The Ledward Centre

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

05/09/2025

Brighton’s LGBTQIA+ history in print would not exist without our namesake, James Ledward.

Much loved and desperately missed, we remember him today on what would be his 71st birthday.

In 1994 he co-created a local guide for the community, followed in July 1995 by the first issue of Gscene. For 24 years, until his passing in 2019, James dedicated himself to Gscene, which later became Scene magazine.

Now gayhistory.co.uk is working to complete the archive of Scene so this legacy can be preserved for the future.
👉 They are still searching for a handful of missing issues (see their post/list). If you have any tucked away, you can donate them via Jubilee Library or contact [email protected]

We are proud to support this project and to help keep James’s vision and our community’s history alive.

For more information visit: https://gayhistory.co.uk/desperately-seeking-gscenes

Donate magazines at Brighton & Hove City Libraries Scene Magazine

23/06/2025

We are excited to be returning soon! Watch out for more updates here.

18/04/2025

🌈 Community update!

🛠 Big changes are happening at the Ledward Centre!
We've been busy behind the scenes (and walls 👷‍♀️) with our refurbishment of the Ledward Centre.

Our plans feature more accessible spaces and WC, a new bigger Café with a daily hot and cold menu 🥪 ☕, new function rooms, and a vibrant hub for our beautiful Brighton LGBTQAI+ community.

💜 Swipe to see progress ➡️ and stay tuned for more updates!

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17/04/2025

12/03/2025

Farewell David,
Such an inspiration to so many over so many years, whether as a performer, a champion of local LGBTQ+ and HIV charities, including Brighton Cares back in the 90´s, and The Susssex Beacon and The Brighton Rainbow Fund, or as an important member of our community.
Some of our volunteers were delighted to be involved with organising the concert at The Dome to celebrate David´s 90th Birthday, with many working on the night.
Although many of us have not seen him for some time, as he was latterly in residential care, he will be sorely missed by generations of us.
Rest in Peace David,, you are much loved.
(Image by Andrew Kay, from photography by Stellapix)

30/01/2025

Job description and application at https://bit.ly/4j9vPDl