14,000 cyclists on Madeira Drive

It is the British Heart Foundation’s London to Brighton Bike Ride today, and up to 14,000 cyclists and many supporting friends and family are descending on Brighton Beach’s Madeira Drive. The ride is one of the largest mass-participation cycling events in the country, and it is surely the longest-running - next year it will be celebrating its half century.

First staged in 1976, the London to Brighton Bike Ride has become a summer institution, attracting a broad range of riders - from seasoned club cyclists to families on vintage tandems - all pedalling the 54-mile route from Clapham Common to Madeira Drive. Over the decades, it is estimated more than 650,000 people have completed the ride, raising in excess of £50 million for heart disease research and patient support. Organised with rolling road closures and medical and mechanical support along the route, it’s a rare opportunity for cyclists to experience a fully marshalled ride through London, Surrey and the Sussex countryside.

A signature feature of the ride is the infamous Ditchling Beacon, a mile-long climb near the finish that has become a rite of passage for many riders. With gradients reaching 16%, it’s a test of strength and spirit, all the more memorable for the crowds of volunteers and supporters who line its verges each June, ringing cowbells and cheering even the weariest cyclists to the summit. In 1994 and 2014, the climb briefly gained wider fame when it was included in the Tour de France’s visits to the UK.

Over the years, the ride has drawn a colourful mix of participants and transport. In 2016, Sussex man Alex Orchin completed the ride on a 130-year-old penny farthing, raising funds for the British Heart Foundation and turning heads along the route. Riders have also tackled the 54-mile course on unicycles, tandems, post office bikes, and folding commuters, with reports of such appearances dating back to the early 1980s. Though often slower than the pack, these unconventional entrants have long been part of the event’s inclusive and good-humoured spirit.

In recent years, participation numbers have fluctuated, partly due to the pandemic, which led to the cancellation of the event in 2020 and reduced entries in subsequent years. In 2024, around 12,000 cyclists took part - a significant rebound - and this year the ride is on track to be one of the most successful with over £1m raised. Much of the money, the organisers say, goes towards pioneering research into heart failure, congenital heart disease and genetic conditions affecting the cardiovascular system.

Glorious Day in Hove

The inaugural Glorious Day Festival is set to bring a fresh wave of house, funk and soul to Brighton’s Hove Lawns today. Running from 1pm to 10:30pm, with last entry set at 4:45pm, the boutique seaside event is aimed at an 18+ audience and promises a sunset soundtrack from some of the biggest names in dance music. Headliners include Soul II Soul, Grammy-winning DJ Roger Sanchez, Mark Knight, Norman Jay MBE, Danny Rampling, Julie McKnight and Smokin Jo.

Organised with the backing of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Outdoor Events team, Glorious Day positions itself as a one-day celebration with a single-stage setup, beachfront vibes and a carefully curated lineup. The event is ticketed through platforms such as See Tickets and Skiddle, with early bird prices from £39.50 and VIP upgrades available. It joins a packed local summer schedule alongside Brighton Pride, The Great Escape and other major music events, but is billed as bringing a more relaxed, refined edge tailored for a discerning crowd.

The festival takes place on Hove Lawns, a council-owned green space along Brighton Beach, long used for community celebrations and seasonal events. Festival-goers can expect a wide range of food and drink vendors, free water stations and a no-camping format. Blankets are allowed but camping chairs, windbreaks, gazebos and outside food or drink are not permitted. With a ‘Challenge 25’ policy in place, all attendees must bring valid photo ID.

The lack of a publicly-credited promoter for Glorious Day Festival suggests it is being run by a small, possibly local, independent events team operating under the festival’s brand name rather than a known production company. This is common for boutique seaside festivals, where organisers often handle bookings, branding and logistics internally while partnering with established ticketing platforms. To stage an event on Hove Lawns, the team would have needed to apply through Brighton & Hove City Council’s Outdoor Events team, who oversee permissions for use of public space, ensure compliance with safety and licensing regulations, and coordinate site access, noise management and emergency services. The council’s role is to facilitate rather than produce such events, meaning the festival’s creative, financial and operational planning rests entirely with the private organisers.

Together Co at the pier

Brighton-based charity Together Co is hitting the road today with a vibrant citywide bus roadshow marking 25 years of tackling loneliness and building community connections in Brighton & Hove. The one-day celebration, part of the charity’s #ConnectIn25 campaign, coincides with Loneliness Awareness Week and aims to put ‘social health’ - the ability to form meaningful relationships - firmly on the public agenda.

In partnership with Brighton & Hove Buses, the roadshow features a specially designed, beach-themed double-decker bus that doubles as a mobile community hub. Fully accessible and dementia-friendly, the bus will stop at key locations across the city including Moulsecoomb, Whitehawk, Churchill Square, and culminate at Brighton Palace Pier (where these photos were taken).

Television presenter and Together Co ambassador Gail Porter will join charity staff, volunteers and community partners along the route. Visitors are invited to climb aboard for a chat, learn more about Together Co’s work, or find out how to get involved as a volunteer. Founded in 1999, Together Co has supported thousands across Brighton & Hove through befriending, social prescribing and volunteering programmes.

Its work, the organisation says, has never been more relevant, with recent research showing that nearly half of adults in England experience feelings of loneliness at some point. Together Co CEO April Baker said, ‘This roadshow is about Together Co being out in the community, on the move, meeting people where they are. We want to celebrate what we have achieved with the help of our volunteers and supporters over the past 25 years, and to invite everyone to be a part of what comes next.’

Together Co is always looking for new ways to spread its message. In April 2024, to celebrate the Grand’s 160th anniversary, Together Co hosted an afternoon tea at the iconic hotel. It attracted 160 guests and performances including the Brighton Welsh Male Voice Choir. In November, it is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a gala on the pier. This will be themed, appropriately, as ‘All the Fun of the Fair’ - think Moulin Rouge meets Cabaret, it suggests. 

New Nuun beach run

Today saw the debut of the Nuun BRIGHTON TEN & FREE Foundation 5K, a two-part running event bringing a new blend of competition and inclusivity to Brighton’s seafront. Organised by RunThrough Events and its non-profit arm, the RunThrough Foundation, the day’s races highlighted two distinct aims: one focused on performance over a new 10-mile distance, the other offering a completely free, accessible route into running for local communities.

The Nuun BRIGHTON TEN, a 10-mile closed-road race, began at 9:00am on Madeira Drive, near Brighton Marina. The course was flat, fast and scenic, with chip-timed results, three water stations, and energy gel support at mile six. Entry cost £40, or £52 for those opting to include a sustainable tech t-shirt. All finishers received a medal, refreshments, and free event photography.

The second event, the FREE Foundation 5K, started shortly after at 9:20am and was open to participants via a free-entry ballot. Ballot places were allocated in three stages during April and May, with priority given to underrepresented communities, including low-income households and first-time runners. The 5K route also followed the coast, and participants enjoyed the same finish-line support, safety infrastructure, and festive atmosphere as the 10-mile field.

Though held on the same day, the two events were organised by different wings of the same company. RunThrough Events, founded in 2013 by former international athletes Matt Wood and Ben Green, has grown into one of the UK’s most prolific race organisers, delivering more than 200 events per year across the country. From its roots in a 300-person 10K at Bushy Park, the company has expanded to include half marathons, virtual races, and the launch of RunThrough Kit, an apparel line. Their events are known for strong logistics, welcoming atmospheres and iconic UK venues.

The FREE Foundation 5K, meanwhile, is the product of the RunThrough Foundation, launched in 2023 to remove barriers to distance running. Its mission is to make road racing accessible to all by offering free, closed-road events, especially in communities that might otherwise face economic or social exclusion. The foundation held its first large-scale race at Warrington in 2023, with over 30% of participants running their first-ever event. It followed up with a free London 10K in December 2024. Each event is coupled with year-round community training and support, working in partnership with councils, charities and local groups to leave a lasting impact.

Together, the two Brighton races represent a new approach to running events: one that preserves the structure and ambition of traditional racing while opening the sport to new audiences. Whether chasing a personal best or completing a first run, participants at today’s Brighton TEN and FREE Foundation 5K helped launch what looks set to become a major fixture in the city’s sporting calendar.

Incidentally, Nuun, pronounced ‘Noon’, describes itself as ‘the first company to separate electrolyte replacement from carbohydrates.’ The result, it says, was ‘a healthy, hydrating beverage without all of the extra sugar and additives’. Over a decade later, Nuun Hydration markets itself as ‘hydrating the planet one runner, surfer, cyclist, mother, yogi, hula hooper at a time (the list goes on…)!’

Beside the Sea

Brighton’s 2025 Beside the Sea exhibition, running from May through September, features works by renowned photographers Martin Parr and JJ Waller, with a particular focus on Waller’s intimate and playful portrayal of Brighton Beach. The exhibition is presented in three distinct venues: the Hove Museum of Creativity, The Seafront Gallery, and, most strikingly, on the roofs of Brighton’s bus shelters (which, according to the organisers, is a world first).

JJ Waller, a British documentary photographer born and raised in Brighton, is well known locally for his portraits of people in Brighton and other coastal towns such as St Leonards-on-Sea and Blackpool. His images capture the spirit of Brighton Beach, a place celebrated for its freedom, eccentricity, and everyday spectacle. Waller’s photographs depict children with ice cream-smeared faces, sunbathers asleep on the pebbles, and the curious mix of visitors in various states of undress, all contributing to a rich visual record of seaside life. 

Drawing on his background in performance and theatre, Waller blends candid moments with a staged quality, highlighting the ritual and rhythm of the beach without losing sight of humour and humanity. His recent work, including widely praised Covid-19 lockdown portraits of Sussex residents taken through their windows, has brought him national recognition and was even edited into a collection by Martin Parr.

The Beside the Sea exhibition breaks new ground by presenting over 65 large-scale photographs some pasted flat onto the roofs of 30 bus shelters across Brighton, visible only from the top deck of a double-decker bus. This innovative approach transforms everyday journeys into art experiences, integrating photography into the city’s fabric and making the exhibition accessible to all with a bus ticket or pass. Waller, inspired by childhood memories of bus rides with his mother, sees this as a unique way to open up new exhibition spaces and reach audiences who might not typically visit galleries. He describes the collaboration with Parr, who is exhibiting in Brighton for the first time, as a dream come true, likening it to a young musician sharing a double album with legends like Bowie or McCartney.

In addition to the bus shelter installations, the exhibition is anchored at the Hove Museum of Creativity and The Seafront Gallery, where visitors can enjoy classic and rarely seen seaside photographs in more traditional gallery settings. The gallery, located on the lower esplanade by the West Pier spiral, offers an enhanced experience for those promenading along the beach, blending art with the everyday seaside environment. While Martin Parr’s contributions add national context and depth with images from his iconic Last Resort series and other archives, it is JJ Waller’s local focus and playful sensibility that give Beside the Sea its distinctly Brightonian flavour. 

New temp beach huts for renting

Eleven new beach huts will be available for hiring in Hove, near the Peace Statue, from Monday. The huts are under construction for Kairos - a boutique events agency - and will be rented out online through the summer until September. Their installation has been authorised by Brighton & Hove Council with an events licence, but Kairos has also put in a three year planning application so as to be able to continue the project for two more summers after this one.  

In the council planning documents, Kairos explains that a total of eleven beach huts will be installed along the concrete promenade adjacent to Hove Lawns - in ‘a currently underutilised section of the seafront’. They will be designed to complement the existing architectural character of the seafront, and will not impact any heritage or listed buildings. Moreover, they will follow the established design and colour schemes of the current beach huts. ‘These additions aim to enhance the vibrancy of Hove seafront by increasing footfall and providing new opportunities for both local residents and businesses to enjoy and engage with the beach hut experience.’

Kairos envisages close collaboration with the nearby cafe (see also The Meeting Place progress). For example, it says, ‘guests will have the convenience of ordering coffee and other beverages directly to their huts via a dedicated mobile app, creating a seamless and enjoyable seafront experience that supports local business and promotes visitor engagement.’ Furthermore, ‘collaboration with Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club will aim to deliver a range of seasonal activities aimed at engaging the local community. This partnership will include structured coaching sessions, skills workshops, and inclusive sporting events designed to promote physical activity, teamwork, and community involvement.’

Under the events licence, the beach huts are intended to remain in place for an initial period of five months, but the new planning permission application is for a duration of 36 months ‘to allow flexibility in extending the initiative’ - i.e. installing the huts for five months in each of the next two years. To date, the planning application has attracted one online comment, from a ‘neighbour’. He/she states: ‘The views from Grade I listed buildings in Brunswick Square and Terrace are affected. Furthermore, the height of the huts seem not to be as per existing beach huts with these new huts appearing to be considerably taller than all other beach huts and the specifications for those huts clearly defined and contrary to this application.’ 

Classic Car Run

The annual London to Brighton Classic Car Run returned to Madeira Drive today in a glorious blur of polished chrome, growling engines and retro styling. This long-standing favourite on the UK motoring calendar brings together classic car enthusiasts from across the country and beyond, for a scenic drive that concludes at Brighton Beach.

The event was first held in 1988, designed to complement the Veteran Car Run (for pre-1905 vehicles) and give post-war classics their own moment in the sun (or rain!). Starting at Brooklands Museum in Surrey - itself a landmark of British motoring history - the route leads participants through picturesque countryside and historic villages, before finishing at the traditional motor venue of Madeira Drive. With the South Downs in full early summer bloom, the scenic aspect is no afterthought, it is said, but motoring as leisure, not speed. Participants receive a commemorative plaque, a rally board, and a route book complete with historical notes.

Entry is open to a wide range of vehicles - typically those built before 1973, although this cut-off can shift slightly to accommodate newer classics. Over the years, the event has grown to include the Kit & Sports Car Run and Modern Classics Run. On arrival in Brighton, participants park up along Madeira Drive to the delight of the waiting crowds, who are free to wander among the cars, and to chat with drivers of the lovingly-maintained vehicles.

Today’s display included several Ford Escorts in eye-popping hues - a lime green Mexico, a tangerine RS2000, and a glossy red custom job with the bonnet proudly lifted to show off its gleaming engine bay. Just a few cars down, a cream Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith (late 1940s or early 1950s) garnished with white floral garlands showed off its wide curving haunches - perhaps, a study in postwar elegance.

Over the decades, the Classic Car Run has built up its own mythology. There was the time when a fleet of Morris Minors took a wrong turn and arrived triumphantly from the wrong end of the promenade. And then there was the Triumph Herald that boiled over just yards from the finish line, only to be pushed across by its laughing, Union Jack-draped crew. In 2017, a 1950s Bentley was delayed by a flock of sheep crossing a Sussex lane; the driver simply tipped his cap and declared, ‘Motoring as it should be - unpredictable and utterly British.’

See also the Historic Commercial Vehicle Run.

Korwar’s Percussion Parade

Yesterday, 25 May and the last day of the city’s May festival, Brighton Beach was pulsing with rhythm and colour as acclaimed percussionist Sarathy Korwar led an exuberant 30-piece band in Percussion Parade, a vibrant celebration of multicultural music.

Korwar - an award-winning drummer, composer, and bandleader - is renowned for his innovative fusion of jazz, Indian classical music, and contemporary sounds. Born in the US, he grew up in Ahmedabad and Chennai, India, where he began studying tabla at the age of 10. His early musical influences included Indian folk songs and American jazz artists like Ahmad Jamal and John Coltrane. At 17, he moved to Pune to study Environmental Science but ultimately dedicated himself to music, training under tabla maestro Rajeev Devasthali and expanding his skills to the Western drum kit. 

In 2009, Korwar relocated to London, earning a Master’s degree in Performance from SOAS, University of London, where he focused on adapting Indian classical rhythms to non-Indian percussion instruments. His debut album, Day To Day (2016), released on Ninja Tune, blended field recordings of the Siddi community in India with contemporary jazz and electronic music. His 2019 album, More Arriving, featured collaborations with South Asian rappers and poets, addressing themes of immigration and identity; it received critical acclaim and won Best Independent Album at the AIM Awards in 2020. In 2022, he released KALAK, an album exploring ‘Indo-futurism’ and cyclical time concepts, which was lauded by critics and featured in several year-end best album lists.

For Percussion Parade, Korwar assembled a 30-piece band featuring some of the southeast’s finest young musicians, brought together by Create Music. The ensemble performed music specially composed for the festival, blending influences from futuristic folk, South Asian temple processions, UK carnivals, and traditional marching bands. A large number of spectators gathered nearby the Piazza and the West Pier Spiral to listen to the thunder of drums, the shimmer of cymbals, and the infectious energy of a community united through rhythm. 

Hove Beach Park opens

It’s big news for Brighton Beach that Hove Beach Park has been officially opened - by the mayor Mohammed Asaduzzaman and council leader Bella Sankey. Stretching from the King Alfred Leisure Centre to Hove Lagoon, the new park - the first in the city for 100 years, claims Sankey - has been built across Hove’s Western Lawns, an area which for a century has been little more than a series of lawned rectangles. 

The first section of the £13.7m park - opened last September and included a skatepark, pump track and roller area. Since then the council has added padel and tennis courts, gardens and new pathways, and an outdoor sports hub, café and public toilets - see Not the Mary Clarke Park. The existing croquet and bowls lawns have also reopened - a sand sports area is expected to follow by August.

In a press release, the Council quoted Sankey as stating: ‘This project has been evolving since 2018 through the work of local community organisations, particularly West Hove Seafront Action Group and West Hove Forum. Working in partnership, we identified underused facilities and green spaces on the seafront and developed a plan to reinvigorate this key area of the city. The result is a linear park with attractive spaces, better biodiversity and a range of recreational activities for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy.’

Brighton and Hove News reported on the opening ceremony last Friday, as did BBC Sussex. In celebration of the opening, several events were organised over the weekend: padel games with coaches on hand, an introductory bowls session, a jam session in the skatepark and pump track area, and a croquet drop-in session.

English Teacher on the beach

Later today, Brighton Beach will host English Teacher, the Leeds-based indie rock band whose meteoric rise has captivated the UK music scene. The band will appear at 10:15 pm on The Deep End stage, one of the main venues of The Great Escape, the annual new music festival that transforms Brighton (and part of the beach) into a hub for emerging artists from around the world.

English Teacher formed in 2020 when vocalist and rhythm guitarist Lily Fontaine, lead guitarist Lewis Whiting, bassist Nicholas Eden, and drummer Douglas Frost met at Leeds Conservatoire. Prior to this, they performed under the name Frank, exploring dream pop influences. Their transition to English Teacher marked a shift toward a more incisive and experimental sound, blending elements of post-punk, art rock, and indie.

English Teacher’s debut single, R&B, released in 2021, garnered critical acclaim for its candid exploration of race and identity within the indie rock landscape. This was followed by the 2022 EP Polyawkward, which NME praised as lively art-punk with a lyrical edge. The band’s growing reputation led to a performance on Later... with Jools Holland in November 2023, further cementing their status as rising stars.

Released in April, 2024, through Island Records, This Could Be Texas showcases English Teacher’s distinctive blend of surrealism and social commentary. Produced by Marta Salogni, the album delves into themes of identity, social deprivation, and political mismanagement, drawing inspiration from Fontaine’s upbringing in Colne, East Lancashire. Tracks like The World’s Biggest Paving Slab and Not Everybody Gets to Go to Space exemplify the band’s ability to intertwine poignant narratives with inventive musical arrangements.

The album’s critical success culminated in winning the 2024 Mercury Prize, making English Teacher the first non-London act to receive the award in nearly a decade (see also BBC report). Judges lauded the album for its ‘originality and character,’ highlighting its ‘winning lyrical mix of surrealism and social observation’ and its ‘fresh approach to the traditional guitar band format.’

For more on English Teacher visit their website, or Wikipedia. The video still above is taken from the band’s The World’s Biggest Paving Slab video on YouTube.

Historic commercial vehicles

Historic commercial vehicles - vans, trucks, lorries, fire engines, coaches/buses, steam wagons, many in bright-coloured liveries - lit up the Brighton seafront today, west of the pier. Arriving from around 10 am, they rolled in along Madeira Drive, sometimes stuttering, sometimes juddering, but every one clean and bright as a button, loved and cherished for their connections with our past. 

The London to Brighton Historic Commercial Vehicle Run is an annual event celebrating Britain’s rich commercial motoring heritage. Organised by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society (HCVS), the run showcases a diverse array of vintage commercial vehicles. The inaugural run took place on 13 May 1962, initiated by the HCVS, which itself was launched in 1958 following a rally at Beaulieu (where the National Motor Museum had been founded by Lord Montagu in 1952). The event has grown in popularity, with the 60th run in 2022 featuring 170 entrants. 

Last year, 2024, HCVS relocated the starting point of the run from Crystal Palace to Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey. The change was implemented to avoid London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and various lorry restrictions, making it more accessible for vintage vehicles. Participants now follow a route through Cobham, Leatherhead, Dorking, Redhill, Horley, Balcombe, Cuckfield, Burgess Hill before joining the A23 at a Pycombe for the last stage to Madeira Drive on the seafront in Brighton.

Photos of some of today’s participants:

(Above) - a preserved British double-decker bus (1930s-1950s), a type that became iconic in UK public transport, especially in cities like London. The livery advertises Tampon’s Ales and Ty-Phoo Tea, both classic British brands.

(Top left) - a historic steam traction engine, a type of self-propelled steam-powered vehicle used primarily for agricultural and heavy haulage work in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

(Top right) - a Fordson E83W, a light commercial vehicle produced by Ford between 1938 and 1957. This example is a flatbed pickup, often used for small deliveries and local business use. The E83W is known for its rounded cab, separate headlamps, and classic upright grille.

(Bottom left) - a classic single-deck coach, likely from the 1950s or 1960s, used for longer-distance travel and private hire. The red and cream paintwork is a common style for British and European coaches of the era, designed to be both attractive and easily identifiable.

(Bottom right) - a classic Scammell lorry, a British brand renowned for heavy haulage and specialist vehicles, particularly from the 1920s through the 1980s. Scammell vehicles of this era were notable for their robust construction and were often used for demanding transport tasks, including oversized cargo and military equipment

Quirky fact: In the 5th run, Lord Montagu drove a 1908 Unic taxi (French made), accompanied by London’s oldest taxi driver, with the fare for the entire distance clocked at 13 shillings. 

Victory in Europe Day

Brighton’s commemoration of the 80th anniversary of VE Day is taking place this evening on the seafront, near the Peace Statue. It is bringing together the city’s cadet forces, uniformed services, veterans and members of the public for a short service and the lighting of a beacon - joining hundreds of others across the UK. Exactly, 80 years ago today, a young Tony Simmonds was celebrating with his friends near the clocktower, and would write a memorable entry in his diary about the day. 

Victory in Europe Day - on 8 May 1945 - marked the official end of World War II in Europe with the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, following Adolf Hitler’s suicide on 30 April 1945 and the signing of surrender documents by Germany’s new leader, Karl Dönitz. It ended nearly six years of devastating war that caused millions of deaths and widespread destruction across Europe. The day was declared a national holiday in Britain, where millions celebrated with street parties, dancing, singing, and public gatherings.

However Brighton Beach remained closed (it had been closed since July 1940) - see the 1944 photograph below, available at the Brighton & Hove Museums collection. It would take some weeks/months to be cleared and re-opened. Internet searches reveal only that small sections of the beach had been temporarily opened to the public for swimming in the summer following D-Day in June 1944. However, after VE Day, a full reopening required the extensive and dangerous process of clearing the mines and removing the wartime defences (a postcard dated 23 September 1945 is said to show the the beaches accessible again - see here).

Perhaps if the beach had been open then that is where Tony Simmonds might have been on VE Day. As it happens, he wasn’t too far away - at the Clock Tower. He was just a teenager, having not long since moved from Winchester to Brighton. He kept a diary through the war. Extracts from this can be found online at MyBrightonandHove, and also in my book Brighton in Diaries. His entry for VE Day, though, is especially interesting and engaging. 

8 May 1945

‘VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY - I was at work - when I came back from lunch at 2 pm I found everyone in a hustle and bustle. The Manager said we were going to get out by 3.30. We did. Even then we had time to rush out to hear Churchill’s speech at 3 o’clock and a fine speech it was too.

We all knew something would happen in the evening and it did. It came right up to my fullest expectations. I just can’t describe the scene. I was alone most of the time and spent almost five hours around the Clock Tower. People just went mad - dancing, singing, chanting, shouting - the crowd just surged this way and that - The Academy, the Odeon and the Regent were all floodlit for the first time in almost six years - fire crackers, flares and even pre-war ‘jumpers’ were thrown about the streets - even into busses - all policemen ‘had their eyes shut’.

I left at just after 11 pm leaving behind me a riot going on outside the Regent - where a drunken sailor was protesting against a charge of 10/6d for a dance in the Regent Dance Hall. What a day - I shall never forget it for the rest of my life.’

Our house is decorated up - four flags - a shield and red, white & blue streamers. Even Mrs Guild next door has her standard flying. As for the town itself - well I never knew there were so many flags manufactured. My bike has a big rosette and streamers on its handlebars.’

The ceremony at the Peace Statue this evening is being supported by the Royal British Legion, the Salvation Army band, Sussex Police and Downs Junior School. Rev. David Hazell from St Helen’s Church, Hangleton, is giving a short service. Brighton & Hove Buses is also in attendance with its bus named Stephen Barnwell. Barnwell was a WWII hero. Landing in Normandy on D-Day. He was twice wounded, and much later in life was honoured twice by the French.

White swan, red fox and fat cat

What a feast of joy, laughter, music, colour and youth is Brighton Children’s Parade - held on the first Saturday of the city’s May festival. This year’s procession could not have enjoyed better weather, and after parading through town, thousands and thousands of schoolchildren, teachers, parents and friends concluded by parading  down Madeira Drive, along a resplendent Brighton Beach.

The Brighton Festival Children’s Parade was first held in 1985 having been conceived as a way to open the Brighton Festival, which itself dates back to 1967. The Festival aimed to promote arts and culture across the city, and the Children’s Parade was introduced to reflect these values in a joyful, community-centric way, engaging young people in the creative arts. The inaugural parade involved only a handful of local schools. Over the years, it has grown significantly and today included large groups mostly from around 60 schools (and institutions) across Brighton & Hove and nearby areas.

The Parade is produced by Same Sky, a Brighton-based community arts charity dedicated to creating inclusive public art and large-scale outdoor celebrations. Its members work closely with schools and teachers, providing guidance, artistic support, and materials for the construction of costumes, banners, and large puppets used in the parade.

The Children’s Parade theme this year was chosen by musician Anoushka Shankar (who also led the procession) under the New Dawn banner of the overall festival.
- Things we want to Change: What can get better, what do we want to bring into the world?
- Things we want to Cherish: What do we want to keep, and remind people is vital to us?
- Things we want to Chuck: What should we stop doing to make a better world?

Local press reports and photographs can be found in The Argus and Brighton and Hove News. 

Giant green monsters

Monsters. Monsters on the beach yesterday. Giant green monsters! Monsters because they’re giants, green hulks no less, colonising the pebbles. And monsters too because they are laying down event flooring - metal plates - allowing their army of other engined monsters to swarm onto the pebbles bringing fencing and more fencing (closing down acres of beach), and building infrastructure for food, drink and music.

I believe The Great Escape must be coming - the festival for new music. The organisers say: ‘We’re proud to present an incredible wave of local artists taking to our stages this May, spanning genres, scenes and generations of sound. Whether you’re into fuzzy guitars, punk energy, experimental electronics or dreamy indie pop, Brighton is serving it up.’ This year’s lineup boasts over 450 emerging artists from around the globe, performing across 30+ venues throughout the city, notably including the pop-up festival site on Brighton Beach. 

The monsters are, in fact, two Scania trucks operated by Sunbelt Rentals, which claims to be the UK’s largest and greenest rental provider. Both trucks are painted in Sunbelt’s signature bright green livery and are fitted with crane arms, indicating that they are hiab (loader crane) trucks, commonly used for transporting and unloading heavy materials. They’ll get a few days rest when the music fills the beach, and then they’ll be back to dismantle it all. 

Brighton Kidical Mass!

What a great day for the Brighton Kidical Mass! Sunshine, warmth, seaside, kids of all ages with their parents and friends, all cycling through Brighton in an exotic assemblage - a kaleidoscope - of cycles and other light pedal-powered vehicles. This is  a relatively new event, having started in 2023, and joins many sporty and family friendly annual gatherings that parade along the seafront - coming up next Saturday, for example, is the Brighton Festival Children’s Parade.

Kidical Mass is an international movement inspired by Critical Mass (which itself first emerged in San Francisco in 1992), aiming to create safer streets for children and families to cycle. The Brighton Kidical Mass began its local chapter with a first major ride in September 2023, attracting over 300 participants. The events are organised by Brighton Bike Hub, Bricycles and OSR Bike Train, with support from other local cycling groups and funding from Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival. The rides are fully marshalled, free to join, and open to all ages, with a special focus on enabling children and families to cycle safely on city streets..

The event today featured ‘feeder rides’ starting from various parks and locations across Brighton & Hove (Wish Park, Hove Park, The Level, Black Rock and Preston Park). After congregating at the Peace Statue in Hove, they all rode together in a loop around town before finishing again at the Peace Statue. Participants were encouraged to decorate their bikes, dress up, and bring noise-makers, to create ‘a festive and inclusive atmosphere’. 

It certainly was just that when they passed me and my camera on Grand Junction Parade, opposite the Doughnut Groyne.

After last April’s ride (2024), Brighton and Hove News reported that it was ‘by far the biggest Kidical Mass ride we’ve yet seen’; and the article noted that local councillors and prospective MPs from the Labour and Green parties had taken part in the ride.

Easter spectacle on Brighton Beach

While Easter on Brighton Beach is remembered for the violent clashes between Mods and Rockers 60 years ago (see Saturday’s post), it should also be remembered for a much bigger and colourful spectacle - the Easter Volunteer Review. This image - The Easter Volunteers Review: A Sketch on the Brighton Beach published in the Illustrated London News on 23 April 1870 - depicts a scene from the event during Easter 155 years ago. 

The Easter Volunteer Reviews were major public military events held annually in Britain during the 19th century, particularly popular from the 1860s onwards. Originating after the formation of the Volunteer Force in 1859 - a citizen militia created in response to fears of invasion and to supplement the regular army - these reviews became a fixture of the Victorian social and military calendar.

Held most often on Easter Monday, the reviews brought together thousands of volunteer soldiers from across the country for large-scale parades, drills, and mock battles. Brighton, with its broad seafront and easy rail access, was a favoured location, frequently drawing crowds of both participants and spectators. The events were not only military exercises but also significant social occasions, attracting families, dignitaries, and local residents, as depicted in contemporary illustrations showing mingling soldiers, elegantly dressed women, and children enjoying the spectacle

The foreground of the illustration above shows volunteer soldiers in uniform, some seated and others standing, interacting with women and children dressed in typical Victorian attire. One woman holds a parasol, and several children are present, suggesting a family-friendly atmosphere. Behind, a dense crowd of spectators fills the beach and the promenade above, with people standing on steps and railings to get a better view of the event. The background includes boats and seaside structures, reinforcing the coastal setting. The overall scene is lively and crowded, reflecting the popularity of the annual military review, which was both a ceremonial occasion for the volunteer regiments and a major social event for the public.

In fact, the Illustrated London News ran two articles on the Brighton 1870 military spectacle in successive editions - both freely available to view or download at Internet Archive (issues 1590 and 1591). Here are several paragraphs from the first report (and a further illustration found in the second report): 

‘The annual Easter Monday review and sham fight of the metropolitan and home counties volunteer corps took place at Brighton, with the advantage of the finest possible weather. [. . .] As Brighton is a holiday town, where Londoners are sure to find comfortable accommodation for themselves and families, with the benefit of the sea air and sufficient opportunities of amusement, large numbers of the volunteers and their friends went down either on Saturday or Good Friday, or the previous Thursday evening, some of the corps marching by the high road from London, but most of them arriving by railway. [. . .] 

Among the officers staying at the chief hotels in the town were Lieutenant-General the Hon. Sir James Scarlett, with Lady Scarlett, and Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, who went together, on Saturday, to examine the review ground. The Esplanade, the sea-beach, the King’s-road, the Steyne, the Pavilion Garden, the old Chain Pier and the new Western Pier, at Hove, the line of terraces in Kemp Town leading to the walk over the cliffs towards Rottingdean, the Racecourse, the Downs, and the road to the Devil’s Dyke, were much frequented by visitors in uniform, with a crowd of others - men, women, and children - who took their share of pleasure in those few days. The beach opposite the town was continually thronged; and the boatmen and the keepers of refreshment-saloons made a pretty good profit of the occasion. [ . . .]

The London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, with excellent traffic management, conveyed down thousands upon thousands on Monday morning, the first arrival being at half past six. At ten o’clock, when the signal-gun was fired, they began to assemble on the Level, the ground adjoining the Steyne. in order to march thence to the Racecourse, where the inspection was to commence.’

A paddle steamer and mixed bathing

 A superb collection of high quality old photographs of Brighton Beach and the seafront - from the James Gray Collection - are currently on display on the Lower Promenade near the i360. The 36 images have been chosen and reproduced by the Regency Society and will remain on show until 27 April 2025. All the panels carry their own captions and can be previewed at the Regency Society website.

In promoting the open exhibition, the Society says: ‘We continually look for ways to share the RS James Gray Collection of historical photographs with the public. This is one of the most adventurous yet. [. . .] We hope many residents and visitors will have a chance to experience these fascinating glimpses of bygone life on Brighton seafront close to their historical settings.’

Here are two of the photos from the exhibition. The caption for the one above reads: ‘The paddle-steamer The Brighton Queen at the eastern landing stage of the Palace Pier, probably in the 1930s. She was built in 1905 and was not just a pleasure steamer. She served as a minesweeper in WWI and in 1940 she was bombed and sunk at Dunkirk on her second trip to rescue British troops.’

And the caption for the one below reads: ‘A Mixed Bathing beach in Hove in 1919. Hove was slower than Brighton to allow men and women to go swimming from the same stretch of beach but by 1919 it had several Mixed Bathing areas, all strictly signposted and enormously popular.’

The Regency Society of Brighton and Hove was founded in December 1945 by a group of local historians, preservationists, and civic leaders with the aim of protecting the city’s distinctive Regency-era architecture from post-war redevelopment threats. Over the years, the Society has played a vital role in campaigning for the conservation and sensitive restoration of Brighton’s architectural heritage, becoming the city’s oldest conservation group and a key advocate for preserving its unique Regency character. 

In 1998, after the death of James Gray, an insurance broker with a passion for local history, the society acquired his extensive collection of historic black-and-white photographs, known as The James Gray Collection. The full collection comprises 7,530 annotated photographs, arranged in 39 volumes by areas of the city - all available to view online.

‘Awesome campaign!! #skincare’

Brighton Beach didn’t quite know what hit it on Sunday! The sun was out, the promenades were abustle, and the beach was busy too. But what’s this, a young man in sun-drenched dungarees thrusting a flimsy newspaper into my hands, and four sachets! In large bright letters, I read: ‘Breaking news: The UK’s No. 1 vitamin C serum just got better & better.’

My first and rather cynical thought was how can something, anything, be both getting better and better (which implies something happening over time), and be breaking news (something happening in the moment).

What exactly is a serum, was my next thought. Admittedly, I’m an aging human, and male, so perhaps I’ve missed something. Is it a face cream, a sun cream, a youth elixir? Here’s a dictionary definition of serum: ‘An amber-coloured, protein-rich liquid which separates out when blood coagulates’. Oh! That doesn’t sound very nice. Why would I want that?

I should read the newspaper, I thought (which is called The Brighter News). Here we go: ‘C the Bright Side. Garnier’s Vitamin C Brightening Serum may just be the ray of sunshine you’ve been looking for.’ So, it’s not just a serum but a ‘brightening serum’. But what is that? I need to read more from The Brighter News: ‘Its lightweight non-sticky fast-absorbed formula is clinically proven to reduce hyperpigmentation in 2 weeks. The benefits of Vitamin C are clinically proven. It helps brighten skin and reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. 99% of women tested agree their skin was left glowing.’ Wow, that’s a great stat, but not for me, a mere man.

Turning to the inside of the newsletter, I read that to celebrate this ‘breaking news’ (i.e. that the UK’s No. 1 vitamin C serum just got better & better), Garnier employees ran from Dull in Scotland to Bright(on) on the south coast telling ‘everyone along the way’ and handing out 250,000 Garnier sachets. Online, in the socials, I find a post by savannahsachdev, one of the runners, who found the while experience ‘awesome’.

Finally, in case you are thinking that Garnier’s Brightening Serum may be all you need for a happy and long life, I hate to disappoint you. Elsewhere in The Brighter News is a recommended daily brightening routine. This involves five stages, and five Garnier products. Vitamin C Micellar Water; Vitamin C Brightening Liquid Care; Vitamin C Brightening Serum; Vitamin C Brightening Eye Cream; and SPF. Good luck,

Löyly, Leil and Saunacraft

Löyly, Leil and Saunacraft are good for another five years! Earlier this month, Brighton & Hove City Council approved an application by Beach Box Spa Ltd for ‘a temporary change of use of beach for use as a spa/sauna for period of five years’. The company - set up by Liz Watson and Katie Bracher - first offered a single sauna back in 2018, but since then has expanded to three saunas. In support of the planning approval, the council received hundreds of positive comments. 

Beach Box first operated nearby the early Sea Lanes site; but, it was obliged to close down as the Sea Lanes complex developed. In early 2022, it repositioned its saunas a little further east, at the Banjo Groyne (by this time Liz Watson was the sole owner). A temporary planning permit was granted, to March 2023, and then another to March 2025. However, the most recent planning permission will last till 2030, ‘to allow time for a new, permanent location to be found’. Three conditions are attached to the permit: the land to be restored to its natural condition on or before 30 April 2030; operations limited to the hours of 7am to 10pm; and, a prohibition on any use of external loudspeakers (unless otherwise separately agreed).

Leil, the original sauna, was created from a converted horse box. Aspen-lined it has benches on one level and it boasts a snug, grey, felt ceiling. Löyly was built by the Bristol company Saunacraft, and is the hottest of the three, also aspen-lined. It is said to have a woodland cabin feel, and a maple syrup aroma. Lotta was crafted by local sauna builders, Wildhut, and is cedar clad - cedar having aromatic and antibacterial properties. It offers panoramic ocean views and a capacity of 9/12.

According to the council, some 229 letters in support were received in support of planning permission. The contents are summarised as follows:
‘- Provides health and wellbeing benefits
- Economic boost to local area from employment and tourism
- Positive feature on the seafront with benefit to local community
- Fits with other venues in the area
- Facility is well run and accessible
- No harm to neighbouring amenity
- Generates positive publicity
- Location on the beach benefits the sauna experience’

As well as a range of spa treatments and a forest sauna near Battle, Beach Box also offers a busy schedule of sauna events. This one, on 31 March, looks particularly interesting: New Moon Party. ‘A New Moon offers us an opportunity to set intentions and goals, letting go of limiting beliefs that might hold us back and planting seeds for the future. It feels like a breathe of fresh air for the mind! Our trained Sauna Masters will guide you through a journey for the senses, with sauna rituals, leaves and aromatherapy scents. Enjoy cold plunges between rounds to reset and invigorate. A cosy moment around the firepit, to finish, with post-sauna nibbles under the moonlit sky. Let the warmth of the sauna soothe your body, the coolness of the water awaken your senses, and the magic of the New Moon inspire your soul.’

Beauty pageant at Black Rock

The Black Rock Lido, a once beloved fixture of Brighton’s seafront, opened its doors on 8 August 1936. The Art Deco building boasted a 165 by 60 foot pool filled with over 330,000 gallons of crystal-clear water. More than just a swimming spot, the lido offered sunbathing terraces, a top-notch restaurant, a paddling pool for children - and a venue for beauty pageants! One such gala - from 60 years ago - was captured in a Michael Gillings film, now freely available to view at the British Film Institute website.

According to Tim Carder’s Encyclopaedia of Brighton, the name Black Rock probably came from a large rock or cave that existed at the foot of the cliffs, though it may have arisen because colliers were forced to unload their cargos outside the then town boundaries to avoid local coal taxes. Precisely for that reason, Black Rock was chosen in 1818-1819 by The Brighton Gas Light and Coke Company to build a coal-gas production works. Carder notes that some terraced housing followed, as did the opening of an inn, The Abergavenny Arms. In 1901, Volk was granted permission to extend his railway east from the Banjo Groyne all the way to Black Rock.

The lido, in its heyday, drew up to 80,000 visitors annually, hosting impressive swimming displays and even being considered as a training ground for Olympic athletes. The pool continued to operate during the war years, and after the war it hosted beauty pageants. The BFI online has a fabulous film of the 1965 pageant. Here’s the caption: ‘Michael Gillings’ remarkable film, made on a breezy day, sees would-be beauty queens parading for the judges at the 1965 Miss Brighton contest. The contestants strut along the poolside at Black Rock Lido, though the wind plays havoc with their elaborate bouffant hairdos. The contest continues later in the day, though now in sunshine, to a packed audience. After much posing in line-ups a winner is eventually chosen and photographers and officials swarm around her.’

Unfortunately, the pool’s glory days were numbered. The 1970s brought the construction of Brighton Marina, which spelled trouble for the once-popular swimming spot. Construction dust and noise drove visitors away, and attendance plummeted. Structural issues emerged, with the pool developing cracks and beginning to tilt. By 1978, the lido had shut its doors for the last time. It was demolished the following year.

For decades after, the site lay dormant, an ugly buffer between the Marina and the joys of Brighton Beach stretching miles to the west. Various redevelopment ideas have come and gone, but none took hold. Brighton & Hove City Council does have ambitious plans to rejuvenate the eastern seafront - see, for example, ‘Fantastic new refectory’ - but the site of the pool remains no more than a car park. Memories of visiting the pool as well as old photographs can be found at My Brighton and Hove.