The Brighton Festivals: An Ultimate Guide
Wednesday 9 April 2014
Brighton has long had a reputation as a city buzzing with
life, charm and the sense that anything can happen. Seen by many as London’s
cooler sibling, it’s a vibrant seaside town with plenty going on. But come May,
the action is multiplied with the start of festival season. Between the
Brighton Festival and the more avant-garde Brighton Fringe, there are countless
events throughout the month that are sure to please all.
What to see
So much happens that it’s worth planning your schedule
well in advance. There are huge musical productions, with orchestras filling
the majestic Brighton Dome. A big top tent with burlesque performers and
acrobats swinging from the rafters. Small performances from dance troupes not
in a theatre, but in the middle of the train station. There’s nothing too
small, or too obscure, for the festivals.
You’ll definitely want to catch a show in the outlandish Spiegeltent, an eccentric venue home to
cabaret acts and a plush bar. And you won’t want to miss Sh*t Faced Shakespeare
(23rd – 30th May), where one of the Bard’s plays is
performed by classically trained actors. The twist? One gets rip-roaringly
drunk before they tread the boards. If you’re with the kids, they’ll love the huge
Children’s Parade on 3rd May.
Where to go
The heart of the city is in the Laines, a hotchpotch of
streets where you’ll find the best independent shops, bars and restaurants.
This is also home to the majority of the venues – shows are as likely to take
place in a tiny room above a pub, as they are a theatre. In between shows, grab
a coffee and head to the lawns around the Pavilion.
Where to eat
Vegetarians will have no problem finding great food in
Brighton. Terre a Terre (terreaterre.co.uk) is a veggie spot so good that
carnivores won’t even miss their meat. You’ll be well fed at The Courtyard
(courtyardbrighton.co.uk), where hearty steaks and burgers are served up in the
heart of the Laines. For a quick bite, grab some authentic Japanese from Pompoko
(pompoko.co.uk), a hole in the wall that satisfies busy appetites.
If you time your visit right, the real food heaven
happens from May 3rd – 5th, when the Foodies Festival
(foodiesfestival.com) hits nearby Hove. Tents and trucks park up by the sea and
overflow with artisan food, doled up to happy patrons. Tickets are £12pp.
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Where to drink
There are countless great drinking spots around the city,
from tiny pubs to stylish cocktail bars. When the sun is shining, punters spill
out from the numerous bars on Jubilee Street to sip a pint al fresco. Riki Tik
is a Caribbean hotspot on Bond Street, where the dancefloor stays hopping ‘til
the early hours. For a more sophisticated scene, Merkaba is on the ground floor
of MyHotel, but a million miles away from your typical hotel bar. Cocktails are
expertly mixed up from an extensive menu, and enjoyed by a chic crowd.
Where to stay
As well as being home to the Merkaba bar, MyHotel Brighton
(myhotels.com) is a great option if you want to be in the heart of the action. The
curved and spacious rooms are bright to the point of dazzling, with a space age
feel and stylish touches throughout. Each morning, you’ll find local hipsters
meeting up for a flat white in the coffee bar downstairs, also home to some
excellent pastries. Rooms start at £70 (€84).
Gripe
With so many shows happening at once, it can be hard to
tell the ones worth a watch from those definitely worth skipping. The crowds
can also get a bit overwhelming over the weekends.
Getting There
Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) fly from Dublin, Cork and
Knock to London Gatwick, a thirty minute train ride from Brighton.
The Brighton Festival (brightonfestival.org) runs from 3rd
– 25th May. Brighton Fringe (brightonfringe.org) runs from 3rd
May to 1st June. More information on the city can be found at
visitbrighton.com.
This article originally appeared in the Irish Independent.
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