Colourful and popular carnival to 'return with a bang' next year

Kemp Town Carnival organisers said the event is on track to “return with a bang” on June 2 next year after striking up a partnership with the Brighton Palace Pier.

The street party, which attracts up to 30,000 revellers, has been forced to take a break this summer to allow its governing body to be transformed into a charitable organisation.

It is the second sabbatical the popular event has been forced to take in recent years. In 2015 the Kemp Town streets remained silent because of the loss of a council subsidy and support for community groups.

Now organisers hope the event can move to a more stable footing and are already working towards fundraising for the next carnival with a series of events on the pier and elsewhere over the coming months.

The newly renovated Horatio’s music bar on the pier will host “a night of tropical mischief” on Saturday, April 8, with further dates at the Brighton Fringe Spiegeltent on May 18, a tea party at St George’s Church on June 24 and a seafront parade on July 23.

Anne Martin, Brighton Palace Pier general manager, said: “Horatio’s bar on Brighton Palace Pier has always been a well known part of the Brighton music and leisure scene and we firmly believe that the Kemp Town Carnival should remain a part of the Brighton and Hove calendar of events. We look forward to working even more closely with the carnival in the future.”

Carnival director Mat Cook said: “It’s brilliant to have the carnival back on track and I’d like to personally thank all the wonderful people, businesses and organisations who have stepped up to offer their support. We couldn’t do it without them.

“We’re really excited to have Brighton Palace Pier on board and would also like to thank Brighton and Hove City Council for recognising the significance of community events in its latest budget announcements.”

To get involved with Kemp town Carnival visit kemptowncarnival.com.