Welcome to the first This Week in Brighton, our new weekly round-up of everything happening across the city’s food and drink scene, from Restaurants Brighton’s.
Every week, we’ll be out gathering information about the new openings, seasonal specials, pop-ups and festivals worth knowing about, serving it all up in one bite-sized digest. Consider it your weekly fix for where to eat and drink in Brighton.
This week’s plate is a particularly full one by Torsten.
Vote Burger or Lobster, feast your way through Sussex, keep the kids happy!
Wasn’t Brighton & Hove alive with colour and celebration last weekend? Now that the Pride glitter has finally worked its way out of our unmentionables, we’re ready for a little R&R. But how could we, when August has arrived with its usual packed diary of food festivities, family fun, countryside escapes and, of course, International Beer Day this Friday? There’s no excuse for feet up.
Plan your month with our Food & Drink Events guide, or join our Food & Drink Events Facebook Group here.
Get crafty for International Beer Day: Friday 7 August
Beer has come a long way from “I’ll have a pint of Carling.” Brighton’s brewers are experimenting with everything from hazy IPAs and sours to crisp pilsners and, erm, pickle lager (!) There’s never been a better excuse to discover somewhere new. Whether you’re loyal to a local brewery or simply fancy swapping the supermarket six-pack for something brewed a few miles away, our guide has plenty of inspiration.
Here are five of our faves:
The Westbourne, Hove is a true neighbourhood gem where the beer list is always evolving. Expect expertly chosen rotating craft beers on tap from the UK’s best independent breweries.
The Urchin, Hove is home to its own basement microbrewery, serving house-brewed beers, guest ales and more than 100 bottles and cans. Pair them with some of Brighton’s finest oysters and seafood for a match made in beer heaven.
Bison Beer has spots in Hove and at Sea Lanes. Rotating taps, local brews, beach views and relaxed food make it an easy choice for a post-work pint or sunset session by the sea.
The Roundhill offers an ever-changing line-up of craft beers and a brand-new menu from Food by Howie.
The Independent in Hanover is a go-to for craft ale enthusiasts, with a rotating selection of craft beers on tap ranging from local brews and national favourites.
Time for a Tea Detox
If you indulged over Pride, then Afternoon Tea Week runs from 10 to 16 August, swapping pints for porcelain and towering cake stands.
If you’re after something beautifully traditional, our Brighton & Hove Afternoon Tea Guide has classics galore, while our Sussex venues offer plenty of tempting afternoon tea options too.
Fancy something a little different?
Blossoms has reinvented afternoon tea with Japanese-inspired savoury bites, mochi and miso chocolate brownies, while Kissako brings authentic Japanese tea tastings to the city.
Need an escape?
Sometimes all you need is ten minutes on a train and suddenly the sea breeze becomes Sussex vineyard views and rolling Sussex hills.
The Jolly Sportsman is making the most of the season with its Last of the Summer Fruits Cocktail Masterclass, while Artelium’s gorgeous Fire & Vine Fridays pair vineyard walks with fire-cooked feasts and English wine beneath the stars.
Meanwhile, The New Inn in Hurstpierpoint has launched takeaway burgers on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Wild Flour in Ovingdean continues turning out some of the area’s finest pizzas.
If seafood is calling, Tony recently escaped to CrabShack in Worthing, where towering shellfish platters, oysters and locally landed seafood reminded us why Sussex’s coastline is such a delicious place to explore.
Are you more Burger or Lobster?
Some elections really matter.
Burger & Lobster has turned its 15th birthday into a full-blown political campaign, asking diners to vote once and for all: Team Burger or Team Lobster? Expect campaign broadcasts, manifestos, polling stations, scandal (naturally) and plenty of tongue firmly in cheek. Best of all? Everyone wins because whichever side you’re on, dinner is involved. Follow progress on their Insta or discover the Brighton restaurant.
School’s out, take the kids out too
Keeping the kids entertained for six weeks can feel like an Olympic event, but thankfully the city’s restaurants are lending a helping hand.
Rockwater has filled its summer calendar with family-friendly workshops, from painting and pottery to collage sessions and its own family festival by the beach.
Our very own Brittany also took the family back to two long-time Brighton favourites, Donatello and Il Bistro, proving that good Italian food never goes out of fashion.
Pizza lovers should also keep an eye on Fatto a Mano, whose latest special combines Emilia-Romagna and Puglia with mortadella, creamy burrata, aubergine pesto and sun-dried tomatoes. We certainly won’t be arguing with that regional collaboration.
Need more inspiration? We’ve rounded up Brighton & Hove’s favourite family-friendly restaurants — all voted for by you.
Getting to know Lima Nikkei?
Peruvian? Japanese? Both?
Lima Nikkei blends the vibrant ingredients of Peru with the precision of Japanese cooking. Think silky ceviche, beautifully fresh seafood, delicate sushi and bold citrus flavours all sharing the same plate. Alejandro’s guide explains how two cultures, separated by thousands of miles, came together to create one unforgettable style of cooking.
RB Weekly Diary
Our notebooks (and waistlines) have been working overtime.
Torsten headed to Hove Place to tackle the new Summer Menu, discovering gloriously oversized sausage rolls, chunky Scotch eggs and sharing platters that make perfect sense with a sunny afternoon and a group of friends.
Next stop was Carne, where the latest Coals & Corks evening paired flame-cooked Italian dishes with exceptional regional wines and plenty of stories behind every bottle. It’s proof that learning can be delicious.
Hot news! The Chilli Pickle has launched Wali Gali, a new grab-and-go lunch in Brighton’s Lanes from its new street-facing hatch. Inspired by Paranthe Wali Gali; the famous “Lane of Parathas” in Old Delhi, this little slice of street food culture is available every day from noon to 2.30pm. Expect freshly made naan rolls straight from the tandoor and sigri grill, filled with lamb, chicken or paneer and loaded with crisp salad, house chutneys and punchy pickles. It’s just £8, or £10 for the meal deal. Yum.
Finally, if you’re dreaming of Italy without the airport queues, Il Bistro’s Regional Evenings continue on 26 August with a culinary journey through Sicily, celebrating one of Italy’s most flavour-packed regions.
Arrive hungry and prepare to be transported.
See you out there!
