11 Unmissable Things To Do In Brighton At Night
Around 50 miles from London, Brighton is a seaside town on England's south coast just across the English Channel from northwest France. In fact, for travel purposes, you can get to Calais in about three hours. Before you leave this wonderful city for other British destinations, make sure you exhaust all the exciting things to do. During the day, Brighton is an ideal place for families, with the pier, the beach, and interesting museums. At night, the city becomes known for parties. Brighton has tons of clubs, pubs, bars, and restaurants to keep you busy for weeks. If you only have a few days in Brighton, you'll need to prioritize your nighttime pursuits. This list will outline all the best things to do in Brighton at night and includes options for families, singles, friends, and couples.
Whether you arrive by train at the Brighton station, by bus, or by car, before you head out on an exciting Brighton night out, make sure your bags are safe. Visit a Bounce luggage storage first to keep your hands free for drinks, food, and dancing. Besides, no bar or club is going to hold your bags for you!
Brighton Palace Pier
The iconic Brighton Palace Pier is something you simply can't miss when you visit Brighton. It's the centerpiece of the city's seafront entertainment district and although it looks great during the day, it's even better lit up at night. The Brighton Pier is home to arcade games, rides, some of the best street food, and so much more. It's a wonderful family-friendly place to hang out at night in a city full of grown-up venues like bars, pubs, and clubs. The whole family can have a fun night here while enjoying the electric atmosphere and refreshing sea air.
The only catch with a visit to the Palace Pier during the off-season (winter) is that during the week, most things close between 5 and 6 pm, so you'll have to make it an early night. On the weekends, everything is open until at least 7 pm. In the summer, the hours extend mostly to 9 pm daily. Another great feature of the pier is that entrance is free, but you'll need to spend to get on the rides, play games, and dine.
Brighton Dome
A fabulous live music destination in town, the Brighton Dome offers three venues that link up with the picturesque Pavilion Gardens, Brighton Museum, and Royal Pavilion via a tunnel. The dome features live performances of classical music, dance, theater, and even comedy. The three venues include the Corn Exchange, Studio Theater, and Concert Hall. The Brighton Dome itself is a Grade I listed building, so you know the venue's vibe will be unique. The juxtaposition of modern music and performances in a structure that was one of Brighton's WWII hospitals and a Victorian-era skating rink just increases the grandeur of any event. Why not see a great show and also get a glimpse back into Brighton's history?
The Brighton Dome is in the cultural quarter in the city center, so access to food and drink before or after a show is a must. Consult their website for the list of events and you're sure to find something worth seeing while you're in Brighton.
Brighton Flea Market
This may be more of an afternoon activity, but the Brighton Flea Market is a fun way to spend a few hours, especially in the summer. The market closes up shop around 5:30 pm, but before then you can browse the shop for treasures. They have everything from art to china to sports equipment. Because it's an indoor flea market, it's a great option when it's rainy or cold.
The shop is located in Kempton just a block or two from the hustle and bustle of the seafront. It's worth the trip just to visit the neighborhood to go on a walking tour. It's full of quirky stores, lively bars, and has a welcoming atmosphere. If this doesn't satisfy your flea market needs, you can head towards the west side of the pier to Hove for a look around the Department Flea Market.
Beach Volleyball
Another fun way to spend some time with friends or family at night is with a friendly (or competitive) game of beach volleyball. Luckily, Brighton has a few venues for this, but the best of the bunch is at Yellowave Beach Sports Venue and Cafe. Set right on the seafront roughly at the mid-point between the pier and the Brighton Marina, this place is heaven for volleyball enthusiasts. You rent out a court - and this is best done in advance online - and then you play until your time runs out. Generally, this is a popular daytime activity, but on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, you can start playing as late as 9 pm. Other days, the last time slot is at 5 pm.
Yellowave also features a cafe with light meals and great coffee, and they run kids clubs in the early evening. The clubhouse can be rented out and you can even book a bbq on the beach. This is definitely one of Brighton's best things to do with kids.
Brighton Big Screen
East of the pier on Brighton Beach you'll find the Brighton big screen. This giant TV is placed right on the beach and shows everything from football (soccer) to movies. This is a great early evening family-friendly activity weather permitting. You can purchase tickets online in advance to guarantee your spot. The screen is especially fun when there are large football tournaments on like the World Cup and the Euros.
Burlesque Shows
Starting our list of less family-friendly things to do in Brighton at night are the tantalizing burlesque shows offered in town. The most popular with tourists and locals has to be Proud Cabaret. It's also in the Kemptown neighborhood a short walk up from the beach. The building was once a mausoleum and has burlesque shows, DJs, and considers itself a supper club. How fancy!
Proud Cabaret is closed Monday through Wednesday, but every other day but Sunday, you can hang out here until 2 am. This venue is extremely busy in the summer, and most of the year for that matter, so it's best to reserve a table online if you can.
For those in town on a Saturday night, consider a trip to Showlesque on the west side of the pier near The Lanes neighborhood. The show is jaw-dropping, so you're bound to have fun. Showlesque also offers a bottomless brunch and burlesque and pole dancing classes.
Go on a Pub Crawl
Any trip to England can't be considered complete without participating in a pub crawl. One of the best areas of the city to attempt this is The Lanes. You'll find traditional pubs, contemporary bars, and clubs in this area. If you're not prepared to create your own crawl, don't worry, many companies exist to help. One of Brighton's best is the On The Rocks Bar Crawl. This group event happens every Friday and Saturday night and will take you on a boozy trip to five different bars and clubs. Your ticket price gets you five free shots, discounted drinks, and line-jumping privileges. Best of all, every drunken moment will be captured by their photographer for posterity. If you're traveling alone or are the social type, events like this are a great place to make new friends. Just remember to pace yourself.
Club Nights
Possibly one of the main things Brighton is known for, club nights are a great way to try out some of Brighton's best nightlife. Clubs come in both large and small sizes here. On the smaller end, No. 32 is a dance club on two floors with some of the best bespoke drinks in town. Walkabout Brighton, also an intimate venue, has a cozy outdoor patio and shows sports events during the day. It transforms at night for dancing with DJs spinning the best music well into the early hours. Chalk is another must-visit club spot for those with a penchant for live music and a raucous crowd. Open from 11 pm to 4 am, this is a place for true night owls. Some of the bigger club locations in Brighton include Coalition, Club Revenge, The Arch, and Patterns. In fact, there are just too many to mention each by name.
In a sea of nightclub choices, the most iconic institution in Brighton has to be the Volks Nightclub. Many people come to Brighton just to attend their parties. You'll find this large venue directly on the seafront and it has been a leader in the underground club scene for over 25 years. It may not be the biggest, but it still manages to squeeze up to 300 people in for a fun night.
Pier Nine Brighton
Are you feeling lucky? If so, consider a stop in at Brighton's Grosvenor Casinos at Pier Nine. The location has a total of three floors full of restaurants and bars, digital and retro games, and the classic casino experience. Everything from table games to slot machines is waiting for you to try your luck. All this entertainment is housed in an old art-deco theater looking out over the sea. Maybe you can even find some slot machines with a view.
You can fit this nighttime activity into your schedule quite easily. The Pier Nine casino is open 24 hours a day. Just make sure you know your limit.
The Green Door Store
The Green Door Store is a unique venue in Brighton for live music out in the open. When the weather is good, this place draws a huge crowd. It occupies three units in Trafalgar Arches near the Brighton Toy and Model Railways Museum. The party space is in a now disused rail yard and the interior bar area feels like one of England's traditional pubs. The Green Door Store gets its name from its recognizable green door and hosts some of the best indie bands and singer-songwriters.
This place is a bit removed from the action of the seafront, but it boasts a location that couldn't be more convenient for the Brighton train station.
Comedy Shows
If you're not so much into partying the night away or sitting in a pub, comedy club nights can be the perfect evening entertainment. From headlines to up-and-comers, Brighton has a comedy event that will draw you in.
Komedia Club Brighton is one of the best performance venues just north of the city centre. Aside from comedy, they feature burlesque shows, kids' shows, and live music. Comedy is at the core of its values, so these shows are the most frequent. If you're in town on a Friday or Saturday night, Komedia will have something to make you laugh.
West of Brighton in Hove, The Secret Comedy Club is open every day except Sunday and Monday. This small venue is not so secret but prides itself on showcasing some of the best local talent. They get TV stars as well so check their website for the events that coincide with your stay.
Conclusion
Once the sun goes down over the seaside town of Brighton, the city comes alive with lights, music, and people. Brighton boasts one of the densest concentrations on party venues in the country, and as a result, is heaven for those that like to stay up way past their bedtime.
From family-centric activities like beach volleyball, movies, and the pier to dance clubs, pub crawls, and live music locales, Brighton definitely has something to do at night for everyone. Just make sure you're not planning to get up too early the next morning!
