The Grosvenor Bar

With two floors of music and a rooftop terrace overlooking Brighton's Palace Pier, Club Revenge is renowned as the best gay nightclub in the south. It's the ultimate party destination, with Bar Revenge round the corner offering cheap drinks and entertainment all week. Over the years it's welcomed international pop stars, DJs & drag queens onto its infamous stage so it's definitely the place to be.

The Kemptown Klub feels more like joining a friendly local social club than walking into a conventional bar. This small independent over-25s members’ venue specialises in well-made cocktails, wine and beer, with quizzes, bingo, DJs and occasional parties adding some gentle energy to the week. Membership can be arranged in person. Downstairs, The Bothy provides an even cosier whisky-focused hideaway with tartan walls and plenty of space for conversation. Madam Lola’s is almost next door, while the main Kemptown gay scene around St James’s Street is an easy walk away. The crowd leans towards LGBTQ+ locals and regulars looking for conversation and good drinks rather than a big club night.

Sink into a Chesterfield sofa and Nautilus Lounge feels more like an eccentric private drawing room than a typical Brighton bar. The undersea-themed basement specialises in handcrafted cocktails, with regular pianists, singers, open-mic nights and quizzes giving the venue a relaxed live-music character through much of the week. It’s right on St James’s Street in the heart of Kemptown, within minutes of The Zone, Legends and several other LGBTQ+ venues. The regular crowd is mixed and queer-friendly, while selected nights become much more specifically gay: Subline turns the venue into a kink-positive men’s cruising party with DJs, darkroom and play spaces. Check the calendar because the atmosphere changes dramatically depending on the night.

Ironworks Studios is less a conventional gay bar and more one of Brighton’s most useful LGBTQ+ entertainment venues. Home to Brighton Pride CIC, its programme regularly features drag, cabaret, burlesque, comedy and queer cultural events alongside the broader Forge Comedy Club schedule. A licensed café/bar serves events in the flexible performance space. The location beside Brighton Station and North Laine puts it away from Kemptown’s traditional gay-bar cluster, but makes it exceptionally easy to reach from almost anywhere in the city. The audience depends on the show, with Pride at Ironworks events drawing a particularly broad LGBTQ+ crowd across ages and identities.

Away from the main Gay Village are, Grosvenor Bar offers a flamboyant weekend night out. Every Friday and Saturday you can get in for free and watch some first class cabaret, while on Thursday's you can expect bingo with lovely staff and award winning management.

Affinity bar has a bright and stylish interior, bringing a sense of class and indulgence to your night out. It's a gay run business that is proud to support and welcome all members of the queer community. It's intimate but modern space makes everyone feel at home, while friendly staff at live music keep your night lively.