Brighton News
The latest Brighton news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Brighton Food Hygiene Ratings: Portslade Shop Gets a 0
A Portslade shop was rated 0 and three Brighton restaurants 1 in September; 63 of 82 inspections scored 5. Every low rating, plus a Rottingdean comeback.
More stories
Post Office
Brighton Post Office in Churchill Square to Close
The Post Office inside TG Jones at Churchill Square will close, date to follow. St James Street and Melville Road are the two branches it names instead.
Transport
Brighton E-Scooters: Seized Ones Now Destroyed, No Returns
From 1 November, Sussex Police destroys seized private e-scooters and illegal e-bikes instead of handing them back. What is legal in Brighton, and what is not.
Crime
Brighton Burglaries: Police Warn After 4 Gold Break-ins
Four homes in Brighton, Portslade and Shoreham were burgled on 24, 25 and 29 October, with gold the target, Sussex Police said. How to report and protect valuables.
Crime
Brighton Marina: Two Men Hit by Car, Man Held in Custody
Two men aged 22 and 30 were seriously hurt when a car struck them outside Hollywood Bowl at Brighton Marina on Friday night. A 45-year-old man is in custody.
Health
Vapes and Nicotine Pouches: 18+ Only in Brighton From Today
From 29 October no Brighton shop may sell any vape or nicotine pouch to under-18s. Free samples, big discounts and vape vending machines are banned too.
Cost of living
Brighton £100 Energy Payment: 116,000 Homes in Bands A to D
About 116,460 Brighton and Hove homes, 86% of the city, are in council tax bands A to D and qualify for the Budget's £100 from January. Who gets it and how.
Council
Brighton Peacehaven Merger Back On, Falmer Stays Out
Ministers are minded to add Peacehaven, Telscombe and East Saltdean to Brighton & Hove after all. Falmer stays out; the new council would start 1 April 2029.
Transport
Brighton Gritting From 1 November: 3 Gritters, 156 Miles
Brighton & Hove's gritters go on 24-hour standby from 1 November to the end of March, with 300 tonnes of salt and 400 grit bins. Which roads get treated first.
Politics
Peacehaven Mosque Arson a Year On: MP Presses Home Office
A year after the arson attack on Peacehaven mosque, Chris Ward MP asked ministers what more can stop hate crime. The minister pointed to a £40m mosque fund.
Health
Stop Smoking in Brighton: Free Help and How to Raise It
Brighton and Hove smokers can get free vape kits, patches and one-to-one help. A new county guide shows friends how to start the conversation in 30 seconds.
Young People
Hove Town Hall Youth Takeover: Young People's 5 Top Issues
Mental health, transport and rules for social media and AI made the top five in a survey of 2,800 young people. About 80 took the issues to councillors.
Fire Service
Hove Fire Engine Pull Recruits Pass Out as Firefighters
The 43rd wholetime course, who pulled a fire engine along Hove seafront, passed out at Maresfield on 23 October. On-call firefighter jobs are open now.
Fire Service
Candle Fire in Brighton Left 3 With Smoke Inhalation
A candle left burning as a resident fell asleep started a September fire in a Brighton building. Candle Fire Safety Week runs to 1 November: the advice.
Withdean
Withdean Swimming Pool: Final Vote 10 December as Costs Rise
Cabinet makes the final decision on the 25m Withdean pool on 10 December and will be asked to approve a bigger budget. It was costed at £6.8m last year.
Queen's Park
Oakley House, Edward Street: 20 Council Flats Approved
Councillors unanimously approved 20 affordable flats to replace Oakley House's six flats and shop on 28 October. One resident is still to be rehoused.
Charity
Brighton Care Leavers Christmas Dinner Returns After 7 Years
Volunteers are bringing back a Christmas Day dinner for young care leavers in Brighton & Hove, the first in over seven years. How to give or get involved.
Roadworks
Elm Grove Junction Shuts 2 November Until February 2027
Elm Grove and Queens Park Road close at their junction from Monday 2 November while the council rebuilds it, with completion expected by 28 February 2027.
University of Sussex
Office for Students Must Pay All Sussex Uni's Legal Costs
The High Court refused the regulator's bid for a 10% cut in the University of Sussex's costs after the £585,000 fine was quashed in April. The ruling explained.
Weather
Storms Austen and Boelo: 218 Callouts on East Sussex Roads
East Sussex Highways took 218 storm callouts in one weekend, against about eight normally. Which roads beyond Brighton it covers and how to report a problem.
Stanmer Park
Stanmer Park History Study: Drones Hunt Roman Traces
Drone surveys and geophysics will search Stanmer Park for Roman, wartime and unrecorded remains. Findings go on a public StoryMap in three updates.
Cycling
Free Bike Lights in Brighton This Week: 5 Pick-Up Spots
Council road safety officers hand out free bike lights and hi-vis covers from 4.45pm to 6.30pm, 26 to 30 October. Here is where they will be each evening.
Schools
Brighton School Places: Sibling Rule Stays, 30% Figure Goes
Brighton's revised 2027 secondary admission rules drop the 30% free school meals figure for an October census average; the sibling link stays in full.
Roads
Brighton Potholes: 8,328 Repaired, £1.4m Government Award
Brighton & Hove fixed an estimated 8,328 potholes last year and has won £1.4m more from the DfT. One in seven A roads is still rated red for repair.
Politics
No Post for 16 Days in Woodingdean, MP Tells Parliament
A Woodingdean home had no post from 1 to 16 August, then 29 items at once, Chris Ward MP told a Royal Mail debate. He wants more powers for the regulator.
Jobs
Brighton Claimant Count Up 175 to 8,665 in September
8,665 people in Brighton & Hove claimed unemployment-related benefits in September, a second monthly rise. The count is up 5.3% in a year, faster than the South East.
Community
Free Help Getting Online in Brighton: 11 Weekly Drop-ins
Free help with phones, laptops and the NHS App runs every weekday across Brighton & Hove. The council's new guide lists 11 weekly drop-ins, with times and numbers.
Trains
Southern and Thameslink Bike Thefts Down 59%, GTR Says
GTR says bike thefts on its trains and stations fell 59% in a year, vandalism reports fell from 306 to 209 and graffiti 41%, with 110 Travel Safe Officers.
Politics
Wear It Pink Day Friday 23 Oct: Kemptown MP Backs Campaign
Wear It Pink day is Friday 23 October. Chris Ward MP backed Breast Cancer Now's campaign in Westminster and says Sussex Cancer Centre will open in 2029.
Schools
Brighton Ofsted Results: Hill Park Strong in All 7 Areas
Hill Park special school in Portslade is graded Strong in all seven areas; Longhill needs attention in four. Seven Brighton & Hove report cards since September.
Court
Estate Agent Fined £20,000 After Ignoring Fire Inspectors
Riverstone-Abbey Estate Agents and its director were fined £20,000 at Brighton Magistrates' Court after failing to give fire inspectors documents they required.
Politics
Royal Mail Delays: Kemptown MP Visits Rottingdean Office
Chris Ward MP took residents' Royal Mail delay complaints to managers at Rottingdean Delivery Office on 19 October and says he will raise them in Parliament.
Christmas
Brighton Ice Rink Moves to the Old Steine From 2027
There is no Brighton ice rink in 2026: Laine Ltd found no site with enough mains power. The Old Steine is the preferred home from 2027, agreed in principle.
Air Quality
Hove Wood Burners to Fall Under Smoke Control: Object by 26 Nov
The council has formally proposed one smoke control area for the whole urban city, Hove included for the first time. Objections close 26 November 2026.
Transport
Valley Gardens Phase 3 Opens: 500m Cycle Lane, 35 Trees
The final phase of Valley Gardens opened on 16 October: a new junction in place of the Aquarium roundabout, 500m of cycle lane, 35 trees and 25 benches.
Withdean
Withdean Park: 200 Elms to Be Felled From Monday 19 October
About 200 elms in Withdean Park come down from Monday 19 October after an elm disease outbreak. The work takes around three weeks in one phase.
Moulsecoomb
Moulsecoomb 3G Pitch: £611k Build Starts, Opens Next Spring
Work has started on a £611k all-weather 3G pitch at Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre, £410k of it from the Football Foundation. It opens next spring.
SEND
Brighton SEND Plan Approved, Unlocking a 90% Deficit Grant
Government approval of Brighton & Hove's SEND plan unlocks a grant for 90% of its £1.762m high needs deficit. This year's £7.4m overspend is not covered.
Politics
R-Bar and Charles Street Tap Closures Raised in Commons
Chris Ward MP raised the loss of R-Bar and Charles Street Tap in the Commons. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said he would try to visit Brighton.
Politics
Drop the Tap Tax: What the 28 October Budget Gave Pubs
The Budget speech did not mention Draught Relief. It gave £10m of duty relief to about 2,000 small brewers and raised a key business rates threshold.
Housing
Brighton Council Pauses Selective Licensing in 2 Wards
Brighton council has paused selective licensing in Regency and Central Hove, due 20 October, after a legal challenge. What it means for up to 7,274 homes.
Transport
Brighton Taxi Drivers Fall to 1,051, Down 15% Since 2024
Licensed taxi and private hire drivers in Brighton & Hove fell from 1,239 to 1,051 in two years, and freed taxi plates are going almost untaken.
Crime
Portslade Station Stabbing: Man in 40s Stable, Police Appeal
A man in his 40s was stabbed outside Portslade station on Thursday 8 October and is stable in hospital. Who police want to hear from, and how to report.
Transport
Brighton EV Charging: Blink Ends 15 Oct, Most Rates Fall
Over 500 Blink chargepoints in Brighton and Hove move to Believ and Char.gy on 15 October. Rapid overnight drops from 73p to 48p a kWh; one rate rises.
Housing
8 Brighton Tower Blocks Get Demolition Notices: What Changes
Tenants of 8 council tower blocks in Whitehawk, Hollingdean and Kemp Town get demolition notices. Right to Buy and swaps are paused; no one has to move yet.
Royal Pavilion
No Royal Pavilion Ice Rink This Winter, Council Report Says
Cabinet approved the £8.038m garden restoration on 15 October, so there is no Pavilion ice rink this winter. The rink is due back on the Old Steine from 2027.
Seafront
Black Rock: Padel and Fitness Site Recommended for 5 Years
Cabinet has backed a temporary padel, fitness and food venue at Black Rock on a lease of up to five years. The preferred bidder is still not named.
Council
Brighton Council Overspend Hits £23.8m, Up £3m in a Month
The council forecasts a £23.8m overspend for 2026/27, plus £18.9m of further risks, and has asked government for up to £30m more in emergency borrowing.
Business
Sussex Quantum Spin-Out Universal Quantum Raises $100m
Universal Quantum, born at the University of Sussex, has raised over $100m, the biggest Series A by a UK quantum firm. Here is who invested and what it is for.
Council
Western Road Red Route Called In: Scrutiny Vote Tuesday
Fourteen councillors have called in Cabinet's Western Road Red Route decision. Scrutiny meets on Tuesday 6 October and can send it back to Cabinet.
What's On
Black History Month Brighton 2026: 12 Events, Most Free
Black History Month in Brighton & Hove: a free two-day BARCO takeover of the Brighton Centre on 10 and 11 October, museum talks, storytimes and a family day.
Planning
Brighton Gasworks Paused: Berkeley Review Until End of 2026
Berkeley has paused the 495-home Brighton Gasworks scheme over rising costs. Gasholder demolition is still pencilled in for spring 2027; no date for the homes.
Food hygiene
Brighton Food Hygiene Ratings: Two Rated 1 in August
Two Brighton and Hove restaurants were rated 1, major improvement necessary, in August. 52 of 66 inspections scored 5. Every low rating, and two more from July.
Crime
Brighton Loan Shark Arrest: Elm Grove Man, 43, Bailed
A 43-year-old man arrested in the Elm Grove area of Brighton on suspicion of illegal money lending has been bailed. How to spot a loan shark and get help.
Hove
Jeanne Saunders Centre, Hove: Exceptional in All Six Areas
Ofsted rates the Hove SEND nursery Exceptional, its top grade, in all six areas of its new report card. What the inspector saw, and what the 24-place centre does.
Whitehawk
Whitehawk £1 Bus Fare Extended to 31 March 2027
The £1 Whitehawk Link fare on the 1 and 21 now runs to 31 March 2027 instead of ending on 30 September. Where the zone starts and stops, and what it saves.
Environment
Brighton Air Quality: London Road Tops 2025 Pollution Table
London Road recorded Brighton's highest nitrogen dioxide in 2025 at 33.2, inside the legal limit of 40. Three streets still miss the council's own target.
Whitehawk
Whitehawk Grants: Up to £10,000 for Local Projects by 31 Oct
Whitehawk groups and residents can bid for up to £1,000 or £10,000 from Pride in Place. Send an expression of interest first; applications close 31 October.
Elections
Queen's Park By-Election Result: Green Wins by 337 Votes
Green's Mark Strong won the Queen's Park by-election on 24 September with 1,139 votes to Labour's 802, a Green gain. Full result, shares and 33.36% turnout.
Planning
Coldean Neighbourhood Plan Passes: 374 Yes to 43 No
Coldean has voted 374 to 43 for its neighbourhood plan, which now counts in planning decisions. New HMO tests, eight protected green spaces and the next steps.
Kemptown
St James's Street Clean-Up Monday: Free Bulky Item Drop-Off
Council teams blitz St James's Street 7am to noon on Monday 28 September. Residents on the street and roads off it can dump one bulky item free, with ID.
Falmer
Falmer Pond Restoration: Decision Due by 27 October
Comments on the Falmer Pond restoration closed on 9 October and a decision is due by 27 October. Sunday's walk is full; November and December have places.
Health
Brighton Tobacco Sales: Born 2009 or Later Barred From 1 Jan
From 1 January 2027 no shop may sell tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. The city's 13% smoking rate is the South East's highest, says the council.
Business
Brighton New Businesses: 30 Registered, West St Pub Winds Up
At least 30 companies registered a Brighton or Hove office in early September. The company behind The Victory Inn on West Street has resolved to wind up.
Transport
A259 Seafront: Two Cycle Lanes Become One, Say by 25 Oct
The seafront's two cycle lanes would become one two-way track from Fourth Avenue to West Street. The council's consultation closes at 11.59pm on 25 October.
Hove
Hove's Floral Clock: 504 Took Part, Council Result Still Due
Palmeira Square's 1953 Floral Clock is beyond repair. 504 people answered the survey on three replacements, which closed on 14 October. No decision yet.
Schools
Brighton School Places Close 31 Oct: 83.5% Got 1st Choice
83.5% of Brighton families got their first-choice secondary school this year, up from 79.7%. Applications for September 2027 close on 31 October 2026.
Police
Brighton Beach Deaths: No Crime Found, Inquest to Follow
Sussex Police found no evidence of crime or third-party involvement in the deaths of three sisters found off Brighton beach in May. The inquest comes next.
Council
Brighton Gets £6.4m for Social Care and Homelessness
Brighton & Hove has won £6.4m over two years to spend earlier on adult social care and homelessness, with 2,300 households in temporary accommodation.
Community
Albion 125th Anniversary: Arsenal Beaten 3-0 at Record Amex
Brighton & Hove Albion marked 125 years with a 3-0 win over champions Arsenal before a record Amex crowd of 31,944, in a one-off kit modelled on the 1901 strip.
Council
Brighton Asylum Hotel to Close: Council Presses Home Office
Women and families in a Brighton asylum hotel will be moved within weeks. Council leader Bella Sankey has asked the Home Office to review how moves are handled.
House Prices
Brighton House Prices Fall £4,603 in a Year to £408,948
The average Brighton & Hove home was £408,948 in July, £4,603 less than a year earlier. Flats fell 3.1% and now cost less than the average Worthing home.
University
University of Brighton Plans to Close Falmer Campus by 2030
The University of Brighton proposes closing Falmer and moving to City and Moulsecoomb from 2030. No decision yet: what is at Falmer and who is affected.
Jobs
Brighton Claimant Count Rises for First Time Since March
8,650 people claimed unemployment-related benefits in August, up 200 on July after four months of falls. At 4.3%, the city sits above the South East and UK.
Coldean
Coldean Woods Elms Felled as Disease Cases Rise in Brighton
Coldean Lane is down to one lane this week while infected elms are felled at Coldean Woods. The council says elm disease is rising across the city.
Taxis
Brighton Taxi Fares: Two-Mile Trip Rises to £9.30
Cabinet agreed on 17 September that a two-mile Brighton taxi ride can rise from £8.70 to £9.30 after a statutory notice period. Future rises go to an officer.
Seafront
A259 Arches: £41m Bid to Stop a Seafront Closure
The council's own bid says the westbound A259 and the seafront cycle lane would have to close without repairs. It wants £37m from government and is adding £4m.
Parks
Brighton Park Rules: Four New £100 Bans, Two Dropped
Dog bans extend to Blakers Park and Preston Park velodrome and four new orders carry £100 fines, but the drone and dog-walker bans are dropped.
What's On
Guns N Roses Tribute Played Concorde 2 on 18 September
The Guns N Roses Experience play Concorde 2 on Friday 18 September at 7pm, their fourth show there. Tickets £20.13, 14+. The band told us what they will play.
Roadworks
Western Road Red Route: Approved, Now Called In
Cabinet approved Western Road's experimental Red Route on 17 September. Fourteen councillors have called it in, and scrutiny hears it on 6 October.
Flooding
Brighton Drains: 600 Gullies Cleared on 237 Roads
Contractors start clearing nearly 600 drains across 237 flood-prone roads next week. The city's flood strategy consultation closes on Sunday 27 September.
Parking
Hove Parking Zone Plan: Drop-In on 29 September
Aldrington, Orchards, Nevill and Goldstone Valley could get a controlled parking zone. Officers take questions at Bishop Hannington Church on 29 September.
Council
Brighton Council Expansion Paused, May 2027 Election Is On
Ministers have paused the plan to add Peacehaven, Telscombe and East Saltdean to Brighton & Hove. The city's May 2027 election now runs on today's 23 wards.
Sport
Brighton Triathlon Sold: New Name, and a New August Date
The Brighton & Hove Triathlon has been bought by Supertri. From 2027 it is Supertri Brighton, on Sunday 29 August, and early-bird entries close on 19 September.
Business
Brighton Minimum Wage: Six Employers Named, £9,450 Owed
Six Brighton & Hove employers underpaid 23 workers £9,450.70, government figures published on 3 September show. Five of the six are hospitality businesses.
Parks
Royal Pavilion Elm Cut Back, Its Future Decided in Winter
Tree surgeons pollarded the Huntingdon Elm after dry weather left it leaning and lifting its roots. Whether it stays is settled by a root check this winter.
Charity
82-Year-Old on 550-Mile Alzheimer's Walk Rested in Brighton
Judy Benjamin, 82, rested in Brighton on 1 September, 15 years after Alzheimer's symptoms began. She told us what a day on the road to London looks like.
Business
Brighton Creative Workspace: 22,121 sq ft, Bids by 2 Oct
The council is offering 22,121 sq ft at Phoenix House and Lyndean House to creative firms. Bidders name their own rent, and bids close at noon on 2 October.
Planning
BHASVIC Pitch: 1,362 Objections, 7 Clashes With Theatre
Councillors ruled on BHASVIC's floodlit pitch on 2 September. Officers found it would clash with 7 of the theatre's 125 shows, and set 16 conditions.
Community
Make Change Count: 8 Brighton Charities Split Every £1
The city's homelessness appeal reopened on 4 September. Donations are split equally between eight frontline charities, with nothing taken out for admin.
Bins and recycling
Brighton Bins Set to Go Fortnightly in July 2027
The council is preparing to collect rubbish every two weeks from July 2027. Its own survey found 44% of what goes in a Brighton rubbish bin could still be recycled.
Planning
Brighton City Plan: Land Found for 30% of Homes Needed
Brighton needs about 2,500 homes a year and has found sites for roughly 30% of that to 2044. Councillors are now asked whether to build on the city's last industrial land.
Council
Brighton Memorial Rules: Flowers Stay 28 Days, Not 14
Roadside flowers can stay 28 days with no permission needed under Brighton's redrafted memorials policy. Memorial tree applications close on 30 September.
Council
Wellington House Brighton: Cabinet Approves Closure
Cabinet voted on 17 September to close the Elm Grove day centre used by 21 adults with learning disabilities. Nobody moves until a transition plan is agreed.
Elections
Queen's Park By-Election: Polls Open 7am to 10pm Today
Voting in the Queen's Park by-election runs from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 24 September. Four polling stations, five candidates, photo ID required, count on Friday.
Parks
The Level Play Area Closes 7 September for £300k Rebuild
The Level playground is shut for a £300,000 rebuild and due back around mid-November, weather permitting. The skate park stays open; three nearby playgrounds.
Trains
Lewes Derailment: Track Fault Filmed 2 Hours Before
RAIB's first findings say a track irregularity was visible on train CCTV before the 13 August derailment. 30 were hurt. The line reopens 1 September.
Housing
Brighton Rough Sleeping Funding: £1.35m Before Christmas
Brighton & Hove gets £1,350,803 this year, the biggest South East share, and £4.74m over three years. The government wants people off the street by Christmas.
House prices
Brighton House Prices Rise for First Time Since October
The average Brighton & Hove home reached £407,803 in June, up 0.3% on the year. Houses are pulling the city up; flats are still falling and now match Worthing.
Education
Brighton GCSE Results 2026: 69% in English and Maths
69% of Brighton & Hove pupils reached grade 4 in both English and maths, up from 67%. The city was on 70.3% two years running before last year's fall.
Seafront
Kings Road Paddling Pool: Bids Open, Pool Must Stay Free
The council wants a commercial partner for the Kings Road site by 27 September, on a 20-year lease. The paddling pool and playground must stay free.
Housing
Brighton Council Solar Panels: 1,400 Homes, £300 a Year
A three-year programme has fitted solar panels to more than 1,000 council homes, 200 more than planned. The council says tenants could save up to £300 a year.
Jobs
Brighton Claimant Count 8,575 in July, Up 260 in a Year
Brighton & Hove's claimant count reached 8,575 in July, 4.2% of working-age residents and 260 more than a year ago. Under-25s account for 160 of that rise.
Roadworks
Western Road Brighton rebuilding: works to 6 Nov, 16 buses
Western Road is being rebuilt between Holland Road and Montpelier Road until 6 November. 16 bus routes diverted, Norfolk Square and Brunswick Place stops shut.
Seafront
Brighton Wheel Could Return to Madeira Drive by Summer 2027
The Brighton Wheel's return to Madeira Drive goes to Cabinet on 17 September: a 25-year lease, then planning permission, and rides by summer 2027 if approved.
Trains
Lewes Line Reopens 1 September: Travel via Brighton
The Lewes to Haywards Heath line reopens Tuesday 1 September after the 13 August derailment. Until then Brighton is the diversion point: what runs and when.
Planning
King Alfred Approved: 8-Lane Pool, Ballroom Goes, 2028
Councillors backed the new King Alfred 8 to 1: a 25m eight-lane pool and 150 gym stations, but no ballroom and a third less space. It can still be called in.
Hove
Hove Seafront Railings: 300 Metres Back to Bare Metal
Blasting from 10 August strips 300 metres of Hove's 1880s cast iron railings to bare metal, uncovering the Sussex martlets. Phase two follows in spring 2027.
Hove
Knoll Park Games Area: £47,000 Rebuild From Recycled Kit
Knoll Park's football and basketball court is being resurfaced for about £47,000 with tarmac and fencing saved from Moulsecoomb. Work started on 5 August.
Housing
Brighton temporary accommodation hits 2,027 households
Official figures for 31 March 2026 record 2,027 Brighton & Hove households in temporary accommodation, up 32% in a year and the highest rate of any council outside London.
Education
Brighton A-level results 2026: 98.3% pass, 63.4% at A*-B
Brighton & Hove's provisional 2026 results: 98.3% of A-level entries graded A* to E, 63.4% at A* to B and a 97.4% VTQ pass rate. Plus where to get help this week.
Transport
Free bus travel for under 16s in Brighton ends 31 August
Under 16s ride free on every Brighton and Hove bus until 31 August, night buses and the Breeze Downs services included. What it saves, and what is not covered.
Food hygiene
Brighton and Hove food hygiene ratings, July 2026: every single inspection scored the top mark
All 21 Brighton and Hove food hygiene inspections rated in July 2026 scored the maximum 5, from Riddle and Finns and the Bandstand Cafe on the seafront to school kitchens, nurseries and Hove pubs.