Last weekend I popped back to the home of my roots, Brighton, for some family time and to pick up a car that has been passed down to me after being driven by women in my family for 15 years – tape player, analogue clock, L-plates and all. #AnnaInABanger. Brighton is a fab little place with seaside charm, secret side street gems and more personality than you can shake a stick of rock at. I bloomin’ love it. Seeing as it’s a place people travel from far and wide to visit I thought this weekend I’d cobble together a few ideas to consider just in case you ever find yourself in the seagull-centric corner of the coast…
1) I’ll begin with one of my favourite spots – the window seat upstairs in The Fortune of War, a pub plonked literally on the beach. In busier times you’ve got no chance of nabbing it, there’s practically a queue so save this one for a cold rainy day, order a mulled wine and snuggle up.
2) Walk along the seafront westerly and past all the pastel painted beach huts to Hove Lawns, grab an ice cream from Marrocco’s and then wander back. I have been known to do this in sub-zero temperatures because the ice cream there is just so good.
3) I have to admit I’m a bit of a Brighton & Hove bus nerd. The public transport system there is just so good and easy to get your head around. One of my favourite routes (see I told you I was a nerd) is the 77 to Devil’s Dyke, a scenic countryside spot on the outskirts of the city. In the summer they run this as an open-top bus service, so catch some rays, have a wander at the end of the route and grab a drink from the pub that’s there, then ride back into town.
4) Queue up for a hot chocolate at the Choccywoccydoodah Bar du Chocolat. It’s worth the wait.
5) Have a wander in the North Laines, following Bond Street, then Gardener Street up to Kensington Gardens stopping at Shakeaway and Snooper’s Paradise on the way. Great milkshakes and the later place you’ll get lost in for hours. Then take the back streets on your right back to the start so you can see some badass graffiti.
6) Soak up the sun (though you may have to wait a few more months for that) in Pavilion Gardens and then actually visit The Royal Pavilion, the former seaside retreat for Prince Regent that looks almost like a mini Taj Mahal. I have to admit that it did take me about 23 years to get round to actually stepping foot inside, but when I did it was awesome. Definitely worth picking up the audio guide. I sort of want to move in.
7) Visit the second ever opened, and I think the best – Bill’s on North Road. The service, atmosphere and food knocks the socks off of any other branches I’ve visited, just be prepared to queue for a bit, though it does tend to move fast. If you’re up for a 30 minute drive or so the original one in Lewes is a good’un too.
8) The pier! It’s the best. It’s just wrong to day trip to Brighton and not step foot on the Palace Pier. Get stuck in at The Arcade; I can often be found hogging the 2p Machine or the 10p a play Donkey Derby and then grab some freshly fried doughnuts from the front entrance. I have dreams about those doughnuts. They’re that good. Then hop on The Brighton Wheel if you fancy a ready-to-Instagram view of the coast.
9) If you find yourself inebriated yet hungry after a night out (the clubs on the promenade are the best in my eyes or try The Mash Tun or Fitzherbets if you want a more parred back atmosphere), then make your way to Buddies, a 24hr diner where food fights are the norm. I may or may not have heard a tale of a well-known Page 3 model flicking sausages at fellow customers once upon a time.
10) I’m not the most fruitful when it comes to hotel recommends seeing as whenever I travel home I stay in the 5-star service, all you can eat establishment of Chez Mum and Dad, but I did once stay in My Hotel which is situated in the heart of the North lanes and it was really rather good. Not too pricey and the rooms were seriously swish. Just be prepared that there is a gaping hole in the wall from the bathroom to the bedroom which makes things slightly…ahem…awkward. My Hotel is a good one-stop shop actually; downstairs there’s Merkaba, a real nice cocktail bar and next to that is a Small Batch Coffee Company which is my Boyfriend’s favourite coffee place ever. Even I can stomach the cappuccino there. Ok maybe I just scoop off the foam…
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