Fiona’s guidebook
Food scene
Located in The Arches on Brighton seafront overlooking the West Pier and sister restaurant to the award-winning 64 Degrees, it gives its name to the flocks of starlings seen on the sea front. Great Al Fresco sea view dining. Delicious food!
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Murmur
Located in The Arches on Brighton seafront overlooking the West Pier and sister restaurant to the award-winning 64 Degrees, it gives its name to the flocks of starlings seen on the sea front. Great Al Fresco sea view dining. Delicious food!
There are several of these cafes in the area, the nearest one being in First Avenue where you can find excellent coffee and savoury food and every Friday they make a variety of deliciously indulgent doughnuts!
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The Flour Pot Bakery
40 Sydney StThere are several of these cafes in the area, the nearest one being in First Avenue where you can find excellent coffee and savoury food and every Friday they make a variety of deliciously indulgent doughnuts!
Marrocco's
8 King's EsplanadeGreat Ice Cream to take away to eat on the beach.
On the beach at Hove, delicious food and drink. Seating with sea views on the beach or in their new plush bar
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Rockwater Hove
Western EsplanadeOn the beach at Hove, delicious food and drink. Seating with sea views on the beach or in their new plush bar
Great Pizzas, reasonable prices and south facing patio dining.
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Fatto a Mano Hove
65-67 Church RdGreat Pizzas, reasonable prices and south facing patio dining.
Just round the corner from Hova Villas, the best fish and chips in town!
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Bankers Restaurant
116A Western RdJust round the corner from Hova Villas, the best fish and chips in town!
Freshly made bread and cakes daily. I recommend the Chewy White loaf!
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Real Pâtisserie
147 Church RdFreshly made bread and cakes daily. I recommend the Chewy White loaf!
Beautifully decorated in the style of LaDuree. Brunch and Cocktails...
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Oeuf - Café in Hove
8 Third AveBeautifully decorated in the style of LaDuree. Brunch and Cocktails...
BRODWOLF Bakery (Church Road, Hove)
123 Church RdShelter Hall
City/town information
It’s the nearest south coast to London
Brighton is less than 1 hour by train from our capital city. That’s why, for the last 200 years, it’s been known as ‘London by the sea’ – the resort of choice for those wanting an easy escape from London, whether you are a day tripper, meeting you lover for a ‘dirty weekend’, a mod or rocker, or seeking an alternative way of life.
It has the UK’s most eccentric palace. There is no other building like the Brighton Royal Pavilion. A fantastical fusion of Indian styles on the outside and Chinese inside, it was designed for Britain’s most decadent King , King George IV as his party palace by the sea. A must-visit.
Brighton was a city of Victorian innovation.
The world’s oldest operating aquarium opened in 1872, now Brighton Sea Life. Just outside, you can ride the world’s oldest operating electric railway (1883), the Volks Railway. Brighton and Hove was also a pioneering hub of the early movie industry.
Is it the beach pebbles, the bizarre fairytale palace, the eccentric characters, its fame as England’s lesbian and gay capital, the Green politics, the vibrant graffiti, the colourful Regency architecture or is it just the feeling that you’re somewhere a bit different ?
North Laine has over 400 independent shops and cafes
Four main shopping streets – Bond St, Gardner St, Kensington Gardens and Sydney St, and increasingly many of the side streets – make North Laine the heart and soul of Brighton. Colourful, funky, hipster, alternative, it’s well worth making the ten minute trip inland from
the beach.
The South Downs National Park is on the doorstep
Brighton is the perfect base for day trips. Catch an open-top bus up to Devils’ Dyke for views across Sussex and Surrey, or see some of the most spectacular scenery in southern England – the white cliffs of Seven Sisters and Beachy Head. The quaint towns of Lewes and Arundel,
the cathedral city of Chichester and the genteel resort of Eastbourne, are all under an hour away.
It’s the LGBTQ capital of Britain
Brighton hosts the UK’s largest Pride event every August and Europe’s first Trans Pride was held here. It is the most popular city for same-sex weddings and you can see rainbow flags everywhere. All these give Brighton that special mix of diversity and acceptance. Many historical figures, including Virginia Woolf and Oscar Wilde had Brighton connections. Piers and Queers is a historical walking tour of LGBTQ Brighton.
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Brighton
It’s the nearest south coast to London
Brighton is less than 1 hour by train from our capital city. That’s why, for the last 200 years, it’s been known as ‘London by the sea’ – the resort of choice for those wanting an easy escape from London, whether you are a day tripper, meeting you lover for a ‘dirty weekend’, a mod or rocker, or seeking an alternative way of life.
It has the UK’s most eccentric palace. There is no other building like the Brighton Royal Pavilion. A fantastical fusion of Indian styles on the outside and Chinese inside, it was designed for Britain’s most decadent King , King George IV as his party palace by the sea. A must-visit.
Brighton was a city of Victorian innovation.
The world’s oldest operating aquarium opened in 1872, now Brighton Sea Life. Just outside, you can ride the world’s oldest operating electric railway (1883), the Volks Railway. Brighton and Hove was also a pioneering hub of the early movie industry.
Is it the beach pebbles, the bizarre fairytale palace, the eccentric characters, its fame as England’s lesbian and gay capital, the Green politics, the vibrant graffiti, the colourful Regency architecture or is it just the feeling that you’re somewhere a bit different ?
North Laine has over 400 independent shops and cafes
Four main shopping streets – Bond St, Gardner St, Kensington Gardens and Sydney St, and increasingly many of the side streets – make North Laine the heart and soul of Brighton. Colourful, funky, hipster, alternative, it’s well worth making the ten minute trip inland from
the beach.
The South Downs National Park is on the doorstep
Brighton is the perfect base for day trips. Catch an open-top bus up to Devils’ Dyke for views across Sussex and Surrey, or see some of the most spectacular scenery in southern England – the white cliffs of Seven Sisters and Beachy Head. The quaint towns of Lewes and Arundel,
the cathedral city of Chichester and the genteel resort of Eastbourne, are all under an hour away.
It’s the LGBTQ capital of Britain
Brighton hosts the UK’s largest Pride event every August and Europe’s first Trans Pride was held here. It is the most popular city for same-sex weddings and you can see rainbow flags everywhere. All these give Brighton that special mix of diversity and acceptance. Many historical figures, including Virginia Woolf and Oscar Wilde had Brighton connections. Piers and Queers is a historical walking tour of LGBTQ Brighton.
The offbeat seaside town of Hove is facing up to its neighbourhood rival with cool new vintage boutiques, craft beer bars and upscaled chippies
Ask a local if they live in Brighton and the reply is often a mock-horrified 'Hove, actually.' The tongue-in-cheek phrase - apparently coined by one-time Brighton resident Laurence Olivier - acknowledges the distinct differences between the two seaside spots, despite the towns uniting as a city 15 years ago. Like many new visitors to the area I discovered the bright lights of Brighton first and only later came to know the quieter, quirkier beat of Hove.
This is Brighton's less lairy little sister, considerably more laid-back and low-key. Where Brighton has crowds thronging to shops in the Lanes, only the clued-in know where to source a mid-century sideboard in Hove or find the best fish supper. Where Brighton has hip-hop and indie nightclubs, Hove has pubs championing craft beer and a café on every corner. Brighton's seafront is dominated by the Palace Pier and the new 170-metre i360 observation tower, but reach Hove and the beach is backed by green spaces and folk playing pitch and putt. Both towns are at their best when the sun shines.
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Hove
The offbeat seaside town of Hove is facing up to its neighbourhood rival with cool new vintage boutiques, craft beer bars and upscaled chippies
Ask a local if they live in Brighton and the reply is often a mock-horrified 'Hove, actually.' The tongue-in-cheek phrase - apparently coined by one-time Brighton resident Laurence Olivier - acknowledges the distinct differences between the two seaside spots, despite the towns uniting as a city 15 years ago. Like many new visitors to the area I discovered the bright lights of Brighton first and only later came to know the quieter, quirkier beat of Hove.
This is Brighton's less lairy little sister, considerably more laid-back and low-key. Where Brighton has crowds thronging to shops in the Lanes, only the clued-in know where to source a mid-century sideboard in Hove or find the best fish supper. Where Brighton has hip-hop and indie nightclubs, Hove has pubs championing craft beer and a café on every corner. Brighton's seafront is dominated by the Palace Pier and the new 170-metre i360 observation tower, but reach Hove and the beach is backed by green spaces and folk playing pitch and putt. Both towns are at their best when the sun shines.
Cocktails
Fancy cocktails, music and sometimes dancing.
Bohemia Brighton
54-55 Meeting House LnOn the kemptown side of town, atmospheric cocktail bar. Booking advised.
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The Plotting Parlour
6 Steine StOn the kemptown side of town, atmospheric cocktail bar. Booking advised.
Entertainment
Stand up Comedy
Komedia Brighton
44-47 Gardner StClassical Victorian Theatre showing current touring productions of plays and musicals
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Teatro Reale di Brighton
New RoadClassical Victorian Theatre showing current touring productions of plays and musicals
Brighton Dome
Church StreetLive Arts and Music entertainment
Outdoors
Aerial view of Brighton and Hove
British Airways i360
These are the most local bike rentals, near Tesco’s. The best way to see the city.
BTN Bike share Tesco
Church RoadThese are the most local bike rentals, near Tesco’s. The best way to see the city.
Undercliff Walk
Undercliff WalkLaguna di Hove
KingswayPaddle boards, waterski and more..
For all boat trips and restaurants overlooking The Marina
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Brighton Marina
For all boat trips and restaurants overlooking The Marina
The Lanes
Stazione di Devils Dyke
Devil's Dyke RoadBrighton Watersports
185 Kings RdHone you water skills.
Shopping
Three Angels
5 Hove StAntique and vintage furniture and soft furnishings
Unique vintage clothes mainly imported from the USA and Canada
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Beyond Retro Brighton
23 Gloucester RdUnique vintage clothes mainly imported from the USA and Canada
Neighbourhoods
Hove
Hove promenade at sunset