The key addresses in Brighton — verified and regularly updated. Clicking takes you straight to the location page.
Located in the middle of Kemptown, Affinity Bar is a cozy gay bar-café with a modern design and mood lighting. The menu includes cocktails and a wide selection of spirits at fair prices. The program ranges from drag cabaret to karaoke and DJ sets. It is only a few steps to the beach.
Located in Brighton's Gay Village, Charles Street combines tap bar and café with cabaret, craft beers and a wide selection of gins. A program of drag quizzes, DJ sets and shows runs daily. From the kitchen come fish and chips, burgers, tapas and pizza from the stone oven, plus vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes. A terrace is part of it.
Considered the leading LGBTQ+ nightclub on the South Coast, Club Revenge offers two dance floors with powerful sound. A mix of house, pop and chart hits is played. A rooftop terrace is for smoking and relaxing, and the neighboring Bar Revenge with cheap drinks is a good place to start. Regular events range from drag shows to special nights.
Located in Regency Square, Hotel Pelirocco is a boutique hotel with 19 individually designed rooms inspired by music icons and subcultures. The bar invites late cocktails, karaoke and live music in eccentric surroundings. Themed rooms such as the David Bowie tribute with LED bathtub complete the offer. Beach and nightlife are nearby, breakfast is included when booking direct.
Located in the Kemptown district, Proud Cabaret Brighton focuses on burlesque and the flair of the 1920s. The room under a dome, once a mausoleum and ballroom, features gilded details and VIP seating areas. Cocktail and wine lists meet burlesque, drag and interactive acts. After the shows, the place becomes a club with a dance floor, space for up to 220 guests.
Right by the sea, opposite the Palace Pier, is the colorfully designed R-Bar for the LGBTQ+ community. Art installations and special lighting characterize the space, and there are daily special offers at the bar. DJs and drag performers will provide entertainment, plus food from Pizzaface. Near Club Revenge, the restaurant opens daily.
Underneath the Legends Bar on Marine Parade is The Basement Club, a gay club that's open until the wee hours. DJs mix current hits with classics, plus subdued lighting and powerful bass. The club is especially open on weekends and select weekdays, often with free admission and drink promotions. The bar is well stocked and reasonably priced.
The Bedford Tavern on Western Street is on the border of Brighton and Hove and is well-known in the LGBT community. British pub classics such as homemade Sunday roast with vegetarian options are served, accompanied by beer, wine and cocktails. Regular cabaret shows and themed party nights provide the program, from lunch to weekends.
Located in the Kemptown district, The Camelford Arms is a bar and café with Victorian interiors that attracts a mixed crowd including the LGBTQ+ community. There are local craft beers, cocktails and wine, accompanied by coffee, homemade cakes, sandwiches and salads during the day. With quiz nights, live music and theme parties, there is variety. Sitting areas with fireplaces and a small garden in summer invite you to stay.
A little away from the gay district is The Grosvenor Bar, a mixed bar with a queer-friendly atmosphere and a dedicated host. There are bar snacks and drinks at fair prices. Regular live performances such as cabaret shows, drag acts, and karaoke attract a diverse crowd. If you are looking for Brighton's nightlife without the hustle and bustle of the big clubs, this is the place for you.
Gay bars in Brighton are most densely found in Kemptown, especially along St James's Street east of Old Steine. For a good four hundred meters, pubs, bars and clubs are lined up almost next door to each other, plus the small side streets towards the sea. Outside central London, the area is considered the densest queer district in England. During the day you sit in the café. In the evening, the shops fill up, and on sunny weekends the action shifts to the sidewalks.
Some addresses have shaped the scene for decades. The Marlborough is one of the city's most traditional queer venues and is known for its theatre and performances. One of Brighton's oldest gay pubs is The Bulldog, with karaoke, cabaret and drag nights. There are also a whole range of other pubs, music bars and clubs that cater to different moods, from quiet pints to long party nights. When it really starts depends on the store: Some pubs are already full in the early evening, the clubs open late. Because everything is close together, you can easily move from one bar to the next. You can find the right place for your evening with the following addresses.