Events: Valentine’s Day
A ball, balls or a ceilidh?
Brighton’s bursting with a plethora of different things to do this Valentine’s Day. At the most expensive end of the scale, there’s the Mayor’s Valentine’s Masquerade Ball, hosted inside the Royal Pavilion! There will be a drinks reception, two-course meal, post-dinner entertainment and prizes for the best mask, as well as a charity raffle and auction (Fri 14 Feb, Royal Pavilion, 6.30pm, £60 cash or cheque to the mayor’s charities).
On the less formal end of the romantic spectrum, the all-male cabaret ‘boylesquers’ will be returning for a ‘bonanza of stripping, dancing, magic, and men cheerleading’ entitled Der Wunderlich Revue’s Valentine’s Balls. It’s six days after Valentine’s Day, but perhaps this means the Mayor herself could make a surprise appearance? (Thurs 20 Feb, The Brunswick, Hove, 7.30pm, £7.)
If you don’t fancy the ball or the balls, how about a ceilidh? The Sussex Pistols’ resident caller will lead you through all the barn dance steps in the first ever adults-only ceilidh to be hosted at the Corn Exchange. If it’s anything like the superb ball they hosted last year, it should be a welcoming, good-natured occasion. (Sat 15 Feb, Corn Exchange, Brighton Dome, 8pm, £14 or £25 for couples.)
Don’t have a partner to bring along to any of these events? Well, you shouldn’t worry since there’s obviously no shame in being single. Some naysayers might even argue that Valentine’s Day merely slaps on the back those who need it least, and garishly reminds single people of the joys of coupledom they are missing out on. If you are keen to meet someone however, there is a range of Magnet Speed Dating events to get you started. You can experience 20 real life new encounters at the Komedia, all start at 8pm and cost £20: same sex (open to both gay men and lesbians, Thurs 13 Feb), 18–30 years straight (Thurs 13 Feb) or 40 years plus straight (Tues 18 Feb).
For a spicier night out, Sugarkicks presents an ultimate battle of the sexes, with outrageous, seductive acts going head to head in four rounds of pole, neo-burlesque, comedy with tunes from DJ Arthur Shillin’ (Fri 14 Feb, Latest Musicbar, 10pm, £7). If you lean towards more traditional music, Brighton’s Unitarian Church’s Friday lunchtime concert series will feature Nick Andrews joined by Philippa Aspey (soprano) for a concert about love (Fri 14 Feb, 12.30pm–1.15pm, £3.50). Much later in the evening, you could head to an exciting club night called What You Call It, Garage?! The last event was one in one out by 11.30pm so there’ll be a lot of revellers enjoying the finest UK garage, 2–Step, 4X4 and Grime (Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Fri 14 Feb, 11pm–3.30am, £5).
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