To move to Brighton and Hove

[Decisionsdecisionsss]

I've name changed for this as I'm giving away lots of info but I am a regular poster.

We made the decision to relocate to B&H from Bromley (South East London suburb) but we are now at the stage of offering on a property and I'm getting really cold feet.
I've been told the secondary schools are too risky due to the lottery. We would be moving away from an area where the schools are consistently good with the option of grammar school (probably wouldn't go to it but it's an option) so it's important that we don't sacrifice a good education for our three boys (currently under 6). We have seen a property we like in Patcham, which would mean our children going to patcham infants, juniors and secondary school but I've heard mixed things about it.

Has anyone made a move like this and was it worth it?! Does anyone live around there they can give some advice?
We wanted to move to be close to the sea and the downs, and we love the vibe and atmosphere particularly in hove and more relaxed lifestyle than London, but we can't afford a big enough house with a garden in the part of Hove we like, so would be looking at Patcham. We are also considering Shoreham.

Any views on these areas would be great. Im wondering if this dream of mine is a bit selfish and whether the kids would be better off staying put, but I've wanted to be near the sea forever, so I'm so torn, and Id also love the opportunity to get into water sports for ourselves and the kids, but would that even happen if we are further up from the sea!?
So. confused! Help!

Christ people have you not heard of trains ?

Ah yes. Get used to the stench of weed.

But it's not generally a problem in the way that the junkies and street drinkers are. They do mostly stay amongst themselves though.

Portslade is nice as long as you live towards the bottom/near the beach - the top of Portslade feels miles away from anywhere (although the emmaus shop is great)

There's no reason why you can't end up at the beach nearly everyday - we do in summer. Shut our laptops dead on 5, pack up the kids and go. We usually pack a picnic tea. The water is warmer too if you go in the evening.

DH is British but not white and that's one of the things that stops us moving out of Brighton-proper to a nearby village for more space, we like that Brighton is more multicultural for the DC.

Portslade can be a bit rough round the edges (which I like) but as PP have said, as Hove gets more expensive, it is getting more and more like Hove.

For the beach, best to be south of the A270 and even better, south of the railway line.

From what you have written, you wouldn't enjoy Chi, Emsworth or around (where the loudest sound some days is of people tutting) but Shoreham might well work for you (although not as "beachy" as Hove.)

Personally, I would sarifice the garden to move to Aldrington.

This thread has got me on Rightmove and daydreaming about whether I can move back to the Poets Corner/Aldrington area. Aside from the small gardens it's perfect 🙂

I had a look on Zoopla for properties and there is not much in your price range in shoreham, however look at this

I can’t believe that multi million pound houses are for sale in shoreham these days, it’s certainly different to my day!

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/61717580/

Another Worthingite here and annoyed at the shithole reference ! I wouldn't write it off OP there are some lovely areas such as poets corner in west Worthing with quieter beaches within walking distance. We are in a road a minutes walk from the sea and it's gorgeous in the summer. It really is up and coming now with younger families so is shaking off its elderly image. Close to Surrey and London and Brighton when you fancy, what's not to like?

You're all making me wish I had bought the Aldrington house! 😁

I think we might organise a day trip to worthing and check it out. Is there a specific school/s we would need to buy near?

My Worthing knowledge is limited but I know several young couples and families who've moved there after being priced out of Brighton who love it there. I have always thought the beach and area around Splashpoint leisure centre seems lovely. West Worthing is supposed to be the nice bit I think? If you have girls then I have heard Davison High is a good school? Like I say though, my knowledge is limited and there will be others who know the town much better!

@Teganandbarbs yes west Worthing is lovely leafy and a bit hovey! Beach is great too. I was a davison girl and hopefully my dd will be going there next year.

Would definitely look at hassocks
Easy access to Brighton via car or train or bus
Good primary and secondary schools
Lots of young families
You would get much more house and garden for your money .
Patcham isn't near enough to the sea to justify the by the sea price tag imho

@Lolabalola just looked up Hassocks secondary school, looks brilliant! Great that it's nearer the coast than some of the other areas suggested. Is it very small and villagey? Would want somewhere that welcomes outsiders where everyone hasn't grown up there and is already in cliques.

@Decisionsdecisionsss
Years ago it was very villagey, clique and full of elderly residents and retirement bungalows.
In the last 20 years it has been gradually adopted by Brighton and London families looking for family houses with good facilities.
It's a large village with a thriving high street, really upmarket budgens sainsburys local, hairdressers, takeaways, independent and really good coffee shops etc.
It has more of a family vibe now with family friendly mini festivals in the park, light up hassocks Xmas events etc.
The station has trains to London and Brighton and it's five minutes to main a23/m23 by car .
Nearly hurstpierpoint and ditching are also pretty and thriving villages.

Portslade would be my choice if I were moving around there. A friend lives there and they seem to have a great quality of life. Sea is very accessible, has the Hove vibe but without the crowds and tourists and nice housing stock. Presumably cheaper than Hove, certainly cheaper than downtown Brighton. Rail link into London not brilliant but if you didn’t have to go in every day would be manageable. Don’t know about schools.

Thing is, you'd still have to drive/bus to the beach and nearest beach is Brighton so you'd end up driving round town to the quieter ends which would be 15 mins or more.

I get the impression West Hove (and that's not Portslade, it's west of Hove station to the boundary with Portslade a couple of miles away) or south Portslade or maybe even Southwick, are what you're really after.

With all that beach and park time who needs a big garden

A Portslade example
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/120366719#/?channel=RES_BUY

I thought of this thread when out for morning run- view in pic. I feel very lucky to live where I do and plan never to move!

@Zarzuela that's the morning run I want!! Can we swap lives for a bit please! 😄
Do you have kids at any of the schools? The hove schools include hove park but I've heard that's not great. So would be taking a gamble on getting blatchington mill.
I think it's a good point about the garden, maybe it's less important with parks and the beach right there. Plus my parents have a big garden in Surrey and we spend a lot of time there so they would get the best of both worlds.

We live in Preston park area and it is good for Stringer school. It is a calmer vibe than West Hove/Portslade if you have teenagers that go to the parks etc im told by my 15 year old that the vibe is edgy and scarey in the parks that end. I am originally from West London and would say north Brighton, area around Preston park station and housing near Dyke Road on Station Side is more London feel i grew up with. Patcham is very different, it is the suburbs like Withdean. We lived in Hove but I prefer the property style and general feel of being inland. The main issue with Brighton and Hove is how there are small pockets of areas that are nice to live in, literally a few roads in some cases and then it becomes boring coastal housing that is bleak like near the Marina or yes, lots of drugs and the associated problems in the middle of the day!

I don't have DC at the secondary schools. Friends are at Blatch and PACA and happy with those. Hove Park you're right, not great. But have friends with DC there too, one DC chose it, one wants to leave.

But school numbers have fallen so I have heard it's easy to get where you want at primary now and this could then affect secondary in a few years. Depends when yours will be going to secondary.

Also have friends at the Steiner secondary and SML college as these suited them best (feel like typically Brighton alternatives).

Last time i went to Brighton I couldn't believe the amount of used needles scattered on the beach. Couldn't gey out of there quick enough.

@Goldenbear thanks for your post, so your DS finds the parks in Hove more scary? I thought it would be the other way round. I can see that all the areas are very mixed, I imagine it could be easy to make a mistake with the road. We are considering renting down there first now.

Hailsham used to be shite but has improved massively over the last few years, decent shops, cafes etc. There seems to be a lot more going on, there's a decent leisure centre with a pool and a lovely independent cinema/theatre.

Polegate seems to be going the other way imo and is looking decidedly seedy in the centre. It does have one of the nicest Lidls I've ever been in though.

Road connections for both are poor, but Polegate has a station. Hailsham only has buses, and not many of them.

Don't know about the schools.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125940323

Come down the road ! Chichester, the witterings. Bosham, hayling island. No drug addicts, no needles on tbe beach. Cheaper houses .

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119910569

Don’t move to Chichester if you want London in sea. I used to live there for many years until recently. It’s very beautiful and feels safe but it does not sound like the vibe you are after.
The traffic is awful, it is heavily conservative and has little diversity. The people are very middle class and mostly unfriendly to anyone who doesn’t fit.
The primary schools are good and I believe most do well.
Chichester high school isn’t great tbh- I had two children through there and it was ok, but not worth moving for.