- Brighton
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United Kingdom
I feel very lucky to live close to The Foredown Tower, which is home to one of only two operational camera obscuras in South East England. A camera obscura is an unusual optical device that is used to observe the landscape, sun and sky.
The building, an Edwardian water tower built in 1909, is of architectural interest and has been converted with considerable care to preserve many original features.
The Robin Hood is my favourite pub in Brighton. It's cosy, friendly and they've got a great wine list. The beers are always good too. They do basic food like pizzas, have a Wii, loads of boardgames and a free computer. It's always been one of my favourites, but I've just found out that they give all their proffits to charity. Sounds like a perfect excuse for another glass of wine! It is a bit out of the way, but well worth checking out.
1-3 Norfolk Place
Brighton
Just off western road, near norfolk square
Beautiful shop, amazing clothes and the most helpful staff I have ever come across. Can't wait to get down to Brighton again for a cheeky weekend away just so i can spend some money in here again.
32 Ship Street
Brighton
www.peggsandson.com
Tucked away in Kensington Gardens in the North Laines, The Gardens cafe is quint-essential Brighton. With its quirky artwork throughout, a lovely upstairs balcony looking down on the lanes, and a menu that takes up two whole walls, it is definitely a place you would come back to for its good vibes and comfortable feel.
The food at this place isn't the finest cuisine, but it's location makes up for this. The balcony is a prime people watching spot. You can see right the way along Kensington Gardens which is particularly good on a busy weekend.
1 Kensington Gardens, Brighton BN14AL
www.brightoncafe.co.uk/kensingtons
Brighton marina is a great place to visit for a family day out. There's Sun, Sea and good ole' fish 'n' chips. The marine has a great selection of pubs, restaurants and shops and there's always something suitable for everyone.
The beaches are great for dogs, whether they like running along the beach after a ball, or going for a refreshing dip in the sea. There is a concrete path which runs between the top of the beaches and the cliffs which is perfect for a nice family cycle to Rottingdean where they do the most fantastic fish and cheerful chips!
All in all it's the perfect destination for a superb family day out, all day any day!
The Great Escape is the perfect place to see a host of new bands. 50% cheaper and 50% longer than the Camden Queue aka Camden Crawl, this place isn't without the queues but does have one advantage- you will actually get in somewhere!
If you don't want to wait two hours to see your favourite band for the 10th time then just stop in at the nearest venue not at capacity and take a gamble. you never know ...
And the top tip for the next day before it's time to do it all again? Doze off the hangover on the beach instead of in your b&b, then head up to Bills for all sorts of organic and tasty treats. Better than a north london kebab anyday.
Various venues in Brighton.
www.escapegreat.com
Kemp Townhouse is a small and very stylish boutique hotel in a great location in Brighton. While not the cheapest in town it offers extremely good value for quality, comfort and elegance. It is also has the best breakfast I've ever eaten! I'd recommend this for anyone looking for affordable luxury in Brighton
www.kemptownhouse.com
01273 681 400
5 mins cab ride from Brighton mainline station, and five minutes walk along the seafront from the pier
Easily the best cafe in Brighton. It is situated below The Grand Hotel between the two piers. Like any good cafe it has its own beach volleyball court in front of it. It sells Brighton very own Redroaster Coffee. The award winning cafe also serves homemade lemonade and a unique range of summertime smoothies. It has also started selling it own range of healthy sandwiches and toasties. It has the best ice cream on Brighton Beach by far (made on a farm). Its dark ice cream is the best I have ever tasted It is an excellent way for tourist to get to know the locals. As good as it gets!
Nearstest station: Brighton. Walk toward the beach, then take a right and you'll see the volleyball court.
Start off at Bill's Produce Store on North Road, where you can enjoy colourful platefuls of homemade pizza, quiche and salad in a huge room lined with delicious-looking preserves, pickles and other goodies. You'll be near North Laine now, so go for a post-lunch potter amongst the shops selling anything from vegetarian shoes to kooky sex toys.
If you have any space left after Bill's, a visit to the Bar du Chocolat on Middle Street is a must. Run by the iconic Brighton confectioners Choccywoccydoodah (Duke Street), the hot chocolate is top rate. For one last gastronomic treat, make sure you book a table at Terre a Terre, one of the top vegetarian restaurants in the country, and one of the few to serve up 'haute cuisine' vegetarian food. After all that indulgence, Sunday morning can be a bracing walk along the seafront towards Hove, past the dejected looking West Pier and towards the ice-cream coloured beach huts.
Try Bill's Produce Store for a spot of lunch. It’s ‘the in place’ at the moment but it still feels very genuine. Good prices, friendly service. The North Laines area is also worth a visit particularly for last-minute funky presents. The new library building should also be seen (Carluccio’s café and shop is just around the corner too).
Boutique hotel with cocktail bar, private karaoke rooms, restuarant and plenty of history.
Just off the seafront.
Old Steine, Brighton
www.royalyorkbrighton.co.uk/
This is a fab tour of Brighton. Totally unique in that you don't have to book or even buy tickets for it. I got sucked into it whilst passing the meeting point on the pier and was so glad to have found it. I learned so much about Brighton from the lively fun guide and was surprised to learn that they don't get paid to do this so as a result they accept tips. What a fantastic tour! Affordable and accessible to all.
I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning a bit of Brighton's history.
It meets at the Brighton Pier Tues-Sat throughout the summer at 11am and 1.30pm.
Email is brightonfreetour@googlemail.com
Shakespeare was to rhyming couplets what this place is to bangers and mash. Mix loads of different sausages (from a fine local butcher in Hove) with as many different types of mash. Good job the bangers and mash is so good because it's the only food they do (aside from a smashing Sunday roast.) Top staff and great music seal the deal. I live in Mexico City now and miss this place massively.
Seven Dials, Brighton
These two cafes are open air. They give you a good introduction to the atmosphere of Brighton and Hove. They're inexpensive, the food's certainly not gourmet, but they're good places to meet up with friends, and do what Brighton does best - people watch!
The Pavilion Gardens Cafe is bang in the centre of town next to the Royal Pavilion and performers often stop by - well recommended for a free and impromptu show.
It offers Brightonians and visitors a chance to find and use totally one-off specialist, local businesses, dedicated to quality goods and/or service and the site is really clear and easy to use.
The very latest bar to open, formerly known as the Standard. The Bar is now under new ownership and has had a massive investment with full-on club downstairs, comfortable seating throughout, even in the garden, and best yet, you no longer have to trudge miles out to sea to exercise your vocals as Tuesdays are now karaoke night from 8pm to 11pm. Lovely place with a very tastefully themed decor.
West Street
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 2RA.
Gorgeous food all week and excellent roast on Sundays. Delicious meat, scrummy veg, fabby gravy and good atmosphere combine to make this a Sunday treat!
242 Queens Park Road Brighton
BN2 9ZB
01273 679902
Brighton Station and walk or bus
www.thehanoverpub.com/
This site is great, I was scouring the internet for a good value B&B that didn't have interiors from the 70s and found this little gem.
There are three contemporary B&Bs on the site and rooms start from £65 per room per night for The Alvia Hotel. We stayed at Brighton Wave, the breakfasts were delicious. I recommend their blueberry pancakes.
brightonwave is at 10 Madeira Place, BN2 1TN just east of the pier, some rooms have sea views the website is www.boutiquebrighton.co.uk and the phone number is 01273 676794
Really worth a visit! The Royal Pavilion is in the centre of Brighton set in beautiful gardens. Built for The Prince Regent, the architect Nash turned in into the Indian style building that exists today from 1815-23. The entrance price includes an audio guide to tell the story of the lavish interiors and the parties that took place! The banqueting room is extraordinary! Children can take part in the 'Dragon Quest' during this summer holiday too and 'tame the dragons' - lots of fun for the family.
Royal Pavilion, Brighton BN1 1EE,
www.royalpavilion.org.uk
01273 290900
The coolest boutique jewellery shop in Brighton. Loved the jewellery and loved the shop. Pure class and the staff made the visit even more wonderful.
www.johnharrington.co.uk/
114 Church Street
Brighton
BN1 1UD
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