Brighton
Dining And Drinking

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Brighton could be described as England's answer to Miami Beach. A hangout for the young and funky, this seaside city provides an equally welcoming environment for families and pensioners.

Not long ago, Brighton was written off as a seedy seaside resort. Not so today. It has an excellent and broad range of restaurants, bars and, for those who still have some energy left, nightclubs.

Every palate is catered for in Brighton, with the added bonus that everything is within easy reach. The main eating and drinking areas are mainly located in The Lanes, right at the heart of old Brighton. The Lanes are predominantly pedestrian, with a few intersecting roads, and they are a good choice for both daytime shopping as well as evening outings.

The choice of dining ranges from Mexican to Lebanese and everywhere in between, but has a surprising number of delicious vegetarian restaurants. Terre à Terre has a nationwide reputation as one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the UK. It is fully equipped with all the Conranesque trimmings, but suitably candlelit for a more intimate occasion. Just make sure you book well in advance. This is one of Brighton's most popular restaurants. Equally divine, but infinitely cheaper is the excellent Food For Friends. It is also located in The Lanes, but is more of an informal venue for a night out with your friends - thus the name, presumably.

But vegetarians aside, omnivores are also amply catered for in Brighton. Most of the chain restaurants, found in London and nationwide, are all there: Pizza Express (the American Hot can surely not be beaten), Browns and more are all represented.

If what you're looking for are more individual restaurants, you will not be disappointed. Brighton has an interesting selection of both cosy and elegant dining spots. With the increasing popularity of the town and the just-over 40 minute commute from London, new restaurants are springing up all the time. But some of the best choices are well-established and have delighted Brightonians for many years like English's. It feels like a throw-back to a turn-of-the-century Parisian dining room, and it serves superb fish and seafood. Definitely a must for fish lovers looking for a classy dining experience.

If gourmet dining is not within your budget or taste, why not enjoy some candy floss, fresh donuts and ice cream all available in large quantities on the city's trademark Brighton Pier. You don't even have to be under 20 to enjoy it. It is definitely not a venue for gourmets, but fish and chips, beer and meat pies are plentiful.

Waterside dining is more elegant at the nearby Brighton Marina, which has a number of small and cozy Italian eateries.

Other forms of entertainment to keep you at the Marina include ten-pin bowling at Bowlplex and a vast UGC Cinema duplex. And if it all becomes too much, the summer season sees the Volks Railway drive along a tiny track back to central Brighton.

The choice of nightlife in Brighton is wide and varied. On any night of the week there will be a club featuring music like reggae, 70s and 80s, jazz, dance, indie and soul amongst other genres. Most pre-club drinking happens along the seafront on Kings Road or in the Kings Road Arches right by the beach. Sumo, just off Kings Road, includes a trendy basement bar, which stays open well after the normal pub closing times. It's one of the chicer bars in Brighton.

There are several clubs along West Street, but the real buzz happens at the Kings Road Arches, just across the road and down the stairs onto the beach. It is hugely popular during the day for light snacks accompanied by a pint or two, and also in the evening when this area really comes to life. The Gemini Beach Bar, amongst others, attracts a lively and quite bohemian crowd.

Photo by: JP Oakar