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?

Reread my post 😉

We have family near Brighton but, for the beach, prefer Seaford, Pevensey or Norman’s Bay. There aren’t many cafes or bars, but there’s loads of space and it isn’t as scuzzy.

as a Brightonian I would never sit on the beach between the piers. I know the bad spots and just avoid them so I guess us who live here just don’t see all this shit everyone speaks of

Hastings! 🤣🤣 Hastings is an absolute dump. I don’t know what ‘culture’ you’re finding there unless extreme poverty, a dismal high street and shuttered shops everywhere are your thing.

Vibe is exactly it! We lived in Sydney for a while at I think the two places are very similar. Sydney also has serious problems with drugs and homelessness, but on a sunny day with everyone chilling outside quirky independent cafes and pubs or strolling along the seafront both places are just amazing.

I don't think I'd go there, not after reading all that stuff about the undesirables...

I take it that you've not heard of the largest Fat Tuesday celebrations in the UK? Jack in the Green? The massive local music scene? Or the countless other things i could have listed?

I'll be there again next month for the International Children's Film Festival.

Pretty cultural in my book.

I remember going as a child and enjoying it, so DH and I went for the day 2 summers ago. Absolutely awful - dirty, tatty, lots of drunks and not helped by the fact it was trans pride that weekend and we were treated to the unedifying sight of numerous young topless women showing off their double mastectomy scars.

Guess it’s horses for courses! I’ve lived in Hove for 15 years and I love it. Always something going on in town and I love the buzz.

On Saturday DH and I walked down to Hove beach and went to a beach from bar for some lunch and people watching. Was absolutely lovely and nothing like the mad scrum you get between the piers in Brighton. It’s certainly not without its problems, but it is a thriving city and certainly nothing like places like Gt Yarmouth, which I also know very well.

I’m 52 so my appetite for big nights out is pretty much non existent, but DH and I have absolutely been know to do a bit of clubbing and the live music scene is great.

Over here in Hove it’s much more low key but we still have central Brighton a 5 minute train ride away.

if I could change one thing, I’d like a sandy beach!

My great uncle and great aunt ran a guest house in Brighton which they sold in the 1990s for under £50k(!) it was on the seafront and sadly in very poor nick.

I remember Brighton being seedy and grotty. Then, like everywhere, it gentrified, boomed, became desirable; quirky and bohemian gave way to expensive and fashionable. Now, like everywhere, it’s sinking as our economy collapses and online shopping kills it all. Just look at Bournemouth.

It’s tragic.

Restos.....?

Yeah brighton is not great. I also feel a bit like im walking on eggshells in brighton and afraid to cause offence when I'm there.

Brighton is full of gay and transexual people. That's fine. However if I go to a social group in brighton this happens. This happened to me in three different groups. Someone will say at the start "right we will go round the table ad introduce name and pronouns. Then everyone says "I'm he, him, I'm she, her, I'm they , them, I'm she, them". I could never remember the pronouns and if I got a pronoun wrong they would get really angry. That has only happened to me in Brighton.

I spent my student years living there half a century ago and love the place. It's certainly changed a lot since then, but I still have a soft spot for Brighton.

It's fun to be a student in any city. Its different to living there as an adult

Horrible beach in Brighton too. Is that it's natural beach? Im asking because after the three women in Brighton drowned recently, news stories said that Brighton Council dump a lot of gravel and shingle at the shore

True enough, but I'd still be very happy to live there now.

It's changed a bit! I live there. The people that have lived there for a long time are always telling me that it's gone downhill

In what way?

It's an entitled arrogance that I would be surprised stopped at your parking attitude. Controlled parking exists for a reason and you think rules don't apply you because you can afford to pay a fine. Have you ever stopped to think if everyone behaved like that in life there would be more significant issues than we have. Maybe people should park across the entrance to the house you 'still own' for the day and feck you.

Rougher. More fights on the streets. I've seen a fight on the street every week since I've lived in brighton. More drugs. They nickname London road "skid row" now

Completely agree with this. We know where to avoid, especially in the summer.

The restaurants are fab- I’m a fan on Tonkatsu as well. We had our wedding reception at Blossoms last year after our ceremony at the town hall. Wonderful restaurant!

The good thing about brighton is its generally safer than London for women, as Brighton is full of gay men! I've been shouted at on the street by men in London. I've never been shouted at on the street by men in brighton

That doesn't sound good. It's not something that's been apparent on my visits there over the last 50 years, despite having walked down London Road quite a few times.

Do you walk it at night time? The fights are always past 9pm