Restaurants Brighton guide to
Things to do in Brighton in 2024
Our top picks
Festivals, new restaurants, art, town events – There are so many things to do in Brighton in 2024.
Brighton offers an abundance of things to do, perhaps more than any other city in the UK. Bursting with festivals, shows, concerts, food trails, seafront events, creativity, and a bohemian spirit; it’s also complemented by an exceptional food calendar. As a platform guiding you to the city’s finest dining, our focus on things to do in Brighton will be focussed around food and restaurants in Brighton and Hove. Enjoy our month-by-month roundup, and if there’s anything you believe we’ve overlooked, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
All events are subject to change ( and dates/ events TBC) so please keep up to date with all specifics of events by referring to individual websites.
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The month’s Brighton events calendar
1. Enjoy The Hottest New Openings in 2024
What is it? All the latest Brighton and Hove new restaurant and bar openings in 2023 and 2024 all in one place.
What is it for? This can be a returning to-do-list for you, so you can make sure you are trying all the new food and drink things to do in Brighton in 2024.
New venues in Brighton and Hove in 2023 include The Permit Room (pictured), FUMI, Wabi Sabi, The Plotting Parlour, Embers and many more.
2024 Brings you the relocated Coal Shed and Pearly Cow.
2. The BRAVOs: February 1st 2024
What is it? The public voted food and drink awards. Brighton Restaurant Awards Vote Online.
Why take part? The BRAVOs recognise and support the great independent talent in the Brighton Hospitality Industry.
Norman Cook announced the 2023 Best Restaurant after an impressive 56,983 votes for over 600 registered Brighton restaurants, pubs, and cafes. Now entering its 7th year, join in the fun and vote for your favourite places in BRAVO 2024. This remarkable public endorsement reflects the thriving hospitality industry in Brighton and Sussex, and we sincerely thank you for your participation. BRAVO voting kicks off at the end of January! See all this years BRAVO winners.
Pictured, Fat Boy Slim announcing the winners of the best restaurant at the 2023 BRAVO Awards.
3. Brighton Marathon Weekend: Sunday 7th April 2024
What is it? One of the UK’s biggest marathon events where over 120,000 spectators support this 26.2mile course finishing on Brighton’s world famous seafront.
Why attend? The atmosphere, the inspiration, the city becomes alive!
The Marathon Weekender stands out as one of the biggest events in the Brighton calendar. We absolutely love the vibrant energy in the city during Marathon Weekend! If, like us, you aren’t quite ready to run a marathon, head to the Beach Village on the seafront to soak up the atmosphere and cheer on the inspirational runners. Photo credit: VisitBrighton
4. Brighton Festival: Sat 4–Sun 26 May 2024
What is it? The Brighton Festival aims to provide accessible, ground-breaking, and inspiring, ensuring that the arts are open to everyone.
Why attend? A great idea to meet up with friends and family and enjoy the entertainment.
Brighton Festival is a significant annual curated multi-arts festival in England. Encompassing music, theatre, dance, circus, art, film, literature, debate, and community events, it is celebrated both indoors and outdoors, spanning various venues and locations across Brighton, Hove, and East Sussex.
5. Artists Open Houses: 6 – 28 May
What is it? The opportunity to enjoy different styles of art (with hospitality) as Brighton people open their homes to showcase talent.
Why attend? Inspiring art exhibitions, whether sculptures or needlecraft, photography or painting.
Artists’ Open Houses is the biggest free arts event in the UK, with over 1,000 artists exhibiting in 200 houses and art studios opened to the public across this great city. Keep an eye on their website and a map which highlights which houses are participating, who the exhibitors are and this is also a thing to do in Brighton in the winter, so watch out for their winter open houses program. Photo credit: Artists Open Houses, Dave Pop Art
6. Brighton Fringe: 3 May – 2 June 2024
What is it? The Brighton Fringe Festival is where Brighton bursts into a carnival of culture with the Brighton Fringe Festival, signalling the start of what promises to be a long summer filled with fun, sun, and entertainment.
Why attend? It represents Brighton kicking off the long summer ahead. So many inspiring acts to see where you can meet your friends after a winter of hibernation.
Brighton Fringe, the largest open-access arts festival in England, is on the horizon, and we’re eager to embark on the #JourneyIntoFringe. We’re particularly excited to explore their new pop-up venue for 2024. As a family affair and an iconic Brighton festival that we adore, we can’t wait for this year’s Brighton Fringe. Keen an eye on their website, for plenty of things to do in Brighton for the month of May.
7. The Great Escape Festival: 10 – 13 May
What is it? A 3 day celebration of new music from all corners of the globe at 35+ music venues.
Why attend? A 3 day ticket gives you a unique opportunity to explore all the new music and walk between music venues (capacity permitting.)
The Great Escape is the ultimate festival for new music, featuring 500 emerging artists from around the world across 35+ accessible venues throughout the city and a pop-up festival site on Brighton Beach. Buy your tickets here and read all the Great Escape FAQs. Image, courtesy of Great Escape website.
8. London to Brighton Bike Ride: 18 June
What is it? A 54 mile cycle ride which goes from London, through Sussex, finishing on Brighton seafront. The oldest cycle ride in Europe.
Why attend? The race is quite a spectacle to watch. Position yourself on Ditchling Beacon and see riders cycle the most difficult part of the course.
This epic 54 mile journey from capital to coast is the oldest bike ride in Europe and is all done to raise vital funds, and awareness, for the British Heart Foundation. Image: British Heart Foundation
9. Brighton Foodies Festival
What is it? An annual food and drink festival held in Brighton on Hove Lawns
Why attend? Plenty of exciting activities, diverse culinary experiences from independent local Brighton restaurants, and the live music. Book early bird tickets for big savings.
The Brighton Foodies Festival is known for celebrating local and international cuisine, featuring a diverse range of food and drink stalls, chef demonstrations, masterclasses, live music, and other culinary-related activities. These festivals aim to bring together food enthusiasts, chefs, and producers to showcase the vibrant food culture of the region including chefs from Brighton and Sussex.
10. Elderflower Fields: 24 – 27 May
What is it? Elderflower Fields is a family-oriented festival with food, artistic activities with all emphasis on experiencing the outdoors.
Why attend? Great way of taking the family to their first festival in a safe and friendly environment.
A wild weekend family adventure, packed full of music, sports, nature and the arts, all set in the heart of the beautiful Sussex countryside. Tailored for families with young children, the festival offers an opportunity to embrace the transformative power of spending time outdoors, allowing kids to experience a bit of freedom and wildness.
11. Hove Food Trail – May 2024 Dates TBC
What is it? This event is a celebration of the dynamic food and drink scene in Hove
Why attend? The Hove Food Trail celebrates the excellence of various restaurants and bars in the Hove area with special offers and menus.
The Hove Food Trail, inaugurated in 2023, was initiated by David Toscano, the proprietor of Cin Cin, and Chris Henry, who served as a Brighton and Hove City councillor from 2019 to 2023. In addition to showcasing local culinary delights, the Hove Food Trail is dedicated to raising funds and supporting local charities. The 2023 edition of the event successfully raised £1,190 for the Off The Fence charity.
12. Brighton Comedy Garden: 2024 Dates TBC
What is it? The Brighton Comedy Garden offers an unbeatable comedy experience, accompanied by a brimful selection of bars and the best street eats.
Why attend? The event features amazing comics at the top of their game. Keep an eye on the Brighton Comedy Garden website to see which comics are performing.
Live & open-air – head to Preston Park for the South Coast’s brightest comedy extravaganza. As well as comedy headliners you’ll also find a delicious array of street food stalls from local legends.
13. Pub in the Park: Dates TBC
What is it? Chilled ticketed music festival in Brighton’s Preston park.
Why attend? Some good old school acts, good atmosphere.
Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park comes to Preston Park with a laid-back celebration of food, drink and music. Acts from 2023 included Sugababes, Happy Mondays, Toploader and Example. 2024 line up TBC.
14. Land Beyond Festival
What is it?
Why attend?
This annual event is fun for all the family and brings a fantastic display of colour to Stanmer Park.
15. Ibiza Proms in The Park – 29th June
What is it?
Why attend?
This annual event is fun for all the family and brings a fantastic display of colour to Stanmer Park.
16.Trans Pride: 15 July
What is it?
Why attend?
Trans Pride Brighton is the first and largest trans pride event in Europe, they’ve been putting the T first since 2013. As 2023 will be the 10th anniversary event it’s going to be bigger, brighter and better than ever before!
17.On the Beach: 21 – 23 and 28 – 30 July
What is it?
Why attend?
The biggest & brightest drum and bass music stars will be on Brighton beach this summer for a festival of beach vibes and fun in the sun.
18. Brighton Pride Parade: 5 August
What is it?
Why attend?
The Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade is one of the biggest and brightest events in Brighton & Hove’s events calendar, with over 300,000 people pouring out onto the city’s streets to participate in and watch on as an all-singing, all-dancing carnival of colour wends its way from the Hove Lawns to the main Pride festival site.
19. Brighton Mod Weekender: 27 – 28 August
What is it?
Why attend?
We are the mods! We are the mods! Return to the spiritual home of the Mods over the August Bank Holiday for a weekend of music, sharp suits and of course the famous scooter run.
20. Brighton Triathlon: 9 – 10 September
What is it?
Why attend?
Brighton & Hove seafront provides the iconic backdrop to the official Brighton & Hove Triathlon. The event also includes children’s triathlons for 8-16 year olds.
21. Brighton Jazz Festival: 29 September – 1 October
What is it?
Why attend?
The city will host 4 days of world class jazz from deep tradition to the cutting edge.
22. Royal Pavilion Ice Rink: November – early January
What is it?
Why attend?
Situated in the gardens of Brighton’s iconic pleasure palace, the Royal Pavilion, this beautiful outdoor ice-rink allows up to 250 skaters per session, with penguin stabilisers for younger skaters and a learners’ area for the unsure-footed, a perfect idea for a Brighton Christmas party.
23. Veteran Car Run: 5 November
What is it?
Why attend?
This annual event commemorates the Emancipation Run of 14 November 1896. Today, this run attracts hundreds of vintage vehicles from the UK and abroad as well as thousands of spectators. A fantastic photo opportunity!
24. Burning the Clocks: 21 December
What is it?
Why attend?
The dark grip of long wintry nights is broken by a flicker of light as thousands of people gather to make paper and willow lanterns to carry through the city before burning them on the beach as a token for the end of the year and to greet the lengthening days.
