Tourists, foodies, royalty, hippies and the Easter Bunny

Easter weekend in Brighton saw very sunny and clear days for Mattias and I to soak up. I didn't know what to expect of Brighton - I had low expectations based on previous visits to the UK coastline but had heard good things too and it proved to be a city of contrasts - the Gold Coast (including Robina) meets Byron Bay.

The Brighton Pier is lovely from afar but close up is quite a sad tourist trap. On Good Friday we walked along the pier and the sea front and had some lunch at one of the pubs down on the pebbled beach where everyone was well and truly getting into summer with shirts off and beers in hand. The proprietors of the George IV on Regency Square where we stayed recommended La Fourchette as a local seafood restaurant. The fish plate and vegetables (it sounds better in French) were delicious which I followed with an equally delicious strawberry mousse.



On Saturday we had lunch at The Dorset in the North Laines area which is more alternative & bohemian. Quite trendy and definitely the place to hang out with good eating & drinking, mix of shops and people watching. We wandered all around this area and the Lanes with its winding, narrow shop-lined streets.



Then we stepped into the orient visiting George IV's Royal Pavillion. It is fascinating with its 18thC chinoiserie interior decoration, and its now seemingly peculiar location (but of course close to the sea air and healthy waters in the very fashionable city). Definitely worth a visit but I'd have to agree with Queen Victoria - Osborne House in Cowes is by far a better palace.



On Sat night we had dinner at Food for Friends, a Brighton vegetarian institution, which was really good. Great atmosphere and menu. I was forced to have 3 courses (healthy of course!) while watching the groups of hens parade by.

To work off some of the chocolate, on Easter Sunday we went to Beachy Head and walked across the downs for the afternoon taking in the very pretty views of the sea and countryside.




(we walked along these cliffs as far as the eye can see and beyond!)


To wrap up the weekend, we had dinner at a pizzeria and a couple of scrumptious cocktails at a great bar called Havana on Sunday night. This morning we got up for an early train back to London and hung out in the park in the sun for a couple of hours. Another great weekend out of London. Made all the better for being longer and full of chocolate and sun!