Sunday morning run...

Today one of our regular bloggers from the past - Alix - returns to give us an insider's view of the Brighton Half Marathon... 

The Brighton Half Marathon takes place on Sunday 17 February. Thousands of runners of all abilities will take to the streets for the 23rd annual half marathon. The event attracts seasoned running veterans gearing up for the full marathon season through to newbies tackling a long distance with more enthusiasm than experience.

Last year I joined the Half Marathon for the first time. I was nervous about tackling 13.1 miles having only done a 5 mile run before. I needn’t have worried, it was a fantastic day. The atmosphere among the runners was buzzing and the crowds lining the route were amazing all the way round. I set off at a moderate pace and found myself moving faster than I expected, buoyed by the race day excitement.

For a novice runner like me, one of the big benefits of the Brighton Half Marathon is the route is very flat. There is only one slight incline at about the fifth mile, on the way out to Roedean. The rest of the run is a whistle-stop tour of the city’s iconic sights, including the Royal Pavilion and the Brighton Pier, without any gradient to worry about. The seafront is the grand attraction – miles and miles of glorious flat running surface with the most fabulous view!

The race starts and finishes on Madeira Drive, near Steve Ovett’s bronze statue and the Brighton Wheel. The dash to the finishing line is exhilarating, not least because it means the running is almost over! I completed my first half marathon in 2 hours and 25 minutes, more than half an hour faster than I’d dared to hope for, and loved every minute of it.

Image provided by the Brighton Half Marathon

I promised myself I would keep up with running after having such fun. But I was distracted by the amazing international sporting events of last year. Somehow I didn’t find time to go for a run. Instead I was rather obsessively following the Olympic Torch Relay or passively watching the astonishing achievements of the Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Suddenly it was autumn again and I’d not been for a run in months.

With the New Year came lots of good intentions. I have been running over the snowy hilltops of Ovingdean and the ice covered promenade of Hove. Yet I am nowhere near up to speed and have very little time left now to get ready for the big day.

I am determined to give it my best shot though because this year I am one of the many thousands combining the running fun with fundraising. I am hoping to raise funds for a local community event and I am going to make sure I earn every penny contributed to the award winning Deans Festival. (This is my sponsorship page in case you are interested – cheeky plug! http://localgiving.com/charity/deansfestival/project/alix-is-on-the-run)

Charity is at the heart of the Brighton Half Marathon. The event is an amazing opportunity to help others by seeking sponsorship for a wide range of charities. Hundreds of good causes benefit from people converting the pounding of their feet into donated pounds in the bank.

The run is organised by and the main fundraiser for Brighton-based charity The Sussex Beacon providing innovative services to meet the changing needs of people living with HIV. So if you are around on the day and see a donations bucket – please give generously.

Good luck to everyone taking part and a big thank you to anyone coming to support the craziness by cheering from the roadside!

Alix at the Finish Line

Thanks to Alix for today's post and everyone here at LoveBrighton would like to wish Alix and all the others nutters - oops I mean runners ;) - good luck!

Charlotte 

December Flickr winner

Happy New Year!

Ahh, how quickly Christmas and New Year comes and goes. And my birthday, which was on Tuesday 8^th (thank you, thank you; you’re too kind). We’re hoping the mince-pie-guilt isn’t weighing too heavily (I swear I only had one, the other 6 were eaten by Father Christmas!). So lots of presents and good tidings all round. That is, until January. When it’s all over, and there is a bleak mid-winter to struggle through. Sigh. But it’s not all bad news, as at least we have our fabulous LoveBrighton Flickr page to lighten our days and brighten our horizons with photos of the seafront and, well, Brighton horizons.

The images shared in our Flickr pool are becoming more and more atmospheric as the winter rolls on, with the weather and lights providing interesting shadows and colours throughout the city. And speaking of lights, the theme for December’s competition was Love Lights, LoveBrighton! We had some beautiful shots with the rainy weather providing some interesting colour reflections, especially in our winner’s photograph of the Royal Pavilion:

Taken by Philbychan, the purple lights on the Royal Pavilion are just beautiful, and the water droplets and light reflections almost look like baubles! Ice-skating at the Royal Pavilion is definitely a Christmas treat, and its intricate stonework is wonderfully contrasted in this photo. Philbychan has won vouchers to spend at the gorgeous, and equally purple, Lavender Room in Brighton’s North Laine.

He has also written about his winning photo:
This is the wettest I have ever been whilst taking a photo. I'd just come off the ice (shallow swimming pool) after spending an hour not giving in to the increasingly heavy rain. 

About 5 minutes before my time was up I decided to go as fast as I could (seeing as this was only my second time on the ice I suddenly felt like an expert) only to fall flat on my side in about 3 cm of water. If I wasn't wet already then I certainly was now. 

Went inside whilst the rain picked up even more and took the opportunity to peer through the window as the next group of skaters awaited their time on the water. 

Snapped the Pavilion in all its glory with some lovely out of focus water drops on the plastic windows. Went home and lit the wood burner! 

I've been in Brighton for about 17 years and became a photographer of the place after getting my first digital camera around 2005. I have more recently been using my photographs to create circular collages in the form of mandalas; have a look here: www.mandalaman.co.uk

There's always something to photograph in Brighton, the place is always changing and growing, some parts dying to make way for the new, but all of it great to photograph. I think I get drawn to the iconic aspects of Brighton which is certainly evident in the artwork I create. 

And so, another year another Flickr competition. The theme of January’s competition is Love Architecture, LoveBrighton.

So get those lenses focused on the quaint, the grand and the modern structures throughout Brighton & Hove and get sharing on our LoveBrighton Flickr page!

Happy snaps, chaps!
The older and wiser, Siobhan :)

Twixtmas in Brighton

One of the disadvantages of working in Marketing is having to deal with some of the terrible puns and buzzwords that people in the press and PR seem to love. In recent years we've had the Staycation (holidays in your home country), Set Jetting (holidays to film locations) and also Twixtmas (the time inbetween Christmas and New Year).

While the phrase Twixtmas does make me cringe, it is true that those days in between Christmas and New Year can feel like you are simply counting down the hours to the next event. So why not escape the leftovers and enjoy a break by the sea?

And here are a few suggestions of things to do:

• Get your skates on at the magical Royal Pavilion Ice Rink, or if you prefer spectating you'll be pleased to hear there's a Jamie Oliver's pop-up restaurant onsite as well. 
• Visit the Painting Pottery Cafe, simply select your pot, plate or dish; pick up a brush and get creative.
• Get a bird's eye view of the city with a ride on the Brighton Wheel which includes a commentary by local comedian Steve Coogan. 
• Breeze up to the Downs on a number 77 bus and work off the turkey and chocolates with a bracing walk or cycle ride in the countryside. Buses run on weekends plus Boxing Day & New Year's Day, learn more about the bus ride by downloading the podcast.

Plus there are still lots of great shows and events taking place that week including:

• Get your fishnets out as it's time to do the timewarp again with the special 40th anniversary party production of the Rocky Horror Show
• STOMP's Lost and Found Orchestra includes traffic cone trumpets, drain pipe organs and musical saws for a musical experience like no other!  
• Forget the stresses of Christmas by having a giggle at the Krater Comedy Club or the Treason Show's The year that was 2012

And don't forget you can book your Brighton Twixtmas (sorry!) Break through our site at: www.visitbrighton.com/accommodation and to make it even more tempting we have a range of Winter Offers available including 3 nights for the price of 2.

Whatever you end up doing, I hope you all enjoy a lovely festive break :)

Charlotte

The Winner of November’s LoveBrighton Flickr Competition

Bonjour,

It’s only one week ‘til Christmas – one week! Bonkers. I’m feeling festive, as are all the LoveBrighton team (well, apart from Charlotte :P) and we’re loving the beautiful colours and frosty landscapes being captured and shared in our Flickr group. The theme for December is Love Lights, LoveBrighton, so make sure you gahn doown the toown and get snapping those funky decorations! Also keep an eye out for the Coca Cola truck which will arrive on Brighton seafront’s Madeira Drive on Sunday 23^rd December between 1pm and 9pm – a fantastic photo opportunity. *Holidays are coming, holidays are coming…*

But back to the matter at hand; the winner of November’s competition! The theme for November was Love Twilight, LoveBrighton and we had some fantastic entries – the sunset snaps were, like, totes amaze. Check out some of our favourite runner’s up on our LoveBrighton Flickr page. But the all-important winner was Big Grin :) (AKA Josephine), with this eerie shot of Hove seafront in the orange sunset:

We loved the colours and silhouettes of the promenade and bench, and the lights twinkling along the coastline. Josephine won 2 unlimited ride passes on Brighton Pier, as well as dinner in the ‘spiritual home of fish & chips’, the Palm Court restaurant. She’s also been lovely and written about herself and the image as well as her undying love for Brighton & Hove!  

Hi my name is Josephine,
I was surprised to find out that I had won the November Flickr Lover Brighton Competition. The photograph that won was taken on Hove seafront walk; I was taking my young daughter who is eight out for some night-time photography practice having only recently relocated to Brighton, we have been keen to soak up the sights – and what sights they are! This particular scene drew me as the light was so golden and full of feeling also a beautiful view with several people taking an early evening stroll. Needless to say I feel quite addicted to Brighton already – you’ve sucked me in and I never want to leave! I am inspired to become a professional photographer, which I will endeavour to do.
Josephine (Lover of Brighton) x 

Our followers really do make good lovers ;)

Remember to keep uploading your fabulous festive photos to our Flickr group, and have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Siobhan :)

Brighton Christmas Lights

Brighton Christmas Lights

Come & check out Brighton's Christmas lights!:)

The final run up to Christmas is fast approaching, so here's our roundup of all Brighton & Hove has to offer the festive reveller...

Whether you're looking for a Christmas break, fantastic shopping & gift ideas, festive events or some mouth watering festive food ideas, Brighton & Hove offers something for every walk of life.

From ice skating at the Royal Pavilion to Christmas Artists' Open Houses and Burning the Clocks, Brighton & Hove is bursting with Christmas & winter events. Check out our festive fun page for loads of ideas for all the family.

Brighton Christmas Shopping
Or if you're looking for that special gift (or just love shopping!) The Lanes & North Laine shopping areas are crammed with independent shops & boutiques, with quirky gift ideas from home ware to vintage items & even vegetarian shoes! Or check out Hove for an array of funky interior design shops, fashion boutiques and specialist shops.

Brighton Christmas Lights
The Christmas lights in Brighton are pretty spectacular too - the perfect backdrop for a spot of late night shopping on a Thursday at Churchill Square during December.

And if you've got kids, why not drop into Brighton Marina & see Santa for FREE.

Winter in Brighton video
Check out our Winter in Brighton video below to check out the sights of Brighton & Hove over Christmas & the winter period.


Facebook Christmas Hamper Competition
And don't forget to check out our 'Christmas Hamper' Facebook competition for the chance to win great prizes in the run up to Christmas!

For more on all things Brighton & Hove go to www.visitbrighton.com

Duke's at Komedia

As readers may or may not be aware Brighton is home to the country's oldest continuously operating cinema - the Duke of York's Picturehouse. The Duke's is a much-loved institution within the city, I love the big comfy seats, the eclectic programme and the fact that you can take a slice of home made cake into the screen with you. In fact the only downside is that they only have one screen so films are usually only on for a few days and often sell-out.

So earlier this year I was very excited to hear that the Duke's was going to be teaming up with another fabulous city centre venue - Komedia. And finally the wait is over, the Duke's at Komedia is open for business. The new cinema has two screens and has all the things we love about the original Duke's including a few sofa seats. Of course one of the things the Duke of York's is most well-known for is the stripy legs on the roof, well thanks to local artist Jamie McCartney (of Brighton Body Casting) Duke's at Komedia also has a rather splendid pair of pins.

So Monday night we decided to go and put it to the test. Having already seen Seven Psychopaths at this year's Cinecity Festival (fantastic film, a definite must-see) we decided to go and see Sightseers - another black comedy featuring a cute dog! The film features a couple on a sightseeing holiday who start killing people, trust me it's a lot funnier then it sounds although it is quite bloody so be warned.

Photo taken from the Duke's at Komedia Facebook page - photo credit Jim Stephenson.

We decided to go for the full experience so before we saw the film we popped into the bar for a drink and a bite to eat. As at the Duke of York's you can still get homemade cakes and other tasty snacks but in addition to this you can also get Hot Dogs. There are some suggested combinations or you can create your own dog, using either pork or tofu sausages or fish goujons plus lots of sauces and sides. The food was delicious and there's a good selection of drinks, plus the bar itself is very stylishly decced out with a retro feel.

So I'm relieved to say the Duke's at Komedia is just as good as it's big sister, bringing all the things we love about the Duke of York's to the North Laine and with more screens - hooray!

Charlotte

Dome Christmas Round-up

We've got a guest blog for you this week, as Elizabeth from Brighton Dome offers you a festive round-up of all the fantastic events coming up. Read on for news of Squonkaphones, Plumpets and Kitchen Tymps! Over to you Elizabeth...

Christmas treats for everyone at Brighton Dome

Celebrations are in full swing at Brighton Dome and there is a packed programme of events to suit everyone this December.

The Lost and Found Orchestra

At the top of the tree is a breathtaking show from the award-winning creators of STOMP – The Lost and Found Orchestra.  Bursting with energy and creativity this is a performance which will delight the whole family and is a real alternative to a trip to a traditional pantomime.

Those inventive STOMPers have replaced all the traditional instruments found in an orchestra with strange and beautiful music makers made from flower pots, traffic cones and bits of plumbing. Across a six month period, instruments like Squonkaphones, Plumpets and Kitchen Tymps were invented from scratch and an entire score composed.

Steve McNicholas, composer and co-director said: “It’s like a Dr. Seuss orchestra and it’s a big cast – we’ve got 22 people – so it’s a much, much bigger show than STOMP. It’s a big celebration really.”

It sounds like great fun and as the show broke box office records when it played at Sydney Opera House it’s probably a good idea to book your tickets early.

The Lost and Found Orchestra will be performing their exhilarating mix of magic and music between 20 and 29 December, including several matinee shows.

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus

Brighton Gay Men’sChorus always get great reviews and have won nationwide fame following their appearances on BBC TV’s Last Choir Standing.

You can catch the boys on Saturday 15 December when they perform Christmas classics alongside rock and pop favourites in a joyous festive evening. The concert will help raise funds for the Sussex Beacon Urgent Appeal.

Hans Christian Anderson’s 'The Nightingale'

I’ve come over all nostalgic and got tickets to see Hans Christian Anderson’s fairytale The Nightingale.

The story is all about the true values of Christmas; love, friendship and the pleasure of the simple things in life. It will be performed using a mixture of puppets, masks, animation and music by Lancashire-based theatre company Horse + Bamboo.It’s suitable for children of all ages from four years up and this big kid cannot wait!

The Treason Show

If you enjoy something much more grown-up then Brighton’s legendary satirists The Treason Show might be more to your taste. Between Christmas and New Year they will be casting a critical eye over the bankers, politicians and celebrities who made the headlines in 2012 and making them the targets of their wicked wit.

Featuring songs and sketches with a topical twist, the show runs from the 27 to the 31 December it could be just the thing to brighten your post-Christmas slump with some bright and sharp humour.

New Year's Eve Viennese Concert 

If you fancy something more elegant and traditional to bid farewell to 2012 then the Viennese Concert on the afternoon of New Years Eve is a charming choice.

Featuring popular classics such as Blue Danube and the Tritsch Tratsch Polka this delightful programme by Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra will have you waltzing your way into a very happy New Year.

Book tickets

For more details and to book tickets visit brightondome.org or call 01273 709 709.