To ask is there a better version of Brighton

[Wondergirl100]

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.

No Eastbourne isn’t lively. It is pleasant. But it’s basically a retirement town with an older Tory demographic.

Chichester is good. I love Richmond... but too expensive?

Or what about some of the outlying country towns north of and surrounding Brighton but close enough?

I dunno about the schools but Whitby has seaside and an alternative scene?

I think

I think you ruling out Kent because of the Grammar system (you are not automatically added, you have to apply) is not very opened minded.

Think that was OPs way of say the selective system which is not something Kent dwellers can just opt out of!

Chichester is not open-minded. It's a pretty conservative place and has nothing of the Brighton vibe. Its very pretty but it's really expensive and the main secondary school has gone from good to terrible over the last decade. I wouldn't pick Chichester if you're after a Brighton vibe. In fact, it is quite unique for various reasons you'll need to compromise

My family live in Brighton, and honestly I think it’s gone massively downhill in the last 20 years. Business rates and rent went through the roof and some lovely shops and bar/restaurants were lost making way for chains and tat.

Eastbourne is deathly. They’re trying to bring Bexhill into 21st century, but it’s not quite there yet... apparently has some alright schools, though.

I’m just here to see how many people slag off Hastings. Sometimes I’m convinced it’s the locals trying to put people off so it doesn’t end up like Brighton.

Glasgow west end has a brighton-y vibe imo

Don’t think much of the beach though!

No Eastbourne isn’t lively. It is pleasant.

Perfect summing up of Eastbourne!

Dunno about the schools but Whitby has seaside and an alternative scene?

I’ve always fancied visiting but have never made it as it is so out of the way. It just doesn’t have umpteen trains an hour some of which can get you to London in an hour.

I would also advise OP to take a look at Portsmouth. Big town, loads to do, great beach at Southsea, reasonable links to London and much cheaper than Brighton.

@CecilyP

I think you ruling out Kent because of the Grammar system (you are not automatically added, you have to apply) is not very opened minded.

Think that was OPs way of say the selective system which is not something Kent dwellers can just opt out of!

Indeed. You can opt out of taking the 11+ but unless you have chosen your location very carefully you can’t opt out of then going to a school where a disproportionate number of high achievers are absent.

Many High Schools as a result have a limited range of language options, may only offer the combined science curriculum, may not offer Further Maths , etc.

Making a decision about a school system in practical and idealogical grounds is not the same as being closed minded.

Well yeah, dont think much of glasgow beach lol, and im not a coldweather fan either, but the vast majority of seaside towns are deprived. I dont know how brighton escaped it.

Newquay might work?

@BumCat

My family live in Brighton, and honestly I think it’s gone massively downhill in the last 20 years. Business rates and rent went through the roof and some lovely shops and bar/restaurants were lost making way for chains and tat.

Eastbourne is deathly. They’re trying to bring Bexhill into 21st century, but it’s not quite there yet... apparently has some alright schools, though.

I’m just here to see how many people slag off Hastings. Sometimes I’m convinced it’s the locals trying to put people off so it doesn’t end up like Brighton.

@BumCat ha! Yes me too, waiting for the people to slag it off as usual!

Whereas the balanced opinions of people like me who actually live here get ignored in favour of people who have done a few day trips to Hastings and only been to the new town and thus are now experts on the town...!

Parts of Southampton.

Shoreham! Have a look, everyone there raves about it.

If Brighton has gone downhill in the last ten years it’s because of the government cuts.

Growing up in the 80s it was grimy and deprived. Then it got better under Labour. Now it’s back to grimy and deprived. But now there are decent restaurants too.

Agree with OO on Kent and grammar - could never live there.

We have a green MP. Everywhere else can fuck off !

Surprise that someone selling a London house or flat can’t afford Brighton.

They mean Croydon

^^
Croydon is a. London (put beyond doubt by COVID restrictions applying equally even when Croydon rates were very low) and b. Croydon is at least as pricey as Brighton.

@Vintagevixen good! They’re doing God’s work. 😂

I lived in Brighton 15 years ago when I was a student. It's expensive. Expensive housing, crowded and a horrible place to live and especially to park if you drive, it explains why so many people there suffer from poor mental health. Brighton only has a name but no longer offers nothing. Open mindness isn't open when it works one way! It has a weird set up, so many hills and no flow between places.

Chichester is awful especially during lockdown this showed what the people like there are really like. No loyalty whatsoever. Everyone's locked up at home and not leaving there unless a visit to witterings or the Range. House prices going up but at the same time locals are doing everything to push local businesses out of business with their over the top never leave home attitude and obsession with the range. I'm from London and despite lockdown, we have supported local businesses who were able to operate whether it was a coffee hut at a park entrance or a party shop on the high St who happened to sell hand gel. We worked our way around and supported them. Chichester is doing everything to kill their local businesses but they will shoot themselves on the foot when their businesses go bust and their house prices will go down because they no longer offer anything.

I would look at places like Portsmouth particularly south sea. It depends what else you really want other than open mindness and schools.

i love living in brighton, but it is becoming a student housing place. every where is being built on for student accommodation.

@Ihopeyourcakeisshit

at Morecambe

What’s wrong with Morecambe?

Yes, Shoreham is lovely. Small though and not much going on but it does have a lovely ‘vibe’ and some good cafes/pubs/delis etc The Ropetackle Arts Centre seems to offer some interesting events (in Non-Covid times). I think the nice big houses near Shoreham beach are probably Brighton prices though!

I notice the Witterings have been mentioned as being nice beaches near Chichester. This is true, but try getting there to spend a sunny weekend day on the beach. One road in and out which you might get to look at for quite some time as you queue in your car to get into the car park, which you have to pay for. Always puts me off going there despite not living far away.

As an alternative, there’s a very nice beach at Littlehampton that you can walk to from the town centre. I don’t have much else to say about Littlehampton though 😬

...Except the property is inexpensive for the SE and maybe it’s an up-and-coming town? I’m fairly local and Littlehampton has often been touted as ‘up and coming’ but I’ve yet to see it happen really.

NB- maybe someone here lives in L’ton and can put me straight on that. I’m sure it’s a great place to live!

Bognor Regis - not that far along the coast, nice beaches especially at low tide, not as shoddy as it used to be although still a bit run down in places.

Croydon is a. London (put beyond doubt by COVID restrictions applying equally even when Croydon rates were very low) and b. Croydon is at least as pricey as Brighton.

Yeah I know it's where I live, but it's not "London prices" as per a pp comment

But that’s good. More students, more vibrant stuff happening, more ethnic food places.

That was at the student accommodation comment - doh

Plus it means the students bug each other and not their next door neighbors

...Except the property is inexpensive for the SE and maybe it’s an up-and-coming town? I’m fairly local and Littlehampton has often been touted as ‘up and coming’ but I’ve yet to see it happen really

they've been saying this for a long time haven't they! Lancing is also a consideration op. It isn't Brighton by any stretch, but it's the next place along from Shoreham which has become very 'du jour' lately and will soon be too expensive for many so Lancing will be next! It has a train station, a nice beach and there is a huge new housing development on the way (and an IKEA!). No Brighton vibe yet but I reckon it'll be up and coming before Littlehampton...

Has anyone found out what one can do in an open-minded community that one cannot in a, presumably, closed-minded one? Is it just a matter of being able to exercise one's sexual fetishes in public or is there something else? I'm genuinely puzzled 🤷🏼‍♀️

Interesting point. What does happen in an open minded community that doesn't happen in a not open minded one?