Midsummer Night’s Drinks

The Midsummer Night’s Drinks, hosted by the Society in the North Garden on June 21st, began as an experiment to reduce the work involved in the annual Garden Party, but ended as a great success. The essential elements of the Garden Party were all there: a bar, run with wondrous efficiency by Debra Erskine and […]

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Kemptown Gasworks development refused by planning committee

Many thanks to all the many KTS members who submitted objections to the plans for development of the former Kemptown gasworks site near Black Rock and Brighton Marina. Here is a statement issued by Gary Wilkinson, one of the Kemptown councillors: “As a Kemptown Councillor I have spoken against the gasworks development and I am […]

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Ibiza proms moved from Black Rock

The Ibiza proms, which were planned to be held at Black Rock on Saturday 29th June, have relocated to Hove Lawns after it became clear that works being done by Southern Water at the site would not be completed in time. Full report in The Argus.

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KTS AGM 11th May 2024

The 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Kemp Town Society was held at 10.30am on Saturday 11th May at the EFL School, 1-2 Sussex Square.The agenda was: Minutes to follow. Chairman’s report, Treasurer’s report, and minutes of the previous AGM are available below.

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Winter Photography winners
KTS photography competition winner - The Winner - Kemp Town Sunset by Simon Atkins

The KTS Winter Photography competition, entitled ‘Sun And Sea‘, brought a number of high quality entries from photographers who were able to shrug off the endless rain and grey skies of the season to capture striking images of the Estate. Our winning entry, from Simon Atkins, found a rare and beautiful moment of richly vivid […]

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KTS objection to revised gasworks proposals

St William Homes LLP have submitted an amended planning application for the 2-hectare former Brighton Gasworks site, and KTS has submitted a response to this. In brief, while we welcome the redevelopment of this land, we have concerns about the heritage aspects of this proposal, the design and height of some of the proposed buildings, […]

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Kemp Town Quiz 2024
Kemp Town Quiz 2024

The annual Kemp Town Quiz will be held on Friday March 1st 2024 at the EFL School, 1-2 Sussex Square. Once again we are fortunate to have engaged the services of Robert Snell as our quizmaster. There will be a licensed bar with snacks. Advance tickets (£10 per person) can be purchased from secretary@kemptown-society.org.uk, and […]

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200th anniversary garden party
Regency garden party

On Saturday June 24th 2023 we held a Regency themed garden party to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Kemp Town Estate. There was live music from The Patcham Silver Band and The Adur Concert Band along with other entertainments (including a special childrens’ area), and several stalls including a variety of food (prepared and […]

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Massive increase in parking charges abandoned

Many thanks to those of you who signed the petition against the plans of Brighton & Hove City Council that would have increased on-street parking charges by as much as 300% in some local areas (see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c72rvqqen22o), and that would have had a serious impact on those working at or visiting the Royal Sussex County […]

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200th anniversary lectern unveiled
Vanessa Minns with the commemorative plaque

On Saturday 13th May 2023, members of KTS gathered on Marine Parade to witness the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to mark 200 years of the Kemp Town Estate, building of which commenced in 1824. The plaque, which was designed by local resident Vanessa Minns, was unveiled by Gavin Henderson and the ceremony was conducted […]

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KTS AGM 2023

Please note that the Annual General Meeting of the Kemp Town Society will be held at 10 am on Saturday 13th May 2023 at the EF Language School, 1-2 Sussex Square. With this in mind, the following documents are now available to view and/or download:

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The (other) secret garden

Just as the glorious restoration of the South Enclosure ‘Secret Garden’ nears completion (thanks in large part to the generosity of Michael Bedingfield, a Chichester Terrace resident), our neighbouring Kemptown Secret Garden has unveiled its own plans significantly to improve its facilities to allow greater year round public access and to expand the potential of […]

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Derek Granger 1921-2022

We were all much saddened by the death of Derek Granger in November 2022. He was a former chairman of KTS and a renowned television producer and writer, whose adaptation of ‘Brideshead Revisited’ is regarded as one of the finest TV dramas. Derek moved to Chichester Terrace in 1966 and, as KTS chairman, was stalwart […]

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St George’s Kemptown: Advent 2022

Every year the Archbishop of York commissions an Advent book. Before his retirement and moving into the parish last year Nicholas Holtam was Bishop of Salisbury and the C of E’s lead bishop on the environment. He will run an Advent group based on the book at St George’s on Tuesdays 29th Nov and 6th […]

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Seen from the Street 2022
Patio Garden Winner

During the dreary covid years, all our spirits were lifted by a daily exercise walk past the bright and beautifully tended basement gardens on the Estate. To acknowledge that hard work, and say thankyou to the gardeners, the Kemp Town Society decided to revive an old tradition (started by David Morris) of awarding prizes to […]

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Brighton Gasworks – KTS Submission to the Council
Brighton Gasworks aerial view showing boundary

BH2021/04167 – Brighton Gasworks Land Bounded By Roedean Road (B2066), Marina Way And Boundary Road Brighton BN2 5TJ – OBJECTION Comprehensive mixed-use redevelopment comprising site preparation and enabling works, demolition of existing buildings and structures; provision of new buildings comprising residential use (Use Class C3) and flexible non-residential floorspace (Use Class E), new private and […]

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Marina Planning Decision
Marina proposal

Plans for one thousand new flats at Brighton Marina, including a 28-storey tower block, have been refused planning permission in a surprise move by the Government. The development – dubbed a “pound-shop Dubai” by one local councillor – was rejected by Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, on the […]

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Joan Griffiths (1940-2021)

Many members of KTS will be very sorry to hear that Joan Griffiths died on October 19th. She had been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, but typically kept on working and enjoying life as long as she was able. Joan was a force of nature and a fount of energy, and sometimes seemed to be […]

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DAVID MORRIS (1925-2021)
David Morris

Chairman 1987-97, President from 2017 It was with great sadness that we learned of the death on 30 May of one of KTS’s most active and long-serving supporters.  David and Nina moved to Lewes Crescent in 1974 after he retired from a career as a chartered surveyor. Clearly he sought an active retirement and wanted […]

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Patio Garden Competition Year 2
Patio flowers

Last year the Society were saddened not to be able to hold the Summer Garden party because of the Covid lockdown. To replace it we organised at short notice a competition to find the best Patio garden on the Estate. It was hard to choose a winner from the 19 entries! Regular passers-by enjoyed looking over […]

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