Our guide to
Things to do in Brighton
Our top picks
Things to do in Brighton this October – The Scoop
You know it’s really autumn when the air smells faintly smoky, you argue about turning the heating on, and your friends go mushroom hunting at the weekend (well, ours do anyway!). Signs are strong, so we’re leaning into the hygge of a cracking roast, pumpkin spice, wild game and foraged fungi. We’re kicking up leaves, collecting conkers and baking apples with childish glee. Here are our Top 10 Foodie Things to Do This October…
1. Every Day Is Coffee Day
It’s official: Wednesday 1 October is International Coffee Day! At Restaurants Brighton, like the rest of the city, we’re coffee-obsessed double-shot downers. Let’s insist it’s always fabulous and fair trade. Here’s our regular order:
- Emma – Oat Flat White from Vios with punchy Area 51 Coffee Roasters
- Hannah – Trading Post Black Pearl Brighton Blend Flat White
- Jude – A straight black coffee from Roedean Café
- Nico – Windmill Stores in Patcham’s Oat Milk Cappuccino
2. Happy 80th, English’s!
Brighton’s oldest dining establishment is turning 80! Add your name to the list of fabulous people who have dined there over the decades: Winston Churchill, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, Ewan McGregor, Twiggy, Joan Collins, Judi Dench and Hannah Nouvel.
Don’t miss the amazing, time-travelling Throwback Menu, available now until Sunday 5 October, with stand-out dishes from the city’s favourite octogenarian.
3. Curry Comforts
The warming spices of a great curry are made for autumn days. This October, celebrate Curry Week at one of the city’s wonderful Indian restaurants:
- Visit award-winning Chilli Pickle’s gorgeous new venue on Meeting House Lane
- Explore the new autumn menu at Mowgli with slow-cooked lamb bunny chow, Diwali cauliflower and flaky garlic and coriander paratha
- Treat yourself to weekly-changing Majahma – BRAVO’s Best Takeaway 2025 – just look what they’ve got coming up!
- Party (and feast) at Dishoom Permit Room every week on Vinyl Thursday’s
Look out for special Diwali celebrations and menus around 20 October too!
4. Be In It to Win It
Our new Restaurants Brighton gift vouchers are flying – the perfect foodie present (or treat for future you). New venues added weekly, so check here to see who’s in.
Monthly Prize
Subscribe to our newsletter for a chance to win a £50 voucher every month.
Bonus Giveaway
We’ve also got 5 pairs of tickets to Tom Surgey’s Parched – The Driest Event of the Year (London, 8 October). Enter by Friday, 3 October.
P.S. Read Tom’s take on the non-alcoholic drinks revolution.
5. Pop-Ups and Supper Clubs
The leaves may be falling from the trees, but fresh pop-ups are sprouting everywhere! The Sportsman Pub has an autumn street food series including Momo Nepalese, Sopi Pizza, Cairo Van and Specs & Bear Raclette. A few more of the best:
- Apiary – Dill x Pollination (7 October) and Tern on Tour (13/14 October). Fabulously cheffy nights you won’t want to miss!
- A Taste of Tuscany at Il Bistro – Rustic dishes from Italy’s most romantic region – 2 October
- Fumar Cozinha Supper Club at Carne with chef Sean Brailsford on 9 October
- The Yummy Brummy x Steven Edwards – Book Glynn Purnell’s 7-course set menu at etch. on 21 October
6. Pasta Please!
A regular request in every household we know! Few things beat the cosy pleasure of a steaming bowl of pasta. Try Tutto, Il Bistro, Al Duomo or Donatello, or learn to make your own fresh pasta at Cin Cin, Poco Alfriston, Open Bakery, Tavola Di Famiglia or Brighton Cookery School.
Excuse to indulge? National Pasta Day (17 October) and World Pasta Day (25 October). Not that we need one…
7. Game On
This is the season for wild game – healthy, sustainable, and fantastically delicious in the right hands. Look out for autumn menus featuring pheasant, fallow deer or wild boar, and dishes like the venison haunch with creamed potato, burnt Roscoff, sprout tops and blackberry & chocolate jus at The Eight Bells and partridge, truffled spaetzle, cep and chestnut at Wild Flor.
This season’s highlights:
- Annual Game Dinner at Furna Brighton – 9 October. Chef Dave Mothersill’s favourite night of the year is a spectacular celebration of British game, including coveted Yorkshire grouse.
- Game Week at TERRA, Tottington Manor – 29 September to 6 October. BRAVO’s Most Sustainable Restaurant showcases locally-sourced game and the best of the autumn harvest. Don’t miss game pie on the à la carte!
8. Celebrate Sustainability
We work with the University of Brighton and other local partners to support restaurants on their sustainability journey. We’ve created a toolkit and checklist, strengthened BRAVO’s Most Sustainable category with tighter entry requirements, and run training sessions for hospitality venues.
It’s World Sustainability Day on 30 October – celebrate by choosing a sustainable restaurant. Here’s our BRAVOS Top 20 and Sustainable Restaurants Guide to help.
9.Halloween
We’ve fallen hard for Halloween’s spooky fun – costumes, sweet treats and lots of spiced pumpkin. Across the city, there are parties for families and grown-ups alike. Check our events listings here.
Super Sweet Treats:
- Spooky chocolate caramel tarts, ghost macarons and pumpkin pie at Open Bakery
- Pumpkin buns and pumpkin lattes at Jacob’s Bakery
- Limited-edition pumpkin spice with creamy 28% white chocolate at Knoops
10. Non-Stop Fun!
OctoberBEST · 11–26 October
38 top restaurants, set menus at £15, £25, £30 or £35. Highlights include a four-course menu at Dilsk, the Wagyu menu at The Coal Shed, candle-lit Traitor’s Dinner at No No Please, sharing plates at Namo, and a surplus-food taco collaboration from Palmito and The Real Junk Food Project. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Oktoberfest
All month at Shelter Hall: oompah bands, games, Munich-inspired dishes and German beer. Plus a party at The Amex Terraces on 3 October (bratwurst, steins, music, Bavarian costume encouraged).
October Unpacked
A new citywide festival of arts, food, drink, music and culture. Over 100 events are planned, from quirky performances and pop-ups to food trails, comedy nights and gigs. Dive into the programme looking to bring new life to the city in autumn.
October in Brighton is brimming with flavour, fun and festivities – Restaurants Brighton will see you there!
Q
&
A
Brighton is a foodie’s dream, with events like the Brighton Foodies Festival, Seafood & Oyster Festival, Cocktail Week, pasta-making workshops, and wine tasting at Sussex vineyards. Restaurants Brighton’s Things to Do in Brighton guide highlights monthly food and drink events, from fine dining guest chef evenings to casual street food markets. You can also see our daily food and drink events guide which features all the food and drink things to do in the city.
Yes – throughout the year you can enjoy seasonal events such as the Brighton Festival food pop-ups in May, Sussex vineyard tours in summer, Brighton Cocktail Week in autumn, and festive markets with mulled wine in December. Our monthly guide lists every seasonal highlight so you never miss out. the guide is updated monthly, plus we also have the Brighton events guide with daily updated events.
Families can enjoy the Brighton Pier, the SEA LIFE Centre, and child-friendly restaurants offering dedicated kids’ menus. The guide also covers activities like outdoor fun at Woodfire Camping, or events at the Secret Vineyard, seafront bike rides, and kid-friendly workshops such as cupcake decorating or pizza making. You can see a list of daily changing things to in Brighton on our events guide.
Absolutely – take a stroll along Brighton beach, enjoy fish and chips with a view, explore the Palace Pier, or visit beachside bars and dog-friendly cafes. Our guide also highlights seafront events like seafood festivals, outdoor concerts, and alfresco dining at beachfront restaurants. See our daily Brighton events guide which lists all the food and drink in the coming days and weeks. This is updated daily.
Brighton offers rich cultural attractions including the Royal Pavilion, Theatre Royal, Brighton Dome, Brighton Centre, and the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. Our monthly things to do guide for Brighton often links these venues with nearby dining spots for a full day or evening out. Have a look at our Brighton Events guide too, which gives you a list of daily activities, what’s going on in Brighton and Hove.
Yes – from romantic Sussex vineyard tours and sunset cocktails at rooftop bars to intimate fine dining experiences and live jazz nights, there’s plenty for couples. Our guide curates the most romantic activities alongside where to book the perfect table in Brighton. We also have a seperate designated page just for couples so you can make the most out of your stay or visit to Brighton.
Brighton has a thriving hands-on food scene with pasta-making workshops, cocktail masterclasses, wine and cheese pairings, and baking courses. The guide lists the best classes each month, ideal for date nights, birthdays, or team-building experiences. You can see individual food and drink events on our Brighton Events Guide. You can also have a look at the Brighton Community Kitchen which hosts a range of food and drink events every month.
During Brighton Pride, the city comes alive with colourful parades, themed Brighton brunches, and Pride parties at bars and clubs. In May, the Brighton Festival and Brighton Fringe bring street food markets, theatre, music, and unique dining experiences. Our guide covers all the highlights so you can plan your visit.
Yes – our Things to Do in Brighton guide includes free attractions like the beach, street art tours, and open-air events, plus affordable Brighton dining deals such as 2-for-1 offers, happy hours, and midweek restaurant promotions.
