← Past weekends

Brighton 2026

Brighton, UK · 10–12 July 2026

A summer weekend by the sea: the pier and its arcade, a tour of the Royal Pavilion, SEA LIFE, and fish and chips.

Group posed outside an ornate pavilion's facade.

Before the crowds

"Let's enjoy Britain's premier seaside resort before the crowds descend." That was Chris's pitch for Brighton: Saturday and Sunday, 11 and 12 July, with an optional Friday evening. A £50 deposit held a place, and a bring-a-buddy offer took half off a second ticket.

Brighton gets expensive in summer, so Chris arranged a booking link at the Holiday Inn on the seafront, by the i360. "We receive no commission," the booking page said, and anyone who found somewhere cheaper was welcome to stay there instead.

Group posed outside the pavilion's ornate facade.
The group's table set among the cafe's shaded terrace.

Friday

Friday was drinks and ice cream. By the time the pier lights came on, the group was down on the beach taking a selfie.

Friends gathered round a long table for dinner.
The group outside the Royal Pavilion

Saturday

Saturday started with coffee and a wander along the seafront, then the pier and its arcade, and lunch.

The afternoon's plan had promised "a visit to a world-class museum (possibly with a special guest)". On the day, that was a tour of the Royal Pavilion, followed by a bonus round of fizz on a café terrace.

Dinner was a long table together, and for anyone who wanted it, the match was on.

The group on the beach with Brighton Palace Pier behind
Group lined up along the seafront with the pier behind.

Sunday

Sunday was coffee and SEA LIFE, where the group sat for photos inside a shark's mouth and on a pirate rowing boat. Then fish and chips, and a last stretch on the beach.

Chris's feedback form afterwards opened like this.

"It was so good to have you on the weekend. I hope you came away with new connections, good memories and a lot of steps done."

Chris, in the feedback form after the weekend

In pictures

Group photo in front of an ornate domed pavilion.
Empty beach and pier under a clear blue sky.
The group on the beach with Brighton Palace Pier behind
The group outside the Royal Pavilion
Friends lean in for a rooftop bar selfie at dusk.
Group selfie on the beach as the pier lights come on.
Group lined up along the seafront railing, pier behind.
Calm sea and distant pier under a clear sky.
One leans into the shot with friends dressed up behind.
Friends in bright outfits share a table over drinks.
A quiet moment at the bar, seen through a doorway.
Group seated on a bench in front of an aquarium sign.
Group poses inside a giant shark's mouth photo backdrop.
Group poses on a pirate rowing boat photo backdrop.
Group poses against an underwater backdrop, a turtle overhead.
A black-and-white group selfie over drinks
Mock terror in front of a giant octopus mural
Lunch round a table on a sunny terrace
The group at the SEA LIFE Brighton sign
Group posed beneath the weekend's sign outside an aquarium.
A black-and-white group selfie over drinks
Mock terror in front of a giant octopus mural
Lunch round a table on a sunny terrace
The group at the SEA LIFE Brighton sign

The plan

Friday 10 July (optional)

7:30pmMeet & greet
8:00pmDrinks and games
10:00pmLate-night ice cream and wander

Saturday 11 July

12:00pmCoffee and welcome
12:30pmCity tour, seafront, pier
1:30pmStreet food lunch
3:00pmMuseum visit
5:00pmDowntime
7:30pmSocial dinner
9:30pmNightcaps

Sunday 12 July

12:00pmCoffees and SEA LIFE visit
2:00pmSocial lunch
3:30pmFinal drinks
4:00pmClosing ceremony

Ready to come to the next one?

Upcoming weekends in York.

See upcoming weekendsBack to past weekends