After London – and Bray if you’re the sort who gets Michelin stars in their eyes – funky, friendly Brighton stakes a serious claim as Britain’s gastronomic capital. In this, the most cosmopolitan city on the South Coast, chefs enjoy an embarrassment of riches, with access to world-class produce emanating from the Sussex coastline and surrounding countryside. Think artisan cheeses, rare breed animals roaming rolling hillsides, the best of British wine, arguably the freshest seafood in the country and you’re still just scratching the surface.
The city’s restaurant scene makes the most of its enviable location at the heart of a venerable foodie paradise: the Gingerman group pulls off the gastropub concept as well as anyone, Terre à Terre takes vegetarian cooking to Blumenthalesque creative heights, and the Chili Pickle ticks all the right boxes for nouveau Indian without succumbing to any of its pitfalls. Then there are the myriad fish restaurants – Riddle and Finns stands out amongst an above average crowd – that exploit the ocean’s finest fruits. Judging by a recent visit over bonfire weekend, the recently opened Coal Shed looks a good bet to take its place amongst the city’s elite.
