THE UK’S QUEER CAPITAL: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO BRIGHTON & HOVE

Brighton’s transformation from decaying fishing village to quirky seaside resort was accelerated by the loud arrival of King George IV in 1783, who visited the realm for the primary time as Prince Regent and immediately fell in love with its stretching shoreline. The presence of the king, his rich mates and his frivolous get together pad, the Royal Pavilion, had an infinite influence on the prosperity and social growth of Brighton from the 1790s onwards.

The arrival of the London to Brighton Railway in 1841 enabled London residents to start taking daytrips to Brighton, chopping free and exploring their identities courtesy of a newfound sense of escapism and anonymity. Slowly however certainly, Brighton developed a fame as a secure place for individuals to specific their genuine selves and embrace their wishes, which culminated within the institution of numerous queer-friendly pubs all through town by the Nineteen Thirties, regardless of the continued criminalisation of homosexuality. It’s inside these very partitions that the Sussex Homosexual Liberation Entrance organised a small march on a summer season’s day in 1973, which made historical past as Brighton’s first ever Satisfaction march. Born out of a livid political objection to Part 28 – legal guidelines that banned the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality – Satisfaction returned to Brighton in 1991 with a number of loud voices, banners, and a four-day programme of competition occasions. The remaining, some could say, is historical past.

For years, Brighton has been generally known as the UK’s casual queer capital. Now, that’s a crown we will formally put on, with one in 10 individuals over the age of 16 (roughly 11-15% of our grownup inhabitants) figuring out as lesbian, homosexual, bisexual or of one other sexual orientation within the 2021 census. Our streets are dwelling to all variety of queer-friendly areas, and annually, to our Trans Satisfaction occasion – which is at present the most important protest for trans liberation in Europe. 

LEBRUSAN STUDIO • ST. AUGUSTINE’S ARTS & EVENTS CENTRE

In fact, it’s solely honest to present ourselves a nod!

Behind our distinctive engagement rings, marriage ceremony bands and dedication rings is Arabel Lebrusan; main visible artist, award-winning jewelry designer and key founding father of the moral jewelry motion. With over fifteen years of expertise in jewelry design and an extended checklist of accolades beneath her belt, Arabel is a multifaceted artist, drawing from numerous cultural and historic inspirations, together with her Spanish roots, to create timeless heirloom jewels. Our collections are characterised by delicateness and complicated hand engravings, while our bespoke service is award-winning and hailed as “like working with a buddy; somebody who shares your imaginative and prescient and power to create the right ring that encapsulates your priorities and values.” As one of many world’s first ever Fairtrade Gold licensees, Arabel can be proud to supply quite a lot of different sustainable metals, together with recycled platinum and Fairmined Ecological Gold. Our shoppers are additionally invited to decide on between artisanal Ocean Diamonds, reclaimed old-cut diamonds, or fair-traded and traceable colored gem stones.

As members of the marriage and advantageous jewelry industries – each of which stay underpinned by some archaic traditions and notions of gender – we recognise how essential it’s to ascertain an environment the place LGBTQ+ individuals really feel secure and celebrated. Whether or not you determine as lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, trans, queer or in any other case, we welcome you with open arms and can take nice delight in our function as your jeweller.

We’re obtainable by appointment on Thursdays and the occasional Saturday morning on the St. Augustine’s Arts & Occasions Centre within the north of town.

JEREMY HOYE• 83 GLOUCESTER ROAD

Jeremy Hoye is a luminary of jewelry design in Brighton, having discovered fame right here virtually 30 years in the past with the launch of his first retailer on Ship Avenue. Modern and handmade, Jeremy’s collections are largely outlined by chunky, natural varieties, rugged textures, embedded gemstone settings and playful references. “Refusing to comply with tendencies,” Jeremy is proud to design jewelry for the non-conformists – those that know what they like. In recent times, Jeremy has turned his focus in direction of creating bespoke gadgets of jewelry, though he continues to launch new collections which are obtainable to everybody.

Over the course of his Brighton-based profession, Jeremy has develop into a preferred designer amongst LGBTQ+ communities. His web site boasts a devoted part for ‘same-sex civil partnership and marriage ceremony bands’ and far of his jewelry is conceived to be unisex.

Jeremy Hoye may be discovered within the coronary heart of Brighton’s iconic North Laine, tucked away inside a revived outdated Victorian pub. The shop is open Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm, and fee consultations could also be pre-booked by calling 01273 7760907 or emailing data@houseofhoye.com.

THE ILLUSTRATED JEWELLER

The Illustrated Jeweller was based by tattoo artist turned jewelry designer James Robinson, who attracts inspiration from Brighton’s coastal locality to design silver and gold jewelry adorned with nautical symbolism, from sailors and swallows to rope and wheels. Rising up on the coast, James has been endlessly fascinated by the calmness and energy of the ocean, inherently related to the moon and stars. A homage to his great-great-great grandfather, who was sadly misplaced at sea, James designs items which are emblematic and significant, representing fable, perception, and actual tales from the ocean, every making a robust assertion of its personal. His assortment is small however sturdy, every design open to customisation with various gem stones.

Proudly displaying a rainbow flag emoji in its Instagram bio, The Illustrated Jeweller describes itself as the most effective Brighton-based jewellers for homosexual individuals.

Although the model doesn’t have a bodily shopfront, James gives bespoke consultations and encourages potential shoppers to attain out to him immediately ought to they want to run over any questions or concepts.

BAROQUE• 9 – 10 UNION STREET

Baroque’s crew of designer goldsmiths has been hand-crafting jewelry from its busy workshop and retailer within the historic Lanes jewelry quarter since 2006. They delight themselves on “pushing the boundaries of design” and “discovering new methods to create unique and distinctive items so that you can love and maintain,” working with recycled gold, Fairtrade Gold and conflict-free gem stones. Fuelled by a ardour for high quality, Baroque’s extremely expert craftspeople work historically, crafting jewels intuitively and by hand. The model’s promoting level is its revered bespoke service, with shoppers invited to satisfy the crew of their opulent boutique and lose themselves in a world of gorgeous home windows and classic cupboards.

The Baroque crew describes itself as an eclectic mixture of backgrounds, providing a various vary of design outlooks. Earlier bespoke commissions embrace a pair of matching ‘Molten’ marriage ceremony bands set with rainbows of fancy sapphires for a few Brighton-based women making ready to tie the knot.

Baroque’s boutique retailer is open Monday – Friday, 10am – 5.30am and Sunday, 11am – 4pm. The design crew can be obtainable for pre-booked bespoke consultations.

There we’ve it: Our LGBTQ+ oriented information to purchasing a marriage band or dedication ring in Brighton. If you understand of a jeweller that deserves a point out on this checklist, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Love, Arabel & Crew