UNDER THE VOLCANO
Choosing a club that all your mates want to go to is a pain in the arse. Well, Dynamite Sal and Iain Huddy – the brains behind We Luv Pop and Hold Up! – have grafted Proper Gander and Teen Creeps into a new Friday night at The Yard called Under The Volcano, and SOURCE is going to be the glue. The basement stays bass heavy, a serious dubstep and drum’n’bass night from the Proper Gander boys, while Teen Creeps provide a super-cool trip into the obscurer end of synth pop, punk and electro on the middle floor. We’ll grab our favourite DJ mates and band members to the upstairs cocktail bar for a right party. Arguments sorted then.
HONEY CLUB
The Honey club has been transformed into a state-of-the-art place to spend your weekends. Either as a VIP sipping Cristal from the new glass-fronted lounge overlooking the DJ booth or dancing yourself dizzy under the gaze of the new Showtec lighting rig, the new facelift ensures no one goes away disappointed. They’ve moved around the cloakroom and foyer area too, so no more stifling wait in the queue for Hat club on Saturdays, either.
RAG TRADE POP-UP SALE
Free entry all weekend starting Saturday 27th to get your hands on designer dresses to die-for at a fraction of the cost. Yes, it’s the month of all things thrifty and luxe as Brighton Dome plays host to the Rag Trade Pop-Up Sale. If you didn’t catch them in September, it’s worth a look-in to bag a knock-off Viv Westwood, Reiss or Marc Jacobs. Or if you’re looking to make a bit of easy money, bring your cast-offs in early to the Dome foyer and sell ’em on, sisters.
URBAN OUTFITTERS
Christmas will be coming early this year as Urban Outfitters comes to town on Friday 12th. They’re taking up residence at the old Borders store in Churchill Square, with two floors dedicated to the most cutting edge brands around, as well as their own stuff too. APC, Surface To Air, Back by Ann-Sofie Back and Peter Jensen are just some of the oh-so-hip labels being stocked right now. Or for those who can’t wait that long, check out their online store at www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk .
BRIGHTON BEST
Sussex’s famed WJ King brewery have come up with a new nectar set to quench our thirsts. Since taking over the company with business partner Nigel; head brewer Ian Burgess, formerly of Harvey’s of Lewes brewery fame, has concocted Brighton Best. Soon to be a sure-fire hit on the ale market, it’s available in 36 pubs across the city – see what you make of Brighton’s latest alcoholic addition. SUNDAY SERVICE Sundays at Above Audio are taking shape as the sophisticated way to see live music. Every Sunday evening we can expect to be treated to a cherry-picked array of local acts courtesy of Sunday Service, with Forestears, The Self Help Group and the folk blues of Apples For Eve. Relax in the plush upstairs bar and treat yourself to a board of Sussex cheeses and specially chosen red wines to accompany, or for the sweet-toothed; cakes and puds from Baked Bliss. Head down and indulge.
XUMA
The funky folk behind the Fortune Of War’s recent revived fortunes are taking over Xuma on the Seven Dials, which means a bunch of good stuff on the horizon. Friday is now The High Brow Low Volume Good Music Night, with special guest DJs playing anonymously as well as new talent, all spinning special tunes from the 50s to the 10s. Saturdays are special guest nights, with the 27th seeing FIP DJs from Paris airing their eclectic playlists. All sounds like good news to us.
^I’M WITH STUPID^
This party-in-a-box returns courtesy of a new venue in The Hope on the second Saturday of the month. They’re promising gorilla suits, a pantomime cow and stupid DJs throwing cash up in the air as they bang out a playlist of high street hits and ‘big ones’ from motorik rock, future hip hop, crossover disco, and daft pop, from 8 til very late.
BEYOND DAYS
During this year’s Great Escape festival, the surprise venue find had to be Beyond Retro, with it’s warehouse-proportioned interior. Gracing that worryingly high balcony were the likes of Theophilus London, La Shark and Othello Wolf. Having done that, local promoters of excellence So Darn So have secured more gigs there (titled “Beyond Days”, starting on the 19th and 20th of this month. Beyond Retro are also celebrating their first anniversary at the Hope with a big free knees-up featuring Museum of Bellas Artes, a Maccabees DJ set, plus lots of freebies.
WEB ONLY CARDS FOR GOOD CAUSES
The splendid Cards for Good Causes shop is open again in St Paul’s Church on West Street, until 17th December, selling Christmas cards for 300 different national and local charities. In the five years they’ve been running, the not-for-profit shop has raised £20 million for charity. With five University of Brighton students now onboard this year, expect raffle prizes and plenty of viral marketing.
WORDS BY NICK COQUET, JAMES KENDALL, LYDIA STOCKBRIDGE
