Posts Tagged ‘Shopping North Laines’

Whether you’re doing your Xmas shopping in Brighton out of retail love or necessity, it doesn’t matter. That’s because there’s no other city in Sussex that can match Brighton when it comes to variety. So, tourists staying the weekend in Brighton or locals looking for Xmas bargains, it’s the place to visit.

Brighton's North Laine

Rather than list the obvious choices, we’ve pulled together some of the alternative shops found in the North Laine area that have taken our eye. Let’s face it, the major chains are everywhere so lets look for the Christmas gifts among the oddball outfitters that make shopping in Brighton such a special experience any time of the year.

Junkfunk – Gloucester Road

Top of our list for Xmas gifts. Clever, design-inspired odds and sods, original T-Shirts and clothes for both sexes, and packed with gift ideas. Contemporary – but without being miles up its own backside – and friendly staff. We like the vintage reproduction posters and stationary.

Tailor to the stars and owner of an excellent frontage (we’ve been told), Gresham Blake specialises in bespoke clothing for both men and women. Not on everyone’s Xmas shopping list, however, take a look at their accessories. Excellent quality and ever creative, there’s wallets, ties, scarves and hats that you’ll not find anywhere else – and the tweed fitted ladies suit in the window, fantastic!

Suitably juxtaposed with Gresham Blake, Cyberdog is off the conventional clothing radar. Expect sci-fi inspired, cyber creations backed with a club soundtrack. It’s techno funk, future shock chic – devised by a space Chihuahua. You need to pop in.

Worth a visit just to walk around. It’s as much of an artists’ gallery as a retailer, and the presentation of furniture on the first and second floors is incredible. Patron of local artists, and retailers of intricate trinkets and delicate objects of desire.

Name says it all. Outfitters for a very naughty Santa and his object of desire…

Looking for more information for your Xmas shopping in Brighton trip? Check out the North Laine Traders Association site shopping site and our deals on Xmas hotel rooms in Brighton if you want a bargain.

Weekends in Brighton are always good for a bargain. And it’s not just Brighton accommodation offers that are drawing the bargain hunters; anyone for an eye for second-hand furniture and art will already have rummaged to their heart’s content in the curio spots and shops of the North Laine area.

'Madeira Lift' by Gillian Bates

Coming soon, it’s a more organised affair: The Brighton Art Fair. Running from 22^nd September, through to Sunday in the Corn Exchange, Church Street.

Just don’t expect the random nick-knacks found in other spots around town; over the four days the best of local talent is showing, along with some national artists, giving the public direct access to paintings, photographs, prints and sculptures.

There are 130 artists showing work, so the £6 entry fee is money well spent.

Of those with work in the fair, we’re really impressed with Rachael Heavens & Ed Boxall, and have been fans of Sylvie Howitt and Gillian Bates for some time.

Interested? Get down for the Friday and spend the weekend in Brighton. There’s more here than the beach, the shops, the pubs, the parks, the clubs, the shows, the curious residents, etc etc.

Hey ,somebody just gave us two bank holidays in a row so we’ve put up the 5 best things about Bank Holidays in Brighton. Frankly, we don’t care if it was a politician, a statistician or someone wanting more time fishin – we are all headed to Brighton beach!

April showers? We don't think so!

Now as we live here, we are at an advantage to people who book up the last minute hotel rooms in Brighton and pile down for the weekend, so here’s our pearls of wisdom and the 5 best things about bank holiday in Brighton.

The beach

Just check out the weather. We are running summer temperatures down here, and it’s set to continue. The beach still has its ‘Blue Flag’ rating meaning it is safe to swim, and if you’ve been down here recently you’d have seen that there are people already taking a dip. The beach is huge, family friendly and we love it.

The shopping

Shop till you drop, or flop back on the beach. Shopping in Brighton is a delight: everything is within walking distance, and there’s something for everyone. If you are shopping in Brighton and want to keep it all under one roof, try Churchill Square, and if you fancy a rummage or something a little more bespoke, then there’s always the South Lanes and the North Laine area.

It’s Family Friendly

As well as being a party zone, Brighton is really geared up for kids. There’s great public playparks either end of the beach, and lots to keep the young uns entertained. If you are looking at booking a hotel room in Brighton and bringing your family, check with Childfriendly Brighton for an extensive list of what’s happening this bank holiday in Brighton.

It’s always entertaining

Taking it easy

Major venues include the Dome, the Brighton Centre, the Pavillion, the Theatre Royal, and this really is just the start: for independent cinema try  the Duke of York’s and for just about everything else, open your eyes!  This is a town of entertainers, so expect something on every corner.

It’s Hove, actually

As much as we don’t want to  say it: we love Hove! No bank holiday in Brighton is complete without a wander along Western Rd into Hove. And make sure you drop onto the lawns for your walk back – you’ll see families with BBQ’s, kids flying kites, people playing football; it’s a lovely place – but we never said that!

Here’s a link to our offers on hotel rooms in Brighton - take a look, there’s always deals on.

And if you don’t believe just how good it is here, look at the pictures: London it aint!

Food fest

In case you haven’t noticed, we are in the middle of the Brighton and Hove Food Festival. This week is set to be a special one; not only is it right in the middle of the best foodie festival ever hosted in Sussex, it’s also packed with wine and food tasting sessions – always your favourites!

Some of the events cost, so we’ve compiled the best of the free ones, that way even people who aren’t so interested in foods can learn about good fresh produce without paying for the privilege.

So, here’s what’s on the menu.

Wednesday 15th: Churchill Square farmers market and live food kitchen.

Don’t expect herds of sheep, country types in tweeds, or cows with rings through their noses – that would be a load of bull. However, what you will find is excellent local produce, seasonable fruit and vegetables from local farmers, fresh meat and fish, cheese and breads, and food demonstrations – and those samples, mmm.

Saturday 18th: Cheese tasting at Infinity Foods, North Road/ Wine tasting at 21 Prince Albert Street

If you are new to the town or staying in a hotel in Brighton there’s a chance you haven’t visited Infinity Foods. You really should if you care about organic foods and cosmetics; it’s the largest supplier of both we know. Well, High Weald Diary will be running cheese tasting sessions, so you can tuck into locally made organic vegetarian cheeses.

Ridgeview, a local winery, will be at the Sheridan Coopers Wine Cellar to show off their award winning sparkling wines, so pop along for a frizante or glass of fizzy pop.

Cockney food night, lovely jubbly!

Now, if you’re planing on eating out anyway, why not set aside the cash for one of the paid events?

There’s Pudding Club at Temptation in Gardner Street, fruit cookery workshops, a Champagne mini festival, a Brazilian night at the seafront Umi Grill, Sake testing at Moshi Moshi, and our favourite: Cockney Night, when under Kings Road Arches £20 gets you fish and chips, drinks, entertainment and a ride on the carousel – all the fun of the food fair!

For more information and tickets, see here.

It’s often thought people visiting Brighton are only here for the sun and fun. Well, there’s another reasons hotel rooms in Brighton are full week-on-week: Shopping!

In the first of a new series we are looking at the boutiques that make Brighton the south coast’s shopping destination of choice!

Porta Bags

As a new business, Porta exemplifies the bespoke Brighton shopping experience. Shockingly, before April 1st 2010, there were no stores dedicated to selling fashionable handbags in Brighton. What! So, its little wonder you find tourists and locals taking a good long look in the window!

Shopping in Brighton: Unique and Boutique

Where is it?

Situated in Bond Street, North Laines, Porta is limited only by its size. Inside you’ll find an intelligently created layout where bags are featured, not piled high.

Few shoppers enjoy a pushy ’sales experience’. Well, assistant manager David has the perfect antidote to the fake world of snivelling sales mantras: be natural.

Here’s a man who knows he’s onto a good thing: the bags are exceptional quality, in a great location, priced really well and when he offers a word to help, it is to help – he clearly loves his products, so if you want to find out more you’ll be happy to ask – he won’t be pestering you.

What’s it got?

Arm candy

For bag fans – I’m not one, but still found some lovely laptop cases downstairs – there are designs from “Coccinelle” and “Ameko”; the vintage Italian butter leather, handmade “Lie down I think I love you” Sweetheart collection; as well as the ever-so on trend “Nica” and “Mischa Barton” bags.

If that’s not enough, you’ll soon spot funky stuff from “Red or Dead”; quirky styles from the “Zandra Rhodes handbag collection”; Eel skin bags, clutches and purses from London brands “Bobelle” and “Makki” and the timeless shapes of “Ri2k”.

Guys are also catered for with great men’s bags from “Skyve and Tool”, “Simon Carter”, “Ashwood” and the Italian “Giada pelle“.

There’s an equal spread of glam bags (upstairs) and stylish utility satchels (downstairs). The only criticism is of the display on the stairs, with the bags hanging off of the lights.

“I want to make Porta the ultimate bag destination in Brighton,” David told me. Well, he may have already done it!

New stuff?

Looking to come winter shopping in Brighton? Porta’s expecting deliveries from “Nadia Lala”, “Hobo”, “the Cambridge Satchel Company”, “Aftershock”, “Miss Budd”, “David Jones” and the best selling and hugely popular brand “Fiorelli”.

Every weekend there’s a bed in a hotel room in Brighton piled high with designer bags, and why not? Try shopping in Brighton after the nightmare of chasing labels in London; you won’t be disappointed!

For more information on Porta

Still lovin' it!

So, you made it! It’s going to be another crazy weekend in Brighton. This weekend the town comes out and shows its true colours. There will be fun and games aplenty.

But if you are here for the first time, there are a few premiere spots you should take a look at. We’ve put together a slightly sideways look at the city : The Five Fingers of Brighton.

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Visitors to Brighton this weekend will probably already know that the city has changed British politics, forever. Yes, true to form Brighton has shown its progressive power and voted in the country’s first Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas.

Even if politics is not your thing, you can’t help but notice the efforts being made in the town to consider the environment.

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Yes folks, for one day only, the  kids are taking over Brighton. Don’t worry, it’s just the Children’s Parade and it’s going to be lots of fun, especially for visitors to Brighton bringing their families and kids.

The traditional curtain raiser for the Brighton Fringe Festival sees school children enjoy their own carnival, as the city closes its roads and lets them run wild. Well, not wild – the event is always well organised.

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Sunday, what a day! In fact, what a weekend!

Brighton Pier.

Glorious sunny weather, the lanes alive with Brighton’s finest, our beaches packed with families and party people, and thousands of new visitors; it couldn’t get much better!

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A friend of mine has a fantasy of being locked overnight in a department store so she can try on all the clothing. You could lock me in Miss Selfridge and I would gladly get no sleep.

A really fun shop off the beaten path is Lady Jaquelina near Preston Park which sells really, really inexpensive alternative attire like vynl and gothic fashions. This store is great place to snap up a corset or skirt.

Get Cutie on the North Laines has some nice dresses and skirts made of unique fabrics. It’s a bit pricey but if you have money to burn, burn some at Get Cutie. The style hear is sort of 50’s but the prints really make it stand out.

Mad Hattersis a small store in the North Laines selling only hats and hairpieces, which would really suit your outfit at Royal Ascot, if you are so inclined.

If you fancy something very English, buy a ” Keep Calm and Carry On” shirt at Pussy. Yes, that is actually the name. Pussy is in the North Laines.

For shoes I love Flawless, which sells the boutique brand Irregular Choice that makes shoes that look like a cross between punk carnage and Dorothy. Flawless is also in the North Laines.

I think one of the best places to get a great deal is Snoopers Paradise on the North Laines (big surprise) which sells old and new fashions. The newer fashions are very punky and they sell my favourite brand Hell Bunny. The vintage selection is surprisingly good as well. At the top of this store is a selection of photographs and prints that showcase Brighton and make a nice souvenir.

If you like Day-glo flourescent fashion, try Red Mutha or Cyber Dog . You can buy 80’s shirts and day-glo legs at Red Mutha and proper insane rave fashion at Cyber Dog. The lights!!!

If you want a slice of unique Brighton fashion, also try the South Lanes, more for accessories. This historic fishing quarter has many jewellers and is particularly known for jewellery. If you are into hair accessories, stop at Jaffa Hair, which has lovely clips from France that last years and range from tortoise shell work-ready designs to multicoloured parrots.

Whatever your style is, you’ll find some new pieces in Brighton. I’m more eccentric but even if you like classic fashion, you’ll get your fix.