TOWNSPOTLIGHT
BRIGHTON & HOVE cont.
Brighton Pavilion British Airways i360 Curry Leaf Cafe Brighton Fringe
Things to Do
Brighton Pavilion Once a hospital for the‘ limbless men’ of WWI, the exotic and remarkable Royal Pavilion at Brighton is now a fascinating museum in which you can see the flamboyant interior design tastes of King George IV in the banqueting room, great hall, bedrooms, salon, and much more besides. There are all sorts of temporary exhibitions and displays held here, and this month the grounds play host to a beautiful outdoor ice rink.
Hove Lagoon Whether you’ re a natural water baby, or you need some persuading to have a paddle, Hove Lagoon has something for you. It’ s a unique watersports location that caters to both beginners and experts, and since it can be found at the end of the Brighton and Hove promenade, you get to breathe in the fresh sea air en route. With no current or tide, waist-high water, a wide range of lessons and excellent staff, Hove Lagoon is a professional place to learn with a lovely, laid-back charm.
British Airways i360 Take a voyage to the skies and see Sussex like you have never have before. The British Airways i360 is the world’ s first vertical cable car, in which visitors glide up slowly to 450 feet in a futuristic glass viewing pod to enjoy breathtaking 360 degree views.
Sea Life Centre The Sea Life Centre is open every day, and is right next to the famous pier, so you’ ll be able to continue the fun after your visit. Here, you will be able to travel back in time to the Jurassic period and learn about the dinosaurs that once roamed the land – feed a plesiosaurus if you dare! You will also be treated to a huge array of weird, wonderful and beautiful creatures, have the opportunity to touch a starfish, and even find out what it’ s like in the rainforest. It’ s a full and fun-packed day for the whole family.
Brighton Dome Brighton Dome is a gorgeous events venue, consisting of the Concert Hall, the Corn Exchange and the Studio Theatre. Thanks to a big push in support of the arts across Sussex in recent years, the Brighton Dome is now an important venue that holds some pretty spectacular shows for those who enjoy music, live drama, talks and more.
Booth Museum of Natural History A true hidden gem, not everyone knows that this wonderfully eccentric place exists, but it should definitely be on your to do list when in Brighton. Free entry gives you unparalleled insight into some of the world’ s most incredible animals. Once a Victorian collector’ s private museum, it is now open to all and showcases such diverse items as butterflies, bones, birds, and fossils. The displays are interactive, so hands on learning is encouraged. It may be small but it is perfectly fun.
Dining Out
The Salt Room The Salt Room is a more recent addition to Brighton’ s restaurant scene, but already it’ s become a firm favourite with seafood-loving locals. Serving dishes including the‘ Surf Board’- a fresh selection of seafood such as prawns and langoustines; a South Indian fish burger with green chilli slaw; and lamb rump with aubergine, yoghurt, and cracked wheat, the menu has as much modern flair as the dining room itself.
Curry Leaf Cafe Colourful, rustic and imbued with a character that’ s part Indian street stall, part restaurant and part craft beer bar, this original Lanes cafe has put a very modern, yet authentic spin on the experience of eating Indian food. No brown leather chairs, white table cloths or overly formal waiters in sight … just smiling people, good tunes and a small, perfectly formed menu of regional South Indian dishes paired with the city’ s most extensive range of craft beers.
Food For Friends Although this is a vegetarian restaurant, meat eaters will enjoy Food For Friends too – the quality of food served and the inventive menu will more than make up for a lack of meat or fish- the restaurant has won awards, so the proof really is in the pudding. The ethos behind the food is tasty, affordable, honest cooking, and everything is homemade. What’ s on the menu? Dishes include za ' atar battered courgette flower; confit king oyster mushroom and egg yolk; and raw mango and cashew cheesecake. There’ s a great menu for little ones too.
The Jetty In terms of both food and staffing, The Jetty has clearly sourced the best in town and it shows. Serving inventive dishes like octopus, dandelion and seaweed tartare; classics such as hot or cold‘ fruits de mer’; and modern‘ surf and turf’ options like‘ duck and squid’ – an Asian-inspired combination of flash-fried chilli squid served with duck and a refreshing, crunchy salad, it’ s an exceptional restaurant in terms of service, food and setting and the next door bar is wonderful too.
Annual Events
Pride // Aug A glorious, life-affirming spectacular fuelled by pride, love and campaigning, Brighton Pride takes place annually to promote equality and diversity, and to advance education to eliminate discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender( LGBT) community.
Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival // May & Aug With local producers, growers, restaurants, bars and food retailers firmly at its heart, The Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival is a showcase of the fantastic food, drink and hospitality to be found in the city and surrounding Sussex.
Brighton Fringe // May / June England’ s largest arts festival and one of the largest fringe festivals in the world, Brighton Fringe sets out to stimulate, educate and entertain a diverse range of people through a diverse range of art forms.
Top Spot
Brighton Pier is a wonderful place to visit. It is iconic, historic and wonderfully lit up at night too. This Grade II listed structure is a place to enjoy funfair rides, fish and chips on your lap, and an electric atmosphere.
Did You Know? Brighton has been known by over 40 names in its long history, the first of which – Bristelmestune – was recorded in the Domesday book in 1086.
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