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Brighton Festival

		Brighton
When I was a student I once visited Brighton and found it to have what was then called an "artistic community" that is a very laid-back, hippy, bohemian and cosmopolitan feel to the place. It is without doubt one of the most happening places in Britain, from deep history to its diverse night life, crossing a wide collection of bars and eateries that out number (per head of population) anywhere else in Britain. It is one of the largest concentration of shops on the south coast, some in arches, but others in century old lanes that Sherlock Holmes would have felt at home in. Brighton is truly an exotic dish, and like any good meal should not be rushed.		Brighton is actually Gay bliss. In what other city do Queen Square and Dyke Road meet on a corner together? What other place has as it's centre piece a palace that looks like one of Liberace's earrings? Other cities have gilded gay ghettos, but gays and lesbians live work and play through the whole of this city like the name Brighton runs right through the middle of a stick of rock. In Brighton and Hove, gays and lesbians can feel part of the whole city and not just of a special council project supported for the benefit of Breweries and other pursuers of the pink pound. http://www.GayBrighton.com
It was then as a young kid I saw guys walking openly arm in arm in my first visit to Brighton, in the very latest fashions, all yummy, very comfortable and openly GAY. It was then at the tender age of 14yo that I said to my self "one day I'm going to live here", and so in time I did. Many young people come to Brighton from abroad as travelers (lots of casual work in the hospitality industry here), they come to learn English at the many Language schools, or to studies at one of the Universities and end up staying, that diversity alone adds to the Bohemian feel to the place. If you know Charleston in South Carolina, or San Francisco or Greenwich Village/Chelsea N.Y., South Beach (without the sand) you will feel at home. During the month of May it hosts the Brighton Festival which is only bettered by the famous Edinbrough Festival. At the end of the festival there is the Brighton Gay Pride which is one of the first of many festivals before the London one in July.

Getting there

This is "London by the Sea", one of the Gayest places in the UK. It is situated on the downs, about an hours drive (60miles) below London via the M23 which passes London Gatwick International Airport about half-way.
The train from London Victoria (trains via Gatwick) to Brighton Central Station can either be the Express (about 45mins does not normally stop at Gatwick) or the slower 75min trains which stops everywhere.
More info on Cheap flights to Gatwick, day trips to Europe on the EuroStar may also be of interest.

Gay Map of Brighton and Route guide.
Gay Brighton ( http://www.GayBrighton.com)
An SM Guide to London. (PeterBoots guide)
Air: London Gatwick Info (train connections)
Rail: British Rail Info 0345 48 49 50. http://www.thameslink.co.uk and for route planning use RailTrack.co.uk travel planner or WAP
(Beware of Engineering works - typical at the weekends)

Rail: London Underground Travel&Maps (home). The Underground is undergoing a lot of Engineering works so services can be erratic.; Road: the RAC route planner is on http://www.rac.co.uk/services/routeplanner/ www.streetmaps.co.uk to fine your way around
Often appears as broken during peak load.
General travel Info; The Zel Net guide to the pleasures of Brighton/
Visitor Information Centre
Located centrally in Bartholomew Square (look for the Town hall) in the Lanes.
Tel: +44 (0) 1273 292 599. Accommodation list by fax:
Fax: +44 (0) 839 401 258




Where to Drink In there are many to choose from, Brighton has a fast turnover of venues, however many are as old as the hills: The Aquarium, Steine Street (+44 (0) 1273 605 525) http://surt.to/aquarium.com The BullDog Tavern, 31 St James Street (+44 (0) 1273 684 097) The Queens Head (Stine Street) and The Marlbrough Hotel (and theater) have been bought out by (Zel) who have been transforming youth bars in Brighton. These places are good to eat and drink before doing out to the clubs. Zels web site helps you explore the rabbits warren of pleasure that can be found in Brighton. Please see http://www.GayBrighton.com for further details. Where to eat A General Guide; Brighton has the highest numbers of bars and restaurants per head of population outside of London (Brighton is not a small town), you may also want to explore other eateries in the area. http://www3.ntd.co.uk/tourist/restaurants/ Gay & Lesbian Switchboard Service London +44 (0) 20 7837 7324 Brighton +44 (0) 1273 204 050 Daily 18:00 to 23:00; Website has Scene, Pub and Club info. Manchester +44 (0) 161 274 3999 PO Box 153, Manchester, M60 1LP Male Sexual Health Tel: 01273 664 722 The Wilde Clinic at the Lawson Unit, Eastern Road Brighton is open Wednesday evenings from 18:00 to 21:00 They offer a wide range of confidential services for gay and bisexual men including: One to one sexual health advice Hepatitis A&B vaccinations Psychosexual Counseling HIV Testing and post test advice. Free condoms and lube. Gay Magazines and papers Check up for any sexually transmitted infections.	Dance scene Brighton has a diverse Dance and club scene, ranging from country/western line dancing to ABBAesque, and from Techno to Leather. Wild Fruit at the Paradox, West Street - Monthly (+44 (0) 1273 321628) Opening soon on the sea front (Unit9, Aquarium Terraces) will be Brighton's latest Dance Club Cream with a capacity of around 2000 people Also near by in London's G.A.Y and TRADE: http://www.dircon.co.uk/trade/index.html There are many good Straight Discos, but you need to be aware of the Security on the doors who are known for their gratuitous violence - reporting it to the Cops only makes matters worse. Gay Scene This is "London by the Sea", one of the Gayest places in the UK. It is situated on the downs, about an hours drive below London. It has both a cosmopolitan and a bohemian feel to the place. For more information you may want to look at: http://www.brighton.co.uk/gay/welcome.htm Clubs include: Leather - Swartz Bar (22:30 - 02:00) under The New Europe Hotel ( +44 (0) 1273 624462) Where to stay In there are many to choose from, you can check them out via: http://www.brighton.co.uk/gay/guide/hotels.htm General accommodation list by Fax: +44 (0) 839 401 258 Also see The Zel Net guide to the pleasures of Brighton/ Staying in touch There are various CyberCafes. Where if you have a web based email account, you can catch up on your eMail as you travel. In London there is the well known Cyberia cafe. Universities The University of Brighton (http://www.brighton.ac.uk) and University of Sussex (http://www.sussex.ac.uk/)in this town, both have an outstanding reputations in their perspective field. So if your a student and you like party or shop you may discover we have one of the highest diversity of clubs, one of the largest concentrations of shop in the south of the UK. Brighton Gay Pride At one time Brighton Gay Pride (http://www.brightonandhovepride.co.uk) preceded the main London gay Pride (http://www.gaypride.co.uk) now however because of now wanting to upset the family feel of Brighton Festival and that it was becoming a bit attraction in its own right it was moved to August. Brighton Festival In for the month of May we have the Brighton festival longest, strongest, biggest and boldest arts festival that rivals the Edinbrough festival http://www.brighton-festival.org.uk The Festival brochure is available from March. For a copy send your name and address to info@brighton-festival.org.uk or fax it to +44 (0) 1273 622453. The Brighton Dome Ticket Booking Facility can book you into any event in Brighton. Open 10:00 to 19:00hr Tel: +44 (0) 1273 706771 Movies At the last count there were 27 screens in Brighton. The Juke of York is furthest from the city center, but has more 'unusual' films. There are a cluster of Cinemas in the centre of Brighton, and another Cinema complex at the Brighton Marina (along with interesting places to eat and drink). You can get an idea of the current moves from Popcorn.
Plays and Exhibitions Between December and January there is the Panto season where both The Theater Royal and The Dome have a Traditional Pantos. The Hove and Brighton Museums will have Exhibitions through out the year. The Brighton Center have a variety of Concerts and performances. Brighton has a race course for both Horses and Greyhounds. In the summer months and during public Holidays there are festivals, carnivals and fun-fairs on the Level.	Jan Panto Season Feb Craft fairs Beer Festival March Craft and Arts Fairs The Pioneer: Motor Cycle Run Sussex Beacon Fiar (HIV Hospice) April Horse Driving Trials Art Deco fair UK Classic Coach Rally May England's largest Festival of the Arts Horse Racing County Cricket The Dieppe Market (Full French Market) Many Gay events, and outside dance events (famous DJs)	June Classic Car Show. London to Brighton Cycle run Art Deco fair PAF Arts festival 21st to 11 July (London) July Festival of Lions Enough most gays would be in London for London Mardigras (gay pride) on July 3rd August Radio One Road show Brighton Gay Pride September Shoreham Air Show Windsurfing World Cup (8th-12th) (Great if you love your fit horny young Men in Rubber, ideal venue for rubber lover club outing) Ace Cafe: Motor Cycle Run October/November Craft and Arts Fairs Horse Racing December "Burning of the Clocks" - a pagan pageant. Christmas Events
The Alternative side of Brighton It has a number of highly sought after Tattoo studios that specialize in a number of styles and designs, there is also a number of Piercing studios and is the home of WildCat International (+44 1273 323758). In addition there is the local Sussex Lancers MSC, and GayBikers Group. Typically there is a Gay Bikers Rally in Mid March.
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