Outdoor events planned for 2015
A new community cycling event and a ‘fanzone’ for the Rugby World Cup are among a programme of outdoor events being planned for Brighton & Hove next year.
A meeting of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Economic Development and Culture Committee on November 13 is being recommended to give landlord’s consent to the proposed programme of events in Madeira Drive and the city’s parks and other open spaces during 2015.
The busy line-up includes regular fixtures on the city’s calendar, such as the Brighton Marathon in April and the Veteran Car Run in November, along with new attractions.
The Velocity cycling event, proposed for Madeira Drive on September 12, will build on the huge popularity of cycling highlighted by this year’s Tour of Britain stage which finished in Brighton & Hove. The event will feature amateur grade races for all ages, rather than professional cyclists, giving the opportunity for local people and visitors to take part. There will also be cycling themed attractions, displays and exhibitions.
The Rugby World Cup Fanzone on Madeira Drive from September 18 to 20 will enable people to savour the excitement of the opening weekend of the tournament – of which Brighton & Hove is a host city. The fanzone will screen the opening match featuring England v Fiji on Sept 18, the local matches at the Brighton Community stadium between South Africa v Japan on Sept 19 and Samoa v the United States on Sept 20 – both of which are sell-outs - and other games over the weekend. A festival of rugby will be held alongside on Madeira Drive.
The programme of events proposed for parks and open spaces includes a pop-up comedy and theatre venue on the north lawn of St Peter’s Church as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival in May, Shakedown Music festival at Waterhall in July, the Sussex Festival of Nature in Stanmer Park in June, and a new 10 mile road race, starting and finishing on Hove Lawns, in October.
Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, Chair of the Economic Development and Culture Committee, said: “Outdoor events play a major role in attracting visitors all year round, adding to the vibrancy of the city for residents and tourists and making a significant contribution to the local economy.
“Events such as the Brighton Marathon, for example, and this year’s Tour of Britain bring huge crowds to the city, and TV and other media coverage provide valuable publicity for the city.”
He added: “In 2015 we are expecting the Rugby World Cup to be a real highlight. Applications for tickets for the matches being played in Brighton & Hove are heavily oversubscribed so we know there will be enormous interest in the tournament and we expect the fanzone to attract fans and people new to rugby alike.”
“We are also delighted to see a proposal for a new cycling event, which will follow on from the success of the Tour of Britain.”
Landlord’s consent is required from the council for the staging of all major outdoor events in the city and councillors are considering applications submitted for events now, to enable the organisers to plan ahead for next year.
Notes to editors:
See committee papers for more details (Agenda items 38 and 39) http://democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=705&MId=5166&Ver=4
For more information about the Rugby World Cup http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/leisure-and-libraries/events-and-filming/rugby-world-cup-2015-0
Further information: Brighton & Hove City Council press office 01273 291035/293033