Practise French, build confidence and meet fellow learners at our new weekly Kemptown club, launching 22 September at The Sidewinder.

Would you like to speak French more confidently in a relaxed and supportive environment?

Join our friendly and professionally led French Conversation Club in Kemptown, where you can practise speaking naturally, develop your fluency and meet like-minded French learners.

Following recurring requests for a conversation club in the Kemptown and Hanover area, we’re delighted to launch this new weekly group at The Sidewinder pub from Tuesday 22 September.

The club will follow the same successful format as our Wednesday evening group at The French Horn, which has been bringing French learners together in Brighton for nearly three years. It offers the perfect balance between structured language practice and an enjoyable social experience.

Each session is led by Suzanne, a qualified native French teacher with extensive experience helping adult learners develop their spoken French in a supportive and informal environment.

There’s no pressure to speak perfectly. You’ll be encouraged to participate at your own pace, and mistakes are welcomed as a natural and valuable part of learning.

Everyone is welcome, and we’re committed to providing a friendly, inclusive and non-judgemental space for all participants.

Who is the club for?

The club is suitable for Advanced Beginner to Lower Intermediate learners who already have some basic French and would like more opportunities to practise speaking.

You should ideally be able to:

Introduce yourself in French

Understand and answer some simple questions

Form basic sentences about familiar topics

The club is not suitable for complete beginners. If you’re unsure whether your level is right, please contact us before booking.

What happens during a session?

Each session is guided by a selection of conversation starters covering everyday life, travel, culture, personal experiences and other engaging topics.

We discuss each question together as a group, giving everyone the opportunity to answer, share their thoughts and respond to what others have said.

You’ll be encouraged to speak naturally and without interruption. Helpful feedback is given after you’ve finished speaking, allowing the conversation to flow while helping you improve your vocabulary, accuracy and confidence.

Why join us?

🇫🇷 Speak more French with confidence through engaging conversations on real-life topics.

🤝 Meet like-minded people in a friendly, welcoming and non-judgemental environment.

🌟 Receive expert guidance and personalised feedback from a qualified native French teacher.

💬 Use French regularly and develop your fluency in a relaxed setting outside the traditional classroom.

What our learners say

“I was very shy about joining the group as I assumed everyone would be so much better than me. They were, but I was welcomed with such gentleness. It’s more than just a conversation class—it feels like a friendship group.”

— Peter F.

Practical information

📍 Where?

The Sidewinder

65 St James’s Street

Brighton BN2 1JN

🗓 When?

Every Tuesday from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Launching Tuesday 22 September

⏱ Format

An 80-minute tutor-led group conversation with a short 10-minute break.

Places are limited to ensure everyone has plenty of opportunities to contribute. Advance booking is recommended.

How does booking work?

New to the club?

Book a £10 one-off taster session through Eventbrite for the Tuesday you would like to attend. This introductory ticket is available to first-time participants and gives you the opportunity to experience the club before making a longer commitment.

Would you like to continue?

After your taster session, you’ll have the option to join our flexible 10-session programme through our booking portal.

A £100 registration fee covers £10 towards each of 10 sessions, which must be completed within 13 weeks of your first attendance under the programme. A further £10 is payable on the day of each session you attend.

Once you’ve completed the programme, you can continue attending future sessions on an ad hoc basis for £20 per session, subject to availability.

Places are limited, so booking is recommended.

Meet your host, Suzanne, at our welcoming new Kemptown venue.

Come along, meet fellow French learners in Kemptown and start speaking with greater confidence.

À bientôt!

Description supplied by the event organiser.