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Brighton rock(s): Britain’s LGBTI community likes to be beside the seaside
Down in the South of England, between the sea and the South Downs National Park, a diverse community draws in people from all walks of life to the UK’s unofficial LGBTI capital.
Whether it’s smelling the slightly salty air, watching the sea gulls soar through the sky and bob on the waves, listening to the waves break on Brighton’s shingle beach or the welcoming atmosphere, falling in love with this quirky seaside beauty is remarkably easy.
The War Memorial at Old Steine serves a serious purpose, but in summer, people flock to the small park surrounding it.
A treasure trove of things to do, no matter if iconic or lesser known, it’s unlikely that Brighton will ever get boring (if it does, London can be reached in an hour, but never tell a Brightonian you prefer the UK capital over their hometown. They don’t take well to that.).
No matter if seen from the skies or the ground, Brighton Pier never fully loses its appeal.
Brighton Marine Palace and Pier, often just called Brighton Pier or the Pier, is popular with tourists and the locals and always good for a laugh; if the amusement part leaves you unfazed, maybe snagging one of the free deckchairs to soak up some sun is more your thing.
From there, explore the seafront – it never sleeps: by day, people flock to bars, restaurants and the numerous attractions, but when darkness falls students and young professionals take over the clubs and paint the town red.
An air of India: the Royal Pavilion, often compared to the Taj Mahal gives Brighton an exotic note.
Pulsing beats aside, there’s plenty of calmer (but not less exciting) things to do in Brighton: the slightly misplaced-looking Royal Pavilion with its lavish interiors is a must-see and, what the guides won’t tell you, hosted one of the very first same-sex marriages in the UK on 29 March 2014.
Some truly unique things can be found in The Lanes and North Laine, full of unconventional shops bringing out Brighton’s individualistic side; for the bigger chains, Churchill Square Shopping Center is just up the hill.
The narrow, winding Lanes hide many gems, from small cafés to antique shops.
Head to Northern Lights just off the seafront – a Scandinavian-themed bar serving authentic food and drink in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere, with staff always good for a cheeky joke – or an evening out away from the typical gastro pubs.
Silo, a zero-waste restaurant hailed as one of Brighton’s most promising new haunts, and much-loved vegetarian restaurant Food with Friends are also worth a visit for a taste of local produce and innovative recipes.
To dive headfirst into the LGBTI community, head to Kemptown; most gay bars and clubs line St James’s street and, much like the seafront, there’s always something going on, not just on Pride weekend.
Hardly anyone in the city can resist the draw of Brighton’s annual Pride.
Once a year, Brighton Pride attracts nearly 200,000 visitors – aside from the parade, a festival and Preston Park and the Gay Village Party und Kemptown keep the masses entertained throughout the day.
Renters will face average prices of £940 (€1,335.34, $1,458.26) per month for a one bedroom flat or £1,308 (€1,858.12, $2,029.16) for two bedrooms, while properties to sell clock in at an overall average of £337,240 (€479,078, $523,177).
Regular train services link Brighton to London Victoria Station as well as St. Pancras International via London Blackfriars, City Thameslink and Faringdon and a limited service to London Bridge, making the city popular with commuters into London.
The post Brighton rock(s): Britain’s LGBTI community likes to be beside the seaside appeared first on Gay Star News.
Stefanie Gerdes
www.gaystarnews.com/article/brighton-rocks-britains-lgbti-community-likes-to-be-beside-the-seaside/
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