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B RIGHT ON FESTIVAL: LGBT History Month: Sing-a-long-a ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’

Now at long last The Rocky Horror Picture Show gets what it’s been SCREAMING for – the full sing-a-long-a treatment. If you’ve done The Time Warp before, you’ll never have done it quite like this!

Have you ever been to a film musical and had the uncontrollable urge to burst into song?

Now’s your chance, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the campest cult classic of all time and you can now enjoy it like never before.

With Sing-a-long-a Rocky Horror, you get on-screen lyrics and all the favourite sing-a-long-a features. It’s never been so much fun. Your live host will lead you through a choral warm-up, judge the fancy dress competition and award prizes but it is YOU, the audience, who are the stars as you howl the night away!

Made in 1975 with Tim Curry as Frank ‘n’ Furter, Susan Sarandon as Janet, Richard O’Brien as Riff Raff and Meatloaf as Eddie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the craziest, most action-packed, romantic, scary Transylvanian party of all time.

It’s packed full of terrific numbers including The Timewarp, Sweet Transvestite, There’s a Light, I’m Going Home, Whatever Happened To Saturday Night? and Science Fiction Double Feature.

LGBT History Month is an international month-long annual observance of LGBT+ History and the opportunity to commemorate and remember the bravery of those who campaigned and spoke out over the years to help us achieve the freedoms and equality we enjoy today.

The PHIL STARR PAVILION, on New Steine Gardens, Brighton, BN2 1PB is a fully functional and heated performance space with fully equipped stage, light, sound system and licenced bar.

This ground breaking affiliation seeks to engage the city in the wide range of issues highlighted through the work of the Brighton & Hove LGBT+ Community Safety Forum, as well as partner/stakeholder work.

What better way to celebrate LGBT+History month than at a sing-a-long-a Rocky Horror Show in the park!


Event: Sing-a-long-a Rocky Horror Picture Show

Where: Phil Starr Pavilion, New Steine Gardens, St James Street, Kemptown, Brighton

When: Friday, February 17

Time: Door open 6.45pm

Cost: £12.28

To book tickets online: click here:

Don’t drink and drive on New Years Eve!

Police urge partygoers to arrange transport home and “Go cold turkey” on New Year’s Eve.

New Year’s Eve partygoers are being urged to arrange transport home rather than drive as part of Surrey and Sussex Police’s Go cold turkey anti drink and drug drive campaign.

A total of 27 people have been arrested in the fourth week of the campaign (December, 20-29), including nine over the period of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

This year’s campaign has carried the simple message for drivers to Go cold turkey and have nothing at all if getting behind the wheel.

One of those arrested on Christmas Day included a 21-year-old man whose car was spotted driving with heavy front end damage by officers in St Peters Way, Chertsey at 9am. Officers noticed his breath smelt of alcohol and arrested him on suspicion of drink driving and driving without insurance.

Another driver, a 25-year-old man ended his shift early as a delivery driver on Boxing Day after crashing into a lamppost and fence in Camberley. Officers were called to the scene and the driver was arrested for drink driving.

On December 28 a 37-year-old man got his sense of direction wrong after driving onto the M25 towards Heathrow, when he told officers he was driving home to Haslemere. He was arrested for drink driving after pulling onto the hard shoulder near Egham.

Superintendent Chris Moon
Superintendent Chris Moon

Superintendent Chris Moon, Head of Surrey and Sussex Road’s Policing Unit, said: “Christmas and New Year is a time when lots of people are travelling on the roads to visit families. It is tragic there are still people who think it acceptable to drive on the same roads as those families and could potential cause a devastating accident.

“With New Year’s Eve coming up I would urge anyone going out to have a good time to think about how they are getting home as driving should not be an option. Book a taxi, arrange a pick up or have a designated driver – it could save your life.

“Any number arrested for drug or alcohol driving offences is one too many, but it demonstrates that we are taking this issue seriously in Surrey and are working hard to take offenders off the roads.”

The Christmas campaign launched on December 1 and the 2016 programme saw Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Units carrying out dedicated patrols across the two counties. The initiative, which was supported by Drive Smart in Surrey, the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership and the independent charity Crimestoppers, is set to run until Sunday, January 1 2017.

During the festive crackdown, Surrey roads policing officers will be tackling the issue on the roads network on a 24/7 basis.  Teams will be out day and night to educate the driving population and to deal with motorists who are found to be over the legal drink and/or drug driving limit.

If you see or suspect someone is driving under the influence of drink or drugs please tell Surrey Police.

Information can be passed via text on 65999 or by dialling 999 if the circumstances involve a driver causing immediate danger to others by driving when intoxicated.

Alternatively, you can call Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111, you won’t have to give your name, make a statement or appear in court.

Any information given will be passed on to the roads policing officers and acted upon. Officers will be tweeting about what incidents they deal with as and when they occur.

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Zona Rosa

Zona Rosa, located in the heart of Kemp Town, is the new venture of business partners Nick Roberts and Carlo Torre.

Carlo Torre and Nick Roberts
Carlo Torre and Nick Roberts

Open seven days a week, Zona Rosa operates as a conventional café during the day, serving coffee and cakes, then in the late afternoon switches to a restaurant serving traditional Mexican dishes with a modern twist, using fresh, local ingredients and flavour combinations, all served in a colourful, friendly setting in a unique relaxed atmosphere.

The restaurant gets its name from a district in Mexico’s capital which is known for its multicultural communities, bohemian atmosphere, appeal to creatives, and where its LGBT+ community is focussed. It’s one of Mexico City’s barrios mágicos (magical neighbourhoods).

Open seven days a week, Zona Rosa operates as a conventional café during the day, serving coffee and cakes, then in the late afternoon switches to a restaurant serving traditional Mexican dishes with a modern twist, using fresh, local ingredients and flavour combinations, all served in a colourful, friendly setting in a unique relaxed atmosphere..

The restaurant gets its name from a district in Mexico’s capital which is known for its multicultural communities, bohemian atmosphere, appeal to creatives, and where its LGBT+ community is focussed. It’s one of Mexico City’s barrios mágicos (magical neighbourhoods).

Head chef, Nick Roberts, brings an impressive pedigree to the table having worked in London at Harrods, The Groucho Club, and The Terrence Conran Group. Since moving to Brighton he’s been head chef at Brighton Rocks and more recently the Independent. Nick is passionate about his food and spent much of the last six months researching and creating this new menu for Zona Rosa. He is meticulous and leaves nothing to chance. His dishes are sometimes complex but never without flavour. My best advice is to ask for help navigating the menu on your first visit. All the usual Mexican favourites such as tamales, quesadillas, and burritos are featured but there are many hidden treasures on this menu that are easily overlooked. Ask your waiter, he will be happy to talk you through and help you discover them.

Better still try one of the three Taster selection menus Uno (£24.50), Dos (£30) and Tres (£36.50). I chose the Tres selection menu which included: Pork pibil tacos; mollett; cerviche tostada; pineapple, red onion, chilli, coriander and cheese Quesadilla, roast sweet potato with chilli lime salt, toasted cornbread, berries and vanilla cream. An orgy of new flavours, beautifully presented and the first time some of these dishes had travelled across my tongue. Highly recommended for first timers.

My husband ordered the Land & Sea (£9.95): grilled steak and prawn, refried beans, green rice, salsa, sour cream, cheese and avocado wrapped in a flour taco, beautifully seasoned, flavoured and very filling.

We washed everything down with a Michelada, Mexican beer with lime hot sauce, worcester sauce and tomato juice with a spiced salt rim which perfectly complemented the food. Zone Rosa boasts an impressive drinks menu and keep a full bar stocked with a selection of speciality Mexican drinks including tequilas, margaritas, daiquiris, and nonalcoholic choices such as horchata, Jarritos sodas, and tropical fruit smoothies. They stock branded spirits and soft drinks, their own house wine and aguas frescas, each flavoured with a different mix of fruits.

Zone Rosa offer an abundance of vegetarian and gluten-free options to eat in or take away. There is vibrant basement area which can be booked in advanced for larger groups or parties and outside they have a comfortable seating area with distant sea views which will come into its own during warmer months.

Roast sweet potato with chilli lime salt

Zona Rosa,
24 Garnet House, College Road, Brighton
For reservations call: 01273 818819

Opening hours:
Monday–Friday: 8am–9pm
Saturday: 8.30–10pm
Sunday: 8.30am–2.30pm

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