Who are we?
We are ‘We Love Brighton’ the City’s most current What’s On Guide with Listings, Previews, Reviews and Events covering the best bits of Brighton’s vibrant culture. We provide a free platform to promote, support and nurture Brighton’s events, businesses and communities. With a hint of humour, our focus is on giving you the best experience possible while you’re in Brighton, whether resident or tourist!
Why are we only online?
Because we’re online we’re always updating and uploading new content regularly so you get the most up to date information, there’s no waiting around for magazine issues to come out monthly, we are constantly providing you with up to the minute information. Our website is incredibly easy to navigate meaning you get to the information you want when you want.
What do we do?
- Local Reviews – We review everything from live music to visual art.
- Local Previews – We like to preview a variety of upcoming events.
- Local News – If somethings happened we’re often the first to know.
- Local Monthly and weekly information articles such as features on upcoming gigs and articles such as: ‘Best Free Things to do‘.-Exclusive offers and competitions – Our links with Brighton’s businesses also mean that we are able to provide our readers with exclusive offers and competitions from a variety of places.
We also have an incredible social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest meaning that you can always keep up to date with what we’re up to and add your input too.
How can you get involved?
- Contribute – You can contribute in a variety if ways, check out our ‘Contributors’ page for more information.
- List your event – You can list your event through our site by emailing the details to info(at sign)welovebrighton.com.
- Comment – You can add your comments to any of our articles.
- Advertise – If you want give your event that extra push then we have great advertising opportunities, if you are interested in learning more please email – info(at sign)welovebrighton.com.
Meet The Team
Marlena Jagoda
I joined We Love Brighton in May 2023, straight after graduating from university, with a degree in Marketing and Management (with Psychological Studies), to write about my favourite place (Brighton) and create content for social media. I am responsible for maintaining the website and working with the other writers as they write content for the website.
I have been passionate about writing since the age of 6 and throughout school teachers encouraged me to submit my pieces to competitions. In 2020 I self published my debut poetry collection, followed by another in 2022, and currently I’m working on a domestic fiction novel set in Brighton.
I grew up in Northern Ireland and learned about the existence of Brighton for the first time while studying Tourism at A-levels. My love for the beach was the cherry on top when it came to choosing between University of Sussex and Newcastle University. I fell in love with the city from day one and it’s felt like home ever since.
Patrick Crawford
After graduating from The University of Sussex in 2021 I decided to give this thing called writing a go as a professional.
Writing has always been a passion of mine and I have enjoyed writing in a freelance capacity as a film journalist for the popular Film and TV culture site Screen Rant before joining the team at We Love Brighton.
I have been proud to call Brighton my home for many years and after the opportunity to join the team at We Love Brighton arose in 2022 I jumped at the opportunity with open arms.
Writing about this fantastic city and all the fabulous things it has to offer is almost as fun as actually experiencing Brighton. Almost. The truth is, to experience Brighton to its fullest, you have to be there.
So with that being said, I’ll be on hand to help you find the best things to do when visiting this one-of-a-kind town.
Hannah Woodvine
Ever since I first learned what a word is, I’ve been obsessed with them. My first ‘published’ work was a newspaper I created as a child, containing made-up news articles about invading aliens, interactive personality quizzes and interviews with my classmates. Since starting writing for the content team, I’m pleased to say that my articles are a little more grounded in reality nowadays!
I moved to Brighton to train to be a teacher, and it’s one of the best jobs in the world. I have the privilege of spending my days helping young people to develop the same love for words, books and poetry as I gained at their age.
Even when I’m not in the classroom, I can’t be stopped from wielding my words. I am enthusiastically embedded in Brighton’s spoken word scene and regularly perform at some of the fantastic open mic nights, slam events and competitions available. Alongside article work for We Love Brighton, I write poetry and flash fiction and I’m working on novel writing.
When I’m not working or writing, you will probably find me enjoying an elaborate herbal tea from one of my teapots, accidentally killing my houseplants or thinking about dogs. I also do musical theatre.
Roosa Herranen
As a lover of all things creative, the seaside and inclusivity, five years ago I found my home here in Sussex, by the sea. Originally from Finland, I found my way to Brighton (well, Hove, actually) via the West Midlands. I graduated from my BA in Drama and Performance from the University of Worcester in 2017, and my MA in Theatre from the University of Chichester in 2018.
Brighton with its art and culture scene has been a revelation to me, from the Brighton Pride to the Fringe, I love taking advantage of all the opportunities we have here.
My interests as a freelancer lie in writing and digital art, both of which I’m hoping to continue working on for as long as possible. I write feature articles, interviews, poetry and more. I also work as a freelance editor and proofreader. As you might be able to tell, I love the written word!
My work has been featured in publications such as The Brighton Seagull, a local online newspaper, and Iltalehti, one of Finland’s largest news sources. In addition to a selection of literature magazines and zines, my poems have been featured in several poetry collections by a London-based poetry house, New River Press.
Lester Gartland
I joined We Love Brighton in August 2023 to write about the city I love, and the places and events which make it so great.I moved to Brighton in 2011 to study and instantly fell in love with the vibrant and eclectic city which caters to every type of lifestyle and subjective preferences. I am a passionate cook and enjoy learning traditional techniques from cuisines all over the world, I love that Brighton has a restaurant from nearly any cuisine you can imagine, the variety is unmatched anywhere else.
I have been writing poetry since 2004, and started writing fiction in 2018. I have published personal essays, a collection of short stories, and my debut novel. Currently working on a second, and a novella.
I grew up going back and forth between my Mother’s house in Surrey, and visiting my Father in Brighton. Brighton was always his favourite place in the UK and it’s mine also!
Becky Barnes
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Mae Davage
I made the move to Brighton in September 2020 for university and having lived here for three years and fallen in love with the city a little more every day that I’m here, I’m so excited to have the opportunity to write about all the wonderful things it has to offer.
I have loved writing for as long as I can remember. From playgroup and primary school my teachers were always encouraging me to keep writing and telling stories and firmly believed it was something I would one day pursue. It has been my most consistent love throughout my life, and in the last few years I’ve started to publicly post my poetry on Instagram in the hopes that it both reaches people and acts as a form of release for me. I had my first piece of work published in August 2023 and I am hoping to have my first collection published by the end of next year.
Oscar Bowerman
I joined the content team in October 2021, after a year long abstinence from writing following a degree that “killed my enjoyment of the written word”.
In my youth I always wanted to be a Marine Biologist, but in truth, despite my interest in Science, I was always more suited to a subject in which you just need to make a good argument to support whatever left-field theory I had. The bonus of being able to have the text with me in school exams always helped.
I spent my childhood in the small town of Fordingbridge, frequently visiting Brighton on weekends to see my dad, before moving up north for University.
I consider Brighton to be comfortably his favourite place in England, it’s only downsides being the much higher prices and influx of overly confident Seagulls.
Eleanor Forrest
I joined We Love Brighton in August 2023, after moving down a year ago to pursue a career as a Producer. Working as a freelance writer as well, I relished the opportunity to write about Brighton and explore the city some more.
I began a career in writing and Journalism after a number of internships and working at my studio radio station and student newspaper when I studied History at the University of Manchester and I haven’t been able to stop since, previous bylines include Billboard, Vice, NME, Clash, uDiscover Music, and Polyester Zine. Currently, I’m looking to expand my creative writing ability and start branching into fiction.
Growing up in Walsall, in the West Midlands, the sea was nowhere near me so I’ve loved the opportunity to live by the water and take full advantage of the Brighton experience.
Joanna Tilley
Since moving to Brighton at the start of 2022, I haven’t looked back and cannot imagine ever returning to the stress of London. Falling in love with the ocean and Brighton’s open and inclusive culture, it’s the kind of place that gets more and more special by the day.
There’s no end to the great restaurants, bars and cafes to sample and I feel very lucky to live in an energetic foodie haven. As a non-drinker, I have enjoyed my visits to Torstigbar and when I fancy a treat, I love looking at the amazing views from Rockwater. I am a sea-swimmer most of the year, except for the middle of winter, but I might build up to it!
Previously, I have worked as a sports journalist for the Evening Standard, Al Jazeera English, Sky and TNT Down Under and worked for Brentford FC before they got promoted to join Brighton in the Premier League. If it’s allowed, I kinda support both teams.
Comedy is my passion, and I am developing several sitcoms that will hopefully hit your screens soon. I have written for BBC radio, performed a stand-up show at Edinburgh and have a sitcom in development with a production company.
