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pogmahoney
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DO NOT USE THIS AS A PARTY VENUE!
Thinking of having a party here? Think again. We had a post-wedding party at Circus Circus, and, while the night went pretty well, the following day all goodwill was instantly lost. We arrived in the morning to collect our leftovers and thank them/drop off a tip for the bartenders, but were greeted by a most unpleasant person - apparently another manager, although he neither introduced himself or asked how the night went- who essentially told us to get our stuff and get out, and no, we could not wash our dishes, or leave them to be collected. (I eventually got him to allow us to use a tiny sink in the bar to rinse the hired stuff, but he kept shouting that we needed to hurry up and get out as there was a pole dancing class arriving. He was UNBELIEVABLY rude, and devoid of any customer service skills. Suffice to say we couldn't bring ourselves to give them another penny - sorry, barstaff! You were great, and we really did want to tip you- Anyway, all of our guests will hear about the treatment we received and we would never ever recommend the place to anyone because of that awful man's pathetically offensive behaviour.
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jubond
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Exploring a piece of English coast
Brighton, in the south of England, is not so far from London and a good option for a tour in the warm days of summer. The city has not so many attractions, but it is quite nice. The Royal Pavillion, a majestic Palace in the city centre, is the principal attraction. The beautiful domes, the façade, interior galleries and rooms deserve a visit. Besides this, the Stone Beach and the Palace Pier concentrate the diversion of Brighton. The beach normally is crowded during the warm weekends in the summer and the pier can be considered a mini entertainment park, with games and restaurants. It is nice walk around the city, mainly in the beach pavement, enjoying a piece of the English coast.
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GeorginaS
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Cool British seaside
Brighton is a great seaside resort on the South coast of England. It can be easily reached from London by train and it is great for a day trip or a weekend away - even if the sun isn’t shining.
The British seaside is normally redicoulous as we really don’t have the weather for it, but Brighton has developed itself into a cool place to be, full of quirky shops, great places to eat and drink and a fantastic nightlife. It’s a very gay area so don’t visit if you are homophobic, but otherwise it’s well worth a visit. Wander around The Lanes, the fab shopping district and find some unusual clothes or jewelry, stroll along the promenade and get some sea air into those lungs and check out some of the great bars and cafes. This is English seaside with style!
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Sinbad the sailor
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My impressions about Brighton
Brighton has nice shopping lanes to stroll around in the historical part of the city. The waterfront defines though its sunny side with the Palace Pier being the “crowds” point of convergence. I liked a lot the Brighton Sea Life Centre – spent a couple of hours there!
The Royal Pavilion was built as a royal residence and I find it quite beautiful – though many people say it lacks height, given all the rendered Indian-influenced architecture it exhibits.
Of course nothing like trying some fish and chips – the biggest British invention as it said on a Brighton’s beach huge panel, and then walk into the Brighton White Cliffs.
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Karrr
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Brighton!
Brighton is well known as being the gay capital of England (if no the UK). I made my first visit there yesterday and I absolutely loved it! It was all helped by the fact that it was a lovely sunny day and really warm so a beach visit was in order. I also had a walk along the Marine Parade, right up to the Marina- it was so beautiful. The Pier is also a fun place to go. The whole atmosphere of the city is that it's a fun , young place to go with a lot of trendy clubs and things to do- and a lot of students. But it's more than that as well- it's a place to come to relax and enjoy the sea air whilst having a nice, quiet time and eating some rock or going on the fairground rides on the pier. In short, a city for all ages.
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melissa
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Brighton - great coastal resort
Brighton was such a lovely surprise for me. I expected a run-of-the-mill seaside town, but the historical quaintess of the place puts it in a league of its own. I drove down there from London on a whim one morning, and as I spent the day driving around I was shocked at the wealth of gorgeous architecture - I don't think I saw a single building that wasn't beautiful. Everything has that historical look about it; I wouldn't be surprised if half the buildings in Brighton are listed properties. The beach as well was more beautiful than I expected. The famous pier is in fantastic condition, and the locals really seem to appreciate that they have a wonderful area there at the seaside. On the day I went it was overcast and chilly, and yet the place was packed with people, all seemingly in a great mood and happy to point me in the right direction when I didn't know where to start. Restaurants and shopping are abundant near the seaside, though parking was a bit of a pain and quite expensive once I found a garage. I think if I went again I would definitely leave the car at home and take the train in. Fantastic day out.
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WorldTourist
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Brighton Festival
This festival is full of entertainment that many would consider to be World Class. The festival lasts every year the entire month of May. People come to gather around and see all the different kids of music and programs being displayed here. There are events like ballet, rock music, and even orchestra. In 2007 artists like Ted Barnes and The Magic Flute - The Armonico Consort.
There is always something going on during the festival. The streets are full or all sorts of strange people. I even saw a guy wearing a scuba diving outfit. The festival is just a lot of great fun, and unfortunately only lasts the month of May. Fortunately the weather is usually warm enough to fully enjoy the experience.
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kristin5683
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Universities in Brighton
Brighton has two major universities. This means that the city is full of young people during most of the year. There are always events and things going on, particularly during the school year.
There’s the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton. The University of Brighton was just recently made a university and is considered a bit more “vocational” than Sussex. The University of Sussex is quite prestigious and known for its liberal leanings and high academic standards.
The current University of Sussex Chancellor is Richard Attenborough. This means that if you receive your degree from Sussex, you get your diploma handed to you by Sir Attenenborough himself.
I had the chance to go to both schools. I did my junior year abroad at Brighton and got my graduate degree from Sussex.
University of Brighton has several different campuses. There’s one out at Falmer campus which has several dorms and many of the education classes as well as Falmer bar. It’s quite near the Falmer train station and can also be reached by the 25 bus. There’s a Moulsecoomb campus that has a lot of math and computer classes. It’s accessible from the Moulsecoomb train station as well as bus 49 and 25. Near the Pavilion and the Pier in the heart of Brighton is the Brighton campus where many of the art classes are taught. There is also a Brighton campus in the town of Eastbourne.
The University of Sussex campus is contained near Falmer village and Falmer train station, essentially across the highway from University of Brighton. There is a large library, the Gardner Arts Centre, several bars, several dorms and plenty of class buildings on the campus. It’s well-signed and easy to get around, though some of the Arts A, B, C, and D buildings can be a bit confusing at times.
Some of the buildings are designed to look like things. The library is designed to look like an open book with a large staircase leading up to it as a metaphor for moving up into knowledge. One of the buildings is supposed to be a camera.
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AndreaLJC
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Visting Brighton
Brighton is a fairly small, but very cute sea side town, unfortunately the beach is all pebbles but its still a very nice place to visit and I found that the people were pretty friendly. If you are going there on a bank holiday, make sure you have booked your accommodation in advance as although there are a huge amount of hotels, guest houses and B & B's, they all get fully booked every bank holiday as its a pretty popular place. I made the fatal mistake of going there one bank holiday and not making a booking and unfortunately I had to go straight back to London as there were only rooms available at the expensive hotels (and I was on a budget so that wasn't an option!) Apart from the beach there is a fair bit to do, there is a beautiful mosque that it absolutely massive, so that is well worth a visit. There are the beach promenades to walk down which is lovely in summertime but very windy in the colder months, there are many cafes and dining places to go to along the promenades so makes a nice lunch or dinner stop. There is also the pier, which has plenty to offer to keep you and any children entertained so you can take you pick from singing karaoke, fair rides, arcades, places to eat and snack bars. Brighton also has a thriving party scene so there is no shortage of bars and clubs that are open till late. There is also a huge Gay scene in Brighton so there really is a lot of choice for everyone
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kristin5683
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Brighton Pride
Brighton Pride is a legendary day that’s held every August in Brighton. It’s a celebration of GLBT pride and is quite a spectacle. Brighton as the unofficial GLBT capital of England, if not Europe, makes Brighton Pride bigger and grander each year.
In the morning there is a big parade from the seafront down to Preston Park. It’s a huge deal with loads of floats and groups marching. It’s not just for GLBT - anyone can take part. Just have an open mind and a good sense of fun.
There is plenty of pink, sequins, feathers, leather, chaps and more! Drag queens come out in full force and the outfits are generally incredible. They walk in higher heels then I’ve ever attempted to put on. The music is loud and the streets are crowded. There are lots of kids around for the parade, Brighton is a really open town. Though the fun is generally more adult-oriented. In the park and along the parade route, I saw several people passed out before noon. Pace yourself if you’re drinking to celebrate Pride!
In Preston Park (you’ll be able to find your way there if you just follow the crowds) there is a large carnival. There are fair rides and games. The park will be crowded and loud (I’ve had trouble meeting people at the park) but the atmosphere is pretty relaxed and fun. There are booths with GLBT sex toys/books and other targeted marketing. In the big tents, there’s music going and it’s a nightclub in the park during the day.
The parade and entrance to Preston Park is free, along with the dance tents. I’m not sure about the rides, I’m guessing they cost, but I haven’t been on one. There are also plenty of food vendors around serving kebabs, burgers, chips, candy floss and more. Not necessarily healthy, but delicious and the perfect food for the festive atmosphere.
The whole thing starts to wind down by sunset and the crowds flood back towards the beach for a night out. It’s definitely memorable, but definitely not for anyone who’s too conservative.
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kristin5683
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Brighton trains
The train stations in the area are Hove, Brighton, London Road, Moulsecoomb, and Falmer. Brighton station is the biggest and is on Queens Road in the center of town, just about 5-10 minutes from the seafront. On weekends, particularly bank holiday Mondays, you can see loads of people from London and outside of Brighton pouring off the train, down Queens Road and to the beach.
London Road, Moulsecoomb and Falmer station are all small stations. There aren’t turnstiles at these stations. But occasionally there are workers that check for your tickets as you get off and there’s a fine to pay if you don’t have your ticket. The cost is about 2 pounds for a round trip from Brighton to Falmer.
Falmer has station attendants during business hours. Each station has little kiosks where you can buy your ticket. Make sure and buy your ticket before you get on the train. Conductors come by and check tickets periodically and at the larger stations you have to put your ticket in a turnstile to leave the station. Sometimes the machines won’t give
Falmer station is closest to the universities – it’s essentially on the University of Brighton Falmer campus and just a 5 minute walk to the University of Sussex campus. The Moulsecoomb and London Road stations are sort of out of the way in residential parts of town.
Getting to London or Gatwick airport from Brighton is very easy. Look for the Gatwick Express trains for the fastest way to the airport, other trains to London stop there, but take longer. The closes train station in London is London Victoria, but you can also get trains to London King’s Cross and London Bridge Station without having to change trains. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get to London from Brighton on the train.
Before 9:30am, train fares are much higher due to all the commuters. Wait until after that time if you can to get a better deal. Also, trains get super packed in the mornings and after work with people coming in and out of Brighton as well as on Sundays when the trains don’t run as often. Sundays are also the days when most engineering works occur. Listen for any announcements for part of your service where you might have to take a bus.
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kristin5683
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Brighton buses
Getting around Brighton without a car is pretty simple. There are loads of bus routes running through the town. The No. 7 bus runs all night between Hove and Kemptown. If you’re at university, there is a night bus the N85 that runs from Hove and the center of Brighton to the universities.
The bus line to the university is the No. 25. There are bus schedules at most of the bus stops, which are every few blocks on the main streets. Many have “real-time” schedules, which is helpful. The buses are both single deck and double deck buses. During the winter, rainy weather and at school times, the buses can get quite crowded. If you want the bus to stop, hail it with your arm – just because it’s scheduled to stop there doesn’t mean that it will if you don’t hail it. To get off, push one of the red buttons on the bus and it will stop at the next stop. Again, the bus won’t stop at a stop unless someone hails it to get on or if someone buzzes to get off. (Simple logic if you’ve been on mass transit before, but if you’re from a small town like I am, you might not know!)
The University buses run more frequently during term. The 25 starts picking people up in Hove and has many stops in Brighton on its way to University. I would get the bus near the outer edge of Brighton and have had the buses pass me by because they’re too full. The 24 goes out to ASDA and the Hollingbury neighborhood. These are the buses that I took the most, though there are loads of others that go to other neighborhoods.
You can buy a ticket from the bus driver as you get on. Bus prices seem to go up more frequently then train fares. The best deal if you’re going to be on and off the bus during the day is a day-saver. If you’re getting a night bus, you can’t use your day-saver pass! If you’re a student, you can go and get a 3-month student pass. You have to have your NUS card and 2 passport photos and be prepared for a wait, particularly near the beginning of term.
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kristin5683
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Kemptown
Kemptown is the neighborhood east of the Palace Pier to the Marina. It’s known as the gay and lesbian part of town. While most, if not all, of Brighton is welcoming to GLBT (gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender), Kemptown is particularly open.
Revenge and Envy are two gay-friendly nightclubs on the edge of Kemptown. On weekends, I’ve known some people be turned away from Revenge for being too pissed or in large groups and not dressed nicely enough. They’re popular, cheesy clubs and there’s loads of people pulling.
I’ve had people ask me if I (as a straight woman) have ever felt uncomfortable in a gay club. My answer is, “Not at all.” While at “straight” clubs, there’s not as much of a chance as getting hit on in the bathroom as in a gay club, but I don’t think it’s any more or less “safe” at a gay club then anywhere else. I love a good drag queen show/dance and think it makes for a hilarious night out.
Though for some conservatives, seeing 2 guys, 2 girls or a drag queen and guy or girl dancing together might seem offensive. If this is the case, then don’t go to the clubs/pubs in Kemptown.
This isn’t to say that all the venues will have guys making out, but that there’s more of a chance happening at a club in Kemptown then elsewhere in the city (except for Wild Fruit night at Creation nightclub on West Street!).
The beach near Kemptown is often less crowded then the area between the Palace Pier and the West Pier.
There are some gay/lesbian specialty shops in Kemptown with everything from books to sex toys.
My favourite place in Kemptown is the Audio pub/club. I’ve seen some great live acts in the Audio club and had some hilarious times in the Audio pub. There’s a large display of liquor bottles behind the bar that I think looks cool.
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kristin5683
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North Laines
Known as the bohemian quarter of Brighton, the North Laines is an neighborhood of Brighton bordered by Queens Road, Trafalgar Street, North Road and London Road. It is one of Brighton's most popular shopping places - many of the shops and cafes are locally owned and feature specialist items. There's a vegetarian shoe shop, a kite shop, retro 50's clothing and furniture, fabric shop, gift shop selling jewellery and gifts made out of recycled items, old record stores, a large antique/second-hand store, a comic book store, and so much more!
I absolutely love walking through the streets (often crowded during summer and on weekends) and looking in different shops. There are street stalls open most weekends, selling art, jewellery, and clothing. It has such a unique and enjoyable flavor, not a place to explore in a hurry. Many stores are open limited hours on Sunday and extended hours on Thursday nights.
It's also home to some of Brighton's best cafes, restaurants and specialist food shops. There's a large vegetarian, health-food store, several juice bars and restaurants, including but definitely not limited to!: a bagel store, Japanese noodle bar, vegan restaurant/cafe, and tapas bar. It's also a popular stopping point for pre-club drinks before heading into the city center. I know it’s a bit of a cop-out since it’s a chain store, but I love the Costa Coffee in the North Laines. I’m also a fan of the Evolution store and the many shoe stores!
Just a delightful place to wander, shop, have drinks or dinner with friends, have a night out, and people watch. The North Laines is my absolute favourite part of Brighton. There’s just so much to do and see, all sorts of people around and such a great atmosphere. I make it a point to walk through the streets at least once a week.
I’m not the only one who likes the North Laines. On weekends, when I had to walk through the North Laines to get to work, I often got frustrated with the slow-moving crowds.
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