ELC’s Amy rates her top ten places to visit in Brighton

Amy, who works at ELC, is born and bred in Brighton. In this post, she gives us her expert opinion on the top 10 places to visit!

Most of you probably know me from reception, but you may not know that I was born and grew up in Brighton. I love it so much I even went to University here! So here are my top ten places to visit; most of them are food and drink related – so you can get a true taste of Brighton!

1. Lion and Lobster Pub, 24 Sillwood Street, Brighton, BN1 2PS, +44 (0)1273 327299

This is my favourite pub in Brighton! It is hugely popular with locals and is often full to the brim Friday and Saturday nights. It is split into 3 levels, so you can opt to stand at the traditional bar on the ground floor or pop up the stairs to the open roof terrace on 2 levels. There is also a fabulous restaurant serving traditional British “pub grub” such as bangers and mash, but also some fancy dishes for the more adventurous such as venison! Be sure to visit, but be prepared to stand if you go on a Friday or Saturday evening.

2. Iydea Vegetarian Restaurant, 17 Kensington Gardens, North Laine, Brighton, BN1 4AL, +44 (0)1273 667992 OR 105 Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2AA, +44 (0)1273 965904 I am not a vegetarian but the food here is AMAZING! Go in, pick your main (Vegetable Lasagne, Enchilada, Arancini, and various specials for the day), pick two sides (lovely salads and roasted veg, wedges, pasta) and one topping (try the beetroot chutney it is really good!) all from £4.70 up to £8. Eat in or take away. The staff are very friendly. This is only about 10 minutes’ walk from the school so head there for a tasty lunch!

3. The Dumb Waiter, 28 Sydney Street, Brighton, BN1 4EP, +44 (0)1273 602526 This is a funky little café in the North Laine. The walls are covered in posters advertising local concerts and club nights, and a wall with all of the menu items. Here you can get a lovely mug of tea, English fry-up, sandwich, or cake and sit and watch the world go by. Reasonable prices, cosy atmosphere and right in the heart of the North Laine. If you are into crafts don’t forget to check out the Brighton Bead Shop opposite.

4. Fish Bowl Pub, 74 East Street, Brighton, BN1 1HQ, +44 (0)1273 777505 Hidden away just near Brighton Pier you will find this little pub on the corner by Pool Valley Coach Station. It is very popular with locals and students. It has cool loud music and plenty of interesting people to chat too. It can be very busy at the weekends; you might find it is running a one-in-one-out system on the door. You might hear this when you go to some bars or clubs “one in one out”, which means for every person that leaves, one person can go in. Get there early!

5. Small Batch Coffee, Various locations. Nearest to ELC is 67C Church Road Hove (on the corner of Wilbury Road), +44 (0)1273 710627 Forget Starbucks; try the locally run chain of Coffee Shops dotted around Brighton and Hove, Small Batch! You can find them just 5 minutes from the school on Wilbury Road. They also have locations at Brighton and Hove Train Stations, Norfolk Square, 7 Dials, Goldstone and near the Jubilee Library. They source the beans, roast them locally and ship to each store to ensure an ethical cup of coffee, all organically grown.

6. Prince Albert Pub, 48 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 4ED, +44 (0)1273 730499 You can find The Prince Albert close to Brighton Station. It famously has Banksy’s kissing policeman graffiti on the side of the building. Although now a replica is there (the original was sold earlier this year to someone in Miami), it has an impressive mural of famous musicians on the side. The pub is cosy and cool, with open fires and different rooms to sit in. There are also many concerts and bands playing in the upstairs function room.

7. Snoopers Paradise, 7 Kensington Gardens, North Laine, Brighton, BN1 4AL, +44 (0)1273 602558 Located right in the heart of the North Laine, it is hard, to sum up this shop in one word. A wonderful collection of vintage/second-hand and new goods, you can find everything from clothes to furniture to books and old photographs in this great eclectic shop of wonders! Be sure to have a look in this large bric-a-brac shop; who knows what treasures you might find?

8. Fortune of War, 157 Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 1NB, +44 (0)1273 206065 Are you looking for somewhere for a cold pint of beer on a beautiful sunny day by the beach? This is the place to go! It is located along the arches along Brighton seafront. If you head down to the beach by Brighton Pier and walk along, you will find a few different bars, but in my opinion, the Fortune of War is one of the best. Inside, it is decorated like the inside of a boat! It has rope railings and wood cladding on the wall. It is certainly an unusual pub. The best place to sit is outside on the benches, with all of the other pub-goers soaking up the sunshine with a lovely cold drink, looking out at the sea.

9. Choccywoccydoodah – Shop – 3 Meeting House Lane, Brighton, BN1 1HB, +44 (0)1273 329462 Café – 27 Middle Street, Brighton, BN11AL, +44(0)1273 732232 What a ridiculous name! Choccywoccydoodah has become one of the iconic businesses in Brighton. It was made famous through a documentary TV series shown on British television. This chocolate shop makes cakes and wonderful chocolate creations. They famously made Paul McCartney’s wedding cake. Go and take a look at their amazing window display on Meeting House Lane, and you can buy some of their amazing creations in the shop. Do you fancy some cake? Then head down to their café on Middle Street. This tiny café is where you can get a slice of their fabulous cake and an incredible hot chocolate. Make sure you are hungry; the cake slices are huge!

10. Royal Sovereign Pub, 66 Preston Street, Brighton, BN1 2HE, +44(0)1273 323289 The Royal Sovereign Pub in Brighton is famous for its traditional roast dinners, which have not only been voted the best in Brighton but the best in Sussex. It is extremely popular, so be sure to call and book your Sunday lunch to avoid disappointment. The rest of the week, this is a lovely traditional pub serving pints of ale, mixed drinks, beers, ciders and soft drinks. They have a lovely decked outside area with heated lamps for the chillier evenings. In the summer, be sure to try a glass of Pimms, a very British summertime drink. Pimm’s is a light spirit served with lemonade and lots of fruit. The perfect refreshing drink on a hot summer’s day.

In this post, Amy has used some popular colloquial expressions. If there is a word or expression you don’t understand, leave us a comment and we will be happy to give you an explanation!