Winter Pride in Brighton

Brighton and Hove are set to host the UK’s largest winter LGBT festival from Saturday 7th – Sunday 15th March 2009. The week-long festival will provide over 90 events across the city from Hove to Hanover in 30 different venues involving local community groups, businesses and volunteers. Highlights during the week include:
• Brightwaves MCC present an evening of Line Dancing and thigh slapping at the Hanover Community Centre (Saturday 14th).
• The Jubilee Library will be transformed into a wild, exciting and competitive camp sports venue on Saturday 7th as the Justin Campaign and LGBT Worker Forum join forces to arrange an afternoon and evening of premier league entertainment: Footballphobia v Homophobia.
• Brighton Bothways present their annual BiFest event with workshops, information stalls, films, DJs, craft space and games for bisexual, bicurious, undecided and other folks at The Jury’s Inn (Saturday 7th).
• The Clare Project are running a whole host of events including a Nude Swim (Sunday 8th and 15th), a Sports Day in beachwear (Saturday 7th), Posh Nosh at Bardsleys (Tuesday 10th), Transformation course at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church (Wednesday 11th to Saturday14th), Have Your Say Trans Event at Friends Meeting House (Wednesday 11th) as well as a range of socials all at The Marlborough including Male to Female (Sunday 8th), Film night (Monday 9th), Open Mic (Thursday 12th), PIMMS Trail (Friday 13th) and Female to Male (Sunday 15th).
• The Brighton Wotever Crew is holding a Queer Ceilidh at West Hill Community Hall (Saturday 14th).
• GEMS present musical evening: A Winters Delight at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church (Saturday 14th).
• Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard finish the week off with an eclectic mix of music, comedy, poetry, dance, drag kings and queens, at the aptly named Queer Cheer Variety Show at Charles Street (Sunday 15th).
• New kids on the block Ghetto have a packed Winter Pride programme of events; kicking off the week with a very special one off party La Freak Boutique meets Wig Out on Saturday 7th.
• One of the most popular events is back on Tuesday 10th as Charles Street host their 2009 Winter Pride catwalk extravaganza Fashion Show
• The Amsterdam will be celebrating Winter Pride all week with a whole host of exciting events: Quiz (Monday 10th), Musical Movie Night (Tuesday 10th), Student Karaoke (Wednesday 11th), Pre Religion Trident party (Thursday 12th), Dame Connie Conway’s Karaoke session (Sunday 15th) and a special seaside theme weekend party (Friday 13th-Saturday 14th).
• The New Steine Hotel will be exhibiting works by the well known local artist Simon Etheridge (2.03.09 to 29.03.09), they are also sponsoring Walkie Talkie events around the city (8 and 15 of March, details 07717510278) and hosting the Winter Pride Supper Club (12 March at 7.30pm, call 01273 695415 to book)
• Live music comes courtesy of The PV (Saturday 7th and 14th), The Prince Arthur (Sunday 8th, Wednesday 11th and Sunday 15th), The Canteen, formerly Pokeno Pies (Monday 9th) and The Richard Cobden in Worthing (Sunday 15th) plus you can hear songs from the Musicals at a special concert at The Marlborough (Friday 13th and Saturday 14th).
• Club nights and Cabaret afternoons are always on the menu and this year there is no shortage to keep the hardened clubber or serial drag groupie happy. Check out: Ghetto’s offering of Twisted Karaoke (Tuesday 10th) and Popstarz Pride Night (Friday 13th), Gabbi’s Pride Bona Bingo at Legends (Wednesday 11th), Religion Trident Party at Charles St (Thursday 12th), The Queens Arms Cabaret Specials (Saturday 7th, Sunday 8th and 15th) and The Aquarium Cabaret Fundraiser (Sunday 8th).
• For something a bit different and a ‘must see’ it’s Blind Date at The PV (Saturday 14th). See Nicki as Cilla herself and James Brooks (REALBrighton) as our Graham, this is bound to be hilarious and not to be missed.
• The Bulldog are celebrating Winter Pride all week with a variety of karaoke, DJs and drinks deals plus each weekend you can really let your hair down with 63 hour non stop fundraising mayhem.
• If all this partying has left you feeling a bit run down, help is at hand thanks to those nice chaps at Spruce and the DrLe Winn team who are offering free hand and nail treatments plus anti-ageing facials (Thursday 12th). David Clulow Opticians bring some fun into choosing spectacles and sunglasses the following evening (Friday 13th) when they are joined by the UK representative of Face A Face, local jewellers No.10 and Barefoot Wine.
For a full list of events and venues, please pick up a free guide across the city or visit www.brightonpride.org . If you require any further information please call the Pride office on 01273 775939 or email office@brightonpride.org