Steve Coogan to turn on city centre Christmas lights

The city starts its festive celebrations on Wednesday, November 16 when actor and comedian Steve Coogan will turn on Brighton’s Christmas lights.

There will be a free party in East Street starting at 5pm with Phats and Small (Turn Around) and Brighton producers Kideko and George Kwali (Crank It) taking to the live stage to perform their chart topping hits.

There will also be performances by home-grown talent Theatre Workshop and the Dionne Slater Singing Group.

This year’s Christmas lights will be themed to reflect the city’s eclectic, fun and social atmosphere with words and emojis lighting up Western Road – including ‘Fairy’ and ‘Ding Dong’, along with playful twinkling tidings in North Laine and a gorgeous golden canopy of lights in The Lanes.

Gavin Stewart, CEO of Brilliant Brighton, who organise the event with Juice 107.2, says: “We’re really looking forward to this year’s big Christmas light switch-on, it’s a great opportunity for the city’s residents and businesses to get together and celebrate Brighton at the most wonderful time of year!”

“We hope to see as many people come down and join the party, as well as taking selfies with their favourite lights too!”

There will be a raffle, in association with local children’s charity, Rockinghorse with prizes donated by generous Brighton businesses including a made to measure shirt and styling consultation (worth over £160) from cutting edge tailors Gresham Blake; a luxurious cut and blow dry treatment with a senior stylist from award-winning salon Simon Webster Hair (worth £55) and Chocolate Truffle Advent Calendar from extraordinary chocolatiers Choccywoccydoodah, along with so much more.

The Christmas lights are a gift to the city from the 517 businesses that make up Brilliant Brighton. For the last decade the businesses of Brighton have dug deep to continue the tradition of lighting up the city centre, at a cost of approximately £75,000 per annum.