The Lanes Written by Mark
(I don’t need help with spelling so bugger off Dave please).
In what was the fishing town of
Brighthelmstone, Brighton Lanes' historic quarter is a maze of narrow
alleyways, ‘twittens and catcreeps’ offering a mysterious mix of...
Antiques and Jewelry shops that,
happily co-exist alongside specialist contemporary and designer boutique
fashion. There is the BEST IN THE WORLD chocolate shop called
‘CHOCCYWOCCYDOODAH’, that specialises in chocolate cakes, gifts and unique choc
gifts. They also have a London branch off Carnaby Street if you simply can’t
wait to visit.
WE LOVED the Architectural Salvage shop in Gloucester Road where I bought
metal ‘ad posters’ from the 50’s, and seeing that ‘clock wall,’ inspired us to
then start hunting for clocks throughout Brighton to recreate this look in my
London apartment. http://www.brighton-architectural.co.uk
General tat and toot (as well as the odd antique) jostle happily together in The North Lane
Antique and Flea Market, brilliant for old luggage, pretty china cups and
saucers that mum’s love to drink out of, and in fact I bought one for her.
VINTAGE CLOTHES hunters are really well catered for. The biggest (and it doesn’t have that
‘Grannies Cupboard Smell) is Beyond Retro that really does have some super
stuff. But there are so many vintage shops here to choose from...
Head down to Hove and
find some Beautiful Stuff, and the best example of
restoration was found in Blakes Vintage Home and Garden, where former shabby
becomes more than chic, using traditional methods and will even show you how to
do this yourself with day courses at reasonable prices. Hove is more
sophisticated than Brighton for fashion, and home wares, even the charity shops
are more up-market here and worth a rummage. For books and picture frames,
Organics and Naturaldove, Second Avenue, Hove, BN3 2LJ1
Best Eating (My department) really is at Bills The Depot 100 North Road, Brighton, East Sussex
BN1 1YE Bills.
‘From award-winning
breakfasts through to delicious and unusual lunch dishes and the twinkling of
candles by night, Bill's is the place to be’.
And
we agree. Even if the food wasn’t that great, (and it is) the interior really
does inspire us. Bills jams, chutneys, mustards etc line the walls, housed
neatly in wooden packing cases. Rustic and un-matching wooden tables and chairs
give a homely feeling to a large space, where bunches of herbs and dried
flowers give fragrance and color.
