Born in Hackney, London, Queer Edge is expanding to Brighton with a permanent coworking space by day and a programme of queer events by night. The move comes as Brighton loses three LGBTQ+ venues in 2026 alone, highlighting the growing need to invest in permanent spaces for the city’s queer community.
Brighton may be one of the UK’s LGBTQ+ capitals, but its queer spaces are under increasing pressure. The Queery, R-Bar and Charles Street Tap have closed this year alone. Against this backdrop, Queer Edge is bringing its community-led ethos from East London to Brighton, creating a new permanent queer community hub at Ironworks Studios.
The move is particularly significant in a city where 11% of residents identify as LGBTQ+, the highest proportion of any upper-tier local authority in England, according to the 2021 Census.
At the heart of Queer Edge is a commitment to bringing these communities together. Alongside its permanent coworking offering, Queer Edge Brighton will host a programme of queer events, including club nights, live music, panel discussions and performances.
The launch party takes place this Saturday 7 November 2026, marking Queer Edge’s first expansion beyond East London. The coworking space then opens to friends and family next Wednesday 11 November, offering hot desks, office space, conference rooms, a green screen studio, podcast studio and performance spaces.
This dual purpose of combining work and socials will bring more than a new bar to the city, but a place where queer people can work, collaborate and build lasting community.
Paul Kemp, owner of Ironworks Studios, said:
“Brighton has a long and proud LGBTQ+ history, and it’s important we continue creating space where LGBTQ+ people can come together, not just to party but to get to know and support one another. What attracted us to Queer Edge is its community-first approach and its vision of bringing the local queer community together, through work and socials.”
With its roots in Hackney and a new home in Brighton, Queer Edge hopes to contribute to the city’s LGBTQ+ scene by doing exactly as Paul has said: creating more opportunities for the local queer community to come together, day or night!
Further information about memberships, facilities and upcoming events will be shared through Queer Edge’s social channels.
