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?

people are awful on church road. ask the cafe/bar/shop assistants - and actually get an answer not a fake customer service answer...they'll tell you how horrid it is.

Went once and had to walk in from a multistory carpark which was gated…. Don’t have that level of security in my city and it felt really rough and intimidating and dirty - more drugs and homeless than I was expecting. This was about 5/6 years ago. I know all places have dodgy ends but this felt bad

Because it is, to distinguish it from the North Laines.

I had a day off today but my DH was at work, so I just wandered down to the beach in Hove and it was so lovely and very different to adjacent Brighton. Not crowded though many people in the sea, a few couples and then many families with young children after the schools emptied, but lots of people reading alone like me. I had the best time.

It really isn't! They are two different areas.

I think she means that it's nickname for the place

I’m confused.

Yes it is two different areas - the North Laines and what’s now known as the South Lanes. The latter was known just as The Lanes before The North Laines became a thing (it didn’t have an actual name until the 90s).

It’s North Laine and The Lanes

To some people. I know a lot of people in Brighton who call it North Laine and South lanes. Its a nickname.

It's one of those things that really doesn't matter

So many incredible restaurants in Brighton. Weird that you don’t do even a cursory search.

We went recently and enjoyed exploring the shops and beach. We went to a fab restaurant.
We were put off by the car park with kids running around screaming, having to walk past people shooting up in the stairwells, dreadful
smells and recent reports of items being thrown from higher levels.

I came on to say the same. It’s really sad.

Brighton was really rather seedy the last time I was there. I stayed in the Not Very Grand and that was a disappointment too.

I’ll take things that never happened for 500…

I’ve lived here on and off since the 90’s and it hasn’t changed much. Busier and posher is all. Keith Waterhouse famously described the place as a town that looked like it was helping police with enquiries in the 50’s. It’s been like this forever.

I’ve lived in tourist hotspots my entire life and it’s always brilliant when tourists come, stay in the touristy areas and then moan about other tourists 😂.

I adore the place with all its grimness and glamour. Nowhere else like it in the world. It’s a bit San Francisco, a bit Amsterdam and a bit Bognor Regis. It’s fabulous.

You do need to know where to go though, and if you’re running into all the hen and stag parties you’re definitely in the wrong bit!

This thread is as old as time

Have you gone to meetup groups in Brighton then? What's your experience?

If you don't believe me, you can DM me and I will tell you the exact name of one of the groups. You can go along yourself, and see how they get everyone to say their names and pronouns at the start of the group. Let's see if you enjoy it!

Lived here thirty years and not once has someone asked me my pronouns. I go to lots of groups including group therapy, book club, hiking group, volleyball

Your list of groups doesn't include the group that I went to

Okay so one group did that you mean

Anyway I don’t mind, if the thread puts people off coming then all the better. Mumsnet has never liked Brighton, I think it’s the trans people as well as the grimy stuff. Ask a different demographic and they love it. I think people are friendly here and accepting. Rather live here than the Home Counties all keeping up with the Jones

I grew up in Brighton and have been living back here for the last 8 years. I have a real love/hate relationship with the place! I loved it as a teen in the 90s/00s because there was so much to do, lots of live music and once I started going to clubs it was amazing. Lots of good shops too.
I totally agree about the city centre now; it’s grotty, dirty, can be intimidating and as OP says it is mostly chain restaurants. If you go into the north Laine area or old lanes or onto Preston St there are some amazing places to eat but you sort of have to know they’re there or do a quick google beforehand. As a PP said, fantastic for vegetarian/vegan food and has been since the 80s/90s.
I don’t go anywhere near the beach in summer, certainly not the bit between the piers. If you go out towards Ovingdean or Rottingdean it’s slightly less horrendous. Parking is indeed horrendous. Buses are semi-reliable. Trains to Gatwick/London are expensive in peak time and delayed more often than not.
The biggest issue for me is the cost of living there. Property prices are on a par with some areas of London but there isn’t the jobs market to support the costs, so lots of people commute to London. Most people I know who grew up here have moved out to Eastbourne or Lancing/Worthing because they just can’t afford Brighton.
It makes me laugh when people say that Brighton is London-by-the sea because it really isn’t! Once you’ve been on the pier, to the pavilion and the museum there isn’t really anything much to do that doesn’t involve spending money; whereas in London there’s loads to do for free. Brighton also isn’t very ethnically diverse, although of course very keen on gender-neutral toilets…
Ultimately it’s trying to be more than it is; it’s trying to be a city when it is in fact a small town.
My mum says ‘Brighton is just full of young people who are up their own arses’ and I tend to agree!

Three, but all same genre of group.

I agree with your mum too @louderthan

I’ve never experienced that at The Grand…

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who finds Brighton awful. There are so many much nicer coastal towns. Hastings is genuinely bohemian, if rough around the edges. House prices in Brighton seem very high too imo. Plus, as others say, so very hard to park!

Oh, this sounds very appealing! No mastectomy scar parades or pronoun offence, most likely! Phew. Must visit soon.