The Luxury Travel Magazine
The Luxury Travel Magazine
The setting sun transforms the sky and sea into a rainbow of colours that reflect off the shiny pebbles of the beach. Throughout this area are buildings with ornate facades built during the Victorian age. Across the skyline is a structure that is out of sorts with its surroundings, the futuristic British Airways I360 with its glowing red space-age pod ascending into the sky. It is this mix of heritage and modernity that sums up this quaint seaside town. This is Brighton.
Just a short train ride away from the UK’s capital, this cosmopolitan city on the southeast coast of Sussex is a popular holiday destination. Renowned for its fashionable Lanes where you’ll find designer shops and fine restaurants, this is a place Londoners flock to be beside the sea.
Tourism began in the 1700s when Dr. Richard Russell promoted the benefits of swimming in the water. This was put on the map when the London to Brighton railway opened in 1841 connecting the seaside resort with the capital. Soon it became known as ‘London by the Sea’. The Victorians built fancy places to stay such as the iconic Grand Hotel, which faces the ruins of the West Pier.
Built in 1864, it is one of the most expensive places to stay in the city. To take tea at the Grand is a special occasion where the finest silver comes out to mark the event and the china cups are embossed with the words ‘A Grand Life’. Guests can opt from a menu of lapsang souchong, grand blend, or blue lady tea. You’ll feel like Victorian gentry as you enjoy the experience. There is even a post-box in the lobby dating back to Queen Victoria’s reign. A royal connection continues in the town with the Royal Pavilion which was a place built for King George IV.
Just next door to the Grand is another fine building with a rich history which captures the character of this much-loved city while retaining Victorian elegance and charm. The outside of The Hilton Metropole Brighton, originally opened in 1890 is as beautiful as the inside. It offers 340 rooms in an art deco world of magnificent chandeliers and a sweeping staircase.
Upstairs, many of the bedrooms have recently been renovated from the red and wood finish to a more modern look replaced by softer blues and greys. Walking into the room one is impressed with the space inside. They contain a king-sized bed and sofa bed as well a large TV and drinks station. The bathroom contains a small bath and walk-in shower. With views overlooking the sea, the sunrises are spectacular.
After a good night’s sleep. one can start the day with a swim in the Hilton Metropole’s large swimming pool before breakfast. The pool is surrounded by ornate marble pillars and a sauna and hot tub area. This is a wonderful way to relax, and all can be booked from the room along with the fitness centre.
Restaurant 1890 provides an array of breakfast choices from Full English to continental. There is also the novelty of making your own American pancakes. The restaurant is particularly good for those with allergies. There is unlimited tea and coffee and juices. Enjoy a veritable feast whilst sitting in a grand old ballroom with coved ceilings and wonderful inviting sea views. One really does feel as though one has stepped into another more elegant era. And you are certainly in good company since Sir Winston Churchill dined here on 2 October 1947.
For fine dining, look further than the Hilton Metropole’s very own Salt Room. This contemporary British seafood restaurant champions the freshest shellfish and meat and cooks it over charcoal, ensuring a memorable dining experience. The fish is superb. Sample the barbequed stone bass with a cool glass of chardonnay as you savour the wonderful sea views. On Sundays, they do a Reef ‘n’ Beef to share which consists of chateaubriand, king prawns, garlic baby potatoes, saffron coleslaw, garlic and herb butter sauce and red wine jus. Ensure you leave room for pudding as the desserts just are heavenly. Their famous Taste of the Pier sharing plank is a feast for the senses and comes complete with raspberry doughnuts, chocolate pebbles and a ’99’ ice cream.
Again, you needn’t leave the Metropole Bar for a good evening. A decadent area with plush armchairs and fine furniture, all designed in the legacy of Neil Halverson Hilton, a distant relative of the founder of the Hilton brand, Conrad Hilton. As an Admiral in the Royal British Navy during the mid-1800s, he was an avid epicurean and explorer with a penchant for the finest things in life. In his honour the Hilton Metropole’s cocktail menu was created. The cheesecake cocktail is perfect for patrons with a sweet tooth. One can sip the delicious nectar served in a beautiful glass and nibble on the scrummy alcoholic cheesecake that accompanies it.
For those who appreciate theatrics, the Message in a Bottle is a spin on an old-fashioned sealed in an ice ball with a little hammer for you to crack open and discover its delights. But the most dramatic is the Cannons at Cocktail Hour which emulates a gin gimlet. It is infused under a cloche with gunpowder tea smoke. The best place to enjoy these delicious concoctions is on the stunning terrace outside the red-bricked building surrounded by blooms as you drink in both the contents of your glass and the spectacular sea views of Brighton’s iconic promenade.
The British Airways I360
From this terraced restaurant, one can see the British Airways i360 sliding effortlessly up and down the pole ascending like an alien craft. Built on the site of the former historic West Pier this unique structure dominates the skyline. The i360 was a £46 million project by the same team who constructed the London Eye. With a ratio of 74 to 1, it is closer to a palm tree than other tall buildings such as The Shard.
The slim tower has an 18 ft giant pod has a bubble pod wrapped around it and it rises to 450ft for viewing. It rises effortlessly up the 531ft pole and hangs suspended in air 160 metres above the sea. From this vantage point, passengers can enjoy sights over the beach and sea beyond. From the ground, it the space age pod rests against the backdrop of the former West Pier originally built in 1866, which once held a theatre and concert hall. How astonishing that it now offers the chance to walk in the air above the sea as a vertical pier.
For the most daring, there is the chance to climb up on top of the pod and enjoy the wind rippling in your hair as you enjoy the view, you can also abseil down the pod. Either experience is not for the faint-hearted but up on top of the roof, one feels free, even with vertigo as you are securely strapped onto the side. To celebrate the occasion, one can enjoy a glass of Nyetimber sparkling wine. There are also juices and lollipops for the littlest ones. Overall, it is a great way to entertain the family. Either from the pod, or from the top, the views are spectacular. One can see all the way out to the Isle of Wight on a clear day you’ll get a birds-eye view of the coastline all the way to the Palace Pier. Inland you can see the trains pull into the station at the top of the hill and beyond the Sussex hills.
Exploring Brighton
Enjoy lunch overlooking the beach at Riddle and Finns chucking oysters and sipping cocktails and then stroll beside the Victorian arches, which were once fishermen’s rests, but are now home to trendy bars and clubs. The famous Golden Gallopers carousel built by Frederick Savage in 1888 is surrounded by colourful beach huts and regency architecture.
There are plenty of entertainment options in the beachfront bars, from early evening live music at the oldest hotel in Brighton The Old Ship hotel, with its deckchairs outside to the chic beach bars which attract the fashionistas and ‘bright young things’. Brighton is the home of Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim who honed his skills on the booming Brighton club scene which is what a lot of people for visit today. This is a fun and artistic city renowned as a destination for partying and has a vibrant LGBTQ community.
Wander around Brighton’s fashionable Lanes getting lost in the narrow alleyways, or twittens as they are known locally. Browsing the designer boutiques and jewellers works up an appetite, but fear not there are plenty of places to eat, drink and watch the world go by. This quaint area is bursting with distinctive pubs and restaurants. Parts date late 16th Century when Brighton was a small fishing town called Brighthelmstone.
The Cricketers on Black Lion Street is the oldest pub in Brighton. Built-in 1547, in the times of Charles II as an inn, it was bought by the Golden Lion group in 1980. On a sunny day you can enjoy drinks in the large garden at the front. It is also recommended to visit and try one of the best Sunday lunches in the city. There is also a shaded area for dining as well as a plush bar area in vivid red with quirky trinkets all around. Upstairs the Greene rooms pay homage to Graeme Greene, who penned parts of Brighton Rock here. Browse at the letters he wrote. A grislier connection is that Robert Donston Stephenson, the surgeon suspected to be Jack the Ripper, once stayed here. Like all old pubs, there is a resident ghost. Next door is the characterful Black Lion pub which is a great place for live music with a funky garden with booths to soak up the Brighton vibes.
Brighton is like London’s little sister, so it is no surprise you can find an offshoot of the capital’s prestigious Ivy here. The Ivy in the Lanes, specialises in fine dining Asian fayre. Step onto the dazzling green onyx tiles into a world that pays homage to the orient. Gaze at the eclectic artwork as you are seated and enjoy the rich aroma of authentic Asian food which smells as good as it tastes.
Choose to dine in the beautiful main restaurant or take advantage of the private dining option for you and your friends and family to celebrate in style. The Ivy’s beautiful art and elegant furnishings make this a decadent experience and one you will never forget. Under an artistic ceiling, peruse the wine menu as you decide on your main course and watch the experienced waiters lay their silver service plates.
The menu contains small plates and a la carte to main dishes with something to suit every stomach. Ivy Asia Silver Shell seafood platter comes highly recommended followed by the Slow-Cooked Pork Belly or the Avocado Silken Tofu with lime and ginger dressing. This is best washed down by a Beijing Sling or a Matcha Smash. For those with a sweet tooth, the Green Lantern is a delicious white chocolate and yuzu cheesecake and chocolate pearls with a mango sauce. In true Ivy style, afternoon tea is also a splendid occasion.
Brighton is a truly cosmopolitan destination that is just the tonic to the big smoke that the traveller is after. Offering a slice of the capital with a dose of the sea a mere 50 miles away. The seaside city makes for the perfect for a long weekend or a mid-week break for the Londoner or a week long stay for the international traveller. It’s easy to see why many call this their second home.
