Thursday 27 January 2022

What is Brighton?


For those who don't know, Brighton is dirty weekends by the sea, naughty postcards on the pier, kiss me quick hats, Brighton rock, students, The Grand and The Metropole hotels, wonderful small shops, mods-n-rockers, restaurants of all nationalities by the thousand, pebbles on the beach, seagulls that steal your chips, The Royal Pavilion, The Lanes, several universities, and lots of fun.


There are fabulous Georgian crescents, one of the biggest marinas in Europe, a lively gay/lesbian scene, some of the best clubs and pubs around, Chris Eubank (the boxer) hanging around street corners, antique shops, the sea (of course), and a generous sprinkling of celebs.


It's also home to artists (too many), actors, commuters, a few fishermen, scoundrels, wide-boys, thinkers, writers, eccentrics, loonies, dope-heads, and lots and lots of extremely nice interesting people. 

We have foxes, seagulls, pigeons, crows, blackbirds, starlings, lots of dogs, robins, magpies, and no doubt a few rats.

On Sundays at 10am, the campanologists ring a peel of seven bells from the nearby tower of St Nicholas Church. Lovely.


The Pavilion is, of course, Brighton's cherry on the cake, but it really isn't our only attraction. Just walking around The Lanes or The North Laine, is an experience in itself. Never a dull moment.

We have a premier league football club (No 9 in the league), which means occasional rowdy behaviour from visiting teams' supporters, in September we have the fabulous annual Speed Trials along Madeira Drive by the sea, we have superb theatre and music venues, and we have constant ozone-filled fresh air from the channel. There's also a top class racecourse. 

Frankly, I'm surprised that the whole of the UK doesn't live here; but I'm quite happy that they don't!

27 comments:

  1. But you also have England's only Green Party MP, and corresponding local council!

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  2. Cro, A friend once thought of The Royal Pavillion as being tacky. But I think it looks rather grand.

    And I much prefer Brighton Pier to the newly restored Pier in Hastings. There's barely anything on it. I think they went for Minimalism.

    But are you going to miss out on Summertime Brighton if you return back to France this year?

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    1. The Pavilion, in the flesh, is magnificent, and the interior even more so. It's the epicentre of Brighton, and we are very fortunate to have it here.

      Yes, we'll miss being here for the summer, but we have our pool to look after, and the gardens to attend to. Such things cannot be ignored, so our absence is almost obligatory.

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  3. 99.9% of all of that sounds just perfect, but the pebbles on the beach is that 0.1% that keeps me here. I like my beaches sandy.

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    1. It would have been nice to have sand, but we all get used to the pebbles in time.

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  4. Blue railings along the promenade, the pier and the pebbly beach. Happpy childhood memories of Brighton.

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    1. I believe the railings are 'Seafront Green', but they are more 'Brighton Blue' to me. Let's call them greeny/blue or bluey/green.

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    2. They're what I'd call Ice Green

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  5. Ah, mods-n-rockers. The good old days.

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    1. Indeed. A good punch-up on the beach; the good old days indeed.

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  6. I LOVE the Pavilion … whenever I see it I still have a jaw-dropping moment. So much to do in Brighton. XXXX

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    1. I love it; I'm just off to wander around The Lanes.

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  7. The seagulls in Blackpool are more aggressive. We lost not a chip in Brighton, but admittedly we were inside the Grand Hotel, you having left this famous building off your list. It is a wonderful city and we loved it and I wish we could have spent more time there.

    A number of years ago Hippie Niece was broke in London with a few days before her return flight to Australia. We sent her some money and she caught a train to Brighton, found a gay bar, kept company with drag queens as gay guys paid for her drinks and food, and she dossed down wherever. She adored the city.

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    1. See Para 1; Grand and Metropole. I think HN did well to head for Brighton; much more friendly than London.

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  8. This blogpost was sponsored by Brighton and Hove Tourism Authority. The fee involved was 250 guineas and a box of "Fidel" Cuban cigars.

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    1. You forgot the 'Weekend at The Grand, all expenses paid, with the use of a chauffeured Royce'.

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  9. Loved visiting Brighton when i lived in London in the 90s.

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  10. How much of the original Brightlingsea fishing village is left?

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    1. The area known as The Lanes is what's left of the old fishing village. Narrow streets and lovely old houses. Very few fish there these days, but plenty of coffee.

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  11. It all sounds magnificent. What do you miss out on if you leave Brighton for the Summer? Maybe nothing? The gardens and pool in France with delightful warm sunny days is also a big draw.

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    1. I expect we'll mostly miss the CROWDS. A little peace and quiet in France will be very welcome.

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  12. We were last in Brighton three years ago, I love it, but never bother with the beach, as I live a couple of hundred yards from a long, wonderful, sandy beach, and pebbles don't appeal!
    We love jewellery shopping in The Lanes (well I love it, apprehensive husband trails around behind me) and stopping for lunch in one of the lovely independent eateries!
    The Pavilion is just glorious, and I could look at the Micro Mosaic of 'Prinny' for hours on end!
    I think the staff thought me quite mad when I lay on my back in the Music Room gazing at the Chandeliers for ages! It was early on a quiet (ish) out of season day, and not terribly busy, so they laughed and left me there!
    We've got our holidays sorted and booked for 2022 but intend to be back in Brighton next year!

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    1. That ceiling in the Music Room is amazing. I'm not surprised at you lying on your back to admire it.

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  13. I caught up with reading the last bits of last Saturday's Grauniad...finishing with"A local's guide to Brighton" !!

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