Serious Sunday energy
Brighton doesn’t really do “quiet Sundays”, even in the depths of winter, and we arrived at Sea Lanes to a familiar scene: hundreds of jolly-looking runners spilling down the steps from Marine Parade to the seafront. Varying abilities, some questionable fashion choices and a lot of pink-cheeked gloriousness, some of them will have finished, showered, and then got stuck into a session. That’s just our way.
Though foreboding clouds were gathering on the horizon, it was the kind of January day we’re often blessed with here on the coast: low, golden sunshine and the occasional drizzle – gone as quickly as it comes. We’d planned a whole morning of it: a constitutional at Sea Lanes, followed by a LunaHut sauna, then lunch at Wood x Coal. Such hardship…
What you’ll love
- The electric Sunday-morning energy – sea air, and that unmistakable Brighton buzz
- A swim (if you’re organised), sauna, then a proper long lunch
- LunaHut’s beachside reset – fragrant, tech-free heat with cold plunges for the brave
- Wood x Coal’s year-round holiday vibe – warm, casual, and made for lingering
- Food worth travelling for and a bar stocked with some of the city’s favourite beer
The almost-swim
I’m not really a cold-water person. I’m totally convinced by the health benefits and the enlivening nature of it all, and I’m open to a quick cold burst in the shower – but submerging myself in the icy Channel has never sounded much like a treat. I know. Controversial. (To make it worse, I still don’t like Negronis.)
Still, I was feeling brave. We checked the temperature for the Sea Lanes swim… a “balmy” 19°C. Unfortunately, we’d forgotten our swimming hats, which are a requirement. Hats were available to buy, but we decided the swim would have to wait. Mildly disappointed (the water was sparkling blue), we promised we’d remember our hats next time – and perhaps enjoy a slightly higher temperature too.
Instead, we took the dog for a wander down the beach, coffee in hand. No hardship there.
Sauna reset
At 11:00, we were booked in for a LunaHut community sauna. Now, saunas I can get with. They make me feel great. That fragrant, tech-free, too-hot box is a sure-fire way to relax, and I’m pretty sure I get younger every second I’m in there. One day, when I’m a real grown-up, I’ll have one in the garden. Until then, a beachside sauna suits me fine.
LunaHut makes it especially easy: a warm welcome, a user-friendly set-up, and the option to plunge into a tin bath – or the freezing sea via a handy walkway – if your heart desires. It doesn’t, in my case, but you do you.
The Wood x Coal weekend feast
It might seem like a summer spot at first glance, but Wood x Coal has clearly gone out of its way to be a year-round option – perfect for long weekend lunches with friends and family. It’s dog-friendly, kid-friendly and well, just friendly. So our youngest kid and trusty Labrador joined us for lunch.
We were greeted by charmingly Gallic manager Fred, who’d nabbed a table for us in the main indoor dining room, shared with Bison Beer and Fika. It’s warm and casual, with views connecting the poolside development to Kemptown’s iconic beach.
Leaning into the long-weekend-lunch mood, we ordered the Mixed Grill (available Saturdays and Sundays), which soon arrived hot from the kitchen.
First: a large slice of toasted sourdough, acting as a trencher, piled high with a deeply savoury hunk of smoked short rib that pulled apart easily, extra-crispy chicken thigh with expert seasoning, and succulent pork belly. There were also spicy little merguez sausages that instantly brought back sunny memories.
At this point you may reasonably ask: isn’t that enough? Not a bit of it.
My hungry husband – who shifts between nationalities like the cultural chameleon he is – adopted a straight-up, stateside “get the job done” approach. My daughter, not to be outdone, demolished the kids’ burger and chips before helpfully moving on to the mixed-grill-athon.
And there was more: a rich, creamy Caesar salad; crispy potatoes; little pots of zhug and spicy mayo; piles of crunchy pickles. It was food chaos in the best possible way.
My January wellness mindset also insisted on charred hispi cabbage with crispy kale, sesame seeds, chilli oil, and a smooth tofu dressing. It was a standout – a flavoursome, textured Veganuary classic. (Also: cabbage is apparently a 2026 food trend. Go figure.)
To wash it all down, there was soda for the kid and – on tap – a half of seriously superior Run Free AF IPA for me, plus a pint of Hoopla Pale Ale (New England) for my Yankee Doodle Dandy. No messing around – I know what he likes.
I’m not going to lie: we slightly over-ordered. Thankfully, the team sorted us out with a takeaway box, which made for an excellent Monday work lunch.
Would we do it again in winter?
This beachside concept is arguably built for long, sunlit evenings and warm-weather lovers – but it’s still bloody great in January. There’s a heated tent for spillover and plenty of outdoor seating for the Scandi types who like dining out whenever. The day we went, every area was busy with happy diners.
It’s the kind of place that makes you quietly congratulate yourself for making good life choices. For living here, by the beach, among friendly, fit people who run or swim at the weekend – and then tuck into a massive spread.
If you want a proper Brighton Sunday, this is it.
