Brighton! Part 3

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.