Things to do in Brighton

Due to the incredible popularity of the Eat Out to Help Out incentive, some venues are continuing to offer the discount in September. As this is no longer funded by the government terms and conditions of individual venues may vary in order to make the offer manageable for them. RB20 is also back, giving you more chances to eat out for less, with 20% off your food bill at participating venues when you book with code RB20.

It’s back to school at The Brighton Cookery School, with a full timetable of classes run by professional chefs. These make for a great alternative to the normal get together, a gift for budding chefs, or just to skill up on everything from vegan cooking 101 to pastry masterclasses. The Brighton and Hove Community Kitchen is also running a full programme, although with added COVID measures such as restrictions on numbers.

Oh yes, the Sunday roast is a real autumnal delight, best enjoyed with a few friends (no parties more than six, currently), a few jars or over a bottle to share. These are our favourite Sunday lunches handily divided into Brighton, Hove and Sussex venues. Want to do Sunday lunch at home but don’t want the bother of washing up? These weekend champions do all the work for you with home delivery or collection roasts. 

For those lovers of hygge autumn means cosy jumpers, pubs with fires after walks through the countryside and lanes dappled with pale sunlight and crisp piles of red, brown and golden leaves. Our guide to comfort food in Brighton will soon have you forgetting about the lost summer, besides no-one cares about your beach-bod when you’re in a woolly jumper.

Make the most of the last of the sun with the beautiful open spaces that surround Brighton. Sussex has a wealth of picturesque villages and award-winning restaurants. Sussex country pubs most have gardens with actual grass for that oh so perfect sensory combination of the sun on your back, a chilled pint in your hand and the warm earth beneath your bare feet.

Outside remains the safest place to meet and eat. So when the sun’s out hit these delectable eateries with hidden away city sunspots, gorgeous gardens, and Sunday lunch sundowner locations. After months of being shut indoors during the spring, we could all use a little more vitamin D so make the most of every sunny day!

Afternoon tea is the quintessential English treat, three tiers of daintiness washed down with a cup of the nation’s favourite drink (usually tea or G and T). Again, with Brighton being Brighton, there are some great alternative afternoon teas out there too, including vegan and gluten-free versions, teas that transport you to another era and teas with a whole lot more tipple.

Even though we all had an enforced hibernation at the time of year when we should have been revving up our engines, your idea of autumn might still consist of fluffy socks, blankets on the sofa and a takeaway. If we’re going to try and look for the positives of the lockdown (and there’s no reason we shouldn’t), one might well be that so many top restaurants developed and continue to offer a version of their offering to have at home. Fancy a drop of wine with your takeaway? These local heroes deliver a range of alcoholic beverages that are a cut above the supermarket standard.

While the whole nation went into enforced hibernation many a fledgeling idea took root and we are seeing new bars, restaurants and cafes opening up. A new venue is always exciting, someone’s dream, someone’s unique take on how to delight our senses, someone’s passion, brought forth for us to enjoy. This page is always being updated with what we’re looking forward to welcoming to our food and drink scene.