Restaurant Brighton's guide to
Best Gay Bars and Gay Clubs in Brighton LGBTQ+
Our top picks
Gay Bars and Gay Clubs in Brighton LGBTQ+
Brighton and Hove has a long, proud history of celebrating queer culture. From iconic moments in pop history to powerful activism, the city remains one of the UK’s most LGBTQ+ friendly destinations. Our guide to Brighton’s best gay bars and clubs highlights where to drink, dance and feel completely yourself.
Gay Bars Brighton LGBTQ+
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, and to over-25s only. The ground floor offers a tranquil lounge bar, serving up cocktails (the Aperol Spritz is a winner) and a good selection of continental beers as well as Cornish cider. Downstairs is a small nightclub where 80s and 90s-themed nights run regularly. Owners Peter and Rachel are known faces on the Brighton scene, having run LGBTQ+ venues across the city over many years. They trade on a warm welcome and, if you want to hear some gossip from gay Brighton gone by, this could be just the place…
75 St George’s Road, Brighton, BN2 1EF
The Cauldron in Brighton is a magical, LGBTQ+ friendly bar that blends mixology with enchantment. Located in Clarence Gardens, just off the main shopping strip, it’s a wonderful spot to pop into for cocktails, beers, or wine. Known for its creative cocktails like “Phoenix Flame” and “Dragon’s Breath,” The Cauldron also hosts interactive potion-making workshops, where guests craft bubbling, fizzing drinks. Open year-round, it’s the perfect place for groups and a magical evening. Keep an eye on their calendar for Brighton Pride events, Drag shows, and more enchanting experiences!
Gay Bars Brighton LGBTQ+: 1-2 Clarence Gdns, Brighton and Hove, BN1 2HA
Bar Broadway, Gay Bars Brighton
Having undergone a major revamp, Bar Broadway is singing the musicals even louder right now and lights up the backstreets of Brighton’s Gay Village entrance. Drag, karaoke, great drink deals and a chorus of high notes, makes this a proper fun night out. Get your best voice on and prepare to be entertained!
10 Steine St, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1TY
The Bulldog, Gay Bars Brighton
A bedrock of Brighton’s gay partying since 1979, The Bulldog is a karaoke and poptastic dancefloor pub with dark corners and disco lighting. It’s a no-frills kind of place, and all the better for it, with great drink deals and an up-for-it, mixed crowd. Under new management, it’s been revitalised, yet retains its traditional gay boozer charm.
31 St James’s Street, Brighton, BN2 1RF
The Camelford Arms, LGBTQ+ pub
Seconds from the sea, and serving up massive-portion pub grub comforts, The Camelford Arms is a bare brick, double-fireplaced LGBTQ+ venue with a long bar and a friendly vibe, with a quirky Moroccan patio at the rear. Expect a fun, over-30, mixed-but-mainly-gay-male crowd.
30-31 Camelford Street, Brighton, BN2 1TQ
Nautilus Lounge
Nautilus is a grand-piano brandishing chillout venue with live singers and comfy sofas in underwater-themed surroundings. Surreal, cavernous and oddly decorated, it offers great cocktails and service; it’s well worth a visit. We can’t promise you’ll meet your sailor, but get ready to dive in just in case.
129/130 St James Street, Brighton BN2 1TH
Centre Stage, Gay Bars Brighton
Centre Stage Brighton takes, well, centre stage in Brighton’s seafront series of gay bars. The recent name change and refurbishment has breathed new life into the place, sprucing up the interior and the sizable sea-view terrace out front. Musicals and movies are prominent themes within, most of them aimed at a gay male clientele, who are in store for some drag cabaret and live music showtime.
11 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TL
Charles Street Tap, Gay Bars Brighton
Charles Street Tap has been a staple of gay Brighton for around 20 years, and underwent a major refurbishment a few years ago. The bar calls itself ‘The Queen of Craft’, nodding to their array of craft beers and rare gins. Like many queer venues, cabaret is at the heart of the entertainment, but there are also DJ nights, drag bingo and quizzes to keep you on your tippy toes following a fill of their fresh stone-baked pizzas.
Gay Bars Brighton LGBTQ+: 8 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TA
Club Revenge, LGBTQ+ Club
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 out 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 is equipped with a breath-taking LED lighting array, Berlin-inspired décor, dancing cages and more VIP areas. To top things off, the amazing roof terrace has spectacular views over the city, the sea, and the pier and is open from late afternoon. Its sister venue, R-Bar, is just around the corner.
32-34 Old Steine, Brighton, BN1 1EL
The Marine Tavern
It might be bijou, but The Marine Tavern goes large on entertainment and ambience. It bills itself as a cosy pub where everybody knows your name – or at least are likely to after a few hours inside – and it’s a friendly place to absorb the Brighton vibe.
Photo Copyright: Marine Tavern Facebook
13 Broad St, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN2 1TJ
The Actors at The Marlborough Hotel
With a name like this, you’d expect some relation to performing arts. The Actors is located below the theatre in the iconic Marlborough Hotel building in Brighton, which has a long history of staging LGBTQ+ productions. Relaunched just a few years ago, the décor is deep colours and wooden panelling, and the bar is split right down the middle into two distinct rooms. It’s chilled, warm and friendly – no drama here, despite the name! And the pizzas are delicious…
4 Prince’s St, Brighton, BN2 1RD
Ironwork Studios, LGBTQ+
Near Brighton’s main train station, and bordering the famous North Laine quarter, Ironworks is the city’s Brighton Pride-owned LGBTQ+ performance space and TV studio. It offers a frankly incredible programme of musicians, comedians, drag queens and poets alongside emerging theatre productions. It is the home of one of Brighton’s best comedy nights, Stephen Grant’s Forge Comedy Club, with its roster of top-class comedians that have included Ramesh Ranganathan, Russell Kane, Sarah Pascoe and Zoe Lyons. All productions also support LGBTQ+ charities and community groups, including the Brighton Rainbow Fund, the Pride Community Foundation and Pride Cultural Development Fund.
30 Cheapside, Brighton, BN1 4GD
Legends Resort, Gay Bars Brighton
A sun trap queer bar thanks to its large sea-view terrace, Legends Resort Brighton is now under new ownership, sporting a new wood-panelled décor and a refreshed seating and bar area. A popular afternoon drinking destination by day, 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.
31-34 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TR
BRIGHTON’S NEW LGBTQ+ CENTRE
New LGBTQ+ hub, The Ledward Centre, is now open on Jubilee Street in the centre of the city with a street level café and gallery, and more on the way including a 70-seat cinema, a public meeting room and performance space, radio studios and a library and bookshop.
Photo Copyright: The Ledward Centre
Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE
R-Bar, seafront bar
The two-level R-Bar bills itself as a ‘feisty’ place to sample ‘super cheap’ drinks, meaning it attracts a lot of students from our city’s two universities as they warm up for the night. It’s recently had a Miami-style pastels and neon signs makeover, and the upper floor has panoramic seafront views.
5-7 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TA
The Queens Arms, Gay Bars Brighton
The Queens Arms is something of a Brighton gay institution, with its brightly painted pink exterior, adorned with rainbow flags and depictions of the city’s legendary drag acts. Glittery, camp and fun, it’s a must-visit for a right-royal gay-ol’ knees up.
7-8 George Street, Brighton, BN2 1RH
The Zone
You wanna get in the zone? Karaoke, cabaret and cracking drink offers dance around you at this little bar with large windows right on St James’s Street. There’s entertainment practically every night and it’s as camp as a row of tents.
33 St James’ Street, Brighton BN2 1RF
Affinity Bar, Cocktails & Cabaret
This sleek cocktail space burst onto the scene to offer Icelandic ‘ice bar’ lighting, a friendly mixed crowd and a penchant for quality spirits. There’s also drag cabaret in this welcoming venue. And they now stock Tom of Finland Vodka too. You have been warned. Booking is advised Thursday to Sundays.
Gay Bars Brighton LGBTQ+: 129 St James’s St, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1TH
Gay Bars in Hove
The Bedford Tavern
Housed in a mock-Tudor building, this cosy pub has wooden beams and snugs to see in the evening. Catering to a mixed crowd, it hosts an array of fun-filled events, including the infamous Bonkers Musical Bingo. Its Sunday roasts are popular, so it’s best to book. There are even sort-of-sea views from its small outdoor terrace, which it’s best to use only when the sun shines.
30 Western St, Hove, Brighton BN1 2PG
The Grosvenor
The Grosvenor Bar in Brighton is a vibrant LGBTQ+ venue known for its welcoming atmosphere and excellent value. Patrons praise its friendly staff, comfortable seating, and diverse entertainment offerings. With a great range of drinks and a lively ambiance, it’s a popular spot for both locals and visitors seeking a memorable night out in the heart of the city. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed evening or energetic entertainment, The Grosvenor Bar delivers a quintessential Brighton experience.
16 Western Street, Brighton, BN1 2PH
The Best Gay Clubs in Brighton
Club Revenge, LGBTQ+ Club
Club Revenge is one of Brighton’s most iconic LGBTQ+ nightclubs, known for its high-energy events and headline drag performances. With three floors, a rooftop terrace overlooking the sea, and a Berlin-inspired dancefloor with dazzling lighting, it’s a go-to for unforgettable nights out. Its sister venue, R-Bar, is nearby too.
32-34 Old Steine, Brighton, BN1 1EL
Legends Resort, Gay Bars Brighton
Legends is a lively queer bar and club on Brighton seafront, loved for its large sun-soaked terrace and welcoming atmosphere. Now under new ownership, it features a stylish wood-panelled interior and revamped bar area. By night, the Basement Club hosts eclectic parties like Glitter Curious and Friday Night Shift with top dance anthems.
31-34 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TR
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Brighton is renowned for its vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, with a variety of gay bars and clubs catering to diverse tastes. Notable venues include Club Revenge, a prominent nightclub known for its lively events and performances; Legends Bar, offering a sea-view terrace and a popular basement club; and The Queens Arms, celebrated for its drag shows and welcoming atmosphere. Other favourites are Affinity Bar, The Zone Bar, and The Grosvenor Bar, each providing unique experiences that contribute to Brighton’s inclusive nightlife.
For a comprehensive guide to these and other LGBTQ+ venues in Brighton, you can visit the Restaurants Brighton Gay Bars Guide.
Brighton’s main gay area is centred around Kemptown, particularly along St James’s Street, where you’ll find many of the city’s most iconic LGBTQ+ bars, clubs, and cafes. This vibrant strip is home to venues like Legends, The Kemptown Klub, The Queens Arms, and Affinity Bar, creating a lively, inclusive atmosphere day and night. Just a short stroll away, you’ll also find Club Revenge near the seafront. While Kemptown is the heart, Brighton as a whole is proudly queer-friendly, with welcoming venues citywide.
Brighton is known as one of the UK’s most LGBTQ+ friendly cities, and most venues here are proudly inclusive. From pubs and cocktail bars to cafés and fine dining spots, the majority of Brighton venues are welcoming to all. Specific LGBTQ+ favourites include Club Revenge, Legends, The Kemptown Klub, Affinity Bar, and The Queens Arms in Kemptown. But across the city—from the Lanes to Hove—you’ll find venues that celebrate diversity, making Brighton a safe and joyful space for everyone to enjoy.
Brighton and Hove has a thriving gay-friendly club scene, with venues that welcome all members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. Club Revenge is the city’s best-known LGBTQ+ club, hosting drag shows and big-name DJs. Legends’ Basement Club offers lively themed nights, while Affinity Bar keeps the party going with late-night dancing. Smaller, inclusive venues like The Bulldog also host club-style events. Across Brighton, the nightlife is vibrant, diverse, and proudly supportive of queer culture and expression.
