Chris Brown appears in UK court ahead of trial

US singer Chris Brown has made a surprise appearance in a London court ahead of his trial next year on charges of assaulting a music producer at a London nightclub.

Brown earlier this year pleaded not guilty to attempted infliction of grievous bodily harm, as well as a less serious charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, for what prosecutors described as an “unprovoked attack” with a bottle in 2023.

The 36-year-old was not required to attend but appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Friday, where he spoke only to confirm his name.

Brown appeared in the dock with his co-defendant, 38-year-old Ömololu Akınlolu, who had previously denied the charges against him. The couple’s trial will begin in October 2026.

Two-time Grammy Award winner Brown, known for hits such as Loyal, Run It and Under the Influence, was released on bail in May after paying STG5 million ($A10 million) to embark on his Breezy Bowl XX tour, which ends this week.

The R&B star was arrested at a Manchester hotel in May after returning to the UK for the first time since the incident.