Local Events

The Marwood Café

If Kitsch and Kitsch were to meet and have a baby, and that offspring were to regenerate into a Kitsch Brigade, that force might match the decor at The Marwood Café.

In keeping with Brighton’s long and proud counterculture tradition, the coffeehouse leaves no corner un-funkified.

What’s wonderfully weird? Pretty much everything – a table fashioned from an 80s video game, blinking fairy lights, walls and ceilings festooned with vintage action figures.

Settle into a mismatched chair for some of the strongest java in town. Order a cheese toastie made in a toaster from the 70s. For a pause from the retro pop-culture explosion, head out into the little known garden – really more of a yard with equally uncoordinated seating.

The Marwood Café, located at 52 Ship Street Court is a 15 minute walk from the hotel.

Brighton i360

Discover Brighton, the South Downs and the Sussex coastline from 138 meters up in the sky, from a giant glass viewing pod. Spot rooftop artwork, wind farms out at sea and other local landmarks as you take a 25 minute ride on the Brighton i360.

Designed by the same architects who created the London Eye, the British Airways i360 stands taller and the viewing pod is 10 times the size of a London Eye capsule. There is room for up to 175 visitors to stand at the edge of the pod and look out, or to move around and see the view from different angles.

An on-board Sky Bar serves sparkling wine and other locally sourced drinks, so you can raise a glass while taking in the views.

The Brighton i360 is just a 5 minute walk from the hotel.

The Prince Albert Pub

Getting your face on the façade of the Prince Albert Pub is easy – all you have to do is become a music superstar and then die.

Topped by iconic images of Kurt Cobain and Johnny Cash flashing a questionable finger, the mural was created by two local graffiti artists. Over two dozen music legends, including John Lennon, Amy Winehouse and Jimi Hendrix, are colourfully splashed across the three-storey pub.

There’s also a replica of Kissing Coppers from anonymous artist Banksy, who painted the original there in 2004.

Why isn’t your favourite star up there? You can take that complaint to the pub’s owner. The artists depicted reflect his taste in music, and he’s unapologetic about his selections.

The Prince Albert pub serves food and drink and is a 20 minute walk from the hotel. 

Upper Gardner Street Market

Flush with independent shops and bohemian boutiques, Brighton has no shortage of eclectic shopping options. But none more so than Upper Gardner Street’s Saturday market.

For nearly a century – some say longer – merchants have been hawking their wares in the lane. Browse rare books, unique antiques and scarce collectibles. How about gourmet street food?

But while you’re flipping through the retro vinyl, take a moment to look up at the real vintage wonders all around you. Developed in the early 1800s, many of the buildings remain as they were nearly two centuries ago.

Search for cottages built in 1828, a home that dates to 1826 and a school constructed in 1887. These are the truly rare finds.

Upper Gardner Street Market runs every Saturday from 9am and is a 25 minute walk from the hotel. 

Hove Lagoon

Splash, sail and windsurf at Hove Lagoon Watersports.

Hove’s history with pleasure boats dates to the early 19th century, when aristocrats first turned to the seaside area for tourism. However, it’s doubtful that any Victorian royal could have envisioned doing flips on a wakeboard at 20 miles per hour, or touring the coast in a roaring powerboat.

The centre’s placid lagoon is a great spot for learning how to sail a dinghy, or for getting the hang of windsurfing. Try stand up paddle boarding in calm ocean shallows, or venture into more challenging waves.

What if you’re not into aquatic exertion? You can always just relax on the welcoming sands of the centre’s beach.

Hove Lagoon is a 40 minute walk or a 5 minute drive from the hotel. 

SEA LIFE Brighton

Dive into an amazing journey through the original Victorian architecture of the world’s oldest operating aquarium, built in 1872.

Get up close and personal with over 3,500 interesting creatures.

Open daily and just a 20 minute walk from the hotel.