From pub tricks to premier events: the rise of Sussex magician Phil Pearson
11th July 2025
Author EditorPosted on Categories Networking & Events
When I was 11 years old, I was asked by my teacher, Mrs Pavely: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I said: “A magician.” She laughed. “No. You need to choose a proper job.”
Fast forward 30 years, and that same lad — Phil Pearson — is one of the UK’s sharpest names in modern magic. From VIP corporate events to luxury weddings, Phil has carved out a reputation for delivering unforgettable entertainment with an edge.
But he’ll be the first to admit: it didn’t happen overnight.
“For years it was just me, a deck of cards and a few tricks in the pub,” Phil explains. “No lights, no stage. Just real reactions from real people. That’s where I learned how to perform — no filters, no safety net.”
It wasn’t until 2017 that Phil began performing semi-professionally, taking bookings alongside running a successful landscaping business. But in 2024, he shut it all down — tools packed away for the last time— and took the biggest risk of his life: going full-time as a professional magician.
“It was terrifying. But I knew I had something. I wasn’t going to spend the rest of my life laying patios wondering ‘what if’. It was now or never — time to make the leap, to make the break. I wanted to give people something they’d never forget.”
Corporate-ready, crowd-tested
Now a full-time performer based in Brighton, Phil is booked for some of the most high-profile venues and events in the South East and London — from private dining rooms at The Grand Hotel to stadium-level corporate parties at Wembley Stadium’s Bobby Moore Suite, The Amex Stadium in Brighton and VIP areas at The Roundhouse in London.
His style blends close-up sleight of hand with street magic, mind reading and tailored effects that incorporate brands, names and messages right into the performance.
This isn’t top hats and rabbits. This is entertainment that gets filmed, posted and talked about long after the event ends.
“You make your guests feel like something just happened they’ll never see again. That’s why companies keep coming back — because it lands.”
He’s also a member of The Magic Circle — the most exclusive magic society in the world — and Vice Chairman of the Sussex Magic Circle. With over 100 five-star reviews across Google, Bark and social media, he’s become a go-to name for premium, interactive entertainment.
Built for impact, backed by experience
Phil isn’t a TV name, but he performs like one. His material is tight. His crowd work is sharp. His delivery is polished, without ever feeling scripted. Whether he’s reading a CEO’s mind or making a signed card appear inside a wallet, there’s always a sense that what just happened… wasn’t possible.
He says: “People want more than entertainment. They want connection. Surprise. Emotion. That’s what I build into every performance.”
Ready for something different?
With a fresh wave of bookings flooding in and high-end clients already on board, Phil Pearson is fast becoming a name to watch — and to book early. Whether you’re planning a networking event, awards night, drinks reception, launch party, VIP lounge or private event, he brings the wow factor your guests will talk about long after the event’
What do you think about that, Mrs Pavely?
What would 11-year-old Phil say to you now?
“Took you long enough, show us a trick.”