The city of Brighton houses one of England‘s largest gay communities and is often called its ‘gay capital’. Home to UK’s best Pride Festival, the English seaside resort town of Brighton is home to many gay-friendly hotels and gay bars. In fact, gay hotels in Brighton run the gamut from high-end luxury hotels and mid-range boutique ones to gay-run cutesy B&Bs and even the more kinky ones. Brighton’s proud and burgeoning LGBTQ+ community is centered around Kemptown, an area of Brighton long associated with the LGBT culture.
Brighton’s reputation and claim to the title of the UK’s unofficial gay capital have been more than two centuries in the making. The city is home to the UK’s highest proportion of same-sex households. The true spirit of Brighton’s LGBTQ community is evident in its vivacious clubbing scene and open-minded, gay-friendly attitude. However, it comes absolutely to the fore during the city’s two-day Brighton Pride extravaganza, which is the largest and probably the most sparkly pride festival in the UK.
So, whether you’re looking to spend a relaxing week with your partner or want to get away for a naughty weekend, you’ll find a city that’s welcoming and has tons of LGBT visitors. The city lies just 46 miles (70 km) from London. If you’re planning to visit the city during Pride time, be warned – gay hotels in Brighton fill up quickly. To make your visit to this fantastic seaside town easier, here’s a guide to the top 11 gay-friendly hotels in Brighton.
Legends Hotel
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A two-minute walk from Brighton Beach brings you to Legends Hotel, a gay-friendly, hetero-welcoming hotel in the heart of Kemptown, the gay area in Brighton. The stylish, hip hotel boasts of modern rooms of various sizes, ranging from really tiny, cozy “crash pads” to larger, spacious suites with private balconies. In fact, you can see the historical landmark of Volk’s Electric Railway right from the hotel.
The hotel’s bar features a fabulous seafront terrace which is excellent for enjoying views of the sea and for meet-cutes. The Legends Bar and Club in the basement is extremely popular with gay locals and travelers and is great for party-lovers and revelers. In fact, all the streets around the Legends Hotel feature most of the gay bars that the gayborhood of Kemptown is known for. Brighton’s best gay saunas are within a 10-minute walking distance. If you don’t mind the pulsating noise from the bar downstairs and the bustling Brighton beachfront right outside, Legends Hotel makes for a fantastic stay.
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A Room With a View
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If you fancy a boutique, old-world stay, the charming seafront Georgian apartment, A Room With a View is perfect. The gay boutique hotel in Brighton overlooks the Brighton seafront and the English Channel. The rooms, albeit slightly small, feature comfortable beds with stunning partial and complete views of the English Channel. Honeyed oak furniture and a refined pastel color scheme present a romantic tone in this fabulous boutique hotel. While it doesn’t offer much in the amenities department, its location overlooking the beach is perhaps its best feature.
Gay travelers will also love staying here as most of Brighton’s bars, including its oldest gay pub, the Bulldog, lie right in the next street. If you’re single and looking for sex toys for a fun-filled weekend-at-sea, pick up a few interesting things at the Prowler. Located in the street next to the boutique hotel, the gay superstore Prowler has been the best gay sex shop in Brighton for more than 20 years.
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Brighton Erotic Boudoir
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For gays looking for an unforgettable dirty weekend-by-the-sea in sexually liberating Brighton, the Brighton Erotic Boudoir might just be what you’re looking for. Featuring an opulent and state-of-the-art kinky play-space and boudoir, the place combines the comforts of a boutique hotel with mind-blowing sex-themes.
Welcoming adult play partners of all sexual orientations, the boutique hotel features sensual self-contained chambers for adults to choose from – medical dungeons, playrooms, naughty cells, and the erotic boudoir. What’s more, the rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art and vintage toys and BDSM equipment to suit every fantasy. The hotel even welcomes guests and is not averse to three people in a room. Apart from the sex-themed amenities, the hotel has other modern living amenities in the rooms as well.
Since wardrobes aren’t included with the play space, the hotel has recommendations for stores depending on what guests are looking for. One of the most recommended ones is the three-story adult entertainment store of LUST!, a 10-minute walk from Brighton Erotic Boudoir. If you’re looking for excitement outside as well, the gay bars in Brighton’s Kemptown are a 20-minute walk.
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Jury’s Inn Brighton Waterfront
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Located right at the edge of Brighton City Centre is one of the more popular gay hotels in Brighton, Jury’s Inn. For gays interested in exploring the culture of this historic and sexually-open-minded town, the Jury’s Inn is the perfect base. If you have the day to spare, we highly recommend that you do this fantastic 2.5-hour leisurely bike tour, the pickup for which is hardly five minutes from Jury’s Inn. Not only can you explore the town’s best-known attractions, but you’ll also be able to experience an up-and-close look at the town and its people.
While Jury’s Inn is right by the waterfront, Brighton Pier and beach are a 20-minute walk away. However, Brighton’s biggest gay club, Club Revenge is just a five-minute walk. Brighton Sauna, the town’s biggest and most popular, is a mere 10-minute walk. The Komedia Club eight minutes away, is a great place for everything from comedy to cabaret. Also, the hotel has a fantastic sea view terrace which is a great place to hang out and meet gay locals and fellow gay travelers.
Rooms at Jury’s Inn are stylish with comfortable and modern amenities, but not all of them feature sea views. An extensive breakfast with hot and cold food options is a great way to start the day at Jury’s Inn.
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Hotel Pelirocco
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If you’re looking for a funkier, risque hotel, the Hotel Pelirocco is something different. The stylish boutique hotel is located around 20 minutes walking from the gay bars in Brighton in the Kemptown area. However, this hotel is known more for what’s on its inside than on its outside. This fabulous gay-owned boutique hotel features a rock and roll theme inside each of its rooms, right from the Pin-up Parlour to the Play Room. The Play Room leaves nothing to the imagination, featuring a cornerless bed and even a stripper pole!
The hotel goes all out with the rest of the decor as well – bright, vibrant colors, luxe interiors, mirrored ceilings, and spa baths. So, whether you seek a romantic retreat or a place to dispel the passion, Hotel Pelirocco makes for a perfect gay stay in Brighton.
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The Amsterdam Hotel
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The Amsterdam Hotel is an adults-only gay hotel, bar, and sauna in the heart of the gay area in Brighton, Kemptown. The “party” hotel exudes fabulous LGBTQ-friendly vibes and is popular with gay travelers. The A Bar at the hotel is extremely popular with the LGBTQ public in Brighton. The Camelford Arms, a Brighton institution and a bear den, is one block down from the Amsterdam hotel. In fact, most of the popular gay bars in Brighton are within a two-street radius. Adult entertainment shops like Nice ‘n’ Naughty are right in the next lane. Albeit rooms at the Amsterdam Hotel could be a bit dated, this is the best place for diving into Brighton’s gay scene.
The Amsterdam hotel is also great for soaking in the culture of the historic lanes and quarters of Brighton. We think you’ll really enjoy this amazing 1.5-hour walking tour of Brighton which takes you through little-known alleys and to hidden gems. Explore the lives and times that Brighton has seen in the past. What’s even better, is that the pickup for this tour is right opposite the Amsterdam hotel at the Brighton Pier.
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Blanch House
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If you’re looking for some good old-fashioned, luxurious romance in Brighton, do stay at the Blanch House. The adults-only boutique hotel is housed in a stunning Georgian townhouse and is one of the most luxurious gay hotels in Brighton. Where else would you be welcomed into a chic champagne and cocktail bar for checking in? Rich, velvet furnishings and muted, neutral tones decorate the boutique hotel, and rooms are a blend of old-world character and modern furnishings. Also, the hotel even provides chocolates, flowers, and champagne in the rooms for special occasions!
While Blanch House itself is located in a quiet, tranquil location by the sea, it isn’t far from the gay revelry of Brighton. The gay bars of Brighton are just three streets down on the right. If you’re looking to spend the day out in the sun, head to the gay-popular official nudist beach of Brighton. Located to the left of Blanch House at the end of Brighton beach, the beach is the first of its kind in the UK. However, if you fancy something kinkier, we recommend Don’t Tell Mama, a gay social and cruising club which also hosts friendly fetish events a 10-minute walk away.
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Brightonwave Hotel
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In the gay area of Brighton, Kemptown sites the fabulous four-star gay hotel of Brightonwave, a two-minute walk from Brighton Pier and Beach. The award-winning stylish boutique hotel is housed in a refurbished traditional 19th-century townhouse and is perfect for gays looking for a frill-full stay in the heart of town. Rooms are contemporary and spacious with seating areas and feature every modern living amenity. There’s even a hearty breakfast waiting for guests at the start of the day.
The hotel is within walking distance of gay clubs and bars in Brighton, including Subline, Brighton’s most popular gay sex club with a kinky vibe. Additionally, the Brighton Sauna is just a five-minute walk from Brightonwave hotel, as is The Marlborough, a historic LGBT venue.
What’s more, Brighton’s best attractions are within walking distance of Brightownwave as well. The Sea Life Aquarium is a two-minute walk, while the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery and Pavillion are a 5-10-minute walk away. If you have a tight itinerary, this comprehensive 1.5-hour walking tour will help you see all of Brighton’s best attractions without breaking a sweat.
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Kemp Townhouse
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The Kemp Townhouse is actually a massive, elegant, and upscale restored Victorian townhouse, making it one of the luxurious and sought-after gay hotels in Brighton. In the heart of gay-town Kemptown, this adults-only, gay-friendly boutique hotel just a saunter from the beach, boutiques, and the gay bars in Brighton. The gay bars of Le Village and Charles Street Tap are just four streets down, as are most of the other gay cruising clubs and adult entertainment stores. The nudist beach in Brighton, which is popular with the LGBTQ public, is a 20-minute walk in the opposite direction.
Rooms at the Kemp Townhouse might be a little on the smaller side, but the luxurious, detailed touches put out by the hotel more than makes up for it. The muted color schemes, vibrant furnishings, period features like a wrought-iron fireplace, and the striking light fixtures make the hotel very, very, well, Brighton.
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Hotel Una
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Widely considered as one of the finest gay hotels in Brighton, Hotel Una is more of a boutique townhouse B&B nestled right next to Regency Square. Rooms at the Una inspire some seriously sexy romance. It provides sea-view balconies, tucked-away patios, saunas, and double whirlpool tubs in some of them! The hotel even arranges in-house massages for its guests, so if you and your partner wish to unwind after a long day, go for it. While the hotel doesn’t have its own restaurant or fitness center, it makes up for it with its relaxed, unpretentious ambiance and natural decor.
If you’re looking for an evening full of revelry, Hotel Una is a 20-minute walk from the gay area of Kemptown and all of its fabulous gay bars. If you don’t know where to start, why not indulge in this fantastic pub crawl of Brighton? Not only will it give you a taste of five of Brighton’s best bars, but it’ll take you straight to their best drink deals! In fact, the meeting point is a mere five-minute walk from Hotel Una.
Hotel Una lies right across from one of Brighton’s very own space needle, the 162-meter-tall observation tower British Airways i360. You can take in the sweeping panoramic views from the observation deck and explore the i360 exhibition. Or if you’re particularly intrepid and adventurous, you could even engage in an adrenaline-rushing 131-meter drop!
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Drakes of Brighton
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The gay-friendly Drakes of Brighton probably sets the standard for boutique hotels in the English seaside town. Gay guests looking for some fine romance will love the hospitality at Drake’s. Housed in a Georgian structure, 13 of the 20 rooms at this hotel feature sweeping sea and pier views. The best part is that they also feature bathtubs right next to the floor-to-ceiling windows. If you ask for it, the hotel even provides a love hamper of adult toys. The 24-hour, sea-facing Drakes Bar is a great place to enjoy a pre-boozing cocktail. Perhaps, make some new friends and engage in meet-cutes.
Located in the heart of Kemptown, Drakes is surrounded by multiple gay bars, saunas, and adult entertainment avenues. The gay-popular nudist beach is a 15-minute walk to the left, while Brighton’s attractions and places to see lie right to the right.
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Just So You Know:
- Around 11-15% of all adults in Brighton identify as LGBTQ+, perhaps the largest for any place in the United Kingdom.
- Brighton’s Pride parade encourages dressing to the hilt. Revel in the gayness and don everything from outfits to rainbows, bright colors, and face paint! Brighton Pride has one simple message: “We are family.”
- The origins of Brighton’s gay bars and pubs go back to as far as the 1930s. After World War II, Brighton’s fame as a safe space for people to explore their sexualities began to spread.
- Leeds is also a gay friendly city. Enjoy the best welcoming vibe at one of the Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels In Leeds.
Get Some Culture in Brighton:
- Brighton Pride: One of the UK’s biggest Pride festivals held in August. The weekend soiree sees a huge parade and a massive party in Preston Park with cabaret, dance, and music.
- Brighton Bear Weekend: This event is hugely popular and comprises parties, picnics, and pub events.
- Brighton: Piers & Queers LGBTQ History Tour – Delve into Brighton’s wonderfully colorful and iconic LGBTQ heritage and history on this 1.5-hour walking tour. Hear stories of a 1923 same-sex wedding, a woman who lived her life as a man, and drag queens. See LGBTQ bars from the ’50s and ’60s before visiting the place where England’s first Civil Partnership ceremony took place. Finally, end the tour by learning all about Brighton’s brilliant nightlife in Kemptown.
Best Gay Bars/Clubs in Brighton:
- Don’t Tell Mama: A gay social/cruising club with a small dance floor, cruising area, and darkroom. Friendly fetish events feature strict dress codes of clothing-optional, underwear, uniform, leather, and the likes.
- Subline: Brighton’s most popular gay sex club with a kinky, industrial vibe. Lube and condoms freely available at the bar and in the darkrooms.
- Club Revenge: Brighton’s biggest and most famous LGBTQ club hosts theme parties every night. Featuring two state-of-the-art dance floors and a great rooftop terrace.
- The Marlborough – Historic LGBTQ pub with a small theatre upstairs which hosts avant-garde LGBT performers.
- Bulldog – Brighton’s oldest gay bar with DJs, karaoke, cabaret, and two stories of entertainment.
- The Camelford Arms – Brighton’s local bear den with fantastic drinks and a Moroccan-style patio.
- Charles Street Tap – Funky gay pub-cum-nightclub with a heated outdoor terrace and a great beer collection and fun cabaret shows.
- Prowler Brighton – Brighton’s biggest and best gay lifestyle store selling everything from clothing to sex toys.
Best Gay Saunas in Brighton:
- The Brighton Sauna. Brighton’s biggest sauna as well as one of UK’s biggest and best, Brighton Sauna is particularly popular during “Naked Wednesdays”. The place features amazing male massages, darkrooms, glory holes, and a dry 20-man sauna, among other things.
