Newly Opened Restaurants in Brighton & Hove
Our pick of the newest restaurants in the forever changing and fast-moving food scene in Brighton and Hove.
Amarillo at Drakes Hotel, Marine parade
When Ian Swainson first opened his Spanish inspired fine dining pop up in central Brighton we knew the city was in for a treat, would Ian’s dazzling track record finally earn our food scene it’s first Michelin star in years? Post lockdown of spring/ summer 2020 and Amarillo has relocated into the Restaurant at Drakes, filling a deeply felt void in the city’s much loved fine dining restaurants. Amarillo at Drakes is something to really get excited about, mixing modern innovative cooking with the classic elegance of Brighton’s best boutique hotels.
The Watershed, Brighton Marina
The Watershed bar and diner is situated right on the Brighton marina front with outdoor seating and westerly aspect offering sea views and late evening sun. The Watershed has recently been taken over by Space + Thyme (The Black Lion and The Mesmerist), given a fresh nautically themed refurb and a menu of social sharing platters, lunch and Sunday roasts. It’s worth the trip away from the madding crowds alone, for that sunny spot to call your own as you indulge in your yacht club lifestyle fantasy (without the price tag of owning your own yacht attached).
Shelter Hall, Brighton seafront
The development of Shelter Hall on Brighton’s seafront has captured the attention of Brighton Foodies as plans to open up as a food hub are revealed. Opening on July 4th, the development implemented social distancing measures, including table service and a food ordering app. The food hall will feature loved local food venues with the first group of pop-ups including Smorl’s Houmous, Lost Boys Chicken, and Toasted by The Great British Charcuterie. The venue will also serve as an arts hub featuring local artists and music.
Cases Club, Curds and Whey
Opening in February 2020 and taking over the former La Cave a Fromage site on Western Road. Cases is a collaboration between Phil Bartley of The Great British Charcuterie and Steve Pineau from L’Atelier du Vin. Cases will specialise in English sparkling wine and world wines of distinction, offering both off-license and drink in. Curds and Whey bring quality cheeses and charcuterie from Great Britain, focussing on small producers. In re-opening on the much-loved La Cave a Fromage site, Cases, Curds and Whey have also re-employed the former team, returning familiar faces to Western Road.
Freeloada, East Street Tap
Joining the increasing number of pubs and bars in Brighton whose kitchen franchises are exclusively vegan is Freeloada at The East Street Tap in The Lanes. Here you will find a selection of burgers, with Moving Mountain patties and locally made seitan, seitan “wings” and loaded fries with accompanying dips such as buffalo and blue ‘cheese’. All plant-based, all sticky messy fun, all worth more than a single visit as there will be food envy.
Kindling, East Street
Kindling has recently opened on East Street and presents an omnivorous menu that is kind to the planet, sourcing locally and sustainably from land and sea and cooking with fire. Kindling is the brainchild of Ramin Mostowfi, formally of Food For Friends, so naturally, expectations can be set high. With a relaxed but sophisticated dining experience, this is set to become a popular destination sitting high amongst established Brighton favourites. Live fire is used to enhance and flavour quality ingredients as well as provide the central focus for the restaurant concept; communities have, after all, been drawn to fire for company and nourishment since time out of history.
Cyan
New to Brighton seafront in the winter of 2019 is Cyan, the new concept all-day bar and restaurant at The Grand Brighton. Boasting an all day dining menu, beginning service at 11 am and serving right through until 10 pm, Cyan is a unique new addition to Brighton’s culinary scene. As well as their inspired food offering, Cyan’s cocktail menu is also one of the best in town, best enjoyed paired with something from the ‘Nibbles’ section.
Erpingham House, Duke Street
The UK’s largest 100% vegan restaurant, Erpingham House in Norwich, opened its second venue on Brighton’s popular Duke Street at the former site of Canna Kitchen in March 2020. The new restaurant will continue to use what has worked in Norwich but developing a concept unique to the Brighton audience.
Kitgum Kitchen
Having built up a good reputation as a pop up in many well known Brighton pubs. Kitgum’s owners Fayaz and Susie crowdfunded in order to realise their dream of a permanent home. Taking over the former residence of Circo by Senor Buddha Kitgum Kitchen brings all the fun of their fare to the eateries of Preston Circus.
The Flipside, Prince Albert Street
The Flipside is Brighton’s newest and grooviest cocktail lounge taking its design nods and inspiration from the era that heralded the iconic Soul Train movement and D-I-S-C-O! The cocktail menu features classics that were all the rage in the 70’s with a few modern twists while small plates and sharers are served up using fresh, local and seasonal produce. The décor is unashamedly retro, where kitsch meets cool and the laid-back soul and funk music creates the perfect atmosphere for lounging and sipping on your expertly-mixed cocktail. The Flipside cocktail lounge is open for table reservations Thursday to Saturday evenings, and available for private hire Sunday to Wednesday. Visit their website.
The Vurger Co.
Another venue set to open its second home in Brighton and another vegan one to boot is The Vurger Co., serving 100% plant-based fast food. The Vurger Co. will be opening as part of the new Lanes development, which has seen an influx of life to the area.
Halloumi-licious, Brighton.
Halloumi-licious has opened its second venue in Brighton (the first being in Worthing) for all things squeaky cheese. You can have a halloumi breakfast, a halloumi lunch and a halloumi dessert (the line is thankfully drawn at halloumi drinks). Vegans are also catered for, with options such as tofu fries, seitan burgers and couscous salads.
Purezza Hove
Purezza opened up as the first-ever 100% vegan pizzeria in Kemptown in 2015 and went on to win national and global recognition, then opening a second venue in Camden. Now vegans of Hove can delight that their pizza commute is going to get a bit shorter, with the third Purezza now open in the gorgeously Art Deco style building that was once Patisserie Valerie at 86 – 87 Western Road.
Coming Soon…
Oeuf Café
A new brunch café is coming to Hove. Oeuf Café promises to offer diners Parisian chic, filling the gap where shabby chic Planet India Hove once was on Third Avenue (Planet India Brighton is still going strong). Oeuf Café will open 1 October 2020, the palatial venue has been fully redecorated and the rear garden opened up for outside diners. Oeuf will be open from 8 – 6 pm Monday to Wednesday, 8 am – 9 pm Thursday to Saturday and 9 am – 5 pm Sundays. As well as serving brunch, the renovated venue features an onsite florist and grab and go coffee and takeaway station and a cocktail and wine lounge. What’s that in the distance, the Eiffel Tower? Non, mon cher, it’s the i360.
Boxpark, Shoreham Beach
Plans have been revealed for ‘the seafront project’ on Shoreham Beach. Boxpark claims to have teamed up with The Big Beach Cafe, owned by none other than Norman Cook (Fat Boy Slim), and aim to covert the cafe into Shoreham’s Big Beach Box. There are plans for the space to have a central restaurant and cafe hub, with a roof terrace and a dedicated water sports centre!
Soho House, Madeira Terrace
Soho House is coming to Brighton and will be creating a new private members club to the East of Brighton pier. The worldwide brand of luxury private houses is aimed at those in the creative industries. In addition to private clubs, Soho House, bring restaurants, spas, workspaces and bedrooms to the cities they inhabit. The Brighton venue has been years in the planning, but finally got the go-ahead following a long consultation process. The development will be part of a regeneration of the Madeira Terraces area, which overlooks the pier and seafront with the Sea Life centre in the basement of the building. It will include a modern seafood restaurant in addition to a pizza, burger and chicken restaurant on the seafront.
