You don’t need a festival, a bank holiday or a London band arriving on the train to have a good weekend in Brighton. This one has plenty going on — from stand-up and small-room gigs to rooftop DJs, Premier League football and the serious local business of finding a decent Sunday roast.
Friday: start with a laugh
Comedy is particularly strong on Friday. Komedia Brighton hosts its regular Komedia Comedy Club from 8pm, with three acts and an MC; the night won Best Pro Comedy Night (South) at the 2026 Chortle Awards.
For something smaller, the Secret Comedy Club at Artista in Brighton Square has Addy Van Der Borgh headlining, with Ross Smith hosting. Doors are at 7pm and the comedy starts at 8pm.
If dancing sounds better, The Mesmerist has Shift x Redesign taking over its rooftop from 8pm with house music and free entry, followed by DJ O:BE mixing disco, funk, soul, house and UK garage downstairs until late.
Saturday: music, theatre and a proper pint
Sussex singer-songwriter Chris Harper plays an intimate headline show at Komedia on Saturday, with doors at 7.30pm and tickets listed at £20. His indie-pop sound takes cues from the likes of Noah Kahan, Myles Smith and Sam Fender.
There is theatre too. Brighton Little Theatre finishes its run of The Watsons on Saturday — a playful continuation of Jane Austen’s unfinished novel.
For drinks without turning the evening into an expedition, Great Eastern Brighton on Trafalgar Street and Kemptown’s Black Dove remain strong neighbourhood-pub options.
Sunday: Albion and the roast
Sunday belongs partly to football. Brighton & Hove Albion open their Premier League season against Aston Villa at the Amex at 2pm, so expect Falmer trains — and plenty of city pubs — to be considerably busier than usual.
Then comes the roast.
Hanover favourite The Geese serves roasts every Sunday, including beef, pork belly, chicken and vegan options, and has previously twice won Brighton’s BRAVO Best Roast award.
In Hove, The Farm Tavern is another well-regarded local option, while Kemptown’s Busby and Wilds does the traditional pub version with beef, lamb, pork and a vegetarian roast listed on its Sunday menu.
That should be enough to avoid spending another Brighton weekend saying there was “nothing on”.
