A Pride weekend to remember

With a reported 115,000 visitors coming in through Brighton Station on Saturday and all events thriving, Pride 2025 certainly lived up to its billing as the city’s biggest and brashest event.

Setting off proceedings celebrating the diversity, joy and unity of our LGBTQ+ communities was the Pride Community Parade on Saturday morning - winding its way from the seafront to Preston Park through a route thronged with supporters of all ages.

Followed by fantastic turnouts at the Party on the Park and the revamped Pride Street Party on Saturday and Sunday. It might just have been the biggest ever Brighton & Hove Pride!

On such a busy weekend with some major changes in place, it’s fair to say not everything went entirely smoothly. A few back-up plans needed to be brought in.

In particular were delays getting into the Party on the Park and the Pride Street Party on Saturday afternoon, and we join Brighton & Hove Pride in apologising and thanking attendees for their patience.

Changes were introduced at entrance gates for both events for Sunday and we will work with Pride and our city partners in seeing what lessons can be learned for future years.

Thank you to everyone who took part for help make it truly a weekend fit for the ‘Ravishing Rage’ celebration of resilience, spirit, passion and unity.

Cleaning-up the city

We put out extra recycling and rubbish bins in the city centre, and our Environmental Services team were working through the weekend cleaning up and emptying bins.

Most of the city centre was looking tidy by Monday morning, with the clean-up operation continuing through Monday. The team collected more than 37 tonnes of rubbish over the weekend.

Particular thanks to the 300 fantastic Tidy Up Team volunteers who rose early on Sunday to join the beach clean-up. They collected 280 bags of rubbish and had the central part beach looking spick and span by late morning.

If you see anywhere that needs attention, please let us know using our online request a clean-up form.

Pride organise the clean-up in the footprint of their event sites, including the parade route, Party on the Park and the Pride Street Party in Kemp Town.

They worked hard to get the Pride Street Party area cleaned and roads re-opened as quickly as possible. The pack up of the Party on the Park is well underway and Preston Park is due to be clear by Wednesday.

We remind everyone to dispose of their litter and recycling responsibly every time they’re out enjoying the city.

A weekend fit for Ravishing Rage

Councillor Birgit Miller, Cabinet Member for Culture, Heritage and Tourism, said: “With so many people coming together once again to celebrate the city’s LGBTQ+ Pride, it truly was a celebration of resilience, spirit, passion and unity.

“Many thanks to everyone involved in organising and running all the fantastic events. And a special mention to the many volunteers who support Brighton & Hove Pride both in the lead-up and over the weekend. Without them it would not be possible.

“It is a massive planning operation and the work from Pride and partners across the council, police, fire, health and many more made sure it was a safe and fun event for everyone.

“There were a few hiccups but we will come back together over the next few months to look at those and plan for another amazing celebration of the city’s LGBTQ+ communities next year.

“I’d also like to thank our Tidy Up Team volunteers and the Environmental Services and Pride teams who’ve done an amazing job of cleaning the city after an incredibly busy weekend.

“And finally, thank you to all our residents and the many visitors who supported Pride and helped make it a weekend to remember!”