Brighton's got the X-Factor!

I've had a busy few weeks, organising Christmas events plus tours. Many of my most recent tours have been down on the coast, including in Brighton - one of my favourite cosmopolitan cities. As the clocks are about to change this coming weekend, losing an hour of sleep, Saturday nights are now perfect to settle down in front of the T.V. and watch either Strictly Come Dancing or the X-Factor. Even more of a reason to watch the X-Factor is that one of the finalists, Frankie Cocozza (18), is in fact from Brighton, having gone to school at nearby Woodingdean. Yes, he is the contestant who has the name of 7 girls tattooed on his backside!! Only in Brighton you might say.

Frankie Cocozza, X-Factor 2011 Contestant

He has been feted as the new "cheeky chappy" of Brighton - the nickname once given to another famous music act of the early 20th Century, Max Miller, whose statue can be found gracing the Pavilion Gardens by the Dome Theatre complex.

The original "Cheeky Chappy", Max Miller

Brighton certainly seems to have the X-Factor, since the presenter of the show, Dermot O'Leary, also owns a fish restaurant here. You can find out more about the site of the restaurant and some of the other famous people of Brighton, both past and present, such as Sir Laurence Olivier, Katie Price etc..., on a Brighton walking tour - contact me to book your tour.

Take Pride in Brighton!

This weekend has been incredibly busy - with tours both in Brighton and in Canterbury. However, the tour I have next weekend in Brighton will be an even more colourful one. Not only am I doing a Fashion Tour for some University Students, but the day I am doing this, Saturday 13th August, is the Brighton Pride Parade.

Brighton has always been a very liberal, fun loving and tolerant city; even in the days of the ultimate "bad boy", the Prince Regent. Today, Brighton has one of the largest L.G.B.T. communities in Europe, and celebrates this fact twice a year with Pride events throughout the city.

Open to all, Pride 2011 will be a fantastic mix of dance, music and entertainment - and it's started already! This week is full of different events but it all culminates with the Pride Parade which kicks off at 11am from Madeira Drive - right on the seafront by the iconic Pier. Look out for floats, dance troops and maybe even some stars! They wind their way out to Preston Park where for the rest of the day and into the evening you can enjoy caberet, dancing, a fun fair and even a live music stage. This year Brighton welcomes the 2008 and 2009 X Factor winners, Alexander Burke and Joe McElderry respectively, to the stage.

The Park events are ticket only (see the website link for more details of events and how to buy tickets), but throughout the city there are street parties and lots of fun going on. I can't wait to combine my tour with some of the magic that will will see on the streets of Brighton!