United Kingdom
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
Do you know why the good people of BRightOn are so chilled and happy, it’s because we have Guarana. This nectar sent from the Gods via Brazil can be found in the North Laines and I suggest heading straight there from the train station and sampling a Vitamina shake. It will enhance your festival experience 100%.
36 Sydney Street, Brighton
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
It's a tiny little tea house tucked away off the beaten tourist track in the Hanover area of Brighton, run by a couple of young gay guys, with space for 16 guests seated. Kitch and as camp as they come!
The tea room is like stepping inside a memorabilia shop, like someone's front room, with an eclectic mixture of decor dedicated to the Royals, with Union Jacks ablaze, a grand piano and pictures of Diana adorning the walls.
The house rules are hilarious (not to be taken too seriously) ie no dunking of biscuits, no clanking of spoons when stirring your tea etc!
The menu is humorous, with items such as "The Duchies Cream Tea, Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth High Tea, The Lady Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales Afternoon Tea" and the unforgetable "The Julie Goodyear High Tea" (aka Corrie's Bet Lynch!) [you get the idea!)
It kind of epitomises Brighton's eclectic campness. Well worth a visit for a fun cream tea.
www.theteacosy.co.uk/
107 Southover Street, Brighton, East sussex, BN2 9UA.
This cocktail bar takes some hunting out (up some narrow stairs from an inconspicuous door on the street) but when you get up there it's a real find. Delicious cocktails served by really friendly, unpretentious staff. It gets quite busy at the weekends but there's usually more space (and often a DJ) in the two bars at the back - they're for members only but you can call in advance for free entry or sign up online for free membership. Try the Marylebone mojito - it's out of this world.
135 Western Road (beside Waitrose)
www.kobauk.com
Tel: 01273 720059
Nearest station: Brighton
My boyfriend and i recently discovered this contemporary jewellers opposite the dome in brighton. As a designer myself it is truely inspiring and the new cherub and heart pendants are at the top of my birthday list. Apparently they've very recently oppened the first floor and like the rest of the shop it is worth checking out for the interior alone!
114 Church street (opposite dome and corn exchange)
Brighton 01273 604010
www.johnharrington.co.uk
Fantastic vegetarian and vegan cafe/canteen. Salads and specials are great. Friendly staff. Homemade lemonade and organic wines.
Kensington Gardens
North Laine
Brighton
www.iydea.co.uk/
Varied veggie and vegan menu - inspired by flavours from around the world. The tapas is excellent, the veggie breakfast is tasty and very filling and the cakes are delicious. We enjoy the leisurely atmosphere - you are not rushed to finish and move on. We can't wait to go back.
Wai Kika Moo Kau, 42 Meeting House Lane, Brighton, East Sussex,
Tel: 01273 323824
Simply the best veggie restaurant that I have ever visited. Reading the menu is part of the pleasure - it has a language all of its own, e.g. Bengal Babs -Tandoori spice loaded halloumi kebab, served with smoked almond custard risotto, tamarind tang, pink onion and green mango sas, and podi dust tomatoes; Cigarillo Mejoolie - Deep-fried parchment pastry crammed with cardamon mejool date and pistachio lemon mince, cinnamon dust, fennel seed sugar, served with pomegranate bead, orange and grapefruit fillets and a mint tisane granita. The flavours and textures are divine. The staff are efficient and friendly and the restaurant also caters for vegans and those who need a gluten free diet. I visit regularly and am never disappointed.
www.terreaterre.co.uk
71 East Street, Brighton BN1 1HQ
Tel: 01273 729051
Amazing vegetarian restaurant which serves innovative and interesting food, has a good wine list, and the staff are very friendly too.
17-18 Prince Albert Street, The Lanes
www.foodforfriends.com/
Italian Cafe. Good caff snacks of the Italian variety but truly delicious, excellent quality, homemade ice cream in a multitude of flavours (try a dollop of chocolate and a dollop of pistachio.. or hazel.. the strawberry is v. good too... oh dear. I'm getting over excited!
Eating a Marrocco's ice cream whilst staring at the sea is an essential Brighton experience.
On The Kingsway Beach Front (near King Alfred Centr)e.
This restaurant was AWFUL. I have worked in hospitality for years and never have I experienced or seen such bad service.
The staff were surly and could never be found, the food was overpriced and the bar prices (£50 for 3 drinks & the house red) was over the top. Not only that it was incredibly slow, we had to wait for almost 30 mins for our dessert to arrive. I agree that the only people saying the place is wonderful are the managers and the staff.
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