menu

Roebuck Inn scores shortlist hat trick in Great British Pub Awards

The Roebuck Inn in Laughton has been shortlisted in three categories of the prestigious John Smith’s Great British Pub Awards and chef/proprietor Dominic McCartan is an individual finalist for a separate award to be given at the ceremony.

The rural pub has enjoyed a dramatic transformation after being closed for two years, under the stewardship of licensees Dominic McCartan and Tony Leonard.

The Roebuck is a 2017 finalist for the titles of Food Pub of the Year, Inn of the Year and Freehouse of the Year. In addition, Dominic is also a finalist for Pub Chef of the Year. The couple have previously reached the finals for their other pub, the Snowdrop Inn in Lewes and their former pub, the Hop Poles in Brighton.

Dominic said: “It’s wonderful to continue to be recognised for what we do after all these years in the trade.” 

“We’ve always tried to build the best teams in the industry around us and this is a reflection of the strength, dedication and talent of the people we work with.”

The national awards, organised by the Publican Morning Advertiser newspaper, have been running for seventeen years, receive entries from hundreds of pubs and aims to reward the best operators in the country. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday, September 7 at the London Hilton.

Ed Bedington, editor of the Morning Advertiser, said: “These awards offer the opportunity for operators across the UK to nail their colours to the mast and be recognised as some of the best in the business. This competition aims to celebrate the unique role that the Great British Pub plays within our society, a unique institution that is the envy of much of the world.”

Tony Leonard was also a runner-up for the recent National Rural Touring Theatre Awards Newcomer of the Year 2017 for the development of a programme of innovative live theatre at the Roebuck.

 

Would you like to sing with the Rainbow Chorus? 

Rainbow Chorus have a new members night on September 11 at St Georges Church, Kemptown, starting at 6.30pm.

All members from the LGBT+ communities are welcome to attend, especially those with tenor and bass voices.

If you would like to be part of the Rainbow singing family and want more information, contact the Rainbow Chorus membership team to register interest and get more details. membership@rainbowchorus.org.uk

For more information about Rainbow Chorus, click here:


Event: Rainbow Chorus new members night

Where: St Georges Church, 93 St George’s Rd, Brighton BN2 1DW

When: Monday, September 11

Time: 6.30pm

Cost: Free event

Women Over 50 Film Festival unveil 2017 programme

With just under two weeks to go until the Women Over 50 Film Festival (WOFFF), organisers unveil the full programme of films and events for the third festival plus an announcement of celebrity endorsement from award-winning Sussex-based actress Greta Scacchi.

Greta Scacchi
Greta Scacchi

The Women Over 50 Film Festival (WOFFF), supported by FilmDoo, will take place on September 16 & 17, 2017 at the Sallis Benney Theatre, University of Brighton, 58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton, BN2 OJY  in Brighton.

WOFFF is an international film festival aiming to redress the age and gender imbalance that older women face in the film industry.

Actress Greta Scacchi, who lives in a village near to Brighton, is supporting this year’s event because of what she has seen happening in Hollywood.

She said: “I am delighted that Women Over 50 Film Festival is here to upset the Hollywood apple cart that accepts actresses playing ten years older while actors can play ten years younger. This festival is unique in celebrating rather than hiding or ignoring older women in film. WOFFF rejoices in our older stories, older faces and older hearts and it is my pleasure to be associated with the Festival.”

WOFFF champions women over 50 in front of and behind the camera, and this September’s interactive, engaging, entertaining weekend of films and activities for older women and their friends it the largest event yet, with 55 films being screened from over 150 submissions from around the world – the largest number of submissions ever received.

For a full list of films being shown during the festival, click here:

 

 

 

 

This year’s festival includes work from filmmakers in Afghanistan, Iran and Egypt as well as the UK, Ireland, France, Australia, USA and Canada. There’s an impressive lineup of onscreen talent; stars like Maureen Lipman, Denise Welch, Anita Dobson, Miriam Margolyes, Carrie Cohen, Ewan MacIntosh, Sheila Reid & Maureen Beattie are front and centre on the WOFFF screen, showing that women over 50 are here to stay.

As well as eight programmes of over 50 short films, there is an all-female panel event, filmmaker Q&As, a lecture about older women’s representation on-screen and a variety of practical workshops. There are workshops to interest filmmakers and non-filmmakers alike. Sessions include How to Make a Film on your Smart Phone and How to Navigate Digital Distribution and Self Distribution.

For a full list of workshops, click here:

 

Festival Director Nuala O’Sullivan, said: “We’re excited to see the depth and breadth of talent on display, both on-screen at the festival and in our other events. We’re delighted to have film industry professionals, like Felicity Beckett and Claire Lamond, on our jury panel and University of Brighton film academics, Vanessa Marr and Louise FitzGerald, hosting workshops and delivering lectures at this year’s WOFFF.”

Veronica Slater, a Brighton-based visual artist, and Leah Thorn, a performance poet, are collaborating with the festival. Veronica is exhibiting her work Caravan to Castles throughout the festival and Leah has written a poem especially for WOFFF, entitled A treatment for women over fifty. A film of her performing this piece will open the festival shorts programme.

WOFFF 2017 launches officially on Thursday, September 14 with a screening of Mamma Mia! at the Duke of York’s Picturehouse at Preston Circus. The festival closes on Sunday evening with an awards ceremony and jury prizes for all winning filmmakers, and the all-important Audience Choice Award.

To purchase tickets online, click here:

Star Wars characters to have a cuppa at The Sussex Beacon’s Summer Fete

On Saturday, September 9 between 11am and 4pm, local HIV charity The Sussex Beacon will be holding the annual Summer Fete in its garden on Bevendean Road, Brighton.

Sussex Beacon
Sussex Beacon

Star Wars fans will be able to mingle with the movie characters on the day, as The UK Garrison, one of the leading Star Wars costume groups, will be popping in to join the fun.

Entry to the family fun day is free and there will be a range of stalls, refreshments and entertainment. Money raised will go directly towards helping people living with HIV in Sussex.

Stalls at the fete will include traditional favourites including a coconut shy, hook a duck, whack-a-rat, face painting, a tombola and a raffle. As well as photo opportunities in the afternoon with the Star Wars characters, there’ll also be entertainment from David Hill, David Raven and Keris Lea.

Simon Dowe
Simon Dowe

Simon Dowe, Chief Executive of The Sussex Beacon, said: “This is going to be a great day for all the family, especially Star Wars fans, young and old! If Star Wars isn’t up your street, we have a beautiful garden, there’ll be some fab games, prizes and delicious cakes on offer.  Please come along, enjoy the fun and show your support for a brilliant cause.”

The Sussex Beacon provides specialist support and care for people living with HIV through both inpatient and outpatient services. It helps hundreds of people living with HIV in Sussex each year and was rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission in September.

The UK Garrison
The UK Garrison

Event: Summer Garden Fete

Where: 10 Bevendean Road, Brighton,  BN2 4DE

When: Saturday, September 9

Time: 11am – 4pm

Cost: Free entry

DJ PROFILE: Sami Kubu

September is upon us and whilst the prospect of a glorious spell of late summer sunshine is extremely likely (I’m ever the optimist), there’s no getting away from the fact that the evenings are getting darker earlier.

Yep the nights are drawing in! But that’s not a time for dismay, dear reader. It’s time to dust off the dancing clogs and get out for a wiggle. And there’s no one finer to shake that booty to than Nightshift Records’ gorgeous Sami Kubu…

Hello, have you recovered from Brighton Pride?
Hi! I’ve just about returned to the land of the living! Not without those post-Pride blues however.

Pride standout moments?
Brighton Pride just gets bigger and better with every year. This year was nothing short of incredible. My favourite moment was playing the Girls’ Dance Tent and having 3,000+ people sing along. Absolutely mind-blowing!

Where do you DJ?
I’ve had a busy few months but nearing the end of the summer is a bit more chilled. I played alongside some of my favourite Brighton DJs at the Tempest Inn in August and am looking forward to playing MONO on September 2. Then… watch this space!

What music do you play/make?
I play and make a mixture of deep tech house and techno. Though recently I’ve started to swerve toward making some disco-inspired sounds too, so it’s all very exciting.

Fave tune ever?
Definitely a tricky one, but it’s really got to be Kings of Tomorrow’s Finally. Such a fabulous and timeless track.

Ultimate place to DJ?
Goes without saying that playing Berghain in Berlin would be an absolute dream. Other than that DC-10 in Ibiza is pretty high on the list.

Tune you wish you’d never played?
A few years ago I played a remix of Waiting For Tonight by Jennifer Lopez – I think a bit of my soul died that day.

Guilty pleasure?
I do love a bit of Vogue by Madonna. Who doesn’t?!

Describe yourself in three words!
Passionate, creative, introverted (sometimes!)

Sami Kubu’s current top five:
♦ Fusion Groove Orchestra – If Only I Could, Strictly Rhythm
♦ Angelo Ferreri – Jackin Anthem, Nervous Records
♦ Hog, The Groovelines – Got To Dance Disco Paul’s Boutique
♦ Landmark – Just A Minute, Glasgow Underground
♦ Martin Badder – Shake Down (Disobey Remix), Nightshift Records

X