A Milestone for Restaurant Sustainability in Brighton
Published April 2025
A year ago, we marked Earth Day by announcing our ambition: to work with the University of Brighton and our city’s hospitality community to co-create a Sustainability Toolkit that would offer real, practical support for restaurants wanting to tread more lightly on the planet.
Today, we’re proud to share a major milestone in that journey — the publication of the first academic paper based on our shared project, Creating a Sustainability Toolkit for Restaurants, authored by the research team at the University of Brighton.
This isn’t just a tick in the academic box — it’s recognition that the voices of Brighton and Hove’s independent restaurateurs have something meaningful to offer the wider world, and we’re honoured that our collaboration with the university has helped shape a piece of work that’s now being shared internationally.
Why this paper matters
The paper shines a light on the lived experiences of restaurant owners and managers across our city — their motivations, their struggles, their ideas. It applies the MOA (Motivation, Opportunity, Ability) framework to explore what’s helping and what’s holding restaurants back from adopting sustainable practices.
What came through clearly is that while many restaurateurs are deeply committed to sustainability — driven by personal values, ethical concerns, or financial necessity — they’re often navigating this alone, without the right tools or support.
That’s where the idea of a Sustainability Toolkit came from: something simple, free, and rooted in the real-world needs of restaurants in Brighton and beyond.
What we’ve done so far
✅ Published our first academic paper, thanks to the University of Brighton research team, validating the need for this work and sharing Brighton’s story with the world.
✅ Launched the Sustainable Restaurants page on our site, highlighting local venues taking action.
✅ Developed the Sustainability Badge system to celebrate restaurants working through the toolkit — with 3 levels of recognition.
✅ Created a Sustainability Checklist to help restaurants understand where they are and where to go next.
✅ Confirmed the BRAVO 2025 Sustainable Champions category, giving diners a way to vote for sustainability leaders in our city.
✅ Distributed window stickers and digital badges to venues actively engaging with the toolkit.
We’ve also welcomed support and contributions from Brighton and Hove Food Partnership, Visit Brighton, Brighton BID, Table Talk Foundation and local councillors — helping us ensure this work is collaborative, grounded, and widely supported.
What’s next: Help us shape the future
This July, we’ll be hosting a free workshop for local restaurateurs, hospitality teams, and stakeholders to come together, share feedback, and help shape the next phase of the toolkit.
We’ll be bringing together case studies, checklists, and practical resources — but we need your input to make sure it’s genuinely useful. Whether you’re just starting to think about sustainability or have already made big changes in your business, your voice is important.
👉 Interested in joining us in July? Drop us a quick note at hello@restaurantsbrighton.co.uk and we’ll make sure you’re the first to know when bookings open.
This toolkit was never meant to be a fixed set of rules. It’s designed to evolve — just like the businesses we support. By sharing what works (and what doesn’t), we can help each other find a balance between sustainability, profitability, and the joy of great hospitality.
Here’s to a more sustainable future for Brighton’s food scene — and to the many brilliant people making it happen.
Happy Earth Day 🌍