of hosting Brighton Chocolate Festival themselves.
Brighton is full of foodies so it’s a brilliant location to introduce newbies to the world of bean to bar chocolate. It’s still not an artisan everyone is aware of, and they are hoping to follow in the footsteps of craft beer and single origin coffee in showcasing the skill behind the produce.
Discover more at www.brightonchocolatefestival.co.uk
Or on socials at @brightonchocolatefestival
Bull House, the former residence of the influential radical thinker and pamphleteer Thomas Paine,, has now reopened it’s doors. Owned and cared for by registered charity, The Sussex Archaeological Society, this marks the first time in almost half a century that this historic site has been accessible to visitors on a regular basis.
Located in the heart of Lewes, Bull House has long been associated with the legacy of Paine, a man whose writings played a pivotal role in shaping the intellectual landscape of the late 18th century. Known for works such as Common Sense and The Rights of Man, he was a key figure in the American and French Revolutions. His ideas on democracy, human rights, and freedom of thought have left an enduring mark on the world.
Visitors to Bull House have the unique opportunity to step back in time and explore the very rooms where Thomas Paine lived and wrote one of his political works, The Case of the Officers of Excise, which called for better
employment conditions for local tax officers.
Annie Wills, Head of Operations and Commercial Activities at Sussex Past said “We are thrilled to see Bull House opening its doors to the public, offering visitors a chance to walk in the footsteps of Thomas Paine and explore the ideas that shaped nations. This opening marks a remarkable moment in our shared history.”
The Sussex Archaeological Society was founded in 1846 and is the oldest organisation of its kind in the country. It is a registered charity that opens historic houses and gardens to the public, curates six fully accredited museums and undertakes and encourages research across sites like Lewes Castle & Museum, Fishbourne Roman Palace and Michelham Priory. Find out more about visiting Bull House, visit:
www.sussexpast.co.uk/attraction/bull-houselewes
Long Man Brewery’s Best Bitter has won the World’s Best Bitter up to 4.5% award at this year’s World Beer Awards.
Four beers from the Long Man range won a combined six awards in the Taste category, which featured over 500 of the finest beers and ales from across the globe.
Long Man’s Best Bitter Sussex Best (4.0%) did a clean sweep in the Best Bitter up to 4.5% category, winning Gold, Country Winner, and World’s Best.
Last year’s World’s Best Dark Mild Beer, Old Man premium bitter (4.3%) won Silver. Long Blonde (4.1%, 3.8% in Cask), won Gold in the English Style Pale Ale, and Long Man Helles Lager (4.6%) won Bronze in the Lager Helles/Münchner category.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be celebrating this haul of awards,” said Tom O’Neill, Director at Long Man Brewery. “To win five country awards is a great achievement, but to win the World’s Best award really tops this off.
“We have a talented team here at Long Man – everyone from the brewers to the dray. Each of them pours heart and soul into every drop, and accolades such as the World Beer Awards are the highest praise and reward for their efforts.”
The World Beer Awards are the global beer awards that select the very best in all the international recognised styles and promote the world’s best beers to consumers and trade across the globe.
Judging is rigorous and overseen by Adrian Tierney-Jones, an awardwinning beer journalist whose work appears in the Daily Telegraph, All About Beer, Beer, Original Gravity (of which he is also editor), Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Imbibe amongst many others.
Long Man Brewery is based in a converted flint barn in the heart of the South Downs National Park in Litlington. The brewery has been brewing beer since 2012 using its own no-till Sussex malting barley, grown using regenerative methods focussing on biodiversity and soil health, to work at one with nature.
To find out more about Long Man Brewery and its range of beers, visit: www.longmanbrewery.com.
Connected Brighton - September column
Well, summer has been a mixed bag hasn’t it! Who ordered the weather?
We battled the storm for Pride, to then enjoy sunshine as Steps came on stage (I am still listening to Steps daily after that cracking closing show!) And, after having to cancel due to the high winds in July, we finally made it out on the water for our kayaking event. This was with Brighton Watersports where Clive the Seal joined us, popping up every now and then to see what we were up to. I am a Brighton girl born and bred - never ever have I had a seal in the sea with me before. It was amazing!
As we start to prepare for autumn, this month we are making the most of the weather by watching Back To The Future outdoors on the Brighton Palace Pier. (Last month we saw Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - such a brilliant film.) And we will be getting back out for one more kayaking event. Fingers crossed we will spy dolphins this time!
Plus, we have some great upcoming showcase events like Tequila & Mezcal Tasting with Brighton’s best food and documentary photographer, and proud Mexican, Xavi Buendia. And we have more Posh vs Plonk Wine Tasting with the brilliant Georgie from Bright On Wines.
September is also host to Sustainable Fashion Week, and we have two fashion events to show our support. One will be with local homeless charity Off The Fence and their Team Hope fundraiser. We will also be upcycling our clothes with Sew Fabulous at The Open Market.
Check out our website for all the details on our weekly events. Also download the Connected Brighton app and get involved to meet great people looking to make new friends, enjoy bespoke experiences and support locality in this fab city.
If you are just looking for Singles Nights, pop over to our sister brand The Single Sessions for monthly singles parties. Make sure you listen to our latest podcast with dating coach and matchmaker, Laura Buckley, who has cuffing season advice.
Here’s to a sun filled September!
Lyndsey
A Frantic Assembly PRODUCTION, co-produced with Theatre Royal Plymouth, Curve, MAST Mayflower Studios and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.
A thrilling new stage adaptation of Kafka’s Metamorphosis that combines the fluidity and lyricism of Lemn Sissay’s adaptation with the award-winning Frantic Assembly’s uncompromising physicality.
Tuesday 3rd — Saturday 7th October Connaught Theatre, Worthing
wtm.uk · 01903 206206
Enter this month’s Quiz Face triva competition for a chance to win a fun packed day at The Lift’s new escape room Lock & Rock, for up to 6 people at a time! For more info visit www.theliftbrighton. com
WORDUKU Fill out the grid using the letters above each Worduku. The letter in the pink boxes will make up a word, when rearranged.
Below is an image of random shapes, when rearranged spell out a word. (The answer correlates to one Quizword question)
In the alphabet
I’m the heaviest one
But don’t get me wrong
I don’t weigh a ton
The riddle I leave you
Which may sound quite odd
How do you turn a weight Into a god?
The Quizword is like a crossword but a little bit more trivia based. Once completed, the letters in the pink boxes spell out a CODEWORD when rearranged.
When you have figured it out email us at prizes@quizface.co.uk
FOR A CHANCE AT WINNING THIS MONTH’S PRIZE!
ACROSS
4. (Go to Word Saw) using the shapes figure out what word I have turned into a jigsaw
5. (Go to Translation) what word has been written in this text?
6. Which WWE Hall of Famer goes by the nickname the Nature Boy?
10. In Quidditch what is the name of the ball the Seekers are trying to catch?
11. One for sorrow, two for joy is the beginning of a nursery rhyme relating to which animal?
12. COGNAC AISLE is an anagram of which celebrity name?
14. Which coffee contains equal parts of espresso, steamed milk and milk foam?
15. (Go to Translation) what type of text is this called?
16. (Please see today’s riddle)
17. Four, Days, Flying, Farm are the last words of four different books by which author?
18. Phosphorus-Lanthanum-Yttrium-Erbium spell out what word when changed into their chemical symbols?
19. Kissing Coppers is a famous stencil artwork from which artist?
1. Which musician created the clothing brand OVO?
2. In Cluedo you have six weapons dagger, revolver, rope, lead pipe, spanner and WHAT?
3. Name the pub where you would find the art piece Kissing Coppers?
7. What was the name of the monkey that did a “poo in the shoe” in the T.V. show Friends?
8. Which country’s flag has the second most number of stars on it?
9. (Go to WORDUKU)
13. 2,688,303 x 8 you take that total ÷ 4 spells out what on the calculator when turned upside down?
Below is a form of written language. What is the language? and what does it spell out? (Answers correlate to two Quizword questions)
Photo Credit Hollie Fernando
Willie J Healey is the epitome of cool. Listening in your corduroys with a cup of coffee, his debut album People and Their Dogs sounds like Autumn. From the mellow opening track Subterranean to the angsty cries in Love Her, other song titles are Lazy Shade of Pink, Greys and Sleep All Day. If this album is a reflection of darker days, Bunny released on 25 August, is pure summer.
“I think, on this album,” Healey explains on how he imagined the stories for the songs, “I was trying to be child-like about it, write childlike lyrics and songs”. Bunny encompasses a sense of play that he had in his youth by being technically and rhythmically experimental while radiating a joy for creating music.
Before talking too much about the album release, I asked Healey to take us back to the beginning and tell us how he got into making music. He lists, “I got a guitar as a young teenager and learnt how to play it, I learnt how to write songs, and then I learnt how to put them out. I learnt how to play live, and then here I am now.” It was an organic journey and process where Healey was just practising what he enjoyed. He learnt the guitar via YouTube videos and took enjoyment out of playing songs to his friends and family.
It was only when he spoke to a careers adviser in school that he was encouraged to actually consider music a career. “I had to decide what to do when I finished school,” he says, “[the careers adviser] made me really dig deep and asked if there was anything else I liked. I said music and she said ‘oh maybe you should do that’.” It is evidence of planting a seed of hope and ambition in a young person’s mind, and encouraging the flower to grow into something beautiful.
Healey’s style is a funky fusion of soul, rock and R&B which seemed to be a natural development from listening to multiple genres. “When you’re making something that has a time stamp on it, it really stinks of that time,” Healey states, implying that his style and sound is a reflection of who he is working with, what he knows or enjoys in that current moment. The type of recording he has been able to do and the type of venue he plays also affects how the music sounds. “As a solo artist, that is one of the pros, having the freedom to [experiment]”. Making every album sound the same, or having a recognisable sound is not a priority for Healey; “I just love ideas and taking a small idea and making it into something big.”
More specifically, focussing back on his new album Bunny, Healey describes this tracklist as “funkier than stuff I have released before”; “this one is emotionally fuelled but a little bit more carefree. It is a bit more easy going.” It sounds as though Bunny is a reflection of who Healey is and how he feels now: “I have got to a point where I just enjoy making music.” Healey continues, his new album is “more experimental” because “there are interludes on it [and] there is a song that I don’t sing on at all.”
When it came to writing the album, Bunny was influenced by David Bowie’s ‘Plastic Soul’ era (funky, soulful singles released in the 1970s) and a lot of late 70s bands Healey was listening to. “I had this little room in Bristol and I turned it into a little studio,” Healey says. “I really was inspired by that space and had minimal equipment. One
of the things I did have was a 1970s drum machine and old 70s equipment which allowed me to dive into some different sounds.” This room in Bristol became a sanctuary where Healey found he had lots of time, some instruments, and could immerse himself into creating and writing.
Extensive space and time, however, can be a big void to fill. I asked Healey from where he drew inspiration for this blank canvas. He responded by telling me he grew up in a small town where “I was forced to imagine things and allow my mind to create stuff rather than having real-life stimulation.” As he grew older, he wrote songs about his life and feelings. However, the carefree songs in Bunny are a reflection of returning to his child-like imagination and play. In turn a collection of positive songs, mostly about love, were developed.
I ask if Healey feels that this joy in his music is an accurate projection of how he feels in his life, and he said he realised “you can kind of sing your way out of things.” He continues to explain, “you can think your way out of feelings, like, instead of singing about how shit I feel, I would sing about something really nice.” Healey compares this to a form of manifestation: “I would put stuff in songs and it would become true. I thought, “What if I start singing about things I would like, like having a nice house with a cherry tree in the back, or having loads of money,” he laughs. The positivity in Bunny is a transmittable escapism.
On this topic of making incredible things happen, Healey earlier this year supported Florence and The Machine on their UK and Ireland tour, and Arctic Monkeys on their European tour. He describes both as amazing; “I haven’t done that level of touring before.” Healey said it was the crowds that were mainly very different, not realising how much fan bases
“I am more reassured by myself and what I have to give.”
can have a particular style. Plus, the location and travel made both contrasting experiences, giving Healey a good taste of varied venues and acoustics ahead of his own tour in November. “I feel like I came away from the Florence tour with a lot of ideas,” Healey remembers, “by the time we got on the Arctic Monkeys tour, I was actually able to use those ideas.” He implies constantly learning along the way which in turn, grew a sense of self-belief. Healey continues, “I think I learnt a lot about myself more than anything.” While on tour he was thinking to himself, ‘Who am I in all this?’.
Supporting artists on tour is a “great challenge because you’re trying to get people to engage with you,” and these are people that may not necessarily know your music. “I think that requires a lot of energy, so I think I really became aware of the amount of people [in the audience] and thinking about how to affect the crowd.” In comparison, his own headline tour has “a whole different level of energy to give, and I feel less guarded. I think a lot of people would agree that I am more myself when I play now.”
Healey has already been playing a few of his singles from Bunny live. “[Crowds] have already started singing those songs and it feels so good,” he says, sitting him on solid ground for the full album release to have a strong reaction.
It’s a reassurance that he describes as a trade - creating something for other people to enjoy, and seeing them enjoy it is the reward musicians receive back. “It’s a wonderful thing to feel like people already seem to really like this,” he beams, “and there is so much more that people will really love too if you already love those singles.”
One of the singles released from Bunny, Thank
You, features artist Jamie T who is a good friend of Healey’s and lent him the drum kit which is such a huge part of the album. Healey doesn’t often collaborate with other musicians because he prefers partnerships to be organic, “like the one I did with Jamie.” But he does reveal that he may be working on a project with Joe Talbot (of rock band Idles) and Jamie T, writing some songs and maybe releasing an EP. He also names Myles Newmann (@mylesnewmannn), Fenne Lily (@fennelily) and Flyte (@__ flyte___) as amazing new artists he would love to work with.
Healey kicks off his November tour at CHALK, Brighton on Thurs 9 November. He tells me how he has played in different venues in Brighton over the years and “the crowd is always really really good in Brighton, really up for it and lively.” He is expecting his November gig to have the same energy.
Buy Bunny the album, and tickets to see Willie J Healey live at CHALK at www.williejhealey.com/. You can also stream Bunny and more of Healey’s music on YouTube and Spotify.
charleston.org.uk
A festival celebrating the shortest forms of writing, featuring Lemn Sissay, Romy, Jeanette Winterson, Ben Okri and more
The Paint Club has been helping the people of Brighton discover their inner artist since 2016 when they set up a regular workshop at The Railway Inn in Portslade. It proved to be so popular that their workshops have appeared there ever since. The Paint Club now has a small team of amazing professional local artists who deliver workshops across the city for hen parties, team events and paint parties for every occasion.
It’s a wonderful feeling for them to guide people who have never painted before. Participants start with a blank canvas and walk away with something they are truly proud of. There is something truly special in giving yourself a couple of hours to relax and create something that is personal to you. Even if you have been following a guide, the end result is always in your own style (yes, you have a style, you just don’t know it yet!).
Whether you're a complete beginner or have dabbled in the past, The Paint Club offers people across the city the chance to enjoy a creative evening out painting and socialising. Guests include singles as well as groups of people coming to the workshops. There is no judgement and as the great Bob Ross once said, “we don’t make mistakes, only happy little accidents”.
As an added bonus, it’s proven that getting creative can help release endorphins and improve mental well-being.
Everyone who comes along is provided with everything needed (including an apron for the more enthusiastic painters out there) to create a beautiful work of art. Plus, a canvas to take home and display at the end of the workshop. Sessions last for approximately 2 hours and cost £32. The Paint Club also offers Sip and Paint' parties for hen dos and corporate events. They can come to your office/airbnb or if you
have somewhere in mind you would like to paint. They can work with you to help build your creative experience.
Plus, The Paint Club also runs pottery and lino printing workshops if you want to try your hand at something a little different. Both of these workshops are just as easy as a sip and paint night.
To book your space at an upcoming sip and paint night or more information on a private event, visit thepaintclub. co.uk/brighton
Upcoming 7-9pm events:
Paint a bear at The Victory, 5 September
Paint the West Pier at The Seahorse, 12 September
Lino printing workshop at The Fountain, 12 September
Paint a highland cow at Nostos, 12 September
Paint a tropical lagoon at The Crescent, 25 September
Paint a silhouetted dancer at The Railway Inn, 26 September
Paint a colourful sunset at The Plough in Rottingdean, 28 September
Novellino Brighton is bringing back Kosher food to Brighton & Hove. A contemporary restaurant and bakery, offering delicious breakfasts and lunches with a Jewish and Middle Eastern twist.
Part of Hove's new Jewish Community Hub.
Open to all
OPENING HOURS: 8AM-3
BNJC, 29-31 New Church Roa @bnjcbri
Axelle Dufresne is a female-owned sustainable fashion brand based and handmade in Brighton, UK. With meticulous design and incorporation of unique print design, each garment becomes a one-of-a-kind creation. Axelle’s commitment to sustainability and ethics is evident in her choice of materials and production practices.
By embracing the concept of wearable art, Axelle aims to inspire individuals to view fashion as more than just clothing but as a form of self-expression and creativity.
www.axelledufresne.com @axelledufresne
Photography by Saffron Liberty, Aminata Cham, & Axelle Dufresne
Gathered wool/linen skirt with rawedge silk waist tie and roomy welt pockets; sheer silk tulle long-sleeve T-shirt and, silk-lined, wool fleece sleeveless pullover.
Bubble silk blouse with dip-dyed cuffs and silk/cotton satin skirt with raw edge back-tie.
Sula (est.1998) is a local ethical label owned by designer Alison Taylor. Her collections are characterised by unusual artisanal fabrics (many sourced from Japan), hand-crafted detailing and her eye for exquisite colour. Comfort and wearability are a priority. Sula sells to exclusive international boutiques and is available at www.sula.com @sulaclothing
Photography by Will Morgan and Model is Katie Jackson
Don't miss this opportunity to visit our award winning furniture making school & workshop based in Newhaven. Woodworking talks, demo's and bespoke furniture on display Open 9am - 4 30pm
See what’s on in the Concert Hall, plus the newly refurbished Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre
Dexys Tue 19 Sep
John Grant sings the songs of Patsy Cline with Richard Hawley and Band
Fri 22 Sep
Lovejoy Fri 29 Sep
Mahalia Wed 18 Oct
Young Fathers Fri 20 Oct
Level 42 Tue 24 Oct
Gabrielle Mon 30 Oct
Lloyd Cole Tue 31 Oct
Robert Plant presents
Saving Grace featuring
Suzi Dian Wed 1 Nov
Beverley Knight Tue 7 Nov
Ben Folds Thu 9 Nov
Suzi Quatro Mon 13 Nov
Billy Bragg Tue 14 Nov
Scouting for Girls
Wed 15 Nov
Holly Johnson
Thu 16 Nov
Penguin Cafe Fri 17 Nov
Cian Ducrot Mon 20 Nov
Friendly Fires Fri 1 Dec
Camilla George
Sun 10 Dec
Kate Rusby Tue 12 Dec
African Night Fever: Yamäya + Lakuta
Sat 16 Dec
The Unthanks in Winter
Mon 18 Dec
The Darkness
Wed 20 Dec
Set up two years ago by Teri Bradley, Vintage Rose Boutique on South Street in Chichester supports Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust. Bradley has a career background in fashion and music, and when the opportunity came to open her own store, she snapped it up. Especially for such a wonderful cause too.
At Vintage Rose, customers can buy or rent vintage and designer preloved sustainable ladies and mens clothing. From shelves loaded with Chanel shoes, to hanging rails of gorgeous one of a kind pieces, just browsing the store alone is an experience. It is like stepping into a fashion gallery, complete with the ambience of old French music, and tea served in teacups and saucers. From Yves Saint Lauren to Valentino, Alexandra McQueen and also non-designer vintage outfits too, be mesmerised by this treasure trove. It is bound to inspire.
All clothing is donated and can be gift aided. It is the perfect place to grab an outfit for Goodwood Revival, who they are affiliated with. Prom and wedding dresses are also popular for renting. Should you want a little bit of help finding the perfect fit for you, book an appointment with
Bradley who can style you for any event - the races, fashion shoots, parties or anything else! Have a glass of bubbly and play dress up in the clothes and accessories from any era between 1920-the present day.
The Chartwell Cancer Trust was established in 2005 by Mr Michael Douglas who had Leukaemia and is now in remission. He could see how much support and help the oncology department at King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Princess Royal, and Croydon Hospital would benefit from. It was from there the charity was born.
From skydives to marathons, House of Commons dinners to Strictly and Great Gatsby balls, Chartwell loves a fundraiser! Donations and corporate sponsorships are of course also always welcome. The last Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust event raised enough funds to provide Portsmouth Hospital with two robots.
The robots help children, who are going through treatment, with their educational needs.
And, on Thurs 19 October, Vintage Rose will be hosting another Murder Mystery at Harbour Hotel Chichester. Follow @vintagerosechichester to stay updated on announcements and ticket sales for this incredible fundraiser. Spread the word and make a difference by helping Vintage Rose grow for The Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust.
Are you tired of staring at a wardrobe full of clothes and feeling like you have nothing to wear? Do you want to exude confidence through your unique sense of style and taste? If this is something you feel you need help with, then Georgina Davies aka Brighton Stylist can help.
Georgina has been a personal stylist in Brighton & Hove for the last 10 years and has helped hundreds of women and men to feel more confident in their style choices. She does this through wardrobe audits and personal shopping trips. She believes that looking stylish is not just about following trends or spending a fortune on clothes; it's about embracing your individuality and expressing your personality through your clothing choices. Her services go beyond simply picking out clothes – she’s here to guide you on a journey of self-discovery, helping you uncover your own tastes and preferences.
Imagine opening your wardrobe and only seeing items that truly resonate with your style and flatter your colouring and body shape. A wardrobe audit with Brighton Stylist is the first step towards achieving that. Georgina works closely with her clients to assess your existing clothing collection, helping you
identify key pieces, any gaps, hidden gems, and those items that no longer serve your style goals. By streamlining your wardrobe, you'll be left with a curated selection that reflects your authentic self and makes getting dressed a joyous experience every day.
Shopping trips with Georgina are fun and collaborative and she takes into account your existing wardrobe and the gaps you are looking to fill. No more coming home empty handed or disheartened by having to return online orders. Often, just by buying a few key items that are missing, you can create many more outfits which is better for not only your bank balance but also the environment. Georgina has researched the shops for you and knows where all the best pieces are so this saves time. She is a firm believer that you do not need to spend a fortune to look good and is also passionate about pre loved clothing alongside new purchases. That way you can create a fantastic wardrobe where your own taste shines through that is unique to you. She will gently push you out of your comfort zone and due to many of her clients working with her for years, she continues to elevate and push their style potential. Find out more at brightonstylist.co.uk or contact Georgina by calling 07876 198 547 or emailing georgina.davies17@gmail.com
“My favourite kind of art is that ‘opening of the chest’. Where a real person talks about their real life, they’re not showing off, trying to get one over on you or be clever. I’m quite good at being funny, and I’ve an interesting story to tell.”Photo Credit Malinda Mukuma
“My favourite kind of art is that ‘opening of the chest’. Where a real person talks about their real life,” Markus Birdman tells me. “They’re not showing off, trying to get one over on you or be clever. I’m quite good at being funny, and I’ve an interesting story to tell.”
The past three years have been eventful for the critically acclaimed stand-up. He’s gone from suffering a stroke, stormed into the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent and is now setting off on an extended live tour. “I’ve lost half my eyesight and a good deal of my marbles. The show is really about my recovery. Something like that is an extreme situation, and you find yourself doing weird things and having weird procedures done to you in hospital. But extraordinary stories come out of extraordinary experiences. It’s been helpful to talk about it and take some form of ownership. But... it IS a funny show, and I do play it for laughs.”
Heading to Brighton’s Komedia on Sun 10 Sept, Platinum weaves together some sublime gags with some frank and hilarious real-life situations. Birdman suggests his comedy has always concentrated on the anecdotal, admittedly with the occasional flourish of poetic licence. “But everything I saw is kind of true, whether I’m talking about being a father, or my own father being a vicar.” It’s not been such an overwhelming leap to talk about his experiences, although he’s reluctant to cast himself as a poster boy for stroke survival. “It has been an unusual challenge. People will laugh, and hopefully think a little.
“That said, some of my favourite comedy is absolute nonsense… I very much enjoy seeing a grown adult titting about. There’s something profoundly beautiful in that kind of joy.” In comes a handy musical analogy to put everything into context. He points out that hip-hop is brilliant as a creative form. You want to go and dance to it, and it’s got a solid beat. “But most of the lyrics are absolute twaddle. But, if you get someone like Public Enemy, or anybody who’s a bit conscious with something to say, then it adds another dimension.”
Suffering sight loss has inarguably impacted his craft in several ways. He can’t drive to gigs and isn’t keen on walking around on his own. As a result, his partner goes everywhere with him. “The positive of that is we spend lots of time together, which is brilliant. I now sit down at gigs because my balance is poor. It was a bit of a challenge to get onstage. I also had no idea if I would remember anything. My memory is a bit shite these days. That might be the pot smoking I did in my youth as much as the stroke, to be honest.”
Birdman started off in music; but found himself devoting a bit too much time to between-song repartee for his bandmates’ liking. He suggests they probably thought he was better at doing that anyway. “My daughter’s mother had a friend who was a comedy producer and said I should try stand-up.” He found himself entered into a competition, which took him up to Edinburgh Festival. Now, 15 Fringe shows on, his style has become slightly less bombastic and more considered. “Some say sitting down slowed everything down. I’d hate to say ‘stately’ or ‘wise’, but other people have said that and I’m happy to take it,” he says with a laugh. “I like that position. And I get to be sat down. I’m not going to see a band and get in the mosh pit.”
After a solid two decades of performances around the world, he finally accepted the advances of the Britain’s Got Talent bookers. While it’s arguably alien territory for him, he reasons that all the previous gigging adds up to just a fraction of the ITV reality show’s audience. “I do wish it hadn’t been as controlling and mainstream. A lot of it made sense. You can’t do some scurrilous joke about the Catholic Church or the Royal Family. They’d been asking me to do it for years, like lots of comics. PostCovid and stroke, I wanted to reach a lot of people. My creative life is fragile, for obvious reasons, so it was good to say ‘yes’ to everything. I’m really pleased for all the coverage.”
Despite the proliferation of comedy on social media platforms and streaming services, Birdman suggests there’s fewer opportunities on mainstream media for ‘straight’ stand-up. There might be lots of comedians on TV, but it’s often in a panel-show or more dramatic setting. Obviously, being successful in comedy doesn’t always reflect talent either. History is littered with astonishing talents who didn’t enjoy wider fame because of their reluctance or inability to grasp the public’s attention.
“That’s the beauty of it... If you showed my teenage daughter Duke Ellington or Metallica, she’d probably run a mile. That doesn’t mean they’re not brilliant. It is subjective. Especially with comedy, you either love Danial Kitson or you think he’s a wanker. All good comedy has that Marmite effect on people. Maybe that’s exactly what it should be. There should be that reaction.”
It’s also peculiar amongst the performing arts in that few people have qualms about being exposed to unknown talents. “Nobody says: ‘Lets go and see music’. You very much define what you want to hear. If you go to a comedy night, you’ll see a wide range of talents. And nobody can love it all. That doesn’t mean it’s not brilliant. It also doesn’t mean it’s not shite.”
Truly understanding comedy is much like dissecting a frog. First, you have to kill it. “It’s very plural, and so it should be. Comedy is always being reinvented and expanded upon. That’s the exciting bit of it. I guess it’s like doing pop music. You have to meet the audience halfway. Some do refuse to, but they’ve also maintained an audience, so they don’t have to do 9 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown.”
There’s also a slightly ephemeral aesthetic to comedy. Once you’ve heard the joke it doesn’t bear repeating. With the Rolling Stones, you don’t really want to hear the new material, you’re interested only in the classics. “With comedy, you don’t want the old bangers. That said, I would play my Bill Hicks and Richard Pryor albums over and over again. I think part of the problem is that some comics don’t try and be as artistic as they can be. They just go for a laugh and not a truth. My God… that sounded incredibly pretentious. But you can do both!” He says he certainly tries and, as we’ve already established, he’s unafraid of the odd smutty joke. Almost everybody loves those, and they can offer a gentle lubricant for more weighty material.
“There’s a really great Kurt Vonnegut quote that I read the other day. He said: ‘Comedians aren’t funny, the really good ones are heartbreakers.’ I love that. It would be very inglorious of me to suggest that’s what I do, but I do try. It’s something to aspire to.”
His own inspirations are a little less colourful and obscure than I would have expected. He admits he was never a comedy scholar as a youngster. Peter Sellers and The Goons, along with The Two Ronnies, get an honourable mention, but much of his early tastes were aligned with his parents. This is where he found a love of punning and slightly risqué gags. “Then I remember people like Hicks, Eddie Murphy. Steve Martin and Billy Connolly.” Birdman attributes these performers for prompting his love of being playful with tempo, metre and rhythm. Which both loops us neatly back to his background of playing bass and drums in bands, along with advice he gives out at comedy classes. “I say to my students: ‘Think about it like a rapper doing his lyrics.’ You’ve got this narrative, which has to hit the beat. You can’t just waffle on. You change a five-syllable word to a four syllable one to make it fit. Subconsciously an audience picks up on it. It’s like the tempo at a club. They notice if the vinyl gets messed up, but if you keep them on a beat, it’s very compelling.”
From attending art school, joining bands and smashing out slam poetry, comedy has finally given Birdman the perfect creative outlet. By his own admission, the creative arts are often a matter of luck or following the path of least resistance. “If my fairy godmother had asked me what I wanted to be, I probably would have been a rock star... I’ve always wanted that creative lifestyle and always enjoyed writing. And now I get to do that. The slight flipside is that I’ve got to occasionally shout at drunk strangers!”
www.komedia.co.uk/brighton
Markus Birdman’s Platinum comes to Brighton’s Komedia on Sun 10 Sept.Brighton’s Komedia, in the heart of the North Laine, has been presenting a diverse arts and entertainment programme since being founded in 1994.
With hundreds of performances every year spanning comedy, music, cabaret, children’s theatre and more, the programme features the very best international and national performers.
Whilst being at the forefront of the comedy scene, Komedia has won the Chortle Comedy Award for Best Venue in the South a record 18 times and their programme contains their all-conquering resident comedy shows: Komedia Comedy Club, Comic Boom, The Nest Comedy Club and Down the Hatch.
Many famous comedians have passed through their doors over the years, including the likes of; Rob Beckett, Russell Howard, Russell Kane, Eddie Izzard, Romesh Ranganathan, Alan Carr, Sarah Millican, Jimmy Carr, Seann Walsh, Rob Delaney, Ross Noble, Sarah Pascoe, James Acaster and Greg Davies to name just a few.
Komedia Brighton is also an important music venue in the city and a great place to catch a gig, with past performances from James Bay, Lewis Capaldi, All Saints, Bastille, Tom Odell and more.
While students are always welcome to the comedy nights, Komedia club nights are usually a massive hit for the younger crowds! Komedia hosts Gal Pals and Swiftogeddon amongst other fun, themed nights out.
Komedia Comedy Club:
Taking place every Friday and Saturday night, Komedia Comedy Club is the perfect evening out if you want to watch some live comedy from the best up and coming acts. Each gig hosts three comedians and an MC. It sells out nearly every weekend so book
tickets in advance to ensure you and the rest of your party can attend and make a saving of up to £3 per ticket.
Comic Boom:
Comic Boom occurs monthly for a feel-good, fast-paced night of comedy. It is a night of spying new talent as previous acts on the Comic Boom stage have included Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Sarah Millican and many more! Allow the MCs to introduce each rising star, and you can sit back and laugh at the infectious entertainment.
The Nest Comedy Club:
On every third Sunday of the month (Sun 17 Sept), The Nest Comedy Club is a carefully curated night hosted by the award-winning production company Berk’s Nest. Expect to see the very best acts from Edinburgh Fringe as well as much-loved comedy TV stars, with tickets from just £8! The Nest is the perfect evening out for both new and established comedy fans.
Down the Hatch:
Taking place on the first Sunday of every month (3 Sept/ 1 Oct), Down the Hatch is a space for alternative and queer-friendly comedy in the Basement at Komedia. With Student, Under 26 & Concession tickets just £8, grab your friends, a drink, some food from the delicious menu for an ideal evening.
Calling all students!
While Komedia hosts great entertainment, they also have a bar and menu of delicious food. Simply show your NUS/Student ID card at the bar when you order and you can get 10% off food and drink!
Plus, for the above shows, (Komedia Comedy Club, Comic Boom, The Nest Comedy Club, Down the Hatch) Students can get £2 off their tickets to the best standup comedy by booking a Concession ticket in advance.
Head to www.komedia.co.uk/brighton/ whats-on to discover more of what’s on at Komedia and book your tickets NOW.
4 Sept - Wild Rivers at Komedia
As they embark on the next chapter of their journey, Wild Rivers, who first caught audiences’ attention with their 2016 self-titled debut, followed by two EPs, are especially eager to take Sidelines on the road. The live setting is where they originally cultivated a dedicated following and opening for celebrated acts like The Paper Kites, Donovan Woods and Jake Bugg. Building an authentic relationship with fans, while channeling classic singer-songwriters like James Taylor and Fleetwood Mac, has been vital to Wild Rivers’ connection with audiences across the globe.
Tues 5 Sept - Sarabeth Tucek at Komedia
Melting Vinyl presents Sarabeth Tucek. She is an American singersongwriter whose exploration of genre blending creates an exciting catalogue of contemporary music, having played live sessions for Marc Riley (6 music) and worked with Bill Callahan (Smog) & Brian Jonestown Massacre. Tucek is ultimately a folk songstress who refuses to be stylistically pigeonholed, with elements of desert Rock, Americana, psychedelia, slowcore, and dream pop amongst others seeping into her collective material. Although rustic at her very roots, Tucek writes powerful folk songs which make the listener feel like they have finally found a sense of adventure and soundtrack to their life. With support from Luca Wilding.
7 September - Busted at Brighton Centre
Impossible though it may seem, it’s been twenty years since Busted bounced into the charts with the irrepressible pop-punk energy of their debut single What I Go To School For. It kickstarted a succession of hits for the trio, including the #1 smashes Crashed The Wedding, Who’s David, Thunderbirds Are Go, You Said No and the Top 3 singles Year 3000, Air Hostess and Sleeping With The Light On.
Now Busted celebrate their 20th anniversary by announcing details of a major UK arena tour, alongside a series of new versions of fifteen of their classic hits to be released in the build-up, with some very special guests.
Tues 12 September - Half Moon Run at CHALK
Montreal indie rockers Half Moon Run have announced a tour in support of new album Salt. Renowned for their explosive rhythmic interplay and surging dynamic range, the band
have previewed the new album by releasing four singles from the album in recent weeks - 9beat, Alco, You Can Let Go and Everyone's Moving Out East. Half Moon Run’s collaborative power has remained constant and unsuppressed during their twelve years together and you can witness the beauty and sadness; harmony and menace; despair and groove for yourself live in Brighton.
The band are partnering in the UK and Europe with the Syrian American Medical Society - a portion of each ticket price will go to the USbased charity that has been actively providing medical care in Syria since 1998. SAMS supports 110 medical facilities and over 3,000 medical personnel.
Tues 12 September - Lael Neale at The Prince Albert Singer/songwriter Lael Neale started out with a style that tangled together melancholic folk, sundrenched country, and indie rock, putting her lilting voice at the forefront of gorgeous, sometimes twangy arrangements. After signing with Sub Pop and establishing a collaborative flow with producer and accompanist Guy Blakeslee, her subsequent albums embraced minimalism. 2021’s Acquainted with Night stripped many of the songs down to their barest essence, and the sparse pop of 2023’s Star Eaters Delight was created in a way that intentionally avoided digital recording methods. Presented by Melting Vinyl with support from Guy Blakeslee.
Mon 18 Sept - Alfie Boe at Brighton Dome
Having conquered the world’s most prestigious opera stages, Alfie led the cast of Les Misérables in the role of Jean Valjean in the West End and played the lead role in Finding Neverland on Broadway.
In 2012, Alfie stole the show at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace with a medley of hits from his illustrious career.
Tues 19 Sept - Dexys at Brighton Dome
The Feminine Divine is Dexys’ fifth album of original material produced once again by Pete Schwier, along with acclaimed session musician and producer Toby Chapman. With over a billion worldwide streams, three top 10 albums in the UK, two number 1 singles, a Brit Award and a multi-platinum selling album with their sophomore release Too-RyeAy (as Dexys Midnight Runners), Dexys are as vital and exciting today as ever. The Feminine Divine marks a new chapter in a book that just
keeps getting better and better.
Fri 29 Sept - Lovejoy at Brighton Dome
SJM Concerts & Joy present the only indie rock band with a double kick drum. Led by frontman Wilbur Soot, Joe Goldsmith on lead guitar, Ash Kabosu on bass, and Mark Boardman on drums. Lovejoy were formed in Brighton and appeared at Reading & Leeds Festival this summer. The band's third EP, Wake Up & It's Over, was released in May this year. Their show features support from Good Kid + Loupe.
Fri 29 Sept - Damian Lewis at The Old Market
Damian Lewis presents an evening of live music in support of his new album. Mission Creep is a thoughtful collection of rootsy, rock and jazztinged songs that reveals a deep love of music, and a deep need to communicate. The album’s origin story begins when Lewis, after leaving school, swapped the rigorous day-to-day regime that had dominated his life for 10 years for something altogether less structured. He took to the road with his guitar and went busking through continental Europe. This experience has stayed with Lewis ever since and is reflected in his debut album. Lewis was taken back to the time he played the guitar every day, but with the additional maturity and experience that an eventful life has given him. "I wanted the album to give a sense of a journey to this point, from busking ‘til now", said Lewis.
30 September - BOUNDARY Brighton at Stanmer Park
Brighton’s biggest electronic dance festival returns to Stanmer Park for another year featuring Pendulum, Sub Focus, Kurupt FM, Ben Hemsley, Solardo and many more DJs on the line-up. This festival attracts students and young people from all over Sussex for a day of madness. Expect smoke machines, gun fingers, and have your bucket hats at the ready.
THEATRE
Theatre Royal Brighton
Thurs 14 September
Ruby Wax: I’m not as well as I thought I was
After four years, Ruby Wax returns to the stage following her critically acclaimed, sell out tour, How To Be Human. See her in the rawest, darkest and funniest stage show yet.
"The original idea behind this show was based on the extreme journeys
that I wanted to take in order to find an antidote to living a frazzled life. Along the way I wanted to find meaning, peace, happiness - the stuff we’re all chasing. However, after some transcendent experiences, I ended up in a mental institution. Obviously, I didn’t find what I was looking for.”
Theatre Royal Brighton
Tues 19 Sept - Sat 23 Sept
La Bamba!
La Bamba! is an explosive new musical starring Strictly Come Dancing champion Pasha Kovalev, The Wanted’s Siva Kaneswaran and introducing Inês Fernandez. La Bamba! tells the story of how the power of music can transform a generation and celebrate a community.
Chichester Festival Theatre
Fri 22 - Sat 30 Sept
Quiz
By James Graham, this is a retelling of the coughing major millionaire scandal. Rory Bremner, Britain’s top satirical impressionist, stars as Chris Tarrant in James Graham’s thrilling, entertaining and provocative drama, Quiz, directed by Daniel Evans and Seán Linnen.
September 2001: the nation is gripped by a scandal that remains, to this day, a mystery. In an outrageously audacious heist, Charles Ingram, aka the Coughing Major, and his accomplices duped the world’s most popular TV quiz show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, out of £1,000,000. Or did they? And if they did cheat, how did they really do it?
Worthing Theatre
Wed 27 Sept - Sat 30 Sept
Worthing Musical Theatre Company: School of Rock
Worthing Musical Theatre Company brings Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning musical. Based on the movie, we follow Dewey, a wannabe rock star who poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious school. There he turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band.
Do you have a wardrobe full of clothes and still can’t find anything to wear? A personal styling session will make the difference between feeling frustration and confusion with the clothes and choices in your wardrobe, to looking forward to getting dressed in the morning and feeling full of confidence what you’re wearing.
By William Clay
While many cities in Europe don’t get going until well after 10pm, Brighton & Hove seems to be heading in the other direction. Sure, there’s a vast array of bars and clubs to hide away in until the small hours, but what happens if you want to get something to eat?
In recent years at least one long-standing stalwart of the afterhours dining scene has hung up their greasy aprons and closed. Buddies, the city’s only 24-hour café, was a familiar place for thousands. Overlooking the seafront, it served up a ceaseless procession of breakfasts to those who had been up for far too long. It was pretty memorable being in there, particularly for the banter and watching people in various states of inebriation (many of them wearing high heels) trying to navigate the spiral staircase which led to the toilets.
Slightly more hidden away on Circus Street, just off Victoria Gardens, is the mythical Market Diner. It was a place so lively, I once saw a group of bikers carefully consider their chances of it providing the almond milk honey flat-white they sought. Not that this entirely fictional occasion stopped me from visiting it very late on during the first date with my partner. But the chefs could cook the hell out of a breakfast. Many an appetite was stated in the face of the legendary Gutbuster; a calorific meal seemingly as tall as it was wide. But recent nearby posh new housing developments and changes of ownership have recently made us doubt its future.
At this point, we should give a shout out to anyone frequenting the seafront’s infamous and long closed-down Sub Café during the 90s. It seems offering tea and coffee alongside the best local DJ talent isn’t the best business model. Especially when your core clientele seems to have mysteriously lost their appetite and the Police Service have had their curiosity aroused by all the accompanying boisterousness. But it was fun while it lasted. I think.
While the many players of the old scene have faded away into fuzzy memories and half-whispered anecdotes, where does one go for some afterhours carbohydrate and trans fats? There must still be a demand for nocturnal noshing, whether it’s offering a chance to sober up before an early start, the possibility of an unexpected romantic encounter or simply because you need somewhere to regroup after missing the last train.
Which got us thinking. Where do you go for the evening’s last hurrah? We decided to draw up an arbitrary (and likely quite influenced by intoxication) list of places which can serve up a small slice of comfort and joy before we finally locate our beds.
The rules are simple. They must be open after 10pm, enabling us to get a good-sized session in beforehand. They need to offer (at least perfunctory) seating, from where we can observe the passing world, banter with fellow patrons and swap indulgent tales of earlier daring-do. And they need to serve up some nice food. We might be a little drunk, but we haven’t turned into savages.
This night is winding down, but time means nothing. So, let’s crack on with our first choice… which is Bali Brasserie. Hidden within Kingsway Court on Hove’s First Avenue, this just sneaks under the wire as it stays open until 11pm on Saturday nights. With fantastic service, excellent Asian food, revolving around Indonesian and Malay dishes, it caters for all levels of spiciness. It has ample vegan and vegetarian options, competitive prices and simply brilliant décor. And a bar….
A true Brighton institution is Kambis. This independent Lebanese restaurant at 107 Western Road is home to the best Shawarma in Sussex. I will wrestle anyone who suggests otherwise*. Open until 11pm, you need to also check out their Batata Harra, Loubieh B’zeit or Kalaji. Everyone working there is trained up by the owner, who still gets involved in the
day to day running, ensuring that each dish is absolutely perfect.
We’re already breaking our rules, as this next place closes at 10.30 in the summer, but the good news is that it sells cocktails. I kid you not. Located on Madeira Drive’s Lower Promenade, just east of Brighton Pier, Captains Fish And Chips more than makes up with tasty food for what it lacks in apostrophes. Often super busy, but with a relaxed atmosphere, this seafront treat knocks it out the park (or is that beach?) with their superb seafood and sides. Really friendly staff as well!
Serving up until 2.30am on Thurs and Fri, Bad Boys: Burgers & Wings at 9B Western Road does exactly what it promises. They offer luscious grass-fed Angus beef patties, all minced onsite daily, to give you the ultimate farm to table experience. If you want a spicier alternative, then do not miss the jerk chicken. It will change your life.
Open until 11pm, Pompoko often seems chaotic. But their staff are always fast, friendly and on top of everything. Located at 110 Church Street, this bustling little Japanese eatery often has queues out the door, every night seeing hundreds of people eager to sample their no-nonsense, authentic cuisine. The range of dishes is exceptional, with plenty of options for fussy eaters, and it’s got to be one of the cheapest places in town. Be warned: they still don’t take cards. But when it’s this much fun, you don’t really mind.
Don’t be fooled by the appearance of Martin's Burger House. If you know, you know. Located at 8 East Street, this joint does not mess about when it comes to patties and buns. Open until 2am, their cheery staff knock out great value fare with loads of love and attention. If you want to get a perfectly cooked burger, crisp fries and a beer late at night in The Lanes, this is the place for you.
Our last slice of afterhours foodie heaven has not one, not three, but
two locations! Archipelagos
Gyros have built up a huge reputation for offering the arguably best Greek street food in Brighton until 11pm. Based at 109 Western Road and 75 Lewes Road, they’re satellites of the brilliant Archipelagos Restaurant in Hove. Everything is based around their range of lush gyros, but don’t overlook the Kaserokroketes, veggie Bifteki, vegan Souvlakia and grilled chilli peppers.
The great news is that The Market Diner is back open for business. It’s been refurbished to look much cleaner and nicer, without losing any of its iconic magic. Open until 4am on weekends, we still get to drunkenly gobble breakfasts the size of a hubcap at the crescendo of an evening out. It's perfect for fortifying yourself before one final push home; dodging the seagulls and those endless fleets of mopeds conveying takeaway to the lazy misanthropes who chose to stay in. The late-night culture hasn’t completely gone, it’s just different. And very, very tasty.
Schools are there to educate. And while the learning of fractions is useful for some, and understanding the difference between igneous and metamorphic rocks might be interesting to others, certain subjects applicable to everyone are still grossly under taught.
Excusing the pun, but considering food affects us all, the knowledge of diet and its importance in relation to physical and mental wellbeing should also have a seat at that table.
With over ten years experience working in education, Lauren Morley has dedicated her time educating both schools and pupils on the impact of how a healthy diet could be hugely beneficial to both physical and mental health.
Writer Matt Russell spoke to Morley, founder of the company Food and Mood Education, about the complexities of helping young people change their diet regimes, the hidden elements in everyday foods, and the changes she hopes to see in the future.
Our current education system is failing. And not just in the ways you think, but in relation to young people’s mental and physical health.
It is astonishing that the knowledge of the healthy, joyful, and successful life -and how to feed our bodies - is rarely taught in schools.
For example: It’s 8am and Jack has just walked into college. On the way he has already downed two cans of a popular energy drink - that is 27 teaspoons of sugar! He goes to his first lesson, and after half an hour the sugar crash hits. This causes him to feel extremely fatigued, affecting his brain’s ability to concentrate or process any information.
At breaktime he has a chocolate bar and a pizza slice, leading to another insulin spike. Due to the sugar and the white carbohydrate in the bread, it begins to drop again half an hour later, leaving him feeling exhausted once again.
With his concentration waning it makes it difficult to retain any information from his last few lessons.
The pizza slice and chocolate bar are ultra-processed foods, meaning they have likely been packed with manufactured ingredients rather than actual foods. These ingredients are combined in a way to make them edible, but the food loses nearly all its nutritional content and lots of harsh chemicals are added, thereby likely throwing Jack’s body and brain a nutritional curveball.
Jack, as all teenagers do, is going through a huge mental change, his brain is forming new pathways, it’s figuring out which ones to keep and which ones to get rid of ready for adulthood. This is a natural process and one that is often difficult for teenagers. Meanwhile, because of his food choices, he unfortunately is currently forming an addiction to dopamine, which is the hormone released when we eat these types of processed, high sugar foods. It is our reward system, which tells Jack that he feels good, so he keeps eating these foods.
However, the impact of dopamine can make us completely forget our basic needs in order to gain this high. On top of this, constant insulin spikes and drops begin to make Jack feel anxious as he struggles to cope: he can’t sleep, his anxiety leads to depression, and this begins to affect Jacks attendance, which in turn affects Jack’s grades.
Jack leaves college failing his A levels. He also leaves college addicted to sugar and ultra-processed food, and this addiction stays with him through adulthood, as does the depression. Jack is unaware of the huge impact the foods he is consuming are having on his brain.
Why would he? He was not taught about it. So, he continues to eat like this, Jack is overweight, and his body and brain are suffering, he develops diabetes and a few years later he develops heart disease and eventually dies prematurely, from heart disease, cancer, dementia, stroke, or a cardiovascular disease, take your pick. These all develop from chronic inflammation which is directly linked to diet.
Unfortunately, it is not. This is very real. Around 50 percent of deaths worldwide, are attributed to chronic inflammation.
Why some facts should never be ‘sugar-coated’
Lauren Morley
Jack is just one of hundreds of thousands of pupils who go about their days like this.
We are not educating on this, and we are wilfully choosing to ignore this huge problem within our society and within our education system.
At school and college, we learn the square root of 68 and how many wives Henry VIII had, but we do not learn about something that is so fundamentally important that it affects our whole existence and wellbeing every single day.
As a Safeguarding and Wellbeing officer I spend my days talking to young people with anxiety and depression.
The number one thing all these young people have in common is their diet: high in sugar and ultra-processed foods. Students seem shocked when I explain to them how the food and drinks they are putting into their bodies could be causing serious negative impacts on their brain.
No other activity that we take part in everyday has more power to change your biology than what you eat.
Of course, they are shocked, because this is something that has never been taught to them, or to us.
One in six of our young people are overweight or obese and one in six young people also suffers with a mental health condition. This is not a coincidence.
We live in a society in which one of the most dangerous and addictive drugs is readily available and highly advertised to children.
Sugar.
Supermarket shelves are lined with colourful boxes, fun pictures, and catchy slogans, to take away from the dangers that lurk inside. It’s all a trick, the food industry does not care about our health, or our children’s health, they care about sales.
We have a generation of children addicted to sugar; it is being consumed at three times the recommended amount. And the dangers do not just lie with sugar, 50 percent of our calories in the UK come from ultra processed food and teenagers’ consumption is even higher at a staggering 70 per cent.
Ultra-processed foods, as well as sugar, are the leading cause of obesitythey rewire our brains. Studies have even shown that ultra-processed foods contain such dangerous chemicals they lead to an increased risk of many types of cancer.
Many of the ingredients that go into ultra-processed foods are chemicals that our bodies are not designed to accept. So, what are all these harmful chemicals doing to us?
Our gut really is our second brain. Our gut produces more neurotransmitters - which affect mood and behaviour - than the brain.
Everything we put into our gut will directly affect how we feel: our mental health, how we sleep, memory, ability to learn, our means of processing information and our likelihood of developing serious illnesses. In short, what we choose to eat affects everything.
Every time we consume sugar it is absorbed into the bloodstream, which causes our insulin to spike, and this can be problematic for our bodies.
Constant insulin spikes can damage blood vessels within our brains and bodies. This can cause cognitive issues as well as serious diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. These insulin spikes can cause inflammation within the body, which in turn can make us more vulnerable to disease.
Through my research I have spoken to many GPs and nutritionists. One of the GPs I spoke to said that 90 per cent of the patients
she now sees are there for diseases caused by inflammation, such as depression, autoimmune diseases, lung and cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal disorders.
Inflammation in the body is directly linked to ultra-processed foods and sugar.
You may be eating more ultra-processed food than you realise. Lots of our food is highly processed, such as yoghurts, bread, and sandwich meat, it is important that we check our labels.
If you do not recognise several of the ingredients, such as gums and acids then this means it is probably highly processed.
The higher the health claim, the more processed the food. Surely if it says ‘low fat’ or ‘high in protein’ then that makes it healthier? This is unfortunately not the case, and another trick used by the food industry. A lot of the time, if ingredients have been taken out, such as fat, they are replaced with more sugar and other chemicals to ensure the product tastes the same as the original.
Small changes to diet can make an enormous difference. Damage caused to our bodies can be reversed, it is not too late. It is also possible to see the effects of healthy changes on our brains and bodies almost immediately. Increasing fruits and vegetables, adding legumes, nuts, and fish to the diet, and reducing ultra-processed food and sugar is the key to changing your gut health and improving your mental and physical wellbeing.
Another slight change people can make is eating vegetables before you eat your carbohydrates or any sugars. This creates a barrier in your stomach, which stops the sugars from entering the bloodstream immediately, which dramatically flattens the insulin spike experienced by eating carbohydrates first, or sugars on an empty stomach. This not only stops a huge spike, but it helps to keep energy levels up and keeps you fuller longer. The order in which you eat your food can have a significant impact.
The effect on both mental and physical health can be dramatic. A study carried out in Australia for three months, was pioneering in really testing the link between food and mental health, and the results were astonishing. One third of the participants who suffered from severe clinical depression went into complete remission, and the others who were part of the focus group also improved dramatically. The more the participants stuck to the healthy eating plan, the more they improved.
These are minor changes but will have the biggest impact and is vital information that all of us should know, but why don’t we?
We need to be teaching our younger generation because they are the future of the world, and we don’t want their lives to be full of addiction, depression and disease. We want to give them the best chance for it to be full of happiness and health.
My aim is to help bring nutrition and dietary knowledge into our education system by working directly with schools, colleges and universities, to help improve the mental health of our young people, their grades, attendance, and ultimately their health.
You may have already tried or noticed Noble and Stace at a food market, but in case you haven’t, this one-man chocolatier is worth a lot of hype. Eight years ago, Mike converted his garage into a chocolate kitchen with no food manufacturing expertise, just a desire to make chocolate. While his business started small, making and selling just a few products to local farm shops, his products are now award winning – with 3 Great Taste accolades now under his belt.
What’s more, Mike runs chocolate masterclasses so that you can learn to create your very own bars, truffles and ganache from scratch! This unique experience teaches you how to make incredible chocolate from ingredients you can stock in your very own home.
Mike’s products, from tablettes to truffles, and vegan chocolate too, comes in a range of well-loved or intriguing flavours. There is raspberry crumble, fruit and nuts, fiery ginger, coffee bean, popping candy, white chocolate baklava, and many more to choose from. When it comes to making bespoke delights, Noble and Stace like to champion the very best of Sussex, often collaborating with other independent Sussex producers to create something truly special. For instance, the gin infused or sparkling wine infused sweet treats will be made with a Sussex distillery or vineyard. Likewise with the use of coffee beans from local roasteries.
You can WIN your own taste of Noble and Stace in our Instagram giveaway at the end of this month. The competition will run for a month from Fri 22 September, where you can win over £50 worth of chocolate from Noble and Stace. Or, if you can’t wait, order online or book your private Masterclass at www. nobleandstace.co.uk
Langham - an independent, award-winning microbrewery in the South Downs, near Petworth - offers a range of fresh, carefully developed craft beer served by friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable staff. They create innovative and flavoursome craft beers using top
quality ingredients and traditional, as well as contemporary, skills.
The brewery taproom creates the perfect day out. It is around 40 minutes from Brighton & Hove and surrounded by stunning countryside; walkers, cyclists, hikers and daytrippers are all warmly welcomed. The taproom 'Gulp Club' offers discounts and the brewery hosts a myriad of events across the year.
For a unique day out, you can meet the team and enjoy a brewery tour: choose mix-in tours or exclusive private hire. A typical tour is 1 ½ to 2 hours though you are always welcome to, and often do, stay longer. Tours cost £20 inc VAT per head and include a complimentary Langham tumbler glass!
In the taproom, there is a selection of 7 cask ales and 4 keg beers, as well as local ciders, Fairview Wines, soft drinks, and tea and coffee. Hungry? Tuck into a Faretti Pizza, also made locally. Amongst their Core Range of beers is the Hip Hop (a classic blonde beer, which is clean and crisp) and Session Bitter (a deep, golden beer, the nose has tropical fruit, pineapple and citrus notes with a smooth maltiness in the background). Find out more about Langham Brewery, and book your tour at www.langhambrewery.co.uk
Torstigbar is setting the bar for making low and no alcohol drinks an exciting alternative. It’s Brighton’s first low alcohol bar and bottleshop with no drink above 0.5% ABV, all of which are carefully curated. This is a place to socialise with the pleasure of a tasty beverage and a clear head, making sober nights out trendy. The interior too has a gorgeous aesthetic: shelves stacked high with wines and tonics beside hanging plants; comfy seating with mood lighting; an art deco inspired bar. It is a space you would want to hang out in. On the menu is Mocktails, low alcohol spirits, low alcohol wine, plus brands such as Lucky Saint and Guinness on tap. If you’re sober-curious, doing sober October, or simply hate hangovers, then Torstigbar is for you.
Find them at No. 45 George Street, Kemptown BN2 1RJ or follow @ torstigbar
A quirky farmshop and cafe in Haywards Heath, Hart Country Stores showcases the very best of UK produce while also hosting special events, workshops, and tasting. They have recently won Muddy Stilettos’ 2023 award for Best Cafe in Sussex too, which is a great achievement! The cafe serves Sussex suppliers including Horsham Coffee, Maverick Coffee (brewed in Haywards Heath), The Tea Leaf Company (brewed in Shoreham), Coburn and Baker (baked in Brighton) and there are plenty more treats to discover in the shop. To give you a taste of the events you should look out for to book, is a two hour pottery workshop on Thurs 7 September - ‘Sip and Sculpt’. Friday nights at Hart mean you can get cosy in the stylish lounge, enjoy a cold glass of wine or cocktail, and appreciate some live music. Return on the Saturday morning for Doughnut Saturdays with Ace Doughnuts. www.hartcountrystores. co.uk
Rewilding Us provide foraging experiences through seasonal foraging courses, coastal foraging courses and mushroom foraging courses teaching the uses of wild plants, mushrooms and seafood found in the diverse and rich habitats in and around West Sussex. Run by Chris, the business stemmed from his journey of finding the best diet for his body and the environment, then sharing this knowledge. Most of the foraging is vegan orientated, though “we do cater for all walks of life.” Foraging can help you to slow down, reconnect with nature, and remind you where so much of our food comes from - the wild! Find out more and book your foraging experience at www.rewildingus.co.uk.
Popping up regularly at artisan food markets and stocked in plenty of local stores, delis and cafes, Spiced Sussex creates a wood fired hot sauce. They recently were awarded two stars from Great Taste which is purely judged on taste, no branding or marketing involved. The flavours come from roasted naga peppers on
sustainably sourced hardwood, and then each bottle is waxed by hand. It is a plant-based product made with fine ingredients, and crafted with love. Look out for Spiced Sussex at your next trip to the market; you won’t be able to resist taking a bottle home. Follow @spicedsussex to stay updated on stocklists and market appearances.
Handmade, artisan chocolates from East Sussex. With a menu of bars, truffles, buttons, and hot chocolate too, this little business is a real sweet treat (literally). The first attraction is their artistic packaging in fun patterns and designs which makes opening your chocolate feel like unwrapping a present. They started their journey in 2016 and have since curated many successful recipes and designs using the best ingredients from around the world. Try their 43.5% Venezuelan Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate, or perhaps you would rather 72% Ecuadorian Pistachio Dark Chocolate. They also have five different hot chocolates available to buy online in different percentages, so there is a flavour to suit every tooth, whether that be sweet, rich or slightly bitter. All of their products are also available to buy at their beautiful store in Rye high street (TN31 7JE). www. ryechocolates.co.uk
In the beautiful High Weald of East Sussex is a unique, family run wine estate, renowned for the meticulous care and craft that goes into making their wine. Amongst their current products are Cuvée Brut, Rosé Extra Brut, Blanc De Noirs, Blanc de Blanc (all 2018), plus Cuvée Extra Brut and Rosé (both 2019). Respecting, protecting, curating from and feeling inspired by nature are all key to Busi Jacobhson, promoting the vineyard as an ecosystem and habitat for wildlife. They also offer bespoke tasting experiences which allows you to see the ethos and hard work of the estate first hand. Then, try their incredible produce. This experience is only £28pp and can be enquired on their website. To discover more about Busi Jacobhson, or buy one of their wines head to www. busijacobsohn.com
Probably my favourite summer pasta dish!
It tastes so much better eaten outside in the sunshine. Originating from Northern Italy, each region has a slightly different twist but the fundamentals are always the same. Here I’ve given it a Sussex twist by adding a generous splash of “Naga & Fennel Hot Sauce.” The sauce works really well with the dish, adding a subtle spice & depth of flavour. The chilli balances the sweetness of the clams well & doesn’t overpower.
• 1 kg sustainably sourced clams
• 400 g spaghetti
• 250 ml Dry white wine
• 6 cloves garlic
• ½ a bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 40 ml Spiced Sussex Hot Sauce (add more to taste)
• extra virgin olive oil
• Salt & Pepper
Enjoy outside in the sunshine with good people & a crisp bottle of Sussex wine.
Preparation is key. This is really quick to cook so make sure all ingredients are chopped / ready to go. The more you cook this the better your timings will be.
Don’t overcook the clams
Don’t overcook the spaghetti
Go easy initially on the hot sauce and add more to taste, 40 ml works well for the whole family, kids included, but I’ll easily double that amount for chilli fans.
1. Cover clams with cold water and add a teaspoon of table salt. Leave for 30/ 60 mins. The clams will naturally filter out the sand and salt, leaving the sand to sink to the bottom. Discard and open shells and rinse clams in colander.
2. Bring to the boil a large pan of salty water. Cook the spaghetti. As a general rule, I always cook pasta for 1 or 2 minutes less than instructed on the packet, then finish cooking the pasta once you’ve made the sauce. It makes quite a difference to the final taste, allowing the pasta to really take on the flavour of the sauce.
3. Whilst the spaghetti is cooking, add a generous amount of good quality extra virgin olive oil to a cold pan with the roughly chopped garlic and parsley (include stalks). Turn the heat to medium and cook for a few minutes until they soften. Before the garlic turns colour, add salt, pepper and the wine. Crank up the heat and reduce wine by roughly 50%
4. Add the clams, put the lid on the pan and shake well. Make sure the heat is high and steam the clams until the shells begin to open roughly 3 or 4 minutes. Add the hot sauce and some of the pasta water to the clams, then drain the “al dente” spaghetti.
5. Add the spaghetti to the clams, cook for another minute, and taste for seasoning. Add a splash of olive oil and sprinkle parsley to finish. Eat and enjoy immediately.
Spiced Sussex is available to buy at Infinity Foods, hisbe, One Garden, The Sussex Peasant, Harriets of Hove and The Captain Pig. Or look out for Ben at Artisan Food Markets across Sussex. Keep updated at @spicedsussex on socials.
For nearly thirty years now, Terre á Terre has been known as ‘the vegan and vegetarian restaurant’. Founded in 1993 by friends Amanda Powley and Philip Taylor, they wanted to see how far they could push the boundaries of meatfree cooking.
The high-quality ingredients are served with flair and playfulness, some of which are vegan, organic or local. It is truly a memorable experience with a creative sense of community amongst both the customers and staff. Nonvegetarians, vegetarians and vegans alike regularly return, and every plate is a collaborative effort from the team on the creation and development of plates.
To get a taste of everything, tuck into the ‘Terre á Tapas’ to share (£23.5pp). Their international, totally organic wine list is awardwinning and celebrates the fact that Sussex is one of the main producers of wine in the UK.
Should you have any questions about the menu during your dining experience, the restaurant boasts a friendly and very knowledgeable cohort of staff. Terre á Terre also offers a ‘Little Terrors’ menu for children and for September only, under 12s can eat for free! (T&Cs apply).
71 East Street, Brighton www.terreaterre.co.uk
Nanima Asian Kitchen offers a celebration of the wonderful and diverse culinary traditions of Asia. They present a wide range of dishes from across the region, thinking of themselves, primarily, as an informal home kitchen rather than a conventional restaurant, providing something more personal and authentic. Nanima is run by Nicky and Lonnie, a wife and husband team, ably supported by other family members, and is proudly part of the vibrant and diverse community of Kemptown Village.
‘Nanima' itself means 'maternal grandmother' in Punjabi, Hindi and other languages from the Indian sub-continent. In many traditional societies, the mother's mother
will still live as part of the nuclear family, playing a central role in raising children and, perhaps most importantly, preparing food. This makes every Nanima's culinary knowledge not just the passing on of how to make wonderful traditional dishes but also ensures the preservation of cultural identity and the assurance it will continue through the preparation and service of delicious cuisine made with passion and love.
Discover more about Nanima Asian Kitchen, receive updates about their daily-changing menu (from various mains, daily soups, fresh sandwiches, homemade cakes and deserts) online.
36 St George's Rd, Kemptown www.nanima.co.uk
Novellino Brighton is bringing back Kosher food in Brighton & Hove. A contemporary café during the day, the restaurant offers delicious breakfasts and lunches with a Jewish and Middle Eastern twist, and hopes to transform into an exciting bistro restaurant in the evenings from later on this year. Open from Sunday to Friday (8am to 3pm), the restaurant offers a variety of fresh juices, delicious food and freshly ground coffee. Highlights from their menu include, a Full English breakfast with pastrami, Salt Beef Bagels, Slowcooked Shakshuka, and Vegan Pancakes. Novellino Brighton also features a deli and shop selling Jewish snacks and staples, and with an on-site bakery, visitors are also able to purchase fresh bagels, challahs and pastries, straight from the restaurant bar. The restaurant is a part of the new BNJC Community Hub which features a gym, coworking space, events & classes and a nursery. Open to everyone to enjoy.
29A New Church Road, Hove www.bnjc.co.uk/restaurant-cafe
Sixes opens in Brighton, situated at the i360 site, offers a fresh twist on cricket, blending high-octane gameplay with top-notch hospitality. Ideal for groups of 4 or more, participants step into a net to face off against a virtual bowler, aiming to hit numbered targets for high
scores. Beyond the adrenaline-pumping game, guests can also enjoy a wide variety of food and drinks like burgers, wood-fired pizzas, and craft cocktails. Rooted in the idea that sports and hospitality bring people together, Sixes is more than just cricket—it's a social experience designed to unite and entertain.
Sixes CEO & Co-Founder, Calum Mackinnon, says: “When Brighton presented us the opportunity to open, we wanted to make it different from our other sites. We’re very excited to launch the first of our outdoor nets here and now our customers can enjoy the cricket and the incredible sea views at the same time. We want to capitalise on what’s been an incredible year in the cricketing calendar and with a World Cup still to come, we hope to see more people coming down
Lower, Kings Rd (Brighton i360) sixescricket.com
(Image top - Terre a Terre)
and enjoying their cricket here at Sixes”.Set in Pulborough in the beautiful South Downs, rich with history and thus a story to tell, is Stopham estate. Between the vineyard and Grade II listed barn is a beautiful 13th century church, and quaint cottages. It is in the middle of nowhere, making this estate a true little fairy tale haven complete with their own majestic tree amongst the vines, and a fence to stop deer from bustling in.
Winemaking Director and scientist of the business, Simon Woodhead, ventured into the world of making wines after studying viticulture at Plumpton Agricultural College. He was one of the first winemakers to produce aromatic still white English wines, planting the vineyard in 2007.
Turning up to the estate, we were blessed with a sunny day, and looking out to the unobstructed views of greenery was a scene of pure peace. We met Marie, wine expert and manager, who led us into the barn. Bottling was taking place, meaning we had stumbled right into the manufacturing action. But before any grapes touch the machines, they of course have to be grown. So back out into the sunshine we went, stepping into the vineyard to begin our tour.
While we strolled through the grass, weaving up and down vines, we pointed at butterflies and wildflowers that nestled amongst the grapes. Marie informed us about the idyllic climates for growth, and how Stopham values sustainability in their methods. She pointed out the free draining sandy soil and explained that the grapes are harvested in October. It was all very fascinating, but I will not reveal too many details as that is best left to the experts!
The beautiful still whites that these grapes produce are Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Bacchus grape varieties. Stopham also makes sparkling wine with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. As we were led through the greenery and shown the different grapes, we came across the large Mediterranean Pine tree (the one illustrated on the Stopham logo) overlooking the grapes in what felt like a protective manner. We had to avoid rabbit burrows as we stepped, enhancing the sense of romance in the estate. At the top of the hill, looking down the south-facing slopes, is a view worth visiting Stopham for alone.
Back at the winery, Marie showed us the technology that is used to transform the grapes into wine. We were most impressed by the fact that every bottle of wine is grown, pressed, fermented and bottled right on site. Therefore, with every wine purchased, you are guaranteed the highest quality produce made with pure care and passion.
Then, we were lucky enough to try the wines, starting with the Bacchus which we found the most aromatic and flavoursome. It smelt florally and sweet enough to wear as a perfume and tasted just as lovely. The Pinot Gris and Pinot
Blanc were also delicious, and so smooth that they could be drunk with a dangerous ease.
Currently, Stopham is stocked in Hennings, Waitrose, Grape Britannia and are also found on the wine list at Ockenden Manor, South Lodge Hotel, English's of Brighton and Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa to name a few. They are also available to purchase on the Stopham website. In the near future I am sure Stopham wine will be available in many more prestigious enterprises as it becomes clear how luxurious this product really is for its passion, precision, craft and sustainable values. This is what is written on the bottle after all.
Vineyard tours and tasting takes place at 11am and 2pm on Saturdays, and be sure to take home a bottle. While you are guaranteed to leave having tried some delightful wine, you will also have a new found love and appreciation for the real treasures we have hidden right here in the South Downs.
www.stophamvineyard.co.uk
- Our Pinot Blanc is dry with pear and primrose on the nose and pink grapefruit, honeydew melon and sweet fennel on the palate. It has zippy acidity balanced by a touch of sweetness which lasts well into the lengthy finish. Excellent with smoked fish and goat's cheese.
Stopham Pinot Gris 2022 (12% abv) -
A best-seller, consistently winning the best still white award at the independent English wines awards (IEWA) competition. Off-dry with aromatic peach and pear fruit alongside the tropical fruit character on the nose. On the palate, this has excellent balance with crisp acidity. It is fairly full in body, with plenty of juicy fruit intensity, but is refreshing and long, with a lively citrus and stone fruit finish. Excellent with spicy dishes, roast pork or as an aperitif.
Stopham Bacchus 2022 (12.5% abv)
- Our Bacchus is dry with elegant aromatics on the nose, elderflower, nettle and rose petal meet pink grapefruit and orange peel on the palate. It has moderate acidity balanced by a touch of sweetness which lasts well into the finish. Can be enjoyed as an aperitif or excellent with fish curry, asparagus tart and pan fried sea bass.
Stopham Sparkling Brut Prestige 2018 (12.5%) - Our Stopham Brut Prestige has aromas of baked apples, cream and sweet brioche on the nose, On the palate, this traditional method sparkling wine has delicious flavours of honey, almond, grapefruit and citrus fruits Serve with seafood, fish & chips, shellfish, vegetable sushi or truffle fries.
Written by Kitty Hudson
Kensington Gardens, Brighton BN1
4AL
Iydea is a vegetarian kitchen in Brighton’s North Lanes, and is known as one of the best veggie breakfast and lunch spots in the area. Their delicious range of eatables allows you to create your perfect food box using their bases, toppings and sauces. There are vegan options too. They have the friendliest staff and freshest food, along with a great selection of fresh juices and teas. Everything is available to takeaway or eat in. You can’t go wrong!
Brighton Place, Brighton BN1 1HJ
If you’re more into vegan fast food, the widely loved Vurger Co has a location in Brighton just for you! After starting as a small market stall in 2016, they skyrocketed and now have 3 restaurants (Manchester and Shoreditch). Their mouth watering menu of vegan burgers is bound to tempt you, from ‘Buffalo Chicken’ to ‘Smokey Shroom’. They are also well known for the creamiest vegan milkshakes around. Eat inside their refreshingly modern venue or order a takeaway and eat it on the beach!
Kensington Gardens, Brighton BN1 4AL
Wai Kika Moo Kau is the perfect little cafe tucked in the North Lanes, and is a great place to relax in between shopping sprees. Served by friendly staff, the food is local and fresh, satisfying all brunchy cravings. Whether that be with their Vegan Pancake Stack, their Grilled Halloumi Bagel, or something else. There’s both veggie and vegan options, as well as vegan cakes.
Pool Valley, Brighton BN1 1NJ
Fancy something sweet? Boho Gelato has been a firm favourite ice cream shop since 2010 thanks to their niche gelato flavours. What also makes them so popular is the fact that they specialise in developing vegan gelato, and always offer exciting new vegan flavours. Will you choose vegan choc cherry, vegan churros, or something even better? Their ice cream is locally handmade, and definitely locally loved.
East Street. Brighton BN1 1HQ
Terre à Terre is a restaurant that prides themselves on offering diverse vegan dishes, all created by their expert chefs. It might just be your new go-to restaurant if you love tapas; their ‘Terre à Tapas’ (To Share) is £23.50 per person and includes a selection of dishes from around the menu. They also offer fully vegan afternoon teas Weds-Sun with plenty of savoury and sweet snacks. Yum! Go and find out why Terre à Terre has been voted one of the top 50 vegan restaurants in the world.
New England Road, Brighton BN1
4GW
This hidden Michelen star gem is raved about by those who know it for its creative, vegan cuisine. They use Japanese flavours to enhance vegan dishes which include sushi, small plates, curries and sharing plates. The interior imitates a minimalistic garden, allowing you to dine under a cherry blossom tree. It is the perfect luxurious dinner out.
North Road, Brighton BN1 1YA
Infinity Foods is a vegan supermarket, and is undoubtedly worth the visit if you're your own vegan chef, or find yourself searching for new vegan products. This coop run shop has only grown since its opening in 1971, and now has the largest range of locally sourced, organic wholefoods in the South East. They also sell household and beauty products, and have alternative milk refill machines. Or you can just pop into their in-store bakery for a fresh treat.
Prince Albert Street, Brighton BN1 1HF
Food for friends has served brunch, lunch and dinner to Brighton for over 25 years, with their ethos being to serve innovative dishes from all around the world. Their polished dining rooms are the perfect place to enjoy global cuisines, made locally! Friendly service, a relaxed dining experience and a sophisticated venue are all promised! They cater for both veggies and vegans.
Experience bespoke dining cooked exclusively for you by Chef Ryan Cross
Ryan honed his skill set and experience in kitchens of high end fine dining restaurants across the north east. These included the acclaimed Fisherman’s Lodge Jesmond Dene, Louis in Jesmond, and Pan Haggerty in Newcastle City Centre.
Moving to the south coast in 2018, Cross consulted on three new venue openings which became some of Brighton’s most loved brunch spots. Now he is the development chef for Trading Post Coffee Roasters and a private chef.
Cross has an in-depth knowledge of food, paired with the expertise of creating and planning new food concepts in which you can enjoy from your own home or events. Whether it be a romantic night in a cosy airbnb, canapé evening, big birthday celebrations, or any other large function, booking Ryan is certainly the way to send your taste buds on a wild adventure.
I think, like many people, I fell into the industry by chance. I met and worked with some very amazing and highly acclaimed chefs. I ate incredible food, worked along the way, and before I knew it had turned cooking into a career.
I would say my cooking style is modern European with lots of classic French and British methods. I have lots of modern inspiration coming from so many different avenues. I take inspiration from every venue I eat at, and chefs I get the opportunity to meet.
My main ethos, after coming away from fine dining venues, is to produce honest, humble food that will take your taste buds on a wild adventure; “time to retire the tweezers.” I use local and sustainable ingredients to create a unique dining experience.
You are currently offering a private dining service. Can you give us a brief introduction to what this experience looks like?
It’s 100% bespoke packages tailored to guests needs, expectations and what experience they want from it. I can create something totally informal and relaxed, or fine dining with white cloth and table settings. Any package is certainly an experience for all.
I can do a three, five, or eight course menu. I also offer a Tasting Menu, interactive cooking classes, an evening BBQ, afternoon tea, Brunch or can cater to a Picnic in the Park if you desire.
This is the biggest drive and push for the type of private dining I do. It's 100% what the customer wants from multiple courses with wine pairing to the garnish & finishing touches. I am completely flexible to what type of dining you may need, or would like to experience.
Are you working on any other projects or jobs at the minute?
There is always something in the pipeline, I get to work with lots of exciting venues. I can’t give too much away right now, however the best way to keep up to date with this would be to follow me on socials @chefryancross.
What advice would you give to someone who would like to get into cooking?
Being a chef is not for everyone; it takes grit and focus. Like a lot of other art forms, it takes time to really perfect your craft. I would advise to be a sponge: take notes on anything and everything because it's all useful information. Try not to think about the cost of dining, but immerse yourself in the varied culture and environments that hospitality has to offer
Where can we find out more about you and book a private dining experience?
www.chefryancross.co.uk or DM me on socials Instagram/Facebook/Twitter @chefryancross Mention BN1 September for an exclusive 10% discount.
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There is a new Starbucks based at the former Newmarket Inn and Hotel on the Old Brighton Road, BN7 3JJ. They are open from 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 7:00pm Saturdays, and 8:00am to 6:00pm Sundays.
To reduce food waste, the new store offers Too Good To Go – a leading surplus food app connecting customers to restaurants and stores that have unsold food.
Starbucks offers a 25p discount to all customers who bring a reusable cup when purchasing a drink. Anyone who works in the UK emergency services, the NHS or the armed forces can apply
for the Blue Light Card or the Defence Privilege Card and receive a ten per cent discount at Starbucks.
Customers can order via the Starbucks UK App, available for iPhone® and Android™, to order ahead, skip the queue and collect to takeaway. Store Manager Simon Springate, 52, said: "The store is brand new, shiny and dog friendly which is a real plus for a lot of people. I used to work in another coffee store in Lewes so people might recognise me from my time there where I used to love hosting the local ladies football team. We've already got regulars who we are getting to know by name - we have had people waiting outside
at 7am. Being able to pre-order on the app is a real plus for some people especially emergency services who need to grab and go. We also see faces from Falmer University and Brighton and Hove Albion. We have a great team with people from 18 to 60 and we've all settled in really well."
Barista Mel Marten, 65, said: "The atmosphere here is lovely and we've been getting lovely reviews from customers. We will help in any way possible plus we have got the outside seating with the umbrellas for when the sun is out. It's just a very warm and nice atmosphere. I'm so happy to be here. The colleagues are like another family and the customers are so lovely."
When a loved one passes away, end-of-life care needs to be dependable, compassionate and ethical. With decades of experience, our trusted funeral services are available whenever you need us on 0800 008 6878.
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Worthing
While many gyms prioritise weight loss and often target those seeking quick fixes, TheBox operates on a distinct ethos centred around training for long-term well-being, seamlessly integrated into your lifestyle.
1. Energy Levels: The food you consume provides the energy required for your muscles to perform during exercise. Without adequate energy from nutrients, your workouts could feel sluggish, and you might not be able to exert yourself optimally.
3. Recovery: After exercising, your body needs nutrients to recover effectively. Protein helps repair the microtears in muscles that occur during exercise, while carbohydrates replenish glycogen stores, which are the body's primary energy source for physical activity.
We are committed to never subjecting you to a dismal boring diet nor insisting you count your calories. While these strategies serve their purpose, they can prove time-intensive, bewildering, and let’s admit it, not particularly enjoyable. We believe that food should be savoured and relished. We encourage you to enrich your dietary choices, embrace a colourful array of foods, and ensure your nourishment is fulfilling.
Furthermore, we emphasise the significance of fuelling your workouts and recovering with real food. Whether you are a seasoned regular or embarking on your fitness journey, our aim is to educate you about the critical role of providing adequate nourishment to support your training programme.
2. Performance: Proper nutrition supports your physical performance. Nutrients like carbohydrates are essential for powering intense and sustained efforts, while protein aids in muscle repair and growth.
4. Endurance: Endurance activities require a steady supply of energy over a prolonged period. Consuming the right nutrients, particularly complex carbohydrates, can help sustain your energy levels throughout longer workouts.
6. Immune Function: Intense exercise can temporarily suppress your immune system. Proper nutrition, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, supports immune function and reduces the risk of illness or infection.
8. Mental Focus: Nutrients also play a role in maintaining cognitive function and mental clarity during workouts. Adequate hydration and balanced nutrition contribute to improved focus and concentration.
Breakdown: When you work out, especially during intense or prolonged sessions, your body can enter a catabolic state where it breaks down muscle tissue for energy. Proper nutrition, including protein intake, helps prevent excessive muscle breakdown and promotes muscle recovery.
7. Hydration: Hydration is a critical aspect of fuelling your workouts. Water is necessary for various bodily functions, including temperature regulation and nutrient transport. Dehydration can negatively impact your performance and overall well-being.
10. Optimal Body Composition: The combination of proper nutrition and exercise supports a healthy body composition.
9. Injury Prevention: Nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D are important for bone health, reducing the risk of fractures and injuries associated with exercise.
In essence, fuelling your workouts is about providing your body with the necessary nutrients to perform at its best, recover effectively, and achieve your fitness goals while maintaining overall health and well-being.
Fuelling your workouts is important for several crucial reasons:
Brighton and the rest of Sussex has a force of fabulous coffee shops ready to take on the daily army of commuters, students and retired folk. Coffee shops can be just coffee shops and need nothing else to compliment their fine menu of delectable drinks. But why not upgrade the experience for something a little different? Check out one of these unique cafes next time you want that caffeine hit.
Dice Saloon is a board game cafe and online PC gaming hub with a shop and grand hall to entertain events and tabletop games. Taking over from the Emporium on London Road after covid, Dice Saloon now hosts regular gaming events as well as PC gaming events and rentable consoles.
This more recent move to gaming cafes has created a crucial space for anyone who deals with social anxiety or just someone who likes a calmer pace of life. In this day and age, to come together to play games, have fun and spend time with friends offline is much needed. Board games are an important interactive activity away from computers and technology.
Many Saloon goers recommend the selection of vegan and gluten free pizzas and drinks available. From alcoholic beverages to coffee and cake, you will find a snack that catches your eye. The shop at the entrance is also prized for its variety as you can buy exclusive and niche gaming lines that aren't always local or easy to purchase online. The atmosphere and all round friendliness creates a welcoming space for all ages. Nerdy or not this venue will keep you entertained for hours.
Opening times: 12 - 7pm for the shop and 12 - 10pm for the game space. www.dicesaloon.com
This bike and coffee shop is run by three friends: Rachael, Ross and Ben. They have a passion for bikes, drinks and bringing people together. It started nine years ago, when their backgrounds in events and a recent hobby in cycling turned itself into a bike cafe! They wanted to create a space for cyclists to park up and have a tasty bite to eat, but Rachel said it best by describing the cafe as an “extension of your own living room.” Rachel has owned and run multiple cafes in her career, whilst Ben merged his own bike business with Proper Cycling & Coffee in 2020, now selling high end used bikes both online and instore.
The cafe has evolved into hosting live music events in the evenings with artists from all over the world coming to perform on Hassocks high street. The cafe turned bar in the evening serves a selection of alcoholic drinks and an array of coffees, milkshakes, hot chocolates and chai lattes for the daytime. They also have a great choice for breakfast, lunch and brunch. For all you gluten-free lot, there is something for you too. The cafe often updates the menu with ever changing pastries and beverages. There is always something new to try.
The Feminist Bookshop is a front room turned radical bookshop cafe. After owner Ruth started a bookclub, she realised the potential for a space in Brighton for people to read, have open discussions and debate all things feminism. Thus this independant and fiercely feminist bookshop was born in 2017 and is now paired with plant based coffee supplied by an all female owned business - Girls Who Grind.
This bookshop creates a warming and welcoming space to read, make friends and best of all, have a good natter. The cafe supports, celebrates and stocks books by a variety of women, non-binary, and marginalised writers. They also host events with the next big event coming up called ‘The Parenthood Dilemma Book Launch’ on Tuesday 12 September from 7-8:30pm.
Opening times: Wed - Thurs 11 - 5pm and Fri - Sun 11 - 6pm www.thefeministbookshop.com
Regular bike events are held as well as services like bike hire, fully serviced second hand bikes for sale, biking routes, holidays and bike fittings. Ross is an experienced cycle guide and is responsible for Proper Cycling Holidays based in the Algarve.The cafe is also strategically placed close to the London to Brighton cycle route and is the perfect place to stop off on your bike ride along the South Downs Way.
Don't be fooled, Proper doesn't just do bikes, as Rachel wants to “encourage community and open the space for hire, we’ve done everything from wine tasting to birthdays.” Come for a coffee or leave with a new bike. Either way you will leave feeling satisfied, and with another venue that's just opened in Uckfield, they have got you covered from East to West Sussex.
Opening times (Hassocks): Mon - Sat 8 - 5pm and Sundays 9 - 2pm
www.propercycling.co.uk
Owner Jake has been building up this community for about ten years. Shrunken Terra finally found its new home in 2021, nestled at the bottom of the completely pedestrian street on Church Walk in Burgess Hill.
You can find this premium board game cafe stocked with warhammer and terrain, card and board games. Hosting regular events such as weekly trading card games, Thursdings for Flesh and Blood, and MTG (Magic The Gathering) on Fridays and Saturdays. Starting soon they will have Pokemon events on Saturday afternoons. For people working they have evening trade, from 10-7pm everyday and Sundays 1-6pm. You can also hire tables, bring your own board games or borrow one there.
Alongside board games, they boast a selection of drinks and snacks. Recently added to the drinks menu is Boba Tea with a multitude of flavours to pick from. Coffee, cake and crisps are a staple there and pizzas will be too. There is also in-store retail, 3D printing services and gaming space with an array of terrain to enjoy.
Opening times: Mon - Sat 10 - 7pm and Sunday: 12 - 6pm www.shrunkenterra.uk
Cafe Du Jardin is a french inspired cafe and bistro set inside the courtyard of Pastorale
Antiques which was once an old coaching inn. The courtyards boast a large seating area as well as more intimate seating in the wine cellar.
The food, coffee and wine all take inspiration from rustic French recipes and locally sourced produce. The menu is a modern take on French cuisine with English elements to satisfy the customers and to compliment the interiors. They also have a Thai chef creating some tasty bites to eat with Southeast Asian inspired snacks. Tapas and mezes are also part of the menu, perfect for sharing with big groups. Whatever flavour you’re feeling, Cafe Du Jadin will scratch that itch.
The decor and interior design of the bistro exuberates rustic aesthetics, fine furniture and combined with the love of good food, could it be anymore French? This Parisian corner of Lewes is one to behold and enjoy.
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 9 - 4pm and Sunday 10 - 3pm www.cafedujardin.co.uk
Right on Littlehampton beach, East Beach Cafe blends in; it is designed to look like any other object of flotsam and jetsam that ends up on the seafront.
Award winning British designer and architect Thomas Heatherwick and his team created this cafe back in 2005. Not long after, it became popular with locals and the rest of the world. Heatherwick wanted to create a space that was welcoming as well as taking advantage of the great expanse that is the sky and sea, but also trying to keep it cosy for all types of weather. The studio wanted to reject the modern seaside building arch and create something more familiar to the avenger British seaside experience.
This cafe and restaurant creates a classic English menu that reflects the architecture and certainly will make your mouth water. Local cuisine inspired by the best of British seafood but also with vegan and vegetarian options available. They serve brunch and dinner all year round and have a separate kiosk attached for takeaways and beachgoers. They also hire out the space from corporate events to birthday parties. So, look no further, just sit back and enjoy great food, architecture and views all in one place.
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 9 - 4pm and Sunday 10 - 3pm www.eastbeachcafe.co.uk
Lucille is a multidisciplinary artist. From a special effects make-up artist on Harry Potter, art department for the BBC and Netflix and Artistic Director for pop up dinners and immersive experiences.
She has been running pop ups since 2016. Lucille’s passion and creativity for the arts is evident through her ability to add theatre to a supper club and menu.
She is now working on two new projects, one of which is a private dining table called “Mi Casa”.
What made you fall in love with food to begin with?
Being half Italian and living in Elba, Tuscany, at a very young age, my love for fresh seasonal food and Mediterranean cuisine was embedded. I’ve wanted to be a chef since I was five years old and eating together with family and friends is one of life’s simple pleasures.
What was the first dish you can remember really enjoying?
It has to be my mum’s vegetarian lasagne. She is my biggest inspiration for cooking. She brought us up on an organic, macrobiotic diet which has given me such a great appreciation for plant based cooking.
If you were going to make a delicious meal for a loved one to show off a bit, what would it be and why?
It would be something like a Sunday roast dinner. Coq au vin or beetroot bourguignon are my go to dishes for loved ones. The idea of lots of flavour combinations cooked low and slow
in herbs and wine. Accompanied by a red onion tarte tatin, super cheesy cauliflower, crispy roast potatoes, honey, balsamic root vegetables and a celeriac mash. Sharing them at the table, makes for me, the perfect recipe to entertain.
Could you tell us what you’re up to at the moment?
After finishing a very busy summer of crew catering at back to back music festivals and wellness retreats, I’m now working on something very special and a little bit different. With the fabulous guys at Post House Brighton, we are launching a new series of supper clubs. Kicking off this Halloween. Expect silliness, a delicious cocktail supper and dressing up is a must. www.secretsoiree.com
When it comes to food - what do you think are the most overrated dishes or ingredients and, conversely, what do you feel are the least appreciated dishes and why?
Personally, caviar. It’s just not for me. Celeriac is one of the most underrated vegetables. It’s in season 11 months of the year and has so many health benefits for your gut and digestive system. It’s rich in vitamin C and K, I love using it in many dishes.
If you’ve had a down day, what be the ‘go to’ cuisine that cheers you up?
Italian of course. Can I say my mum’s vegetarian lasagne again? Or a classic margarita with fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella.
Do you think, especially in regards to children, that learning enough about nutrition is being done, or indeed important?
100% no, most children and adults have no idea of the nutritional benefits foods have and most foods are highly processed and full of sugar. It would be wonderful to educate children how to grow healthy foods and be more selfsufficient.
If you had the capability to affect change in any element of the food or restaurant industry, what would it be, and why?
I would love for more restaurants to use seasonal, local or foraged ingredients. And hopefully developing a zero waste solution to reduce the disposal of perfectly good food.
Suzanne Lindfors is from Brighton’s Best Restaurants, a group of restaurant-loving foodies who champion the city’s independent dining scene through an annual awards ceremony and an associated restaurant festival, OctoberBEST
What made you fall in love with food to begin with?
Most people say their mum’s cooking ignited their love of food, but it was my dad’s enthusiasm for eating that made me realise food was something very important. He loved restaurants and would get really excited when presented with a menu. We’d discuss what we both fancied, and we always chose the same dishes - anything meaty or gamey. He encouraged me from a young age to try new things and I remember eating rabbit and pigeon in a restaurant in Cork once when I was seven and loving it - to the horror of my little sister. Our summers in Sweden fishing on the lake and picking wild strawberries are my favourite food memories.
What was the first dish you can remember really enjoying?
The dish that stands out most from childhood was my Irish granny’s sherry trifle. She’d make it every Christmas garnished with silver balls and candied angelica, using tinned fruit and powdered custard. The worse her dementia became, the more alcoholic and sloppy was the trifle - to the point that one year my Uncle John, serving spoon in hand, deadpanned “can I pour you some?”. I still make her trifle every year for my family.
If you were going to make a delicious meal for a loved one to show off a bit, what would it be and why?
I only really got into cooking when I moved to London when I was 21. The produce at my local Turkish shops and bakeries in Haringey blew my mind (Dublin back then was a bit of a foodie wasteland). Now I’m living by the sea again, seafood is my go-to if I’m making
a special meal. I’ll buy monkfish, prawns, squid and mussels from Fish at Hove Lagoon and make a huge paella (Jose Pizarro’s recipe is the one) with a shaved fennel salad. I love anything hearty brought to the table we can all get stuck into.
If you’ve had a down day, what be the ‘go to’ cuisine that cheers you up?
If I’m feeling out of sorts, I’ll put the radio on and spend a bit of time making homemade meatballs and a garlicky tomato sauce and eat them with a mountain of spaghetti and loads of Parmesan in front of trashy TV. Then it’ll be an entire cheap supermarket tiramisu (to serve four) eaten from the box with a spoon.
When it comes to foodwhat do you think are the most overrated dishes, and, conversely, what do you feel are the least appreciated dishes and why?
I’m not a food snob. Eat and drink whatever makes you happy. I do get a bit riled by unnecessarily calorific food though. Burgers topped with beef chilli or an entire deep-fried Camembert … there’s just no need. I’m also a bit mystified by the concept of a £5 doughnut.
Do you think, especially in regards to children, that learning enough about nutrition is being done, or indeed important?
My kids are quite fussy eaters which drives me mad, but they also eat food I didn’t try until I was in my 20s - their favourite place is Pompoko for teriyaki chicken, gyoza and sesame ice cream. They’re much more likely to try something new if they’ve helped me cook it, but unfortunately that’s not always an option for busy parents. I’d like them to be more connected to their food and where it comes from - I loved going to the butcher and greengrocers with my granny, who she’d known by name, and watch the process of our meal come together from shop to plate.
If you had the capability to affect change in any
element of the food or restaurant industry, what would it be, and why?
I think it’s brilliant how many new innovative and exciting restaurants have sprung up in Brighton lately despite the challenges of recent years. Our independent restaurant scene is one of the many things that makes Brighton stand out, and we must support it at all costs. Since Covid, there seems to be a culture of people booking multiple restaurants, then choosing which one they fancy on the night. They don’t seem to realise the damage they’re doing through last-minute cancellations or just not turning up. If there isn’t already a blacklist of repeat offenders circulating among Brighton restaurants, there should be.
Right now I’m busy getting ready to launch the annual OctoberBEST restaurant festival with my colleagues at Brighton’s Best Restaurantswhere around 30 of the city’s best restaurants lay on special menus and events. It’s getting more popular every year - last year some menus sold out within 20 minutes - and is a lovely thing to be involved with. Seeing people go out in droves to spend money at local independents during what is usually a quiet month for restaurants brings me great joy. Follow @brightonsbestrestaurants on Instagram for all the launch news and info.
Aaron Dalton is a chef with years of experience. Having worked in Chez Bruce, and also alongside renowned chefs Simon Rogan at the restaurant Fera, he was also head chef at Smoking Goat which came 55th in the National Restaurant Awards and as he says: “I now run my own thing from my house called Four Restaurants.”
I’m not really sure. I’ve been cooking since I was 16, nearly 27 years of my life. I’m severely dyslexic like a lot of chefs. Cooking and kitchens seem to work well with my dyslexia and the whole creative process is perfect for me. My brain retains a ridiculous amount of trivia on cooking. and the only books that I read and remember are you guessed it – cookbooks. My love of cooking has got stronger and stronger over the years as I’ve gained greater knowledge and better techniques.
What was the first dish you can remember really enjoying?
I’ve always enjoyed food but there are certain times when you eat something, and it just blows you away. I had a dish at Oliver Dabbous which was his celeriac, muscat grapes, lovage and hazelnut dish. It was utterly mind blowing. The thing is with very simple dishes there’s nowhere to hide if it goes wrong.
If you were going to make a delicious meal for a loved one to show off a bit, what would it be and why?
I would probably cook Thai food as I used to be the head chef of Smoking Goat in London. I love a bit of David Tompson and Pok Pok.I don’t really cook Thai that much anymore but at the Goat is where I genuinely fell in love with cooking with fire.
Could you tell us what you’re up to at the moment?
It has been a tough few years. I can honestly say I didn’t think getting back in the Kitchen again would be an option. Two and a half years ago my wife was diagnosed with cancer and 11 months later she was gone. Now I’m the single dad of two beautiful little children Rex, five, and Sylvie, three, so I certainly have my hands full. But I did retrain when I moved back to Brighton as a carpenter and builder and built an extension on my house which is big enough to cook for 20 covers, essentially turning my house into a restaurant. We have a utility room which is a semi-professional kitchen and pot wash. It’s probably not what my late wife had in mind, but cooking is my happy place and I love it. i need to show my children that even when shit happens you still need to push for your dreams. I think she would be proud of what I’ve created as a family home /
business. I’ve also built a bespoke wood fire grill area with smoker and hog roast outside complimentary of Tom from @firemadeuk in the garden with a pizza oven.
Looking forward, I am excited to be cooking my own food – perhaps a seven to eight course taster menu with a wood fire at the forefront. I also have some big collaborations in the pipeline with some London heavy hitters which I can’t wait to announce so please go and follow @chefaarondalton and @ fourrestaurantuk for updates or go to my website and subscribe.
If you’ve had a down day, what be the ‘go to’ cuisine that cheers you up?
The one place I love to go is Noodle Soup in Brighton, ordering the pork and dumplings all day long.
Do you think, especially in regards to children, that learning enough about nutrition is being done, or indeed important?
This is a rabbit hole of a question I could go down for quite some time. but the short answer is no. Children don’t learn enough about nutrition and food in general but with charity organisations such as The Table Talk Foundation highlighting the need for the knowledge of nutrition within schools and its education things are moving in the right direction for Brighton.
If you had the capability to affect change in any element of the food or restaurant industry, what would it be, and why?
If I could change anything it would be to disassemble the restaurant industry and rebuild it in a fair way. Don’t get me wrong I love the industry, but right now it’s broken and has been for a while. It’s built on archaic systems which are not fair to owners and the employees and now with the energy crisis and rise in food cost along with wages going through the roof it is unsustainable. Small independent restaurants lose out and big chains win as they can spread costs due to bigger buying power.
More needs to be done to help smaller restaurants otherwise we will likely see many more restaurants closing. It would be interesting to see Brighton turn itself into not just a food hub of England but to forge a new way to run the restaurant industry, maybe as a template to the rest of England. Making it fairer for everyone with better hours where you don’t have to work 60 hour weeks just to serve. I don’t know how that works but I’m sure a restaurant panel or committee could be set up. The first stage is to admit there is a problem.
Amy Stanborough
My introduction to Tutto when it opened last year was, to be honest, a bad one. I had heard unfortunate reviews which included some pretty harsh comments. But, this only made me want to visit the Italian restaurant on Marlborough Place even more. I thought ‘surely it can’t be that bad’.
I am now writing this to confirm that whatever negativity you may have seen or heard about Tutto is certainly not what I experienced. I had a thoroughly enjoyable dinner where the price of the plates comes with the intimate adventure of sharing delightful flavours of dishes you may not have tried before.
Tutto’s latest offering is Domenica Sundays where they express “on Sundays we feast!” And we certainly did exactly that. The Domenica menu is a unique take on sharing small plates (a form of dining which their sibling restaurant Burnt Orange has become well acclaimed) as each course is shared with your partner. To start is Antipasti, and then you can choose an additional one, two or three plates maxing a maximum of four courses (£37pp) available.
The fact that the Antipasti comes regardless of how many courses you choose could have been made a bit clearer on the menu. So, two courses are Antipasti and Secondi (£27pp). Staff were very happy to talk us through the menu and our options. They also pointed out the Flight Trio deal which consists of a Spritz and two glasses of wine for just £20. (Three courses are £32pp.)
First we ordered our Aperitivo (£6), opting for a Rhubarb Spritz and Limoncello Spritz. Over to our table came the trolley with its bar arrangement, then the drinks were made beside us. This was a fun and personal touch that I really enjoyed; the staff offered to add more flavour if necessary while a sprig of rosemary was placed in the glass. Sipping our sweet bubbles, we took in the interior design. The yellow lighting from the wall lights and chandeliers create a warmth to the space. It seemed intentional considering Tutto “love everything about Italy: the weather, the energy”. Blue sofas and bar stools, plus blue tiling on the floor and lots of foliage enhanced the Mediterranean imitation.
On top of our four courses, we ordered the Beef Carpaccio (£10.5) and Fritto Misto (£10) as extras. For clarity these are extras, not side dishes, that come out as their very own course so ensure you save room for these special additions if something takes your fancy. The Carpaccio was a flavour and texture journey, decorated with parmesan, porcini and pine nuts. Definitely a highlight for me. The Fritto Misto was well salted and crispy, with a delightfully light lemon pepper aioli which was not overbearing with garlic. If you are a massive fried fish fan (like my partner) then this is definitely for you. For me, it was tasty but nothing outstanding.
Then came the Antipasti which was heaven on a board. Grilled and marinated vegetables served cold with a well spiced walnut trapanese, olives, crostini, and plenty of salami. It established the sense of sharing wonderfully, though it did not need to be so big! Serving light crostini rather than thick cuts of bread was necessary, otherwise I would not make it through the next three courses to come.
Seafood tagliatelle came next: homemade pasta ribbons with the sweetest tomatoes, clams, mussels, and squid. Delicate in flavour, as I tasted a hint of spice and kick of garlic, the pasta was pleasingly not drenched in sauce allowing the natural flavours and juices of the fish to be present. This dish has a delicious simplicity about it which will get you in a fork fight over who eats the last clam.
For our Secondi course we chose the porchetta which is cooked with a layer of oregano and roasted garlic running through the meat. Usually porchetta can have lots of soft fat, however this portion was very meaty and the crackling had the perfect crisp to it. It did not necessarily need the ‘Ndjua gravy, but a slight drizzle of it was delicious all the same. All mains are served with crispy parmesan potatoes and a mound of leafy brassicas. Covered in chilli butter, the veg was maybe a bit too wet for my liking and did not have any sort of crunch you may expect from a leafy salad. However, the crunch came from the potatoes as they were beautifully browned with a soft middle, and topped with a touch of parmesan.
Then, we had Dolci (dessert) to come for the finale of our feast. I had seen images of Tutto desserts on social media and was looking forward to this course the moment I knew I was coming to dine. The lemon meringue pie was a showstopper. A huge portion size which included a fluffy layer of soft meringue delicately balancing on top of the lemon curd. The lemon was wonderfully sharp, and the oozing layer of strawberry coulis was a joy but added another layer of sweetness which was too sickly for my (non-sweet toothed) partner. Decorated with pistachios and fresh strawberries, I could not resist boxing the rest of this treasure up to continue the sharing spirit at home.
The Domenica menu, I believe, is definitely good value for money for the high-quality, freshly made meals you are served and in generous portion sizes too. It is the perfect restaurant to come to for a special occasion or romantic date. Their ethos is “bring everyone, eat everything” and I loved the experience of tucking in and sharing not just food, but opinions of it, even emotions the meals triggered. Expect olive oil, garlic, and parmesan. You will leave feeling very satisfied.
Tutto’s Domenica Sundays is an exclusive Sunday service. Throughout the week, they serve Italian small plates featuring some of the above dishes. (Recommended is 3-4 dishes pp, averaging at around £50 a head). Or, if you can’t decide on what to eat, the Taste of Tutto set menus offer a selection of all their best dishes (£36 or £46 pp).
www.tutto-restaurant.co.uk
Occasionally controversial, often awe-inspiring and always difficult to ignore, the Turner Prize is heading to the south coast. Running Thurs 28 Sept – Sun 14 April at Towner Eastbourne, this most notorious and progressive cultural show has introduced us to some of the world’s most brilliant artists.
Arguably the world’s best-known visual arts competition, the Turner Prize was established in 1984. Named after the iconic (and somewhat radical) painter JMW Turner, it recognises the year’s most celebrated artist with a prize of £25,000 to the winner with a further £10,000 given to the other shortlisted participants.
The exhibition’s venue annually alternates between London’s Tate Britain and one of the UK’s leading art institutions, with it heading to Sussex for the first time this year. “I think the association with JMW Turner demonstrates the ambition of the award and the aspirations of the organisers,” Towner Curator, Noelle Collins, tells me. “It’s safe to say that they couldn’t have predicted the level of public recognition and media attention that is now associated with the award. There’s no other exhibition of contemporary art that is so widely known - it has an extraordinary reach and continues to prompt spirited conversations about art, to the point where the Turner Prize is almost a household name.”
Each year, a panel of judges determines a shortlist of four innovative British artists who’ve recently staged exciting exhibitions, with the winner being announced in early December. There’s not really an art event like it anywhere else in the world, and it serves as both a showcase of innovation and often a trigger for febrile conversations about the direction and value of contemporary art. Being able to mention participation in the Prize on your CV is one of the biggest career boosts an artist can enjoy.
All this is often accompanied by the occasional spot of controversy. There are no firm rules on what we should find aesthetically pleasing. There will always be a simmering uncertainty in this
country about what constitutes art. Throughout its history, the Turner Prize has been at the forefront of triggering debate, with a procession of conceptual works which have been quite… challenging. We’re unlikely to forget Tracey Emin’s unmade bed suggesting a tragic story of love and death; Martin Creed’s fitting of an empty room which lights which turned on and off for five seconds at a time
“I guess the big argument now is about if something is woke or not,” says Hill, with a small chuckle. “But, there is a space for that kind of disruption, like works involving unmade beds, or the KLF awarding the winner with ‘the worst artist of the year’ prize.”
The Turner Prize hasn’t exclusively concentrated on contentious installation work though. In 1984, the London-born artist Malcolm Morley won with two photorealist paintings inspired by a trip to Greece. Although he still attracted controversy for being a permanent resident in New York and having learned to paint whilst in jail.
Perhaps the most iconic winner is Damien Hirst, who won with his sculpture Mother & Child - a dissected cow and calf preserved in formaldehyde. Chris Ofili was awarded the Prize in 1998 for his iconic painting No Woman, No Cry Composed using acrylic and oil, the painting also used elephant dung as a material and contained references to the racially-motivated murder of teenager, Stephen Lawrence.
or Rachel Whiteread’s concrete cast of an entire three-storey house in East London.
“There’s something about the Turner Prize,” says Towner Eastbourne Director and CEO, Joe Hill. “People feel like they can say what they want, for good or for bad. It’ll be featured in our tabloid newspapers. It’s on the radio, it’s on the telly. That just doesn’t happen with most contemporary art shows.” Obviously, all the heated discussion can be a healthy thing. Reaction can be liberating, and it thrusts a little bit of excitement into an often-stuffy art world.
Controversy and impenetrability aren’t necessarily a prerequisite to get your work shortlisted for the Turner Prize, but it will generate a lot of free coverage within the pages of the Daily Mail and The Sun. And it has become a little bit trendy in some quarters of the artistic community to hate the competition.
In 2002, University of Brighton alumnus Keith Tyson won with The Thinker (After Rodin). This complex metal structure, accompanied by the hum of unseen computer activity, prompted fierce responses from Banksy, members of the Royal Family and Culture Minister Kim Howells. Much like Turner himself, the prize has attracted scorn and bewilderment. But it’s rarely been boring, and always offered new perspectives on what can be. As with most long-running events, the danger of the prize becoming inward-looking and self-celebratory is always lurking. But this year’s contenders seem to all be responding to some very poignant social issues.
Jesse Darling presents No Medals No Ribbons after acclaimed shows at Modern Art Oxford and Enclosures at Camden Art Centre. Darling’s work encompasses sculptures and installations which evoke the vulnerability of the human body and the precariousness of power structures. The jury was struck by their ability to manipulate materials in ways which skilfully express the messy reality of life.
Nominated for her solo exhibition Fountains at Simian in Copenhagen, Ghislaine Leung’s
work takes the form of ‘scores’ – sets of instructions which test the boundaries of the gallery itself. Baby monitors, child safety gates, inflatable structures, toys, and water fountains are used to turn the exhibition structure on its head, asking questions about time, leisure, and labour. The jury particularly commended the warm, humorous, and transcendental qualities that lay behind the sleek aesthetic and conceptual nature of Leung’s work, as well as her commitment to challenging the way art is produced and circulated.
Rory Pilgrim was nominated for the commission RAFTS at Serpentine and Barking Town Hall, and a live performance of the work at London’s Cadogan Hall. His work interweaves stories, poems, music and film, created in collaboration with local communities in the borough of Barking and Dagenham, to reflect on times of change and struggle during the pandemic. The jury felt that Pilgrim’s beautiful and affecting musical arrangements gave light to their collaborators’ voices and that the confidence and vulnerability of the performance reflected the strength of the relationship between artist and community.
Nominated for her presentation entitled Burden of Proof at Sharjah Biennial 15, Barbara Walker’s practice interrogates past and present issues of racial identity, exclusion and power. Her presentation features underlaying figurative drawn portraits with facsimiles of the documentation these individuals had to produce to prove their right to remain. She was chosen for her ability to use portraits of epic scale to tell stories of a monumental nature, whilst maintaining a profound tenderness and intimacy across the full scope of her work.
“Barbara Walker’s drawings bring careful attention and visibility to individuals and families affected by the Windrush Scandal,” says Collins. “Jesse Darling presents new and recent sculptures in an installation that explores borders, bodies, nationhood and exclusion; Ghislaine Leung is interested in the time, labour and support structures required to make and maintain artworks; and Rory Pilgrim’s film positions the raft as a symbol of support keeping us afloat in challenging circumstances. I don’t think the
attention to social issues is as fickle as a trend - Artists are making work that reflects and responds to the world around them, including the social, economic, cultural and political issues of our time.”
Hill believes a lot of entries into recent Turner shows were responses to Brexit, but now participants are exploring issues from a more intimate perspective. “Many artists had been thinking about their work on a macro level. But people are increasingly producing work which exists on a micro level, with involves more social conscience.”
There’s a big focus in this year’s Prize with presenting art as being for everyone. Towner Eastbourne is working with its partners in the town and across Sussex, including Arts Council England, to offer an array of satellite events across the whole area. Hill tells me a range of public artworks are being installed around Eastbourne, with pieces commissioned as part of the gallery’s Levelling Up initiative. “The plan is to have commissions on the High Street, in the train station and the seafront, to really make it vibrant and exciting,” says Hill.
“This will be alongside a music programme in the Winter Garden and live music across the town.”
“The shortlisted artists are conscious of barriers to access,” Collins adds.
“Rory Pilgrim’s incredibly moving Rafts commission was made in collaboration with community groups in Barking and Dagenham, the resulting films are presented with captions. We provide large print guides throughout the exhibition and we’re working with VocalEyes - a charity dedicated to bringing art and culture to life for blind and visually impaired people at theatres, museums, galleries, heritage sites - to develop an audio guide to the exhibition, this will be available from November.”
There’s a sense of excitement and pride in Eastbourne hosting such a prestigious contemporary art award, especially during Towner’s centenary year. Collins is adamant that art should be available to the broadest possible audience, but one of the greatest barriers to accessing the arts can be a financial one. Importantly, the Turner
Prize 2023 exhibition is free admission, and Towner is enhancing this with free curator and artist talks throughout the run of the show.
visits for all year 9 students in the area, inspiring the next generation of artists, writers, designers, teachers and curators.”
There’s an ambition to create something which lasts long after all the attention has died down.
“It’s about creating a kind of legacy for the town,” says Hill. “After this has all finished, I don’t want everything to just go back to normal.”
In the hope of inspiring the artists of tomorrow, Towner will be giving school groups the run of the building on Mondays. There’s also a huge amount of outreach work being done, with an ad hoc network forming of similar institutions across Sussex; places like Charleston in Firle, Bexhill’s De La Warr Pavilion and the art community in Newhaven.
It’s hoped that this show will encourage plenty of people to appreciate the potential and value of this purpose-built art gallery. When the Prize was held at Margate’s Turner Contemporary it saw 10,000 viewers flocking to the show during the opening weekend. “I would love to see first time visitors stepping over the threshold and building the confidence to spend time in public galleries and museums,” adds Collins. “We’re also working with local schools to provide dedicated
“The event will not only allow current and new audiences to experience some of the very best in contemporary art in our brand-new galleries,” says Hill. “It will also reignite the visitor economy in East Sussex. People often seem to ‘put down’ where they’re from, but I want to install a sense of pride in what the town can achieve…”
The Turner Prize comes to Towner Eastbourne on Thurs 28 Sept Sun 14 April, as part of the gallery's centenary celebration. www.townereastbourne.org.uk www.tate.org.uk/art/turner-prize
Brighton’s newest food tour celebrating all things doughnuts! Try all the best doughnuts in Brighton, learn about history, food and culture, and so much more!
Jesse Darling, NoMedalsNo Ribb ons .
Above: Rory Pilgrim, RAFTS, Production Still, 2021. Photo Matthew Ritson
Above: Ghislaine Leung, Violets 2, 2023.
“It’s a real egalitarian environment. No seats are better than others. Everyone is hopefully going to be immersed in the joy of seeing what’s happening in this safe and welcoming space. Hopefully, it’ll make people reflect on what food is to them, and what Brighton means to them.” Performed in the round, the show sees a cast of 28 people making bread and soup, while sharing their stories.
While there is an element of clownish humour attached to much of the work, there is a poignant message underpinning everything. “How is it we have all this excess, but people are still going hungry?” asks Parris. “Brighton is a city of contrasts and contradictions. It appears to be so welcoming and beautiful. On a gorgeous day, you come down and see that blue, sparkling sea and everyone is smiling, and it seems like a place of acceptance and possibility. When you dig down, that’s not the story for everyone. It can be a place of hardship and gross inequality. There’s a veneer of what people think of Brighton, but if you live here and you’re struggling, whether that’s access to good transport or vital services, it’s harder. We’re about showing those contradictions.” Brighton People’s Theatre’s foundations are in community development, so it’s unsurprising that Born And Bread has risen out of partnerships with local groups like Bevendean Food Hub and lunch clubs across the city.
“We aim to bring people together, in a way where they’re able to shake off the day-to-day; whether that’s work or family life,” says Brighton People’s Theatre’s Associate Director, Jack Parris. “You can just play and be a bit silly. It’s an undervalued thing in this world we live in today.”
It’s a typical British summer’s day. In other words, it’s raining. We’re sat in a landmark pub at the centre of North Laine. Jack and I have met up to talk about BPT’s Born And Bread project. While it reveals the stories of local people, the underlying themes resonate through history and around the world. It also started with a detailed chunk of research. About 100 people were asked to share their experiences around food. These ranged from people working in foodbanks to chefs, and the rock man on the seafront to doughnut sellers. “This came together as a vibrant selection of stories, offering tiny snapshots of the city. Since then, the project has evolved into a narrative linking all the fragments together.”
This has been a sizeable undertaking. BPT operate a co-creative process, demanding that every stage in development be accompanied by conversations and workshops. So, creating something for the stage hasn’t been a straightforward task. What they have created is a more pure form of theatre, which genuinely reflects the lives and attitudes within our community.
With assistance from Arts Council England, Unity Theatre Trust and People’s Postcode Lottery, the research and development show (which was performed to sell-out audiences last year) has evolved into an immersive theatre experience. Coming to Brighton’s Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts on Sat 30 Sept - Sun 1 Oct, it invites audiences into a community kitchen and to ask who sits at the table, what’s on the menu and what stories are there to be shared. Now with a proper narrative structure and a few lively songs, the cast will be making a light meal for members of the audience.
Parris has been working with BPT for just over two years and says he’s learnt a lot about the co-creative process. And it’s something which can move beyond the boundaries of artistic expression. “We don’t know the answers, but here’s some questions... Let’s explore them together. People have amazing ideas and are really creative. It’s almost like a beautiful hive mind.” He suggests an important component is being honest about the development of work. Often, attending a BPT workshop is the first-time people have engaged with theatre in any form. Becoming involved in a production and rehearsing a couple times a week for six months is quite a commitment, so this is repaid by transparently explaining each step of the project; like rewrites, casting and production work.
“People who come to us might have creative aspirations, they might have always enjoyed acting, or they might never have done anything like this before. You connect with other people, which is a rare thing to find. It’s hard to get involved with long term creative projects.”
BPT’s work always aims to be relevant and curious. It doesn’t necessarily need to be about the experiences of the performers involved, so long as we can see shades of our life in it. Whether that’s the cost-of-living crisis, the idea of moving to a new place or finding and meeting people for the first time. “It’s theatre specifically for people in this city. Hopefully it can speak to people on a national level, but there is a local context.” Often their research will irresistibly draw into certain areas. Much of the development around Born And Bread was done before food and energy prices started soaring. But the conversations they were having repeatedly included efforts to get food to those who most needed it.
As a company producing work which speaks at critical moments, addressing food poverty couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. On Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs sustenance is fundamental. It comes long before self-actualisation, esteem or security. “How can you belong somewhere if you can’t even get the basics? That’s our characters’
journeys. They’re on the breadline and can’t survive without help.” As food bills go up and wages stagnate in real terms, our inability to provide for the most vulnerable amongst us is going to be an increasingly important conversation.
Parris says BPT don’t set out to make overtly political work, but organising of any kind is a political act. Especially in the arts. It’s a choice to engage with it or not. “Our company always tries to look at what’s going on and see the issues affecting people. We came out of lockdown, and social isolation was a big thing. But our members said they didn’t want to make anything about Covid. They wanted to create something fun. While it does talk about issues with the food system, it is also a joyous show with songs.”
While it is a non-professional company, which comes with certain challenges, BPT shine through with their incredible group work. “People can just be themselves. It’s people being people. Some of the acting is incredible. People might assume it’s less polished, or a lower standard, but it’s more interesting and authentic.” He says that professional training has the side-effect of often putting actors into boxes. “You want to free people from that. There’s nothing worse than hammy overacting. That’s what we generally prescribe against.”
For a lot of people BPT work with, acting was never an option. It’s an industry which remains broadly elitist. Those with the deepest resources or support get to take the risks. You can go and train at drama school, but not everyone will make it. The economic realities of the world often discourage people.
There’s also a fierce debate around the value of arts in British society. Some quarters view it as fanciful or unproductive. “What is valued has, and will, always be defined by people in power. You could say it’s mathematics or coding. But in no way are they more useful to society than an artist. In some ways, we need artists because they think about things in different ways. For example, you could train all the computer coders in the world, but most would be irrelevant if there was no content to put on the internet.”
Parris hopes he and the company have captured a little of the Brighton food scene in Born And Bread. But what does the future hold? It’s certainly going to include anticipating what the issues of tomorrow might be and continuing to provoke relevant discussions. Their workshop programme starts again in October. They’re also looking at how to further celebrate hidden and underserved communities in the city. “The mission of the company has always been about putting these invisible people onstage, or at least get them into the conversation. That’s the artistic goal. But it’s also about getting people together in a room.”
Brighton People’s Theatre’s Born And Bread comes to the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts on Sat 30 Sept - Sun 1 Oct.
www.brightonpeoplestheatre.org
www.attenboroughcentre.com
FRI 29 SEPT
John Kramer (Tobin Bell) is back, in the most chilling instalment of this gruesome horror franchise yet. We get to explore the untold chapter of Jigsaw’s most personal game.
Set between the events of the first two films, a sick and desperate John travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer. But he realises the entire operation is a scam to defraud the vulnerable. Armed with a newfound purpose, John returns to his work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature visceral way through a series of ingenious and terrifying traps.
Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Olympus Has Fallen) directs this much anticipated third slab of violent vigilante action. Alongside Dakota Fanning, David Denman, Sonia Ammar, and Remo Girone, Denzel Washington plays the secretive Robert McCall. By day he’s quiet and unassuming, trying to get through at a menial job. By night, he’s America’s most dangerous pensioner.
This retired US Marine and former CIA operative has moved to Southern Italy, in an attempt to escape from his past. It’ll be no great surprise to discover his new circle of friends are under the control of the local Mafia. The following events turn horrifying, where Robert unleashes his past self and dishes out some bloody justice.
Starring Elena Kampouris, John Corbett, and Louis Mandylor, we get a welcome third helping of this classic romantic comedy franchise. Directed by Nia Vardalos, we call in again on the Portokalos family, who are now on a typically chaotic trip to Greece.
Gus Portokalos has passed away, and his big wish was that the family go to the village in Greece where he was raised and connect with all their extended and delightfully colourful family. Fans can expect laughs, plenty of romance, family escapades, healthy servings of souvlaki and... just maybe… a wedding. After all, Ian and Toula’s daughter, Paris, is still single. Sounds promising.
FRI 15 SEPT
Europe’s most picturesque city gets a supernatural treatment, when Kenneth ‘Chuckles’ Branagh returns as a certain iconic Belgian detective. Based on the 1969 novel Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie, this serves as a sequel to the enormously successful Death on the Nile. Joining Branagh is includes Kyle Allen (West Side Story, American Horror Story), Camille Cottin (Call My Agent, Killing Eve), Tina Fey and Michelle Yeoh.
In post-World War II Venice, Poirot, now retired and voluntarily living in exile, reluctantly attends a séance. But when one of the guests is murdered, it is up to the former detective to uncover the killer in his inimitable style.
FRI 22 SEPT
A new generation joins the world’s top action stars for one more adrenaline-fueled adventure. Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables are the world’s last line of defence - and the team who gets called when all other options are off the table.
Starring *deep breath* Jason Statham, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Dolph Lundgren, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Randy Couture, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, Andy Garcia and Sylvester Stallone, a selection of new recruits will bring in different styles and tactics. This’ll give ‘new blood’ a whole new meaning, and the franchise will be pushed to even more spectacular levels.
FRI 29 SEPT
From writer/director Gareth Edwards (Rogue One, Godzilla) comes an epic sci-fi action thriller set amidst a future war. Joshua (ohn David Washington) is a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife (Gemma Chan). He’s recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed the power to end the war and eradicate mankind.
Joshua and his team of elite operatives journey across the battle- lines, into the dark heart of enemy occupied territory... only to discover the world-ending weapon he’s been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child. TWIST!
FRI 22 SEPT
When a magical meteor crash lands in Adventure City, it gives the PAW Patrol pups superpowers, transforming them into the Mighty Pups! Featuring the voices of Mckenna Grace, Taraji P. Henson, Marsai Martin, Christian Convery, Kim Kardashian and Chris Rock, Cal Brunker directs this all-action animated sequel.
For Skye, the smallest member of the team, her new powers are a dream come true. But things take a turn for the worse when an old nemesis breaks out of jail and attempts to steal the powers. With the fate of everyone hanging in the balance, the Mighty Pups must stop some new supervillains, and Skye learns that even the smallest pup makes the biggest difference.
FRI 1 SEPT
PRIME VIDEO
This epic drama gets a second outing. Based on Robert Jordan’s bestselling books, we delve into the story of Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), a member of the magic wielding Aes Sedai. When she visits a small village, seeking an individual prophesied to either save the world or destroy it.
As the fabled Last Battle with the Dark One approaches, she leads five young villagers on a dangerous journey to discover which one of them holds the key to victory. These new episodes promise to be darker, with a larger cast and expanded fantasy world. Those smalltown kids have had to grow up fast. Now, will they accept their individual destinies, or will evil triumph?
THURS 7 SEPT
NETFLIX
The fifth season of this romantic drama offers up some surprising new relationships, a shocking break-up, a difficult court trial, a heartbreaking goodbye and a wildfire which threatens the whole town. Some of the community will be forced to work together, while others might soon be torn apart…
Motherhood pushes Mel to make a big decision about her future at the clinic while her pregnancy sparks an emotional connection to her past. To further prove himself, Jack squares off with some long-overdue confrontations. And as Doc and Hope find their identities in question, the doctor and the mayor must find solace in their community, their new family and each other.
WEDS 13 SEPT
APPLE TV+
If you’d told the younger me I’d be excited about the return of a Jennifer Aniston show, there’d be scepticism. But here we are. In her (other) career-defining role, Jen is back as Alex Levy – the spectacularly brittle anchor of America’s favourite breakfast TV show. Reese Witherspoon’s Bradley Jackson completes this dynamite daytime duo, but behind the disarming smiles is drama and plenty of intrigue.
Everyone is still coming to terms with the aftermath of both the pandemic and sexual misconduct allegations against Alex’s former co-host, Mitch. There’s been a huge shift in culture at the network, but will the pair maintain their iron grip on the nation’s hearts?
WEDS 13 SEPT DISNEY+
Football is the greatest show on earth, both on and off the pitch. Step forward the bloke who plays Deadpool and the star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. For reason explained in this documentary, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney decided to buy Wrexham AFC – a club very much at the arse-end of British football.
Since troubling out of the English Football League 15 years ago, the club was facing oblivion. With more enthusiasm than actual experience, two Hollywood types are slowly turning the club around. It’s a riches to rags story to warm any heart, but can these plucky outsiders get back into the EFL?
THURS 21 SEPT
NETFLIX
It’s time to wave goodbye to this robustloy hilarious coming of age drama. Following the closure of Moordale Secondary, Otis and Eric now face a new frontier - their first day at Cavendish Sixth Form College. Otis is nervous about setting up his new clinic, whilst Eric is praying they won’t be losers again.
But Cavendish is a culture shock for the newcomers - they thought they were progressive but this new college is another level. There’s daily yoga in the communal garden, a strong sustainability vibe and a group of kids who are popular for being… kind?! Over in the US, Maeve is living her dream at prestigious Wallace University.
FRI 22 SEPT
APPLE TV+
Antonia Thomas, Craig Roberts, Blake Harrison, Lois Chimimba, Luke Fetherston, Rich Fulcher and Samantha Spiro star in this offbeat comedy. Bonded by insomnia, best friends Lisa and Danny stay connected to each other late into the night and find their way through a world of wonderfully weird surprises as their relationship deepens.
Lisa is an impulsive and free-spirited aspiring illustrator whose questions over her daughter’s future start keeping her up at night. Danny is asocially anxious yet gifted journalist. The pair have no secrets, except their feelings for each other and, while the world sleeps, they spend their long nights talking despite never meeting.
FRI 22 SEPT
PRIME VIDEO
Don’t forget to tip the concierge… This three-part event is all set to explore the origin behind the iconic New York centrepiece of the John Wick universe. This chain of luxury establishments stretches all around the world - all functioning as neutral territory for members of the underworld, like hitmen and criminal overlords.
We follow a young Winston Scott, a man destined to be the owner of the world’s hardest hostelry. He’s dragged into the Hell-scape of 70’s New York City to face a past he thought he’d left behind. Charting a deadly course through this mysterious and illicit gangland he suddenly gets a chance to prove his worth and seize the throne.
Tickets from £13 available via the Brighton Dome Ticket Office
10% off for BN1 readers for all concerts booked by 31 October: use voucher code BN1BPO10
brightonphil.org.uk
2023/24
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Our adventurous season starts with a bang! BPO Music Director Joanna MacGregor joins Clark Rundell in a concert of rocket-fuelled American classics – John Adams, George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein.
Christmas arrives early with two festive performances of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol with acclaimed actor Pip Torrens and the BPO Brass Quintet. Performances at St George’s Kemptown
25 February – 7.30pm The
In a tale for our times, Alistair McGowan leads three actors in Stravinsky’s 1918 masterpiece, The Soldier’s Tale. Part anti-war, part Russian fable, it’s a satirical story of a soldier, his violin, and the Devil.
12 November – 7.30pm
British jazz players explore cult figure Moondog, whose influence stretches from 1960s New York to DJ Mr Scruff. Also, spirituals and Mississippi blues meet electronica with the music of Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Bob Dylan.
31 December – 2.45pm New Year’s Eve
Out with the old and in with the new: what better way to celebrate, than with the BPO’s sparkling Viennese concert on New Year’s Eve?
8 March – 7.30pm
BPO is led by women – just look at our Music Director and principal players. For International Women’s Day, we’re delighted to showcase exciting music by Errollyn Wallen and Florence Price.
3 December – 2.45pm
Sibelius and Arvo Pärt: our winter programme brings together two great composers in a concert of meditative, snowy beauty and drama.
27 January – 7.30pm Wagner’s
Vlieger’s monumental symphonic adaptation of Wagner’s epic Ring cycle will transport you from Das Rheingold through to Götterdämmerung: one of the largest orchestras ever seen on the Dome stage.
Our final orchestral concert is inspired by the sea. Framed by Britten’s stormy Sea Interludes and Debussy’s spectacular La Mer, we’re joined by the violinist Ragnhild Hemsing in a joyful visit to the Norwegian fjords.
