Brighton/Hove this weekend - will I need to book a hotel?

[johnfm]

Want to get a way for a weekend. Never been to Brighton. Wife wants to go.

Worth just 'turning up' and getting a room on the Saturday? Or will it be impossible to get anything 'on the spur' so to speak.

Any decent restaurants that won't destroy my bank balance? Something French would be nice.

[anonymous-user]

If you're wishing to stay in one of the nicer, larger 'chain' type hotels, you may get lucky with a cancellation, however most of those will likely be fully booked, and don't typically entertain one-night bookings at the weekend or during the summer vacation period. The exception is The Grand, which unfortunately is highly likely to be fully booked and if not, bloody expensive for what it is. Best bet is to try the 'tier-two' hotels - there are lots of these and many boutique-style hotels in Brighton to choose from. Might take you a while to find one though....

I would ring around today looking for a cancellation - Brighton is VERY popular this year - especially during the sumer weekends, and you may find yourself having to make do with a stty B&B after a lengthy search if you don't.

Good luck, and enjoy - I love Brighton...

[miniman]

As above, you will be lucky to get a single night unless you grab a cancellation. Hotel du Vin is nice, both in terms of rooms and food. We did a 1-night there, but it was in the depths of winter so they were taking whatever they could get.

It was quite bizarre being in there having a nice dinner in the same place that a decade or so earlier was the sticky-floored-cider-fuelled-underage-drinking Berlin Bar

[johnfm]

Cheers gents.

Happy to stay at somewhere liek the whitehouse - but as you note, only do 2 night bookings. Was iontending to drive down sat morning and just do Sat night.

[FUBAR]

johnfm said:

Any decent restaurants that won't destroy my bank balance? Something French would be nice.

Brighton has over 400 eating establishments and all tastes can be catered for. You'd probably find something in the Lanes. For 'cheap' fish restaurant, my current fave is Fishy Fishy http://www.fishyfishy.co.uk/ co-owned by Dermot O'Leary. Not bad at all. Best to book. If its sunny then you can be seated in the small lively square or hedging your weather bet and ask for the conservatory at the front.

While we are on fish (and it IS Brighton) there is Riddle & Finns http://www.riddleandfinns.co.uk/ in the Lanes. Quite small and unique seating style (if you have ever had Pie & Mash in the East End then you would know what its like). Pricier than Fishy Fishy, but still nice.

Not extacly a new idea, but Days Oriental Buffet http://www.daysrestaurant.com/ at the bottom of East Street is, IMO, great fun. 100+ dishes, all you can eat, for about £13 per head (£6.50 in the week). Not just Chineese, Thai, Indian, Malay, everything. No booking required for that one.

Loads of Italian types (including the ubiquotous Strada etc)

Having said that, if its a nice evening, you could do worse than drive to/get a cab to Brighton Marina. A dozen or so restaurants up there, most overlooking the Marina (and the floating Chinese restaurant http://www.brightonpagoda.co.uk/ is MOST excellent)

As you can tell, Im quite versed with Brighton food outlets

[johnfm]

FUBAR said:

johnfm said:

Any decent restaurants that won't destroy my bank balance? Something French would be nice.

Brighton has over 400 eating establishments and all tastes can be catered for. You'd probably find something in the Lanes. For 'cheap' fish restaurant, my current fave is Fishy Fishy http://www.fishyfishy.co.uk/ co-owned by Dermot O'Leary. Not bad at all. Best to book. If its sunny then you can be seated in the small lively square or hedging your weather bet and ask for the conservatory at the front.

While we are on fish (and it IS Brighton) there is Riddle & Finns http://www.riddleandfinns.co.uk/ in the Lanes. Quite small and unique seating style (if you have ever had Pie & Mash in the East End then you would know what its like). Pricier than Fishy Fishy, but still nice.

Not extacly a new idea, but Days Oriental Buffet http://www.daysrestaurant.com/ at the bottom of East Street is, IMO, great fun. 100+ dishes, all you can eat, for about £13 per head (£6.50 in the week). Not just Chineese, Thai, Indian, Malay, everything. No booking required for that one.

Loads of Italian types (including the ubiquotous Strada etc)

Having said that, if its a nice evening, you could do worse than drive to/get a cab to Brighton Marina. A dozen or so restaurants up there, most overlooking the Marina (and the floating Chinese restaurant http://www.brightonpagoda.co.uk/ is MOST excellent)

As you can tell, Im quite versed with Brighton food outlets

cheers

the power of PH strikes again.

Fish is good - so will look at fishy fishy

[JulianHJ]

miniman said:

As above, you will be lucky to get a single night unless you grab a cancellation. Hotel du Vin is nice, both in terms of rooms and food. We did a 1-night there, but it was in the depths of winter so they were taking whatever they could get.

It was quite bizarre being in there having a nice dinner in the same place that a decade or so earlier was the sticky-floored-cider-fuelled-underage-drinking Berlin Bar

Blimey, the Berlin Bar! There's a name from the past. Copious bottles of Fosters Ice and Two Dogs, some great times. I worked in a radio station on the first floor in summer '95...

Anyway, back on topic - definitely book in advance. Some great boutique hotels as has been said...

Edited by JulianHJ on Thursday 13th August 20:02

[miniman]

JulianHJ said:

Blimey, the Berlin Bar! There's a name from the past. Copious bottles of Fosters Ice and Two Dogs, some great times. I worked in a radio station on the first floor in summer '95...

Start in the Smugglers, couple of games of pool, then down to the Berlin. Summer of 94 mostly for me... 95 was Zap, Gloucester, and Kick up the 80s at Event II

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pRguEi3wufQ

And a version of Lost in Music that I'm damned if I can find but is probably in a box in the loft somewhere.

[FUBAR]

Pah, you younguns

Try the Pink Coconut if you want to stroll down Memory Lane

[sussexjob]

FUBAR said:

Pah, you younguns

Try the Pink Coconut if you want to stroll down Memory Lane

in fact "Sherry's" before pink c, if you like to wear white socks this was the place.

You will find it niegh on impossible to just turn up and get a decent hotel room.

[FUBAR]

sussexjob said:

in fact "Sherry's" before pink c, if you like to wear white socks this was the place.

.

Good call

[curtisl]

I don't know if this will have a massive impact on Brighton but there is a free airshow in eastbourne this weekend called airbourne. the overspill for the people that didn't get in to hotels in eastbourne may be staying in brighton.

[johnfm]

Cheers for all the pointers - but now going to Milan!

[miniman]

johnfm said:

Cheers for all the pointers - but now going to Milan!

[CivicMan]

johnfm said:

Cheers for all the pointers - but now going to Milan!

He'll have a far better time there - speaking as a Brighton & Hove resident....