Part of the University of Brighton, the Sallis Benney Theatre is an extremely versatile venue. The…read moretheatre offers free arts lectures, experimental music events, world music and jazz performances and its also the host of the Frock Me vintage fashion fair which is absolutely fantastic. Its also an exhibition space for artists as well as the university students and at the moment is exhibiting cement based art work. There's is a cafe on site which is sometimes open depending on the event. The theatre itself seats around 300 so is perfect for lectures and musical performances a like. If you're interest in art or just at a loose end one weekend its worth checking out whats on as the program is so varied and consistently good.

The Sallis Benney Theatre is part of the Arts Faculty at the University of Brighton. Although…read morestrongly affiliated with the university, don't be fooled in to thinking that this is a place purely for amateur student productions. In fact, the theatre puts on a wide range of productions throughout the year, including the World Music Festival in October and numerous events during the May Brighton Festival and Festival Fringe. The room itself is square and basic, and is certainly no-frills. The rest of the building features a bar (student prices - whoop!) and a gallery exhibiting artwork from the local collegiate. Although not fancy in appearance, the range of productions mean that it is worth keeping an eye on the up and coming programme at the Sallis Benney.

An eye-sore of a building, the Brighton Centre has been a blot on the landscape of the sea-front…read morefor the last 30 years. Despite ongoing rumours about refurbishment and regeneration it doesn't look like it's going anywhere in a hurry. The biggest venue in Brighton, it has a packed annual programme that includes live music events, record and CDs fairs, theatrical productions, and Christmas spectaculars like Holiday on Ice. Last month, it was home to the Labour Party Conference and this month, it's hosting Bloc Party, Tom Jones and Eddie Izzard. I've seen some great gigs here - including Kings of Leon and Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - but the truth is, it's just as ugly inside the building as outside. The concert venue is like a giant aircraft hanger with no atmosphere or ambience and the bar is like a bad wedding reception. The drinks are also limited and over-priced. It's one saving grace is it has a good sound system and good lighting - so if your favourite band are only playing here... The box-office is open 10-5.30 Mon to Sat and the venue is only open when there's events on.

A concrete monolith on the seafront. Cavernous inside, if you had told me I was being led around…read moresome sort of nuclear bunker I might have believed you. The main auditorium was good enough for the concert but the rest of the facilities were nothing special. Not enough toilets so the girls had to queue, the bar areas were sparse with no atmosphere. Guinness was served from a can but with the price of a draught pint and the barman wanted ID from my 14 year old daughter to serve her a Pepsi. Feels much more like a conference centre than a concert venue.

I went to this swimming centre at 1am on Saturday night as part of Cine City's event during White…read moreNight festival. There was about 80 people splashing around in their bikinis and costumes whilst behind them a gigantic screen played film footage all centred around swimming and swimming pools. There were ushers selling popcorn and people queing to sit down and watch from the raised spectator seats. It was a quietly magical experience that definitely encouraged me to go back to Prince Regent and actually swim there. As well as having a proper pool with different swimming lanes for professionals and sports fanatics, there's a shallow pool for kids and beginners and a warm teaching pool for toddlers. There's also a sauna, steam room and gym apparently - all at extra cost on a daily or weekly basis. Will post photos of the Cine City / White Night event in a few hours for swimming movie fans!

This swimming pool complex is in a convenient location right next to Starbucks and Pizza Express…read more(Not the best places to go right after a swim but what can you do?!) nearby the north laines - and it has a car park, a fairly small car park but it's great for the nightmare that is Brighton. Plus it's free after 6. Bonus! This pool itself is fairly average - it's good if it's not busy and it has 2 other seperate pools for swimming lessons and aqua aerobics (which by the way I must say looks rather fun!) The gym part of the complex is situated right above the pool so you can look up at those on the treadmills - just as they can look down at you which I guess it adds a little amusement! The changing rooms are OK, there is a fair selection of sizes including family rooms (I know I shouldn't use these but it's so much nicer to have space!). The thing is it does smell a little, as do the toilets... If you live in Brighton and enjoy swimming, there's no reason not to go here, it's just not the cleanest of complexes.

This event takes place on the first Saturday of the Brighton Festival each year, and has opened the…read morefestival since 1989! If you're in town you can't help but notice it, even if it's just due to the chaos of road closures and the distant noise of marching bands; the parade runs from the North Laine area, through town and down West Street, making its way down the sea front to the finale at Marine Parade - with over 4000 participants from over 75 schools, not to mention the tens of thousands of spectators (think of all the doting families for each child!), the event is chaotic but pretty spectacular. I had the pleasure of being right in amongst it this Summer when I was in charge of marshalling right through the event. The event was really well organised with the kids' safety a top priority. I dealt with many a shirty driver and stressy parent in the run up, but the parade itself was great - being the product of local schools of course the quality varied considerably, as did the morale of the kids (the ones without crazy dancing teachers and bands lookes a bit miserable sometimes!), but overall it was a visual extravaganza! The best thing I saw this year was dozens of infant school kids dressed as wasps (the theme was the harvest) - they were adorable! Although more an event for the kids and their families, it's well worth catching if you're in town (and you can't miss it if you're shopping in the North Laine that morning). The finale at Marine Parade is worth checking out too as there's music and street entertainers.

It's because of events like the Children's Parade that I love Brighton. Please don't become alarmed…read moreby that sentence, I refer to the quirkiness and underlying community spirit that you don't always see in cities. The majority off the times that i have witnessed the parade has been whilst in the North Laine on the front line as a chef. Thankfully, the *insert* hits the fan afterwards, so we always got to see the amazing costumes that the kids had made. I always take this event as my official start to the Brighton festival and this year I don't have to cook. I had just known it to run through the North Laine and I think that Tasha is on the money to suggest getting down to the seafront. To witness the culmination of the procession and all the mix match of costumes coming together for the finale would really put the event in context. If you don't have kids then it would be easy to dismiss the event, but it really is worth the effort of getting into town for the morning. If you do have kinds in Brighton then it is likely that you are going to be there anyhow, but if not get them involved because this is part of the festival that they will love the most.