Is it just me or has Brighton gone downhill?

[Newmeagain]

I was there for a weekend about 15 or 16 years ago. I have memories of lots of interesting, independent shops and eating places, particularly in the lanes and around that area.

I went today and was really disappointed. No interesting shops, restaurants were mainly chains. Some nice independent coffee places but that’s about it.

Has it changed or are my memories clouded?

Did you look on trip advisor ? There’s literally 100s of excellent independent shops and restaurants and cafes in the centre. We’re too walking around blindfolded ?
I could send you a list if you like. What sort of food were you looking for ?

Not my favourite seafront, as I'm not keen on the pebbly beach with no sand, but always enjoyed a daytrip there.

People seem to like Margate currently, I’ve not been, so can’t comment, but might be worth a visit.

The appeal is the clubbing without having to get the tube/night bus home. Was for me anyway!

To add: I love Brighton and Hove - but it is a shithole in certain ways. Rubbish everywhere, big street bins overflowing and a real homeless problem. Frequently see addicts shooting up in shop doorways. Pavements and roads are all fucked and streets are full
of weeds. It’s quite filthy in parts.

BUT regardless of the neglect by the council/ central govt funding - it has a spirit that I love. Creative, relaxed, hedonistic, cultural.
Excellent food scene. Great independent shops. Always plenty of music or club nights to choose from. I guess like any big city, a visitor could easily wander off the train and along western road and miss all of the good stuff that makes it special.

And yet the house prices are astronomical!

My dad always said it was full of insufferable hippies and green voters.

I’ve never seen the hype. It was all the rage in the mid 90s with Britpop, Camden by the sea people used to call it.

The Laines are still the same, including pubs?

It's not really anymore neglected than any other council that has had their funding cut.

I have to say I was surprised that I actually preferred Margate to Brighton, but it is a few years since I have visited either. I was expecting to love the Lanes in Brighton.

Love Brighton but left 20 years ago
for the Cotswolds. Then it was over priced and down market.

DH and I usually return off season (to avoid stag & hen car crash do’s) as have many friends & happy memories there.

Some fabulous restaurants there though including :

Wild Flor
Petit Pois
Food for Friends

Brighton is a bit of a dump and has always refused to gentrify but lots of Hove is lovely. I offered on a flat there in the 80s when it was half the price of further north in Sussex, now it’s twice the price. The Thameslink effect probably.

i love a day out in Brighton, it’s full of great places to eat, bars and traditional pubs but I wouldn’t live there. The streets are dirty and the street sleeping is very sad.

Do you feel swamped by tourists in the Cotswolds? Or is it ok if you aren’t a coach trip stop? I’d love to visit again, havent been for so long, but keep hearing about crowds of instagrammers!

If you like Indian food, there's an incredible restaurant called The Chilli Pickle - some of the best Indian food I've ever had. Food for Friends also excellent (veggie restaurant)

I love to visit for a day or two, it's an easy trip from London

I live in Hove and I honestly would not want to live anywhere else in the UK. Like everywhere B&H has its challenges, but it’s a great town with a fantastic restaurant and nightlife scene. Avoiding the stag and hens isn’t hard- just stay away from the main road between the station and the beach at weekends. Even at the height of summer we’ve never had a problem finding a nice spot in town for drinks and dinner. Parking is admittedly a complete nightmare and it’s been years since I’ve driven into central Brighton. Imvho we’re very lucky hee sandwiched between the sea and the South Downs.

The Chilli Pickle is amazing!

Terre a Terre is truly exceptional. My DH is vegan is this is our go to restaurant for a nice celebratory meal.

I have visited Brighton on and off for most of my life, as one of my family lived nearby until not so long ago.

There is less of the independent businesses around the Lanes, but still more than in many places. It's also changed I think because whereas 20 or 30 years ago it was very unsafe to be LGBT in most towns/cities apart from Brighton, the number of places where it is relatively safe to be has increased.

Where were you? The North Laine area is still full of independent shops and quirky cafes.

No because I’m not in the Stow on the Wold/Chipping Camden/Burford bit. I am on the Cotswold way but in a quieter part. Nearer Cirencester/Stroud/Painswick area. Bath/Cheltenham/Bristol not too far. Gloucester isn’t great so don’t go there much. Just love all the space and the beauty. And great independent restaurants. Like Juliet's :)

I used to stay there a lot in my student days when it was on the up and v trendy , and I stayed there a lot for work reasons about 16 years ago too. Obviously some v swanky bits and nice shops in the Lanes but lots of poverty then too.
I loved the palm reader on the beach, I think he’s since died, prof Mirza?

They lost at home to Man Utd today, but did finish above Chelsea.

Not sure where you went but the Laines and North Laines are all independent shops from opticians to clothes to bookshops to food places. And there are fantastic places to eat -
all indies.
Unless you just went to the generic, boring shopping centre??? Which is all M&S, HM, Zara etc but we do still need those TBH, our kids still want the branded trainers and we have to buy school trousers somewhere!
The month long arts festival and the fringe festival are in right now - if you seriously couldn’t find anything interesting right now in Brighton, then you never will.

Ds lives in Brighton - moved there after uni - and loves it. Yes, it has a gritty side to it, but where doesn’t? He loves the live music scene, bars, proximity to South Downs and the beach, bars and the fact that it’s compact - he can walk to the centre of the city in under 15 mins.

Seriously, if you think Brighton is a s**thole then come along the coast to Southampton: it’s an absolute dump with no redeeming features whatsoever.

I have always thought Brighton was pretty shabby and rough. Last time I went I thought it really did look as if it was in dire need of some exterior maintenance!