The Ledward Centre

18/07/2026

16/07/2026

We are beyond excited to announce that the Ledward Centre will reopen its doors to the public from 1st August 2026.

The Ledward Centre cafe will be fully open to the public on Pride Saturday, 1 August, running from 12.00 - 18.00, and again on Pride Sunday, 2 August, from 10.00 - 16.00. So grab your friends, your flags and your chosen family, and come and see the space for yourselves. Every LGBTQIA+ person, allies and their chosen family is warmly invited through the doors.

The café will be serving a wide selection of hot and cold drinks, cakes, pastries and snacks, plus baguettes, salads, sandwiches and jacket potatoes, with meal deals available too. Regular opening hours will then begin from Thursday, 6 August, with the cafe open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10.00 - 18.00.
We anticipate opening on additional days later in the year, so keep an eye on our website and socials for those updates.

Private daytime bookings will be available 09.00 - 18.30 every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Evening bookings are available 18.30 - 22.30 Monday - Saturday.

We cannot wait to welcome you back to your community centre. To everyone who has stood by us on this journey, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

For further details please visit: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/ledward-centre-set-to-reopen-its-doors-this-brighton-pride/

21/02/2026

Having a wonderful afternoon with Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard for the Wellness Day at The Ledward Centre ❤️

18/02/2026

31/12/2025

Statement on the future of the Ledward Centre.
By Billie Lewis and Ellie Matthews

The Ledward Centre has been closed for a year now and we're acutely aware of the conversation this has sparked. Let us address this head on:

The Brighton Rainbow Fund and The Ledward Centre CIC, which previously operated The Ledward Centre, are no longer involved. We have taken on this challenge as a new community organisation driven by our love for James Ledward, honouring his memory and preserving his legacy and vision of a city centre LGBTQIA+ community space, with the aim of opening our doors and ensuring the centre remains the vital community resource that this city, and our diverse communities need.

The adaptions are progressing well, and we have received support in kind from a range of tremendous partners, including Morgan Sindall, their supply chain, and Brighton & Hove City Council, who have backed the project with words of encouragement, goodwill, and valuable time, helping us to reach this point. We are extremely grateful for their support.

We have also received support from the incredible team at Community Works, who have provided guidance, help and advice in setting up a new not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC). Our aim is to reopen the centre and for it to be fully operational as soon as possible.

The only remaining barrier is securing our lease from the building's landlord. Despite eight months of discussions and assurances, we are still awaiting the formal documentation needed to complete the transfer and reopen the doors.

Nevertheless, we are determined to reopen, and we are working at pace to make this happen.

In the meantime, follow us on social media and keep an eye on our new website.

We would like to send our deepest gratitude to the many volunteers, community groups, charities, community leaders, agencies and individuals who have kept in close contact supporting us throughout this journey. Your support, patience, advice and warmth has been invaluable to us.

We wish everyone a happy new year.
See you all in 2026!

With thanks,
Billie and Ellie