England’s south coastal city of Brighton is not dubbed “London-sur-mer” for nothing. Less than an hour’s drive from the capital, Brighton has long been attracting a cosmopolitan crowd in search of some sun—and starlight—with residents including Cate Blanchett, Paul McCartney, Nick Cave, Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) and Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie. The city’s latest celebrity is Brad Pitt, who is designing a restaurant and apartment on the seafront. If the rumors are true, and he decides to move in himself, it will no doubt send house prices, temperatures and hemlines soaring.
Tucked up in town are the Lanes, a maze of alleyways at the medieval-style heart of Brighton, packed with antique shops, stalls and boutiques. For vintage lace blouses and psychedelic Sixties dresses, thrift queens visit Snoopers Paradise, at 7-8 Kensington Gardens, a flea market stuffed full of secondhand fashion, records, books and bric-a-brac. Brighton brides-to-be flock to fashion boutique Simultane, 52 Ship Street in the North Lanes, where its owner, designer Sarah Arnett, runs her bespoke wedding dress design service. Arnett, who has worked for Calvin Klein, DKNY and Max Mara, also sells her Simultane ready-to-wear collection there. It’s now in its fourth season for fall, alongside labels including Paul & Joe, Markus Lupfer, Frost French, J&Company jeans, Linda Farrow sunglasses and jewelry by Butler & Wilson. Similarly, Tribeca, at 21 Bond Street, is an airy boutique offering contemporary labels such as Erotokritos and Buddhist Punk.
For babes and burgers, the restaurant and blues bar Blind Lemon Alley sits down the end of a tiny passageway on Middle Street, serving up a Southern-American inspired menu with plenty of soul—courtesy of an assortment of live music sets. An edgier crowd hits pub and music venue The Freebutt, at 1 Phoenix Place, which plays host to bands such as The White Stripes, Babyshambles and The Raveonettes with underground DJs and live acts seven days a week.
Several slick boutique hotels provide long wine lists and experimental cocktail menus. A pebble’s throw from the beach, Hotel Du Vin & Bistro, on Ship Street, attracts the media set with bellinis and an extensive wine list in keeping with the hotel’s theme, which names every room after a wine sponsor. At Drakes Hotel, 43-44 Marine Parade, people come from far and wide to visit the famous Gingerman restaurant, with its modern European menu offering dishes such as brochette of stuffed baby squid with sweet peppers and garlic, and crispy pancetta and peach tart tatin.