Good morning, Brighton. The Festival & Fringe are upon us this weekend so dust off your costumes and join in the frivolity across the city for the next month. Looks like the sun may even shine a little to kickoff shenanigans.

In today’s Brighton Scoop:

• Nursery school children oversee Madeira Drive restoration project

• Brighton’s Festival & Fringe both get underway

• The city gets dressed by local artist Bella Gomez

What’s the Scoop

Madeira Drive restoration get seal of approval from kids

A recent initiative brought the Madeira Terrace restoration project to life for young, aspiring engineers. Children from the nearby Bloomsbury on the Beach Nursery School, intrigued by the ongoing work, were invited for a special behind-the-scenes tour of the site. The main contractor, Mackley, orchestrated this visit after discovering the children's fascination, marked by their drawings of project vehicles and structures.

Donning hard hats and hi-vis jackets, the children explored the site firsthand, where they were encouraged to indulge their natural engineering curiosity. Mike Clegg from Mackley noted their infectious enthusiasm and insightful questions about the restoration process.

This educational visit is part of ongoing community outreach efforts, designed to engage and inspire young minds. During National Careers Week, students from Brighton Aldridge Community Academy also toured the site. They interacted with the project team and apprentices, gaining a firsthand look at the restoration of this historic structure, more than 130 years old. Teacher Adam Broadbent emphasized the impact of personal stories shared by apprentices, which made the learning experience both relatable and inspiring.

The restoration project, one of the city's most ambitious, began in 2024 and aims to revive the first 28 arches with a new accessible lift. Councillor Julie Cattell emphasized the project's importance to the community and its role in inspiring future engineers. Alessandro Fusco, from the nursery, expressed gratitude for the enriching experience, noting the joy and curiosity it sparked among the children, solidifying the project's educational and inspirational value.

Festival Time

May has come round again 🥳 Ask any locals and they’ll tell you it’s their favourite month down by the coast. 3 weeks of events celebrating the arts. Spread across the local area, there’s theatre, music, dance, art, literature and debate, outdoor events, family friendly shows.

The buzz in the city in the build-up to this weekend has been helped by the incredible weather of late so long may it continue. Head to the Festival and Fringe websites for a full breakdown of the fun and games to come.

Look up!

If you’re pottering around town this weekend, look up to the sky for the stunning array of banners and bunting adorning the streets. Organsied by Brilliant Brighton, the city’s Business Improvement District (BID), they worked with local artist Bella Gomez to design the banners taking inspriation from inspired by Brighton’s coastal charm, creativity, and fun atmosphere.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled when when wandering Western Road, North Street, Market Street, Bond Street and Preston Street with bunting in North Laine and The Lanes.

Weather

Friday

☀️ | 📈 20 | 📉 10 |☔️ <5% | 🌬️ SW 6mph | 🌊 <1ft

Saturday

🌤️ | 📈 20 | 📉 6 |☔️ <5% | 🌬️ NE 7mph | 🌊 <1ft

Sunday

🌤️ | 📈 16 | 📉 4 |☔️ <5% | 🌬️ NNE 1mph | 🌊 <1ft

Beautiful Brighton

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Brighton Festival & Fringe ‘25

There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell way we could tackle the enormity of the schedule of events on for the Festival and Fringe this May so just follow the links below to their respective lists of the events for the most up to date info. Now go find yourself something to see!

• Brighton Festival - What’s on

• Brighton Fringe - What’s on

What’s On

Friday 2/5

• The Launch of 'We, The Change' | Lighthouse Project Space | 6.30pm

Saturday 3/5

• Children’s Parade | Jubilee Street | 10.30am | More Info

• Foodies Festival | Preston Park | 11am - 9pm | Tickets

• Artists Open Houses | All over Brighton | More Info

• St Ann's Well Gardens Spring Festival | St Ann's Well Gardens | 12pm - 7.30pm

• Kemptown Village Food & Makers Market | Montague Place | 10.00am

Sunday 4/5

• Foodies Festival | Preston Park | 11am - 9pm | Tickets

• Free Park Tennis | Blakers Park | 10.00am | Book

• Spuds: Tatties in Business | The Caxton Arms | 10.30pm

Live Music

Friday 2/5

• The Musicals Party | Komedia | 11pm

• Becky Hill In The Park | Waterhall | Gates open 4pm

• ZION TRAIN plus GUESTS | The Arch | 8pm

• Retrospective: 20 Years of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus | St George’s Church Kemptown | 7.30PM

• PIZZUP...on the beach | Patterns Beachfront | 7.30pm

Saturday 3/5

• R&B Lovers | Horizon Nightclub | 3pm-10pm

• The Style Councillors | Chalk | From 6pm

• Never Easy | Dust | 7pm

• Orchards Plus Coco and The Lust | Alphabet | 7.30pm

• 10 Years of Patterns: Romare (DJ) - Day Rave | Patterns | 5pm

• Marsh: All Night Long | Patterns | 11pm

• Retrospective: 20 Years of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus | St George’s Church Kemptown | 7.30PM

Sunday 4/5

• Land Beyond Festival Vacant Planet | Waterhall | 12pm

• 1BTN Sundae: Celebrating 10 years | Patterns | 2pm

• Land Beyond Afters: Alisha + more | The Arch | 10pm

• Moody Disco Summer Terrace Party | The Temptest | 8pm

• Land Beyond Official Afterparty | The Volks Nightclub | 10.30pm

Cheers for popping by

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