Lesbian Brighton: Bars, Events, Parties & More

If you’re wondering what Brighton has to lesbian travellers, you’re in the right place. In this guide, I provide a complete rundown of lesbian Brighton, including the best bars, clubs, events, and things to do around the city. 

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Quick Links

• Book a hotel or hostel in Brighton here or check out these beautiful air bnbs in Brighton.
• Stay connected in Brighton with a portable wifi hotspot or a local e-sim.
• Get to know the city on a best-selling Brighton tour.
• Don’t forget travel insurance.

Where to Stay in Lesbian Brighton

You will struggle to find any hotels in Brighton that aren’t LGBTQ+-friendly. After all, it is illegal to discriminate against same-sex couples when renting a room in the UK.

While there are no specific gay hotels in Brighton, by staying in the Kemp Town area you can almost guarantee you’ll be in the company of other LGBTQ+ travellers. 

You can compare accommodation options here. Or use the Map below to see all your options:

Booking.com

The Best of Lesbian Brighton

I’m sure you’re keen to learn more about what there is to see and do in this LGBTQ+-friendly seaside city.

Of course, being queer does not prevent us from wanting to explore like any other tourist. You’ll likely want to experience the Brighton highlights as well as the queer things to do in the city.

Since this is a guide to queer and lesbian Brighton, I won’t delve into the highlights here. Instead, I recommend checking out these top things to do in Brighton. For now, let’s look at all the fun queer things to do in Brighton.

Queer Things to do in Brighton

Explore the Queer Neighbourhood

The first thing you’ll want to do upon arriving in lesbian Brighton is to take a stroll around the city’s gaybourhood – Kemptown. 

Kemptown is at the heart of the LGBTQ+ scene in Brighton, occupying a considerable percentage of its gay and lesbian bars, clubs, and queer-owned businesses. 

Piers & Queers Walking Tour

If you’re keen to learn more about the fascinating history behind LGBTQ+ culture in Brighton, we highly recommend the Piers & Queers Tour hosted by Only in Brighton. 

Learn how the city earned its title of the ‘gay capital’ of Britain, alongside a 90-minute walking tour through the beach and city centre. 

LGBTQ+ Public Art & Sculptures

Lesbian Brighton is home to several public art & sculpture pieces that celebrate the history of LGBTQ+ culture. See if you can spot them on your adventures around the city.

Kissing Coppers: Scribbled on the side of the iconic Prince Albert pub, the Kissing Policemen is a piece by the street art legend Banksy.

The Kissing Wall: If you stroll along the Brighton promenade, you’ll encounter the famous kissing wall. The large aluminium column displays six images of people kissing of all ages and sexualities.

Aids Memorial Structure: Situated in New Steine Gardens, the Aids Memorial structure is a bronze sculpture of two men soaring towards the sky.

Chase the Rainbow Street Art

As I mentioned earlier, rainbow murals are all over the city of Brighton. Look out for them adorned on the sides of buildings or painted along the seafront, and you’ll even find rainbow-themed beach huts.

All make for great photo opportunities, and yes, we shamelessly took pictures with every single one!

Brighton Gay Beach

Brighton isn’t one of the sandy beaches close to London; however, it’s beautiful nonetheless. And wherever you lay your towel on its pebble coastline, you won’t be far away from a fellow LGBTQ+ person. 

For those interested, there is an unofficial gay beach in Brighton, approximately a 1-mile walk east of Brighton Pier towards Brighton Marina. It was Britain’s first naturist beach when it opened in the 1980s.

Queer Comedy Show

On the first Sunday of every month, the celebrated Brighton comedy club ‘Komedia‘ hosts ‘Bent Double‘. An irreverent night of fun and frolics that’s guaranteed to have you in stitches. 

The show welcomes a wonderfully diverse lineup featuring well-known LGBTQ+ comedy acts, “as-seen-on TV stars”, and stand-up legends.

Proud Brighton Cabaret Show

A super entertaining experience I can recommend when visiting lesbian Brighton is Proud Cabaret.

A legendary establishment amongst Brighton’s queer scene, you can enjoy fabulous world-class performers and an unforgettable evening of frolics and fun.

Support Queer Owned Businesses

We always try to support queer-owned businesses when we travel, and thankfully, there are plenty of places in Brighton worthy of your hard-earned cash.

Here are some of our favourite LGBTQ+-owned businesses, exempt from the gay bars and clubs, which I discuss further down the article.

• Proud Cabaret: The LGBTQ+ entertainment venue we talked about above.
• The Feminist Bookshop: An independent bookshop, vegan coffee shop and events space. 
• The Queery: A queer bookshop, vegan cafe, and community space.
• Semola: Queer-owned Italian restaurant serving delicious homemade pizza, pasta and desserts. 
• Arcobaleno: An LGBTQ+ Cafe and bar hosting an array of events from drag shows and burlesque to live music and quiz nights
• Prowler: A famous gay retailer in the UK selling everything from clothing to toys and everything else imaginable.

Lesbian Bars in Brighton

There is a lack of lesbian spaces in Brighton, but that’s not uncommon these days. Fortunately, there is still plenty of fun to be had in these inclusive bars.

Velvet Jacks

Voted Best Women’s Bar, Velvet Jacks have kept Lesbian Brighton alive with their cosy and welcoming venue.

Weekly entertainment includes themed nights, quizzes, and live music. Then, of course, there’s the excellent cocktails and delicious food.

The Actors (Formerly The Marlborough Pub)

Somewhat of an institution in Lesbian Brighton, The Actors (formerly known as the Marlborough) has been associated with LGBTQ+ culture since the 1970s.

It started as the meeting place of the Sussex Gay Liberation Front, which university students formed as a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community to connect and explore their sexuality.

Today, the venue is part bar, part theatre, and every part gay, where it is especially popular with the transgender and lesbian communities.

Legends Bar

One of the most popular gay bars in Brighton, Legends is the place to go for your stereotypical gay night out.

It’s lovely during the Summer, as you can enjoy a drink on the terrace overlooking the beach. By night, the bar pumps your cheesy queer anthems into the early hours.

Bulldog Bar

Brighton’s oldest gay bar, Bulldog opened its doors in the 1970s and has been catering to a mixed LGBTQ+ crowd ever since.

Entertainment includes weekly cabarets, karaoke, and live DJs, and it’s most popular on weekends when they are open until 3 am.

R-Bar

The little sister of the infamous Brighton gay nightclub Revenge, R-bar is the perfect venue for pre-party drinks and casual catch-ups! 

The seafront venue recently underwent a refurbishment, and its new look is giving cotton candy retro and heavily inclusive vibes. 

Charles Street Tap

The Queens of Craft! Charles Street Tap is a sizeable gay pub in the heart of the gay village.

They are not only famous for their craft beers fit for a queen but also their award-winning cabaret and extensive gin selection.

Le Village

Le Village is still new to the queer and lesbian Brighton scene; however, it’s making quite a name for itself thanks to its nightly drag shows and delicious cocktails.

The star of the show arguably, however, is its bottomless brunches. Enjoy a fabulous Drag Cabaret Show alongside delicious Thai food and 90 minutes of bottomless drinks.

The Camelford Arms

Set within walking distance of the beach, The Camelford Arms is an award-winning pub in Brighton.

Amongst the LGBTQ+ community, it’s the spot for bears and their admirers; however, the great beer, cheap food, and chic ambience attract a mixed and alternative crowd.

Lesbian Clubs in Brighton

Club Revenge

The most famous gay club in Brighton and our personal favourite, Club Revenge is a happening nightclub with an incredible atmosphere.

Located a stone’s throw from the iconic palace pier, it goes to show how inclusive the city is. Queer venues are not forced to hide here; instead, stands proud next to the city’s most recognisable attraction.

Concorde2

Not a gay club, but positively gay-friendly, Concorde2 is another of our favourite venues in Brighton. 

Submerged within the Victorian arches of Brighton Seafront, the club attracts a mixed alternative crowd with its jam-packed events calendar of live bands and world-renowned DJs. 

Queer & Lesbian Events in Brighton

LGBTQ+ History Month (February)

As the name suggests, LGBTQ+ History Month addresses the evolution of LGBTQ+ culture through the ages. It also celebrates the lives and achievements of inspiring people in the LGBTQ+ community through film, art, discussions, and more. The event is nationwide, with plenty going on in Lesbian Brighton.

Brighton Bear Weekend (June)

An annual event geared towards bears, cubs, and their friends, Brighton Bear Weekend is one of the biggest events of its kind in the UK. Expect four days of fur fun in the sun, with cabarets, club nights, and so much more. 

Brighton Trans Pride (July)

Reiterating the inclusiveness of this liberal city, Brighton was the first city in Europe to host a trans pride, which has been running now for several years. 

Brighton Trans Pride, which puts the T first, is celebrated similarly to Pride. Expect a big party in the park, parades, club nights, and a wonderful arts programme.

Brighton Pride (August)

Arguably the best pride event in the UK and certainly the biggest, people travel from all around the world to take part in the 2-day festivities of Brighton Pride.

Celebrating all that is great about Brighton and its acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, this is one you don’t want to miss!  

Lesbian Brighton FAQs

LGBTQ+ Rights in Brighton

LGBTQ+ Safety in Brighton

Despite some unsavoury reports regarding LGBTQ+ safety in Britain, the UK, especially Brighton, is considered safe for queer travellers. It even states on the Visit Brighton website:

“Brighton & Hove is proud to be a friendly and welcoming city which encourages a large number of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender visitors. “

I don’t think any city in the world is entirely exempt from homophobic att@cks, but Brighton is up there as one of the safest, along with Berlin and London. 

Of course, the usual risks attached to intimate relations or travel in general still apply. These LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Tips will help you look after yourself and your belongings. 

Best Time to Visit Lesbian Brighton

Brighton is an appealing destination all year round; however, the warmest and driest time of the year is from May to September. That said, this is England, y’all, and the weather here is as unpredictable as our politics.

Thankfully, regardless if it’s rain or shine in Brighton, there is plenty to keep you entertained. July and August is the peak season, with hotel and travel prices rising accordingly.

You may wish to coincide your trip with Brighton Pride or other LGBTQ+ parties or events. I listed these above to help you plan your trip.

Getting Around in Brighton

Getting around in Brighton is pretty straightforward. Brighton is a compact city, and if you stay in the centre, you should find that most attractions, including nightlife and restaurants, are accessible on foot.

Nonetheless, there is a reliable bus network should you need it, connecting you to all corners of the city.

If you’d prefer to take a taxi, there are taxi ranks dotted all over the city, including the train station. You can also hail unoccupied taxis down on the streets, which for some bizarre reason, is always rather fun. Oh, and Uber operate here as well.

Brighton Tours

Some might say that a guided tour is the best way to experience this gorgeous seaside city.

For example, this Brighton City Bike Tour will allow you to explore the coastal city’s main monuments.

We always use Get Your Guide when we book tours. They have an endless selection of tours in locations worldwide, including Brighton. Check them out!

Have Fun Exploring Lesbian Brighton

That concludes our guide to lesbian Brighton.  We hope you enjoy your time in this quirky and queer-friendly city. 

If you have any questions, please ask. Otherwise, I wish you happy and safe travels.

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