BOTI HEROES

We celebrate BOTI heroes from Brighton and beyond, hearing about their project that supports the community.

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Hello, BOTI gang. We weren’t going to mention the weather, because that’s lazy, but seriously, what is going on? Weather vagaries aside, this weekend is as jam-packed as usual. We’ve got free discos, beach cleans, indie festivals and a 17-mile arty walk to Newhaven. The sort of things you probably won’t stumble across unless somebody plugged in (us? hello!) tells you about them. As ever, this is just a snippet of the full guide. You’ll find that over on the site, along with our usual helping of foodie goodness, now in its own separate guide. What are you up to this weekend? 😎 #brighton #brightonguide #botiloves

May, you have been an utter delight. We’ll happily have you back next year. These are just some of our (many) highlights from exploring the best of @brightonfringe, @greatescapefest, @brightonfestival, @artistsopenhouses and more, from controversial sculptures to brilliantly off-the-wall Fringe shows and everything in between. Yep, May was a busy one. But Brighton never sits still for long, so we’re launching something new this week 👀: BOTI’s Midweek Picks – a shorter newsletter rounding up the best things happening during the week. Because it’s not all about the weekend. Want to know what’s on our radar? Sign up at the link in bio ⬆️ #brighton #brightonguide #brightoninsiders #botiloves

Is this Brighton’s (and Hove’s) most meticulous manicure? In a word: yes. If you’re looking for a manicure-only salon that combines hygiene, precision and creativity, this is it. Nail tech Yvon found that the cleanliness in some salons he’d worked in left a lot to be desired, so he set up his home studio in his mansion flat in Hove - and the attention to detail is next level. Each tool is thoroughly disinfected in Barbicide before being sterilised twice (UV and 300C heat), with fresh ones used for every client. Spot the nifty fingerless gloves? Yep, no unnecessary UV exposure here, thank you very much. But it’s not just about hygiene and safety. We’ve never had such a meticulous manicure or one carried out with such technical precision. We’re more used to having that post-salon “hmm, they’re ok but actually they’re not quite symmetrical” experience. Thankfully, there’s none of that here (or we wouldn’t be writing this); Yvon is a detail fiend with a wealth of technical expertise at his (bloody gorgeous) creative fingertips. Our atypical reaction when he was finished: “Ooh, can’t stop staring at them!” (Usually we’d leave a salon spotting all the things we’d change.) But we have to tell you about the pampering: it starts before you’ve even arrived, with a drinks menu to order from (coffee, matcha, jasmine tea, and more), and ends with a scrub, a blissful hand massage and a little take-home treat. Word of warning: this kind of service takes a fair bit of time, so if you’re looking for a quick in-and-out appointment, this might not be for you. But if you’re after one of the best manicures out there, you know what to do (oh, and there’s a 10% discount for students). And the proof is in the pudding: three weeks later, our BOTI-inspired gel nails are still looking absolutely flawless. #brightonguide #hove #botiloves #brightonthingstodo

May is coming to an end but she’s going out with a bang. So we’ve done the hard work of narrowing down the approximately 7,000 things happening this weekend into a handful of our tried-and-tested favourites. From Fringe fun and pasta for a £1 (not free, sorry!) to a sauna festival and contemporary art bargains, this weekend’s got it going on. And there’s plenty more on the website - all hand-picked by people 👋 who spend far too much time wandering around Brighton (and on here). Link up top ⬆️ #brighton #brightonguide #visitbrighton #whatsonbrighton #brightonthingstodo

COMPETITION TIME 🎉 Fancy learning how to make your very own bespoke gin to take home? Yeah? Thought so. Then keep reading. Having spent a fantastic evening @distillersworkshopuk earlier this month, we’ve teamed up with them to offer one lucky winner a pair of tickets to their June 27th workshop (worth £190). Gin aficionado or not, it’s the perfect treat for yourself and/or someone else (Father’s Day is coming up, you know). Set @dedbestdistillery in the Sussex countryside just outside Lewes, this three-hour workshop teaches you everything from the history of gin and the distilling process itself to how they got started (drink in hand, obvs), before you get stuck into creating your own bespoke recipe - choosing and measuring the ingredients, getting hands-on with the still, and even adding the final wax seal (this is where we got a bit carried away and quadruple-dipped, see the last pic). Along the way, you’ll taste some of their other drinks, indulge in some local treats to soak up the booze, and test your knowledge in a fun gin quiz before you take your beautiful full-size bottle home to enjoy later. Because let’s be honest, sipping a G&T made from your own handcrafted gin in the sunshine (or rain, we’re flexible) is pretty damn unbeatable. Fancy it? Here’s all you have to do to be in with a chance of winning: 1️⃣ Make sure you’re following @distillersworkshopuk and @btntheinside 2️⃣ Like this post 3️⃣ Give us your best gin name in the comments and tag someone you’d like to take along for the fun 4️⃣ Share to your stories and tag us both for an extra entry Good luck! 🍸 Ts & Cs * The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over. * For a valid entry, participants must follow both @btntheinside and @distillersworkshopuk on Instagram, like the competition post, and tag at least one person in the comments. * The competition closes at 5pm on Thursday 4th June. Entries submitted after this time will not be counted. * Travel and additional expenses are not included. #brighton #ukcomp #brightonguide #visitsussex #lewes

Oof, bit hot outside, isn’t it? We don’t want to jinx it but Brighton’s somehow landed a bank holiday weekend with actual good weather. 🤞 Naturally, the beach is going to be rammed, but if you fancy mixing things up we’ve got plenty of other ways to spend it – from eclectic Fringe fun and foodie treats (free empanadas!) to pottery road trips, immersive installations, BBQ terraces, and the final weekend of the Artists’ Open Houses and the main Brighton Festival. Brb, we’re off to stand directly in front of a fan. This is just a wee snippet btw - if you want the full shebang, head over to the website (link up top) or sign up to our newsletter to get it all first. Happy bank holiday and see you on the other (sunny 🤞) side! #brighton #brightonguide #visitbrighton #whatsonbrighton #brightonthingstodo