With its brazen artwork and graffiti’d sea-view rooms, Artist Residence Brighton has made us come over all unnecessary – well it is the original dirty-weekend destination, after all. So here are five reasons why this is the time for a stay in Brighton again. Sunnies, knotted hankies and a cheeky sense of humour at the ready, we’re all going on a retro British beach break…
ITS ART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE
Brighton’s art scene is as bawdy as a seaside postcard, with a knowing wink of pop irreverence. Ink’d on North Road (top left) supplied much of the Artist Residence’s witty wall-candy, and No Walls‘ (114 Church Street) has provocative prints (and Lucy Sparrows’ felted Spam tins) which tickle our stiff upper lips; just down the road you can pick up a souvenir print at Unlimited Design Shop and Gallery (above right).
WE LOVE A GOOD RUMMAGE
Vintage-loving dames should nose about in Snoopers Attic, one of the many bijou independent boutiques along North Laine (above) – Brighton’s famed shopping street. While there pop into Ju*Ju, which was revivified by Queen of Shops, Mary Portas, and lust after the mid-century modern furnishings in Nanadobbie. For more blasts from the past, head to Hope and Harlequin on Sydney Street, which has frilled and beaded garments dating back to the 1800s. Need something skimpier? Hide your blushes at She Said.
OH, WE DO LIKE A TEA BESIDE THE SEA
Harking back to Brighton’s pre-war heyday, Metro Deco (38 Upper St James’s Street) serves up dainty tiers of scones and sandwiches in a bunting-strung café. Order petit fours with a fragrant cup of Parisian Floral Calm, or dive into the dedicated gin menu and prosecco-paired teas. Otherwise, the café at Artist Residence (above) is a vision in salvaged wood and upcycled furnishings.
HIP FISH ‘N’ CHIPS
We love a greasy bag of chips on the beach, but elegant eateries such as The Salt Room (106 King’s Road) are smartening up Brighton’s signature dish. Swap batter-smothered cod for Cornish crab and haute seaside desserts (above right). A mouthful of the mullet and cockle-popcorn burger at Artist Residence Brighton’s eatery the Set of Scales will sweeten any salty moods.
YO HO HO, AND A COUPE FULL ‘O RUM
Del Boy-esque drinks – where you can’t see the cocktail for the garnish – are back in vogue. We’ve spotted variations of the piña colada at The NoMad Hotel, New York; but in Brighton, neon-hued libations never went out of style. Take a bottle of rum to BYOC Brighton, or stop by Artist Residence’s in-house Cocktail Shack for an Aperol caipirinha.
If you hear the call of the sea – and the jangle of the two-pence coin-pusher – muse over Artist Residence Brighton‘s murals and prints, or take a look at our collection of hotels with a beach in reach.
Header image and picture of North Laine both by Adam Bronkhorst (www.visitbrighton.com).
