Things to do when visiting the LGBTQ+ capital of the UK
There is no better place for LGBTQ+ peopl to live than Brighton. Spend a few days and explore!
Brighton, the infamous seaside city known for its beautiful beach, is called the “LGBTQ+ capital of the UK” by many. Perhaps it has something to do with our Pride (which is the biggest in the UK!) but more likely it’s the plethora of queer-friendly venues and events that run throughout the year.
Some may say I’m biased, but as a bisexual woman living in Brighton, I truly believe there is no better place for members of the LGBTQ+ community to live. If you’ve never been to Brighton, I recommend you visit for a few days and explore everything the city has to offer. Speaking of which, here are some must-do activities and venues you should check out, and events that cannot be missed.
Must-dos
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Piers And Queers
What better way to find out about Brighton’s Queer history and current scene than through a tour? Time Out featured this semi-private 90-minute tour as one of the top 10 things to do in Brighton, and personally, I agree.
Many people love a good tour since it lets them be real tourists and have the guidance of a professional as they explore the city. What makes the tour even better are the tour guides themselves, and Ric Morris is the best you could ask for. This Blue Badge guide promises to take you on a historical journey through Brighton spanning over 200 years, from an LGBTQ+ perspective.
Want to find out what queer life was like in the 1950s in the city of Brighton? Maybe you’re interested in hearing about Lord Byron or Oscar Wilde? Or perhaps you want to know more about a doctor who lived as a man before women were allowed to practice medicine? This and more are covered in the tour as you make your way across the beach and local landmarks. I want it to be a surprise for you (although if you want to find out more, you can visit the website), but I promise that the stories you hear will be fascinating and something you’ll want to share with people for years to come.
Drag Bingo
BINGO! It’s something I’ve always dreamt of shouting, and yes, your average bingo is fun, but any bingo hosted by a drag queen is 10x better. And don’t even get me started on what I think about drag bingo BY THE BEACH!
Brighton Music Hall will be hosting a bingo event on September 6th, 2024, with drag queen Ophelia Payne, which will be followed by a DJ set with DJ Mimi until late. If your visit to Brighton is taking place outside of this date, don’t worry; there are plenty of drag bingo events all around the city!
Another honourable mention for those looking for something to do during the day is the Buff Bingo Bottomless Drag Brunch. This event runs 2-3 times a month, featuring a tasty bottomless brunch, but that’s not all! You can expect 4 hours of pure chaos with music, drag queen performances, and buff butlers all around. If you’ve got a free afternoon in Brighton, you better book your tickets.
PRYZM Brighton
Funkadelic nightclub Kingswest, West Street · Brighton, England BN1 2RE(012) 737-1097
Website
Buff Bingo Bottomless Drag Brunch Brighton
Not your granny’s bingo game
The Feminist Bookshop
Although a bookstore may not be something you’d expect on a list like this, The Feminist Bookshop isn’t your average independent bookshop. Conveniently located in central Brighton, they opened their doors in 2019 as a dedicated queer-friendly space for bibliophiles.
If you love queer literature and want to support a local business, visiting this bookshop is a must! They aim to “support, celebrate, and promote women, non-binary, and marginalized writers, creatives, and entrepreneurs.”
Regular queer and female-focused events are also hosted here, with a recent one including “An evening of lesbian fashion history with Eleanor Medhurst and Jane Traies.” Beyond the selection of books and events, they also offer a cozy space with a café that has a fully vegan menu.
Drag Bus
Big, bold, and unique are three words that Drag Bus uses to describe itself, and I don’t think anyone would disagree. I believe that a drag event or a drag brunch is something everyone should experience at least once in their life, no matter if they’re part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally.
Drag Bus offers something beyond your typical drag brunch experience; they really take it to another level. Blending a food and booze-filled experience with an unforgettable drag alongside sightseeing; what more could you need when visiting Brighton?
Once you book your tickets, you will get the privilege of stepping on board their vintage bus for “iconic drag performances” from the one and only Cherry Bomb. You have two ticket options; The Brunch Tour or The All Day Tour.
Like The Brunch Tour, The All Day Tour lasts two hours on the bus, where you will receive some bubbly prosecco and a brunch box, but you can expect an additional six hours of drag shows at two major venues in Brighton: Bar Broadway and Affinity Bar where you can expect tons more prosecco and hilarious entertainment.
LGBTQ+ friendly venues – bars, clubs & beyond
Revenge and R-Bar
Somehow, it took me three years before I visited Revenge and R-Bar, and I regret the time I wasted. At present, they’re my go-to spot when hanging out with friends, and both offer unique experiences and great drink deals every day. After all, they’re the South Coast’s #1 LGBTQ+ venues for a reason!
Revenge offers fantastic entertainment from some of the best drag queens in the city. My favourite event is The Big Queer Quiz which takes place on Monday. Hosted by Ex-Grrrlfriend (one of my favorite queens, so I may be a little bit biased), you can expect nothing less than hours of pure sassiness and fun. I’ve been to this quiz five or six times, and I can’t stop going back for more.
Each day, Revenge offers a fun queer event, but the most popular are Glew’s Big Ball Drop Bingo on Wednesdays, and Cabaret of Queeriosities on Fridays and Sundays, each hosted by a different drag queen and featuring local queer DJ artists.
With all the fun that you’re having, it’s easy to work up an appetite! Bar Revenge offers pizza from Pizza Face, which is another local business in the Kemptown area (and their pizza is good with a capital G; I tried it once at Revenge and ended up getting it again at the PizzaFace store).
At Revenge, you can expect award-winning themed nights hosted by talented drag queens. With iconic music, performances, and even games, you might end up taking some prizes home if you’re lucky. If you start your night at Bar Revenge and plan to end it at R-Bar, you can make your night more fun with a themed VIP booth.
Revenge is the biggest club I’ve been to, with three floors and a rooftop terrace. I love the view of the ocean and the lit-up pier that you get when you’re on the terrace, and the rainbow statue offers a great photo opportunity.
What I love most about Revenge is that everyone can truly be themselves in a safe space, and the people you’ll meet are the coolest in the city. Oh, and let’s not forget the cool designs on gender-neutral toilets at Revenge!
The Queery
The Queery
Liturature and lattes 46 George St · Brighton and Hove, England BN2 1RJ(075) 393-7906
Website
In Kemptown, not that far from Revenge, you can find The Queery, a volunteer-run co-operative selling queer literature with a vegan pay-as-you-feel café. This is a great intimate space for queer people to enjoy, and I especially love how welcoming the staff are.
Regularly scheduled queer-friendly events are hosted in the space. The first time I visited The Queery they hosted a Queer Makers Market, other events here include queer book launches, book clubs, creative workshops (like sticker making), and many more; there’s truly something for everyone.
Bulldog
Bulldog has been hosting queers from Brighton and beyond for over 30 years. If you’re looking for great cocktails paired with some classic hits, this is the place to dance the night away. Don’t worry, you won’t miss it; the outside of the venue lights up in different colours and will certainly draw your attention. Being close to Bar Revenge, this one’s a strong contender for a guaranteed good night out.
Legends
By now, you may have seen the trend of some of the best LGBTQ+ venues being in Kemptown, and this one is no different. Legends is a 2-in-1 deal. Looking for a place to sleep, dine, and party? This one’s for you!
Open 7 days a week until 4 am, this venue offers a bar and a basement club, hosting award-winning resident DJs, alongside 40 rooms, of which one could be yours. I would argue that Legends is THE best place to book a room if you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Picture this: you’ve just spent the day in the city center, exploring the Laines; maybe you’ve been on the Piers & Queers tour; or you’ve grabbed some brunch on the Drag Bus; either way, you’re ready to party. Conveniently, there is a rager happening in the hotel. Perfection!
Let’s not forget that Legends hosts regular events featuring international artists, singers, and drag queens. A notable event that runs at the bar is the Sunday cabaret, which hosts Brighton stars as well as up-and-coming acts.
Before we move on, let me let you in on a secret: if you book a room at Legends in early August, you may or may not wake up to a massive party outside your window, as the road outside is where the Pride Village Party takes place.
Seasonal Events
Brighton Pride
There is no better Pride than Brighton Pride. London is up there, but there’s something about celebrating Pride in the LGBTQ+ capital of the UK, am I right?
Brighton Pride has grown in popularity over the last 50 years and is celebrated by locals and travelers alike. In a nutshell, Brighton Pride has three significant events, which include the Brighton & Hove Pride LGBTQ+ Community Day Parade, the Pride Village Party, and the star of the show, FABULOSO.
Each year, the Brighton & Hove Pride LGBTQ+ Community Day Parade kicks off the Pride celebrations with a bang. It is a spectacular thing to witness as participants make their way through the city streets, dressed in fabulous outfits. Seeing this celebration will bring a smile to your face, no matter who you are.
FABULOSO is a two-day community fundraiser event and features cabaret performances, DJs, and musical headliners, many of whom are LGBTQ+ artists and allies. In the past, headliners have included the likes of Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears, among others. Beyond this, you can also expect good food and plenty of booze-or-booze-free options, as 2024 is the year when Bright’huns will be hosting a sober party tent at FABULOSO.
The Pride Village Party is not one to be missed. This two-day event takes place across St. James’s Street and Marine Parade and offers an array of entertainment, including drag performances, music, and drinks, among other things.
Beyond these events, many venues across the city host their own events in support of Pride, so keep an eye out if you plan to visit Brighton in early August.
What makes Brighton Pride extra special is that part of the money raised is given to the Brighton Rainbow Fund and the Pride Social Impact Fund, two great charities that work to support queer people in the city in different ways.
Trans Pride Brighton
A month before Brighton Pride, in late July, trans people and allies hit the streets of Brighton in celebration of Trans Pride. You’ve likely heard of Trans Pride, but did you know that our Trans Pride was the first and largest Trans Pride in Europe? The more you know!
The event has been running annually since 2013 and has over 10,000 people attending each year. The Trans Pride Brighton & Hove charity aims to “promote equality and diversity, advance education, and eliminate discrimination against trans, non-binary, intersex, gender-variant, and gender-queer people.”
Trans Pride takes place across a range of queer and trans-friendly venues across the city, including The Queery, The Actors, The Ledward Centre, and others. One of the major events that takes place as part of this Trans Pride is the protest march, where attendees come together and make their way around the city, showing their pride and celebrating who they are.
Brighton Fringe
Every year, when I see the Brighton Fringe space being set up, I get so excited for what’s to come. I feel like event organizers in Brighton love to go big, and that’s why our Fringe is England’s largest arts festival, running from the start of May until the start of June each year.
When the Fringe is in town, I love spending time with friends in the outdoor space, which features venues for events, three bars, live music, and a plethora of food options to choose from (I’ve had the pizza three years in a row, and it does not disappoint!).
The Fringe offers a range of free and ticketed events throughout the month, both from local acts as well as international performers, and the theme of many of the events has an LGBTQ+ focus. One that really stood out to me this year was Smooch: United Queendom, and I had the chance to meet some of the performers when they approached me and my friends as we were grabbing some food.
Another amazing queer event that took place this year was the Big Queer Weekender, where five queer comedians took to the stage to entertain crowds over three days in May. This was the second year that the event ran, and it was a huge success, so fingers crossed that it’ll be back during the Fringe for years to come.
I feel like I also need to mention The Lady Boys of Bangkok, as this show has an entire outdoor section in the city centre. This show runs annually throughout May and features an LGBTQ+ cast. This cabaret is filled with phenomenal performances from multiple performers and is not one to miss.
If you plan to visit Brighton at any point in May, you can find out more about past and future Fringe events here: brightonfringe.org/whats-on.
Brighton Bear Weekend
In mid-July in Brighton, you may find yourself at the Bear Weekend. This event has been running annually since 2009 and offers four days of fun for bears and cubs. The event starts with a quiz night, which is followed by events like the Mr. Brighton Bear Contest, cabarets, and music events, among others, which take place at queer-friendly venues across the city (including Bulldog and Legends!).
Whether you’re looking to visit a city with an LGBTQ+ scene or a calendar bursting with queer-focused events like Pride, Brighton has it all. I hope that after reading this article, you’ll find it easy to decide when to visit Brighton and what events and venues to check out while you’re here. Pack your bags and visit our welcoming community on your next holiday.
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