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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask is there a better version of Brighton

687 replies

Wondergirl100 · 26/04/2021 11:10

Sorry a bit cheeky to put on AIBU - but - it's an important question!!

Brighton - great vibes, creativity, open mindedness good schools - but overpriced and the countryside isn't amazing and there are no gardens.

So what is the alternative! Where else is open minded and fun and has sea air and countryside but is not ruined by hen dos and property prices. And needs to have good schools.

Sadly, I have to write off the whole of Kent as I don't approve of grammar system. Unless there is somewhere in Kent with good secondary moderns.

OP posts:
Goldenbear · 26/04/2021 17:45

Chichester is not more expensive than Brighton if you looking at like for like houses with similar areas and schools. Wasn't it voted one of the worst places to live in the UK because the nine is not friendly. It is second home territory for red cord brigade!

AndromedaGal · 26/04/2021 17:45

@Tambora

Yes I mentioned Chichester a few pages in!! Lovely city

Goldenbear · 26/04/2021 17:45

Vibe not nine

78percentLindt · 26/04/2021 17:47

Bats and Frogs,
Colchester is grammar school central. Most of the other schools are mediocre. Nearest seaside is Clacton......unless you count Mersea and other estuary towns.
Property not cheap either

AndromedaGal · 26/04/2021 17:47

@Goldenbear

What’s the red cord brigade?

Goldenbear · 26/04/2021 17:52

The kind of people who wear thick red cords as leisure wear.

Goldenbear · 26/04/2021 17:54

To be fair, I'm sure there are many open minded people that were that attire.

rothbury · 26/04/2021 17:56

the countryside isn't amazing and there are no gardens.

Haven't RTFT but are you on glue?

There's a huge bloody National Park in full view of The North Laine!!! I live 7 minutes walk from the beach and 12 minutes walk from the South Downs National Park.

No gardens? WTAF????

No. There is NOT a "better" version of Brighton. Grin

Itsabeautifulday81 · 26/04/2021 17:56

[quote Wondergirl100]@Itsabeautifulday81 not sure why you say that. I already apologised for implying some places aren't open minded. I think it's a reasonable thing to say - I have travelled the Uk a lot and some places are more tolerant/ diverse etc than others.[/quote]
It’s how dogmatic you are in your views

rarat · 26/04/2021 17:56

I have some friends in Margate, they love it & I enjoyed it when I visited them.

Why are people so anti?

Goldenbear · 26/04/2021 17:57

The schools are good in Chichester but I think one of the best secondary schools is C of E so the rest might be rubbish?

Goldenbear · 26/04/2021 17:59

Wear that attire not 'were'.

blacksax · 26/04/2021 17:59

[quote AndromedaGal]@Goldenbear

What’s the red cord brigade?[/quote]
I'd be curious to know too - never heard of it.

Tambora · 26/04/2021 18:00

@Goldenbear

The kind of people who wear thick red cords as leisure wear.
Like who? Baffled.
Goldenbear · 26/04/2021 18:03

Hooray Henries

rarat · 26/04/2021 18:04

I went to Belfast 2 yrs ago & it was fab - would recommend a weekend break then.

pommedeterre · 26/04/2021 18:05

@Goldenbear

The schools are good in Chichester but I think one of the best secondary schools is C of E so the rest might be rubbish?
Yes, its c of e so you have to get signed off by a church. There are rumours that everyone gets tutors as well.

Chichester only fits the bill for being nearish the seaside (20 mins away and you get stuck in traffic on hot days). Its fits none other of the criteria. Countryside is still the downs (OP doesn't like) and there isn't good vibes and creativity!

BarbaraofSeville · 26/04/2021 18:07

Red cord brigade aka look at my fucking red trousers.com

HugeHoveFan · 26/04/2021 18:07

@Goldenbear I don't understand what you mean by 'the nine' and 'red cord brigade' in Chichester Grin

It is ridiculously expensive though and last time I looked there were hardly any of the smaller, cheaper homes in the centre available - just pages of £2.5M homes with huge gardens!

HugeHoveFan · 26/04/2021 18:07

Sorry cross posted!

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 26/04/2021 18:13

I loathe Brighton.lived there for some years. I now live in Porlock in Somerset on Exmoor. I just love it but its very remote. Probably not suitable for kids. What about Devon or Dorset coast. I often go there and its lovely.

Goldenbear · 26/04/2021 18:13

Yes, sorry I was supposed to write vibe not 'nine', even people who live in Chichester described it as 'snobby'.

NorthernMC · 26/04/2021 18:15

Hebden bridge. No sea but lots of lovely rolling hills. Much better than Brighton Grin

HugeHoveFan · 26/04/2021 18:19

@rothbury surely there's a typo there - I can't think of anywhere in Brighton or Hove that's 7 minutes walk from the beach and 12 minutes walk from The Downs!

It takes us 15 minutes to drive from the seafront area to the start of New Timber Hill.

rarat · 26/04/2021 18:21

I don't understand the stuff about the 'burbs' Are you complaining about suburbia? Are you saying that somehow people living in new build houses on the outskirts of town don't fit your criteria?

I don't like the burbs either