Bringing you all the latest news, previews and giveaways from across Brighton and Hove…
The Girl Can Help It
Offering advice to girls facing issues they can’t turn to anyone else for help with, Brighton is home to the very popular and very anonymous @Btongirlprobs. The girl behind the Brighton-based social media platform @btongirlprobs addresses the daily struggle of girls and women in Brighton, and doesn’t pull any punches.
With over 10,500 followers, it’s clear that her lively and often visceral approach appeals. As she says, “that time you ferociously stalked your boyfriend’s ex on social media; when you applied fake tan only for it to pour with rain seconds later; when you consumed 14 tubs of ice cream and five loafs of bread to get over a broken heart; I’ve been there and got the T-shirt.”
This month she will be announcing a big collaboration between an undisclosed Brighton nightclub, and the BGP brand that will be featured on an American Twitter sensations website. The main theme of the night will be the fact that she’ll be there but no one will know who she is!
Find her here www.brightongirlproblems.wordpress.com
Having a Ball
TV and radio presenter Zoe Ball is letting viewers into her home in a new YouTube channel launched by Spirit Digital Media.
The lifestyle channel Zoe Ball: Off Air will launch with cookery series Fakeways. The show will see Ball and Gingerman restaurateur Ben Keller create an easy-to-prepare alternative to takeaways from her home.
The show will be posted every Friday for two months though her subscription-only channel and she is eager to get started, saying: “I’m super excited about Off Air and all the adventures we are plotting for the channel. Collaborating with Spirit Digital was a no brainer – their work with Jamie Oliver on Food Tube is brilliant.”
Following the channel’s initial launch, Spirit plans to increase the content volume, pushing it to three updates a week as well as expanding into music and showbiz, and Ball said she is excited to be a part of something she is so passionate about.
She says: “It’s a dynamic and immediate way to communicate with your audience and the perfect forum to make content about the things I love; be it music, movies, cooking, talking to talented folk.”
Zoe Ball will be talking exclusively to Absolute Magazine about her channel, Strictly Come Dancing and much more in our next issue so don’t miss it!
Try a New Place
Lansdowne Place hotel has at last been granted permission by the city council to be turned into 45 homes.
The impressive building has been empty since 2012 but will now see the main building converted into flats along with the construction of five houses behind, facing into the courtyard.
There will also be car parking and cycle storage and chair of the planning committee, Cllr Phelim Mac Cafferty, said: “This will help retain a building that is in danger of dilapidating further. A balance had to be struck between satisfying neighbours that the building can be brought back to life in an appropriate fashion and ensuring that any new development won’t harm residents’ amenity.”
It gets a big thumbs up from us at Absolute!
Twist It Firestarter
While The Prodigy sang about it, you can now taste it thanks to Firestarter Vodka.
The independent distributor Molvino Fine Wines and Spirits Company have released this five-times distilled Firestarter Vodka in the UK and you can find it in Brighton at Maloolah Bah.
The multi-award winning packaging looks just like a fire extinguisher and comes with a built-in, high-speed pour spout. All you have to do it twist off the valve cap and vodka pours directly from the spout.
It looks like a winner to us.
For more information on Firestarter Vodka visit www.firestartervodka.com
WIN WIN WIN!
The UK’s biggest wedding show returns to London on 26th-28th September. With exciting feature areas, a breath-taking catwalk show and over 300 experts specialising in everything from stunning dresses to sparkling accessories, exquisite flowers to mouth-watering cakes and exciting entertainment to idyllic venues, The National Wedding Show is the bomb.
Absolute Magazine has teamed up with the organisers to offer five lucky readers and their ‘plus one’ the chance to attend the year’s most prestigious wedding event, absolutely free!
To be in with a chance of winning these fabulous tickets, email your name and postal address to sam@absolutemagazine.co.uk before 21st September. Winners will be notified by email on 22nd September and will collect their tickets on the door at the venue, Earl’s Court.
Tickets are valid any day and are limited to one pair per winner. So what are you waiting for? Get sending.
For more information visit The National Wedding Show website www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk
A Bill of Health
Healthy eating is about to get a whole lot simpler with the opening of the Asian-inspired light fast food shop itsu this month.
Offering quick, healthy food options made on-site daily, Brighton’s itsu will feature a number of exclusive ‘firsts’ including a full range of frozen yoghurt, a juice bar and a new Autumn menu.
The 112-seat shop will be located opposite the Clocktower in central Brighton and is only one of two itsu shops outside of London.
Pret boss and itsu founder Julian Metcalfe said he’s “thrilled to have a presence in Brighton which is known to be a great trend leader in arts, culture and lifestyle; making it a strong fit with our brand. There’s also a huge amount of interest in healthy living and eating in Brighton but there’s nothing like itsu available in the city. Our aim is to genuinely revolutionise the way Brighton eats.” We’re not sure about that, but it looks good enough to eat anyway
For more information visit www.itsu.com or on Twitter @ItsuOfficial
Playing with Brighton Zombies
ZomBN1 is the blood-splattered sequel to 2012’s locally-based board game BN1. This time round Brighton is overrun by the slavering dead, and up to 5 survivors must compete for the last seat on the last train out of town.
Gather supplies (bags of cous cous), arm yourself (with a deck chair) and battle the zombie menace all the way from the Chattri to Black Rock. Ferry survivors to safety on the Volk’s Railway.
Swot up by watching zombie movies at the Duke of Yorks. Trade survival stories with Nick Cave and Disco Pete. Keep an eye on the living and the dead to ensure the one person getting out alive is you.
ZomBN1 will be available from the end of October, and is limited to 1000 copies. In the meantime you can pre order the game so as soon as it’s ready it’ll be sent out to you straight away. There’s a host of extras to order too, from personalised cards to T-shirts.
For more information go to www.bedsitgames.co.uk
WIN WIN WIN – Absolute have teamed up with game creator Paul Stapleton to offer a very special prize. One lucky winner will bag a copy of ZomBN1, as well as original game BN1 plus a copy of all Paul’s comic books as a prize. Combined values about £100 so not a bad haul. Simply email your name and postal address to sam@absolutemagazine.co.uk to be in the blood-spattered running.