Speakeasy

Speakeasy returns to the Cellar Arts Club on Thursday 5 November, the latest session of the monthly conversation club run by Never Stop. The format is always the same: three guest speakers each take the floor to talk about something close to their heart. The subjects can be almost anything — arts, science, nature, abstract concepts, a physical object, a moment in history, or a fragment of their own life. The only thing they share is that they're things the speakers genuinely care about.

What makes it a bit of a gamble is that the topics aren't announced in advance. You turn up without knowing what's on the bill, so you might find yourself listening to three completely different worlds in one night. Past speakers have run the gamut: naturalists, someone who walks naked in the countryside, a lover of corner-shop newsagents, a man with the UK's largest collection of lawnmowers, and someone who lived on a canal boat for ten years. There have been talks on why we should embrace failure, sharks, a holiday in Chernobyl, London's disused tube stations, and teaching a town to play the ukulele. It's that randomness that gives the night its pull — you never quite know where you'll end up.

This particular session follows the Worthing beach fireworks, which go off at 7:30pm, so it's an easy one to slot in after the display. The club is held at the Cellar Arts Club, 71a Marine Parade, BN11 3QB. Doors open at 7:30pm and the first talk starts at 8:15pm. Entry is free.