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A roundup of our pick of Easter treats

Easter in Brighton

Friday, 3 April 2009

You might be surprised to hear, but Easter Weekend is one of Brighton's busiest times of year. Yep - it must be that feeling that summer is finally on it's way, the four day holiday or just the fact that the Volks Electric Railway starts up again, but we're expecting thousands of visitors.

As well as our featured page of up to the minute Easter listings (pop over to [url]www.realbrighton.com/easter[/url] to keep yourself up to date) we thought we'd give you our round-up of what's on. And we promise... not a dodgy joke about eggstravaganzas and eggcitement in sight. And certainly not my dodgy joke about chocolate, which I'm told is very unsavoury (geddit?).

Of course, everyone pouring down to the coast over Easter may have something to do with our microclimate that's been serving up a big portion of warm sunshine of late, so fingers-crossed it continues. Talking of which, if you are in Brighton on Easter Weekend, then it's well worth a cold beer or two on the lovely terraces at Legends Bar, Charles Street Bar or A Bar & Amsterdam Hotel where you really can watch the city go about its business. Most of the venues serve up lunch too, so make it a long one.

[b]Thursday night[/b] is going to be a belter. There are great drinks deals to be had if you fancy a bit of a pre-club bar hop - Pop Vixens at The PV is definitely one for the girls with all shots at £2, there's SKINT! at The Queen's Arms with those naughty, but very welcome, unlimited drink wristbands, the newly refurbished Doctor Brighton's serves up the prescription cocktail of the week with free pool, and Bar Revenge (formerly R-Bar) will be warming up for Revenge with some great drinks deals at just £1.50! Charles Street on a Thursday means Mad Cow - with drinks from just £1.25, it's a Brighton institution. And they're launching Madcow XL - so we'll definitely be along to see what that's all about! If you're new to Brighton, then do pop into The Marine Tavern - there's always a welcome and you can pick up all the info and gossip you need. The big club news (if you haven't heard, then where have you been....certainly not on Facebook), is that Revenge have superstar DJs, The Freemasons, live and spinning upstairs in Revenge, while downstairs it's girl on girl action with Girls On Top. Down at The Basement at Legends, it's a whole Easter Mardi Gras and then night owls can enjoy a drink into the early hours. Hot off the press, there's a new Thursday clubnight in town with [url:www.realbrighton.com/calendar_info.php?cal_id=758]Sacrilege[/url] at Ghetto - brought to you by the Religion team.

[b]Good Friday[/b] is very, very good too and it's camper than ever in Brighton. Camp Attack at the Queens Arms is the archetypal gay night out on the tiles. The PV are having an extra late Thank Funk It's Friday and it's party night every night this weekend at Vavoom until very late. R-Bar makes you gamble for your drinks - flip a coin to decide whether you pay for your round! Doctor Brighton plays its funky tunes, there's a special cabaret night over at the Brighton Tavern and Dolly Rocket proves once again that she's the hostess with the unbelievable mostess at Celebration at Legends. Meanwhile, Miss Jason gets you all in the mood at The Zone. It doesn't get much camper than Lollipop at Revenge or Curiosity Lite at Charles Street Club if you're intent on getting to the dancefloor either.

[b]Saturday Night[/b] is a little special too. There's lots on during the afternoon, starting with a jumble sale over at The Brighton Tavern, complete with soundtrack from the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus. You've also got the choice of Peter & Lorna at The Queen's Arms from 4pm or Em & Rob at The PV from 5pm. Later on, both these venues will crank it up a notch for some late night partying. The evening is awash with party nights - Sally Vate presides over celebrations at The Zone. Vavoom have a theme night - beach boys (which is pretty much what it says on the box..so to speak)! The Marine Tavern is always a good place to start your night off with those gorgeous friendly boys. If it's a late night you're after - look no further. The Bulldog will open from tonight through to...well...probably Christmas, The Amsterdam and Legends are both open until 5am. Then there's the clubbing. It's a big PA night over at Revenge as flavour of the moment girly-group, The Saturdays, are live on stage. It's Easter Ignition in The Basement Club and Mardi Gras at Charles Street, proving there's always a choice in this fair city.

[b]Easter Sunday[/b] is going to be delicious of course. And I'm not just talking about all that gratuitous confectionery, although there's an Easter Egg Hunt from midday at The Brighton Tavern. Sundays are, by definition in Brighton, all about roasts and cabaret. We recommend you start with a roast - choose from some of the best roasts in town - The PV, The Amsterdam, Charles Street and R-Bar all do a great plate. Then it's off along the cabaret trail. Start at Legends Bar, where Kandi Kane will be on stage (and most probably screen) from 3.15pm. You can then catch the gorgeous Lady James at The Zone at 4.30pm, the fabulous Lola Lasagne at The Queens Arms at 5.30pm, the outrageous Titti La Camp at Charles Street at 7.15pm, the marvellous Connie Conways hosts cabaret karaoke at The Amsterdam at 8pm, the sensational Miss Jason picks her balls and opens her box at R-Bar' from 8.30pm. Blimey. In addition to that, it's the launch night of fantastic new top comedy night, The Ministry of Laughs, upstairs at Charles Street with a superb lineup of the UK's comic talent. The big club night tonight is, of course, Wild Fruit with their Pimp Your Head Easter Special - so grab your Easter Bonnets and head down to Tru.There's also the Wild Fruit afterhours, Rebel, at The Honeyclub taking you all the way through til breakfast.

[b]And after all that[/b] you want more? More you say? Well, we'll give you more on Easter Bank Holiday Monday. Sunday roast continues at The PV (only it's a Monday roast of course). Sandra will be dragging more unsuspecting punters up on stage at Legends from 3.15pm and The Queen's Arms are holding a mega, mega Charity Cabaret Day with headlining act, Drag With No Name, and plenty of guest cabaret stars joining in the fun. Miss Jason is having a Madhouse at R-Bar, The Basement Club are going back to the 80s and 90s and it's Studio 150 at Charles Street - all with great drinks deals too!

Phew. Think I need a lie down. Have a fabulous Easter - I'm sure we'll see you out and about!

James
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...and don't forget - for a full run-down of all the latest Easter listings kept bang up to date drop in at:
[url]www.realbrighton.com/easter[/url]