The Sussex Meeting House anniversary will give Brighton residents a chance to explore one of Falmer’s distinctive buildings through a programme published by the university on Monday 5 October. The events are open to the wider public as well as students and staff, although several registration links currently lead to a university login.
Last updated: 6 October 2026, 9.30am BST.
Sussex Meeting House anniversary: the key dates
The university’s official announcement lists an architectural talk with Professor Alistair Grant on Monday 26 October, 6.30pm–8pm, and an open house on Tuesday 27 October, 9am–5pm.
On Wednesday 28 October, D’Arcy Trinkwon gives an organ concert from noon to 1pm. The university lists further activities across the anniversary week.
The Brighton Beach Boys’ concert booking page confirms doors at 7pm on Friday 30 October, with music starting at 7.30pm. It is an all-seated event; under-16s must be accompanied by an adult. General admission is £15 plus a £1.50 booking fee, while student tickets are £10 plus £1.
Why it matters locally
The anniversary concerns the Meeting House’s first services in October 1966. Historic England’s independent listing confirms its Grade II* status and Sir Basil Spence’s design. The circular plan, copper roof and coloured glazing make it an important architectural focal point on campus.
The university’s Meeting House guide places it beside Library Square and describes a space welcoming people with or without faith. This programme offers a practical reason for residents beyond the university to visit it.
What residents need to know
Use the public concert ticket page for the Brighton Beach Boys show. For other events, consult the university programme before travelling. The talk, open-house and organ booking links opened a UniHub sign-in page when checked; public registration arrangements and any charges for those activities are not clear from the accessible pages.
Ask the Meeting House team at meetinghouse@sussex.ac.uk about attendance and access. The concert listing mentions a small flight of steps, so anyone needing a step-free route should confirm arrangements before booking.
Brighton Locals’ view
The mix of architecture and music is a welcome way to connect campus heritage with the wider city. Our assessment is positive, with one practical reservation: a programme advertised to the public needs booking instructions that visitors without university accounts can use.
What to watch next
Clear public registration and access information would strengthen that assessment. Compare the organiser’s live programme before choosing a date, and see Brighton Locals’ events listings for other local activities.
The building’s sixtieth anniversary offers more than a commemorative date: it is an invitation to experience a piece of Brighton’s modern architectural heritage.
Featured image: the Meeting House at the University of Sussex, photographed on 6 February 2010. Creator: The Voice of Hassocks, via Wikimedia Commons; released into the public domain by the photographer. Archival photograph, not an image of the anniversary events.
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