Brighton Route – 5 july 2023
The Baton’s Brighton route covers large parts of the city, taking in the whole seafront between Hove Lagoon and the Marina (including to the end of the Pier and back!), the Lanes, the North Laine, and up Lewes Road as far north as Bevendean. It is a unifying journey that speaks to people from across the city and the region with a simple, powerful message – there is Hope, and there are always people who care.
The Baton route and event locations are all subject to local authority approval, and change.
© mapbox & OSMap
As in other cities, The Baton’s day will likely start with a media moment just before 08:00.
08:00
start peace statue
The Baton will first head westwards as far as the Big Beach Café to say hello to supporter Norman Cook. From there, it will return eastwards towards Rockwater.
Public support will be welcome.
08:40 – 9:15
1 Rockwater
The Baton will stop at the Baton of Hope Business Leaders’ Breakfast, which will be in full swing at the beautiful Rockwater Rooftop Restaurant. Listen to inspiring guest speaker Leon Taylor, Silver Diving Olympic Medallist and Mentor/Coach to the GB Olympic Team & Paralympic Athletes, in conversation with Sam Thomas; hear from Baton of Hope founder Mike McCarthy; and enjoy live music from Becky Briggs from BIMM.
This event is sponsored by Bird and Blend Tea Mixologists and the Media Sponsor is County Business Clubs. Hosted and supported by Hexagon Hive and Start the Conversation.
This is the only Brighton event not open to the public: tickets are £25.
09:45 – 10:30
2 Platf9rm, outside Hove Town Hall
The Baton will join Platf9rm’s ‘Wonderful Wednesday’ – a weekly part of their mission to ‘make work wonderful’. There will be coffee, music from BIMM music students, and short talks from a local Councillor and Platf9rm employees, who will share stories of hope, community, connection and survival.
Public support will be welcome.
11:30 – 12:15
3 Community garden, upper bedford street
This community event, hosted by Brighton Table Tennis Club and Fitzherbert Community Hub, (including the Real Junk Food Project and Voices in Exile) will feature short talks from Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Jackie O’Quinn, and a paramedic from South East Coast Ambulance Service, plus live music from students on the Room 2 Rant programme at AudioActive.
Public support will be welcome.
13:20 – 13:40
4 Bison beer at sea lanes
This isn’t an event as such (no music or talks here) but Bison Beer are kindly providing our team with a space on their rooftop bar to pause, rest and refresh – and offering their customers an opportunity to see The Baton up close.
14:00 – 15:00
5 Brighthelm Gardens, Queens Road
This community event, hosted by Cascade Creative Recovery, will feature music from Cascade Recovery Choir, a short drama / movement piece, plus stories and poems from people in recovery.
Public support will be welcome.
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6 merged with 7
The Baton will no longer stop at Plus X Innovation Hub. Please head to The Bevy (next stop) for the Family Playdate/BBQ.
15:45 – 16:45
7 the bevy pub
The Bevy is so much more than a pub! This special community space will host a Family Playdate/BBQ for the Baton of Hope in collaboration with Dad La Soul, Grassroots Suicide Prevention and Plus X, with crafting, circus activities, and a DJ of course. This is Dad La Soul, after all!
This event will run from 3pm-6pm and The Baton will join at 3.45pm (for 60 minutes) for uplifting music and moving talks from the local community. All welcome. Spaces are free but limited: please click here to register.
Public support will be welcome.
19:00 – 21:15
finish brighton dome
An Evening of Hope will bring together powerful performers with an audience determined to make a difference – a safe and unifying evening of uplifting melodies and stories about connection, community, survival and, above all, HOPE.
Because with hope, there is possibility. And where there is possibility, there is life.
Acts will include international beatbox star and “one-person music festival” SK Shlomo, the Choir With No Name, young local talents Phonetic and M.Kudo from Audio Active, local drag queen Cherry Bomb, and award-winning poet Cecilia Knapp. Jonny Benjamin MBE and Neil Laybourn (The Stranger on the Bridge) will share their incredible story. Our host for the evening will be the inimitable Cally Beaton.
Tickets are on sale here now from the Brighton Dome box office. Please note: under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
The Ollie Foundation is running a special training programme alongside the Baton of Hope Tour. For details, please click here: Ollie Foundation Training