|
Brighton has an estimated gay male population of over 25,000: that's about one
in five of its men or four kilometres of dick. Gloriously out of season, OutUK's rampant global rambler Adrian Gillan takes a trip to the UK's gayest resort. |
Brighton Beach (c) Visit Brighton |
NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS IN BRIGHTONNew Year’s Eve in Brighton doesn’t have to be all about partying, there are plenty of incredible entertainment venues and attractions to enjoy! Whether it’s a show at the Theatre Royal, a performance at Brighton Dome, ice skating at The Royal Pavilion, or an event at the Brighton Centre, there's something for everyone on New Year’s Eve.Across the city, restaurants are creating special menus designed for the occasion, perfect for a glamorous meal with friends or family before the countdown begins. And, not to be missed, the spectacular fireworks off the pier at midnight! | |
|
Some of the offers this year include a seasonal à la carte dinner with champagne to toast the night at Hotel du Vin & Bistro
(hotelduvin.com). They have a special New Year’s Eve Package available of 3-course dinner,
champagne at midnight, overnight stay and the not to be missed Breakfast du Vin.
There's Malmaison Brighton (malmaison.com) overlooking the marina which is a boutique hotel offering dinner from the seasonal à la carte menu, with indulgent specials and a glass of champagne. They too have a package which also includes their overnight accommodation, dinner and breakfast. | 
Brighton clock tower during New Year Celebrations Photo: Andy Li - CC0 via Wikimedia Commons |
|
Metropole Bar (linktr.ee/metropolebar) has a Carnival Extravaganza, their glamourous charity
New Year’s Eve Ball in support of Starr Trust. Drinks and canapés, three-course dinner with wine, a glass of sparkling wine at midnight and
entertainment with dancing until 1am.
You can have a grand experience welcoming in 2026 at The Grand, Brighton’s New Year’s Eve ball (grandbrighton.co.uk). Champagne reception, four course tasting menu served in the elegant setting of their Empress Suite. There's a silent disco on New Year's Eve too. Shelter Hall (shelterhall.co.uk), Brighton’s iconic seafront food hall and bar will host the city’s biggest Silent Disco, running from 9.30pm–12.30am with three channels of music to choose from including anthems, classics and the latest hits. Saltdean Lido (saltdeanlido.co.uk) has live music and DJs playing classic Soul & Motown hits. Enjoy a complimentary glass of fizz at midnight, and for late-night snacks there's BBQ pulled pork baps, vegan Jackfruit baps, and fries available. Finally, Burnt Orange (burnt-orange.co.uk) has a laid-back evening of festive small plates, music, and good vibes. They offer two sittings with dishes like BBQ Cod in Green Coconut Curry, Dark Chocolate Mousse with Clementine & Macadamia and Baked Baron Bigod with spicy stonefruit relish. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available. | |
LET OFF STEAMIf you still need to let off steam after all that, or get a bit restless after Sunday lunch, the Brighton Oasis Sauna in Grand Parade, Brighton and The Boiler Room Sauna in Denmark Villas, Hove, just to the west of the city are the largest and most comprehensive 'male health' complexes in the area. |
Graffiti Art (c) Visit Brighton - Adam Bronkhorst |
| Brighton has one of the highest concentrations of eateries in the UK. One of our favourite is the humble My Coffee Story. In the heart of everything, you can perch and eat yourself silly and healthy for under a fiver - 'friendly' wouldn't begin to describe it. | |
| On a sunny day West Beach between the two piers is the obvious place for the great and beautiful of Brighton to bare all. But more fun by far is the official, male-dominated nudist beach about a ten minute jaunt along the front towards the marina. Surrounded by neck-high pebbles banks, the merest glimmer of sunshine excuses gay men out to strip in force. |
West Pier (c) Visit Brighton - Adam Bronkhorst |
Just back from said beach are the infamous Duke's Mound bushes. Again, it would
take a force ten blizzard to keep Brighton's queer male masses away from this long
expanse of foliage: over half admit to regular patronage. All sorts, day or night:
Even on a midweek morn, you'll find a mix of horny pensioners back from the post office
and randy students offloading between lectures.
LAST RESORTSo what does Brighton add up to? Gay coastal haven or hellish last resort? | |
|
It's true that most gay inhabitants of Brighton arrived from other parts of the UK,
not all waiting until retirement. Many younger singles and couples come here to
settle, often commuting up to London for work to have the best of both worlds. Most
of the rest of Brighton's gay tidal ebb and flow comes from the surroundings Downs
each night - from Portsmouth to Rye - or from London on a weekend.
Some claim it is uniquely cosmopolitan amongst British seaside resorts, a kind of London-on-sea with none of your Blackpool tat! Absolutely: if 'cosmopolitan' means generally white and fairly well off, eating out regularly, designer labels and sipping the frothy stuff. |
Brighton Pride (c) Visit Brighton |
|
Brighton certainly lacks the sexy, raw buzz of many a manly scene. That said, it does
boast a uniquely comfortable, relaxed and heady, salty air and not just in summer.
Indeed, it's probably out of season - amid a haunting, quintessentially English
backdrop of mile upon mile of aqua-pastel promenade paint and a ghostly, derelict
West Pier moored offshore like a washed-up Titanic against the low blinding sun -
that G-A-Y truly runs through its soul as through a sticky pink six inch stick of candy rock.
If you haven't been before, don't wait as long as I. And if you have, go take another look. Brighton is little more than an hour away direct from London Victoria by Southern Rail.
Revised November 2025. | |
