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Introduction
Brighton has been an important entertainment centre since the early nineteenth century when the Prince Regent (later to become King George IV) built his Royal Pavilion here. Today, the city has a vibrant clubbing scene and is renowned for theatre and the arts. Due to its liberal attitudes, Brighton has also been described as the 'Gay capital of Europe' by a British newspaper. For entertainment listings see the official Brighton website, www.visitbrighton.com, or check out publications such as The Insight, available from newsagents, and The Brighton Source, which can be picked up free at numerous bars, cafes and clubs throughout the city.
Nightlife
Aside from London, Brighton is one of the liveliest clubbing cities in the UK. Digital Brighton, formerly known as The Zap, regularly attracts some of the country's top DJ's, as does The Beach situated nearby. The area around The Lanes has a selection of pre-club bars such as The Western Front and Ali-Cats. Brighton is well-known for its gay and lesbian scene; Revenge (website: revenge.co.uk) is regarded as one of the best gay clubs in Europe.
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Music
Brighton's biggest indoor arena is the Brighton Centre (website: www.brightoncentre.co.uk), which regularly attracts top acts such as Neil Sedaka and Simply Red. The Brighton Dome (website: www.brightondome.org) is the city's top venue for classical music. It's also used for pop, folk and jazz concerts, as well as theatre and dance shows. One of Brighton's more intimate venues is Concorde 2 (website: www.concorde2.co.uk) which specialises in rock music.
Theatre, Comedy and Dance
Brighton has a thriving theatre scene. The best-known venue in the city is the historic Theatre Royal (website: www.theambassadors.com/theatreroyal/ ), which presents West End shows, drama productions and comedy acts. The city has a variety of smaller venues, including the Nightingale Theatre (website: www.nightingaletheatre.co.uk), the Brighton Little Theatre (website: www.the-little.co.uk) and the New Venture Theatre (website: www.newventure.org.uk) which features amateur productions. One of the quirkiest theatres in Brighton is Upstairs At Three And Ten (website: www.stellarnursery.com) housed within a pub. The city's top comedy venue is Komedia (website: komedia.co.uk), which also hosts theatre productions and concerts, while the Gardner Arts Centre, located on the University of Sussex campus, showcases contemporary dance.
Cinema
There are several multiplex cinemas in Brighton, including the Odeon (website: www.odeon.co.uk) on the seafront, and the UGC (website: www.ugccinemas.co.uk) in Brighton Marina. The Duke of York's Picture House (website: www.picturehouses.co.uk) is a good choice for art and foreign-language films.
Events
The Brighton Festival (website: www.brighton-festival.org.uk ), which takes place every May, is a world-class celebration of music, theatre and dance. In November there's the the famous London-Brighton Veteran Car Run, in which pre-1905 cars attempt the 50-mile journey from the capital to the south coast.
Gardner Arts Centre
The Gardner arts Centre is located at the University of Sussex in Falmer. By buss use the 25 to the University of Sussex . The theatre offers an extensive programme throughout the year and for details call 01273 685861.
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