It's Official, Romance Is Not Dead | Brighton & Hove

“Romance is everything.” Gertrude Stein

My final few weekends in the UK were spent once again in Brighton and Hove. Same recipe as before, why change a good thing after all, good friends, lots of laughs, lots and lots of drinking and eating yummy food.

Spectacular views across Brighton and Hove from a show flat

Lots of time for Cosmos in the sunshine at The Old Ship Hotel

On one of those weekends, we treated the teenager to the Hove experience too (lots of eye rolling at her mother’s alcohol fuelled antics). Cosmos at The Old Ship pub on the seafront, an Italian meal at Alfresco on the promenade, walks along the seafront, show-house viewings, shopping and salted caramel gelato from Gelato Gusto in the North Lanes, street art, an exquisite cheeseboard at the Sussex Yeoman’s Pub followed by another Sunday Roast at Hove Place were just some of the highlights. And how could I forget, lots of visits to Small Batch Coffee Company of course (read more about Small Batch Coffee Co here).

More fun in the Lanes

Vegetarian Shoes ?!?

Choccywoccydoodah in the South Lanes is full of very special (in a wacky Alice in wonderland kind of way) decadent cakes and unique chocolate gifts.

My attractive hosts, looking good guys!

Spot the well-known faces immortalised in colourful street art at The Prince Albert pub near the lanes

Oh My, this sharing pre-Sunday lunch cheeseboard was excellent at the Sussex Yeoman gastro Pub

The following weekend was one of my friend’s birthday so obviously all day/night celebrations were called (any excuse) for from a mellow start with a visit to Brunswick Festival, drinks at the beach, shopping in the Lanes (again), drinks at the Fountain Head pub, a tasty Indian at The Chilli Pickle and way, way too many cocktails and shots at the trendy Merkaba bar. The next day was not so good and that is an understatement!!!

Brunswick Festival in the square (source:www.visitbrighton.com/whats-on/brunswick-festival)

We stopped off at the 33rd annual Brunswick Square Festival that takes place in the square every August. The festival celebrates the Brunswick community with a celebration of all things Brighton including live music, dance, arts & crafts, a world food area and a market with homemade goods, vintage clothes, bric-a-brac and much more.

The popular Candy Floss stand at Brunswick Festival

Beautiful traditional Brighton

Finally got my seagull shot after weeks of trying

The Chilli Pickle is a trendy Indian Restaurant adjacent to MyHotel Brighton (source:www.thechillipickle.com/restaurant)

Innovative Indian cuisine at The Chilli Pickle restaurant, Marrow Kootu was a first for me!

It was a messy, no make that a very messy night at trendy Merkaba in MyHotel

My eight week trip came full circle, finishing as it started with a couple of nights in Myhotel Brighton this time with the other half who has returned from Abu Dhabi for a few days. Russian Mules and Cosmos at Brighton’s luxurious Hotel Du Vin was followed by a meal at the vegetarian restaurant Food For Friends (practically free meal after receiving a generous discount for an earlier blog post (read it here) and also winning their Instagram competition.) Happy Days!

Pre-dinner cocktails at the fabulous Hotel du Vin in Brighton

Delicious vegetarian dessert at Food For Friends

Our last Brighton Minication was for our friends 25th Wedding Anniversary celebration. The event, organised as a complete surprise for the Mrs (who thought she was going out for a belated family lunch) by the Mr, was so lovely and very romantic, lots of brownie points earned here! We were gathered with a group of friends and family on Brighton’s Bandstand for the informal Silver Wedding celebration, sipping champagne on a beautiful sunny day when the unsuspecting lady of the hour wandered past and saw her wedding photo enlarged on an easel! SURPRISE!

Surprise! It’s your party!

There’s hope ladies, romance isn’t dead! The surprise was executed perfectly and well received and emotional (all the tense moments watching what I said for weeks, secret discussions and the little white lies we all told paid off).

Next stop was the nearby Italian restaurant Alfresco’s for an afternoon of more celebrating, lots of over indulgence, singing and dancing at the party! Final stop, after a sunset stroll along the promenade, was an evening at Hove Place for burgers (read previous Burgerlicious post here) and drinks. Great fun and a fantastic end to a fantastic trip.