An LGBTQ+ guide to Brighton & Hove: the events, venues and areas to visit

The most recent England and Wales census data revealed what many have known for many moons and rainbows: Brighton and Hove is one the gayest places in the UK. According to the statistics, more than one in ten people city-wide identify as LGBorT, and the highest of the wards is Kemptown, at a staggering 20.2 per cent. Unsurprisingly, it’s here that the majority of the gay attractions reside: bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels, and beach areas are designated as primarily aimed at our LGBTQ+ communities.

Soho House’s Brighton Beach House has proven successful and is luring city types to the shore. Naturally, Queer art adorns its walls, and a host of camp-themed events take place in eye-shot of the venue’s saucy banana-shaped pool designed by artist David Shrigley. Further along Kemptown seafront, a new fishing hut-style mini village has brought everything from yoga studios to paddleboarding outlets to the pebbles, with a hit being the Bison Beach Bar, which sits next to the historic Volks electric railway line, and the heated Sea Lanes' 50-metre swimming pool. Brighton’s nudist beach is just a flip-flop skip away.

Despite all the refreshments, echoes of Brighton’s gay and lesbian past are palpable. Passing the India-inspired Brighton Pavilion, one can imagine The Prince Regent’s indulgent dos that kickstarted the city’s reputation for carefree cavorting around 200 years ago. The ghosts of Pride protest marches in the days of Section 28 legislation are apparent, and the shadows of Brighton’s fierce fightback against HIV and Aids during the eighties and nineties can be felt. Ever-increasing numbers of people still move here to find the freedom to be themselves, and the city is now seemingly more eager than ever to live up to its London-by-the-Sea label.

The Queer Quarter

Brighton’s gay village is nestled on and around Kemptown’s St. James’s Street. It’s here you’ll find the majority of the LGBTQ+ bars and pubs, including Charles Street Tap, where retro video gaming and drag quizzes are on the menu; live singer- and drag queen-focused Centre Stage with its sea vista terrace; recently refurbished musicals singalong Bar Broadway; the Miami Queer-themed R-Bar; glittery stalwart of the drag scene, the Queen’s Arms; the bear-baiting Bulldog; the tiny, traditional Marine Tavern; and the ‘underwater’ Nautilus Lounge, which offers table service cocktails alongside piano-classics and warbler nights. Notable is sleek cocktail space Affinity Bar, which offers Icelandic ice bar-like lighting, a friendly mixed crowd and a penchant for quality spirits (try the Tom of Finland vodka), as well as drag cabaret. Further into Kemptown, The Camelford Arms is metres from the sea and serves giant portions of pub grub in bare brick, warm surroundings; Fallen Angel is gay-owned and cosy; the new Malta-inspired Arcobaleno is on a mission to ‘redefine Queer culture’, and Kemptown Klub is a compact and welcoming gay owned over 21s place to meet and catch up (more on those in a bit).

It’s a testament to the city’s gay friendliness that the venues opposite Brighton’s Grade I-listed Pier are floor-to-ceiling windowed, out and proud and prominently positioned. And there’s moreover toward Hove, where you’ll find the cosy Bedford Tavern and snug drag venue The Grosvenor (cue Sondheim and sequins!), which has recently undergone a major refurbishment. The city’s LGBTQ+ hub, The Ledward Centre, is on Jubilee Street in the centre of town with a street-level café and gallery.

Daytime hospitality

Block

Slap bang in the heart of St James’s Street, Block is Ben Gill and Kim Doherty’s ‘urban day club’ decked out with pink furniture and walls and artworks of gay icons, including Freddie Mercury and Grace Jones by The Postman. Inspired by the owners’ globe-trots, it evokes Miami glamour alongside Ibiza DJ vibes with regular afternoon parties that whip you away from the bustle and into a better one. It offers frozen cocktails and carefully curated wine list, and the elevated burgers and snacks will keep you fuelled all day. Block also hosts one of the biggest street parties during Brighton Pride – ‘the party at the centre of the party’.

Address: Block, 101 St James’s Street, Brighton, BN2 1TP
Website: blockbar.co.uk

Brighton Beach House by Soho House

Brighton Beach House stands proudly on the seafront, overlooking Brighton Palace Pier. Set across two floors, Beach House draws inspiration from Art Deco architecture and is finished with beautiful vintage furniture, specially designed pieces, and contributions from local craftspeople and artists. Nodding to the city’s LGBTQ+ communities, it hosts Drag Bingo nights and an extensive collection of Queer art as a “love letter to Brighton”, including pieces by David Hockney and Maggi Hambling. Restaurant Club Cecconi’s serves authentic Venetian-inspired dishes that rotate with the seasons.

Address: The Terraces, Madeira Drive, Brighton BN2 1AY
Website: sohohouse.com

Proud Cabaret

From bottomless brunches to evening drinking sessions, Proud Cabaret celebrates the artistry of cabaret, burlesque and drag in all its splendour. The team goes all out with the décor, door staff and circus-like theme, indulging you in a bygone era of glamour. If you’re lucky, you could catch legendary performer Dave the Bear in his risqué clobber. The venue is minutes from Kemptown Klub and incorporates a Grade II listed mausoleum built in 1892 by Sir Albert Sassoon, which resembles the Royal Pavilion in some ways.

Address: 83 St. George’s Road, Brighton, BN1 1EF
Website: proudcabaret.com

Arcobaleno

Walking into Arcobaleno is like entering a colourful other world where rainbows shimmer across walls, plants sprout from walls, and neon signs glimmer with comforting words. ‘No place like home’ beams a pink one, neatly summing up the venue concept: a space where everyone is welcome, and you can simply be yourself. But there’s much more to rejoice about: it’s the city’s proud Maltese cuisine food spot; it creates unique, in-house conjured cocktails with themes including Mean Girls and ABBA; and there are float-loads of entertainment that mainly involve drag, dress-up, and letting go. You’ll feel like you’re not in Kemp-sas anymore (just ask the pair of Dorothy-Wizard-of-Oz glittery ruby slippers poking out from the wall).

Address: 120 St George's Rd, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1EA
Website: myarcobaleno.com

DaddyLonglegs

Head Chef Adam Janman is on a mission to elevate gastropub food, and he’s working his magic – DaddyLonglegs is now a foodie’s paradise. Located on the outskirts of Kemptown, adjacent to the beautiful Thomas Cubitt-designed Lewes Crescent, the pub is named after inventor Magnus Volk’s long-derelict in-sea electric railway. The Daddy, as it’s known to locals, offers small plates of pure joy that change regularly alongside a carefully curated wine list featuring essentials from local estates and global producers.

Address: 1 Arundel Road, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 5TE
Website: daddylonglegs.co.uk

Nightlife

Legends Resort

A sun trap Queer bar thanks to its sizeable sea-view terrace, Legends Resort Brighton sports a new wood-panelled décor and a refreshed seating and bar area. A popular afternoon drinking destination, its cavernous Basement Club is the after-dark party spot, offering resident nights including the eclectic tunes of Glitter Curious (often mixing Dua Lipa with Dolly Parton, Beyoncé with Blondie) and Friday Night Shift with more upfront dance anthems.

Address: 31-34 Marine Parade, Brighton BN2 1TR
Website: legendsresortbrighton.com

Club Revenge

Opened in 1991, Club Revenge is arguably the most famous LGBTQ+ nightclub in Brighton, hosting shows from the biggest stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race to international pop stars and DJs. Spread over three floors, the nightclub offers a large main room with state-of-the-art LED screens and lighting systems, themed VIP booths, and a magic mirror photo booth. The upper-level dancefloor has a breathtaking LED lighting array, Berlin-inspired décor, dancing cages and more VIP areas. To top things off, their amazing roof terrace has spectacular views over the city, the sea, and the pier. Its sister venue, Bar Revenge, is just around the corner.

Address: 32-34 Old Steine, Brighton BN1 1EL
Website: revenge.co.uk

The Plotting Parlour

This atmospheric, gothic-dream-décor speakeasy-style cocktail bar is perfectly placed in a side street near the entrance to the Gay Village for a fill of sensational, mixologist-designed drinks. The focus is firmly on the customer and the unique cocktails created in-house, including the chocolate-covered-glass Tumi (with Pisco and Mezcal) and Flight of the Buffalo, which showcases the ageing process of bourbon. The best seats are the vintage cinema chairs at the back – but don’t forget to explore upstairs.

Address: 6 Steine Street, Brighton, BN2 1TE
Website: theplottingparlour.uk

The Kemptown Klub

Tucked away on an unassuming residential road, The Kemptown Klub is a small private members' venue, open to new members at no charge (over 21s only). The ground floor offers a tranquil lounge bar, cocktails, a good selection of continental beers, and Cornish cider. Downstairs, Scottish-themed basement bar The Bothy has just launched, complete with tartan walls and a wee dram or ‘Bothy Cocktail’ (which resembles Irn Bru) is required. Owners Peter and Rachel are known faces on the Brighton scene, having run LGBTQ+ venues across the city over many years, and they trade on a warm welcome.

Address: 75 St George’s Road, Brighton, BN2 1EF
Website: @kemptown_klub

What to see in Brighton

Ironworks Studios

Just a short hop from the main station, and bordering the famous North Laine quarter, Ironworks is the city’s Brighton Pride-owned, 170-seater LGBTQ+ performance space and TV studio. It offers an incredible programme of musicians, comedians, drag queens and poets alongside emerging theatre productions. All productions also support LGBTQ+ charities and community groups, including the Brighton Rainbow Fund, Pride Community Foundation, and Cultural Development Fund.

Address: Ironworks Studios, 30 Cheapside, Brighton, BN1 4GD
Website: ironworks-studios.co.uk

Brighton Museum’s Queer the Pier exhibition

Brighton’s beautiful museum, housed in the Pavilion’s old stables, hosts an array of curated LGBTQ+ memorabilia inspired by the Queer writers, artists, performers, activists and everyday people of the town’s past. Highlights include the rusty Adler typewriter on which the godfather of gay journalism Peter Burton documented decades of Queer history for Gay Times and clothing worn by artist and gender-fluidity trailblazer Gluck.

Address: Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EE
Website: brightonmuseums.org.uk

Brighton Dome Corn Exchange

The Van Gogh Alive immersive exhibition marked the re-opening of the Corn Exchange following a £38 million refurbishment, which was completed in May 2023. The Grade-I listed venue regularly hosts an array of LGBTQ+ performances, with upcoming highlights including winner of Drag Race UK Ginger Johnson, who brings her ‘Blows Off!’ show to the coast, and social media sensation Christopher Hall, who is set to talk about his life as a ‘boy who’s a bit girly really’.

Address: Corn Exchange, Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EE
Website: brightondome.org

Where to stay in Brighton

Drakes Hotel

Since opening in 2004 across two Georgian townhouses, Drakes has been a consistent favourite in town, conjuring Prince Regent-like living with views of the pier, in-room roll-top baths and fancy curved panelling and stucco cornicing. A short skip from the Gay Village, it’s where Kylie stays when she’s in town and from where actor Cate Blanchett live-streamed her Oscar acceptance speech in 2005.

Address: 43-44 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1PE

The Artist Residence

Set in Regency Square with views of the derelict West Pier and the i360 tower, this hotel cleverly condenses the creative, bohemian and eccentric spirit of Brighton into its 24 rooms. It was the first project by founders Charlotte and Justin Salisbury, who have since taken their ethos around the country.

Address: 33 Regency Square, Brighton, BN1 2GG

Hotel Pelirocco

Something of a jewel on Brighton’s hotel map, Pelirocco is famed for its 19 individually designed, rock ‘n’ roll-themed rooms. Housed in a double-fronted Regency townhouse in Regency Square, opposite the city’s i360 attraction and West Pier ruins, it screams Brighton. It is designed for weekend fun and sauciness (much like the city itself). Newer rooms include the Salon Rouge, loosely based on Moulin Rouge with French glamour and theatrics. Bettie’s Boudoir is Jackie Collins leopard print kitsch and dedicated to American pin-up Bettie Page; The Leigh Bowery room celebrates the gay performance artist’s image; and the Dollywould room immerses you into a Ms Parton country cabin, with memorabilia complete with oversized wigs and boots. Dressing up and quirky fun is encouraged.

Address: 10 Regency Square, Brighton BN1 2FG UK

LGBTQ+ events in Brighton

Brighton Fringe

Almost every spot in the city becomes a venue for the largest open-access arts festival in England, with more than 1,000 events and a sparklingly large amount of LGBTQ+ content at venues across the city.

Website: brightonfringe.org
Dates: May and June

Trans Pride

Trans Pride is where the trans, intersex, gender variant and Queer communities come together to celebrate unique histories and promote visibility. Trans activists adding prominence to the event include writer Juno Dawson, historian E-J Scott and children’s author Sarah Savage. The seafront march is a colourful, banner-waving highlight.

Website: transpridebrighton.org
Dates: July

Brighton Pride

The UK’s biggest Pride event attracts more than 300,000 people to parade, party, and perform. Recent headliners include Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue and Pet Shop Boys. In a world of Pride events, Brighton’s stands out and the festival encompasses almost the entire city in rainbows and joy. It is a truly unmissable weekend (usually the first in August), which starts with an enormous parade along the Regency seafront before snaking directly through the centre of the city and ends with street parties in the gay village.

Website: brighton-pride.org
Dates: August

Brighton Bear Weekend

Brighton Bear Weekend focuses on our furry friends and their fans. Events include cabaret, garden picnics, a ‘Mr Brighton Bear contest’ and an ‘UnderBear’ night, where Y-fronts and hairy chests are king… or queen.

Website: brightonbearweekend.com
Dates: July