Why you’ll like the Chilli Pickle:
In the heart of Brighton’s historic Lanes on Meeting House Lane, you’ll find The Chilli Pickle Brighton, a restaurant that has become a true city institution. Founded in 2008 by husband-and-wife team Dawn and Alun Sperring, it quickly captured the city’s imagination with its vibrant, contemporary take on Indian food. Inspired by their love of India and its melting pot of flavours, The Chilli Pickle has always been about bold spicing, top-drawer ingredients, and a playful spin on regional dishes.
A Brighton Institution in The Lanes
Some recipes stay close to their roots, others are reinvented — but all are driven by passion and creativity. Its success led to expansion to Jubilee Street in 2010, where it cemented its reputation as one of the best Indian restaurants in Brighton, regularly listed in the National Restaurant Awards Top 100 UK Restaurants and honoured with multiple accolades, including the Michelin Bib Gourmand. In 2025, The Chilli Pickle proudly returned to its original home in the Lanes — a fitting homecoming for a restaurant that has shaped Brighton’s dining scene for more than 15 years.
A Bright and Airy Café-Style Restaurant
The new site on Meeting House Lane offers a welcoming, bright and airy café-style space with pastel tones, hand-painted signage, tiled floors and exposed brickwork. It feels fresh, relaxed and buzzing with energy, the perfect backdrop for a long lunch, an evening meal with friends, or a quick stop for coffee and one of their homemade Indian-inspired ice creams.
Pan-Indian Street Food with a Creative Twist
The Chilli Pickle Brighton is best known for its Pan-Indian street food approach, blending regional authenticity with inventive flair. At lunchtime, the focus is on lighter dishes — think freshly grilled kebabs, crisp salads and aromatic street food plates, alongside the colourful Grand Thali trays that showcase a wide spectrum of Indian flavours. In the evening, the menu expands into a full sharing experience, with regional curries, spiced grills and the signature Barbecue Surf & Turf taking centre stage.
Expect dishes such as Chettinad coconut hot wings, venison samosas with Madras ketchup, cauliflower Manchurian, Old Delhi butter chicken, or a fragrant Hyderabadi aubergine and peanut curry.
RB loves their range of house-made ice creams, fusing classic techniques with flavours inspired by India’s culinary traditions.
Awards and Recognition – The Chilli Pickle Brighton
The restaurant has earned a loyal following from locals and national critics alike. Over the years, it has collected a long list of accolades:
AA 2 Rosettes (2009–2020), Michelin Bib Gourmand (2010–2022), regularly featured in the National Restaurant Awards Top 100 UK Restaurants (2011–2016), British Curry Awards winner seven times between 2010–2020, Best Independent Restaurant Group at the 2019 Casual Dining Awards, recognition from the Craft Guild of Chefs, with Alun Sperring named runner-up for the Ethnic Chef Award
These achievements underline why The Chilli Pickle Brighton is consistently regarded as one of the best curry houses in Brighton.
A Passion for Food and Community
Dawn and Alun’s journey began abroad, with years spent in Dubai and a spell at London’s renowned Cinnamon Club. Inspired by their travels across India and its diverse food culture, they returned to Brighton to “go it alone” and create a restaurant that reflected their love of flavour, hospitality and community.
Eat In or Takeaway Options – The Chilli Pickle Brighton
Whether you want to dine in and soak up the lively Lanes atmosphere, or enjoy a feast at home, The Chilli Pickle has you covered. Their much-loved thalis, curries and street food dishes are also available for collection and delivery, bringing the spirit of India straight to your door.
The Essentials
- Independent spirit – Founded by husband-and-wife team Dawn and Alun Sperring in 2008, The Chilli Pickle in Brighton is a proudly independent Brighton Indian restaurant and a true Lanes institution.
- Award-winning reputation – With multiple British Curry Awards, a long-running Michelin Bib Gourmand listing, and recognition in the National Restaurant Awards Top 100, The Chilli Pickle is consistently rated among the best Indian restaurants in Brighton.
- Pan-Indian flavours – The menu celebrates regional Indian cuisine with a modern twist — from fragrant Old Delhi butter chicken to fiery Chettinad coconut hot wings, colourful Grand Thalis, and the much-loved Barbecue Surf & Turf.
- Something for everyone – Vegetarian and vegan diners are well catered for at The Chilli Pickle Brighton, with dishes like Hyderabadi aubergine and peanut curry or vibrant plant-based thalis, making The Chilli Pickle one of the most inclusive cafes and restaurants in Brighton.
- Dine in or takeaway – Enjoy the lively, bright and airy atmosphere of their Meeting House Lane café-style restaurant, or order your favourite curry, thali or street-food box for collection or delivery.
Q
&
A
The Chilli Pickle is in the heart of Brighton’s historic Lanes, on Meeting House Lane, just moments from the seafront and the famous Royal Pavilion.
Since opening in 2008, The Chilli Pickle has become a Brighton institution, known for its Pan-Indian street food, regional curries, and creative twists on classic dishes, earning multiple awards and Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition.
Their Brighton restaurant is bright, airy, and welcoming, with a stylish yet relaxed café-style design. It’s vibrant and lively, perfect for both casual lunches and celebratory evenings in the Lanes.
The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, so there’s no strict dress code. Guests are welcome to come as they are and feel at home in the restaurant’s comfortable setting.
The menu celebrates Pan-Indian street food and regional specialities. Expect fragrant curries, spiced kebabs, colourful thalis and unique homemade Indian-inspired ice creams.
Highlights include the Grand Thalis, Chettinad coconut hot wings, venison samosas with Madras ketchup, Old Delhi butter chicken, Hyderabadi peanut and aubergine curry, and the famous Barbecue Surf & Turf.
Fans of curry houses in Brighton regularly recommend The Chilli Pickle for its bold flavours, seasonal ingredients, and award-winning regional curries, making it a go-to for the best curry in Brighton.
The Chilli Pickle offers a wide range of takeaway curries, biryani boxes, thalis and street food favourites, allowing you to enjoy their flavours at home.
The Chilli Pickle is available for collection or delivery through major platforms like Deliveroo, so you can enjoy their award-winning dishes from the comfort of your own home.
Alun Sperring is the co-founder and head chef of The Chilli Pickle. With more than 20 years’ international experience, including at Dubai’s luxury hotels and London’s Cinnamon Club, he brings creativity and authentic regional Indian influences to Brighton.
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My favourite restaurant 😋 Food is superb and flavours are unreal! I’m never disappointed, been here for many special occasions and will be my first go to as soon as lockdown is done and it reopens. Quirky vibe and great atmosphere. An absolute must if you haven’t tried it.
Came in the Summer (2017) and had a reservation but had gathered some folks on the way, despite being busy this wasn’t a problem, we were sat outside, which was perfect for a party that had spontaneously become our size and eating early on a hot day, the staff took it all in their stride and were great hosts all round. Cocktails are great takes with Indian inspired flavours on classics. The food is always brilliant, these guys are a Brighton institution for a reason.
We love Chilli Pickle as a family, the wife and I normally go for their king thali and try different curries as there’s so many to choose from. The kids love the dosa’s along with the mango lassi. This restaurant is situation in the heart of the North Laine and is a large space but I would book in advance if you plan to go there at the weekend as it’s so popular.
The Chilli Pickle is one of my favourites – I love it’s quirky decor and innovative dishes. I have been a few times, mainly with big groups and its always been delicious.
A cut above your standard Indian restaurant and blazing a trail of innovative and interesting Indian dishes in Brighton. A really popular restaurant that draws in a lot of diners. Very lively and vibrant atmosphere and delicious food. Not to be missed!
Amazing indian food!