ePetition - Support Brighton Buskers: Designated Spaces, Amplification and Shelter

Recently, a restrictive sign was installed at the Upside Down House prohibiting the use of amplifiers, drums, and warning of potential seizure of instruments. This approach silences creativity and goes against the spirit of our city. Busking (especially in open-air spaces like the seafront) requires amplification to be heard. Banning drums unfairly excludes entire musical styles and performers. We ask Brighton & Hove City Council to take a positive and proactive approach by supporting buskers through dedicated spaces, fair rules, and thoughtful design. Other cities, like London (through the "Busk in London" initiative), have installed small structures like "The Shell" to offer performers and audiences a focused, protected environment, a model we could adapt locally. Let’s keep Brighton a place where music is made, shared, and celebrated in public; not pushed away or silenced.
Let Brighton Play. Support Street Music.Shelter the Artists. This petition simply aim to preserve and support Brighton's street music culture. The Upside Down House has become a key location for busking, but current restrictions are discouraging performers. We are asking the Council to recognize this space officially, allow for appropriate amplification and drums, and to provide additional designated busking spots across the city (ideally with some shelter to protect buskers from the weather).
Providing structured and supportive spaces for street performance benefits both the local community and the city’s cultural identity. Let’s follow successful examples from other cities and ensure Brighton continues to thrive as a hub for creativity and live public music.

This ePetition ran from 11/07/2025 to 12/10/2025 and has now finished.

592 people signed this ePetition.