The Hangout Brighton
Hove, Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom
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Aim
Saving St Patrick’s Church: Awakening a historic landmark into Brighton’s new gravity-defying home for circus and visual arts
A bit about us:
We are a team of five quirky individuals with a range of even quirkier roots: an acrobat-calisthenics athlete, a neuroscience aerialist, a paragliding juggler, multifaceted interior designer and a skater-visual artist.
After many talks about our hobbies and dreams we found that we shared a collective dream: to create a breathtaking space where people could just turn up, play, move, learn, collaborate, and grow - or just hangout in an inspiring environemnt. We envisioned a home rooted in an inclusive, vibrant community where everyone could share their passions under one magnificent roof.
And really, what is more Brighton than that?
So, when a stunning historic church within five minutes of all of us suddenly came on the market, we knew this was our moment.
The Bold Dream for Brighton
Now, we are The Hangout Brighton, and we are on a mission to breathe new life into this 160-year-old landmark.
St Patrick’s Church has a long history as a place of gathering. We want to honor that legacy by awakening this magnificent space as Brighton’s new community-rooted home for circus, visual and maker arts, and social connection.
Picture this:
The Main Nave: In one part, people are flying on aerial silks, hoops, or a flying trapeze. In another, a group of acrobats is tumbling, and jugglers are passing props to each other.
The Café Social Hub: A welcoming café overlooking all the action, where a community-led kitchen serves up healthy treats and local coffee.
The Converted Studios: A door to the south takes you to versatile spaces you can hire to teach a yoga class, host a dance workshop, or rent an artist studio.
Vibrant Weekends: Watch the Nave transform into a space for ecstatic dance, local cultural events, or an indoor movie theater.
The opportunities are endless, but the root of this dream is a true ecosystem of connection. We are creating a place where a bodybuilder can walk in and try partner acrobatics, and an absolute beginner can create, play, and grow without an ounce of judgment.
From a Spark to a Movement
When we shared this vision on Instagram, we hoped a few people would connect with the vision. We didn't expect 72,000+ views, 3,000+ likes, and over 500 of you filling out our interest forms!
Your messages made it clear that this is more than just a fun reason to bring a landmark back to life. Brighton needs a healthy, creative home for people to collaborate, and move.
The Big Milestone & Our July 31st Deadline
Behind the scenes, our team of five founders has been working tirelessly. Unlocking a significant milestone: We are officially registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC)!
This means everything we do is legally locked to benefit the public and preserve this heritage building.
Our formal bid deadline to purchase the church is July 31st. We have our business plans polished, our partnerships with groups like Gravity Rebels and The Circus Project locked in, and projected revenues ready to keep the building sustained for generations. Now, we need one final push from the crowd to make our bid undeniable.
Our Phased crowdfunder
We know £100,000 is a big, ambitious number. But we also know the power of a community that dreams big! This target allows us to tackle two crucial phases at once:
Milestone 1: The Foundation (£26,000): This goes to work immediately. It covers the critical structural surveys, solicitor fees to lock down our option to buy, and professional grant writers. Securing these assets will help us chase massive national heritage and arts and community grants, in turn compounding your generous contributions.
Milestone 2: The Acquisition Seed (£74,000+): Every pound over our initial paperwork costs goes directly into our core purchase fund. This acts as our vital "community match" to unlock government funds and grants in order to seal the deal.
Our Safe-Bid & Refund Promise
We want you to feel 100% secure backing this dream. Until our bid is officially approved and we have legally secured the church, we will not draw down or spend a single penny of this Crowdfunder.
The funds will sit completely untouched in the platform. In the unlikely event that our bid for St Patrick’s Church is not successful, every single donation will be refunded directly back to you (minus standard platform card-processing fees).
This means backing us is entirely risk-free. If we win the building, you helped make history. If we don't, you get your money back.
Every Donation is a Vote to Exist
Every single donation - no matter big or small - is a vote for this space to exist. It is proof to big grant bodies that Brighton wants this landmark saved.
And so is a Follow or a Share
Follow the journey and stay in touch. Along with your valuable donation, your engagement is just as impactful! Follow us on Instagram, share a reel or a story, fill in our website form or even drop us an email.
Let’s do one big push and reach as many people as possible! Share our story, tell your neighbors, and let’s make The Hangout happen, together!
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 10th October 2026 at 12:41pm