Brighton and Hove (England’s answer to San Francisco!)
Brighton and Hove is one of England’s most vibrant cities, and often compared to the Californian city of San Francisco. It’s very creative (art, music, writing) and popular with vegans (it many grocery stores and zero waste shops), environmentalists (the local MP is Green) and gay people. Brighton is also home to The Big Lemon, a private solar bus service.
If out walking, follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe. If at the coast, read up on keeping dogs safe by the seaside.
Royal Pavilion and the nearby streets
The Royal Pavilion was lavishly decorated by King George IV (labelled by English Heritage as ‘Britain’s most useless monarch’) whose lavish spending caused riots in Ely, when people were living on water and gruel. He also amassed massive debts at the public’s expense, remodelling Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle (although he did repent his ways on his deathbed).
George IV also used to own a mansion in Moulsecoomb (now one of the city’s largest housing estates, with a forest garden project that offers plots for people to grow their own organic food. Green peer Jenny Jones (unlike Michelle Mone who took the title Baroness of Mayfair) stood true to her roots, and is known as Baroness Jenny of Moulsecoomb, after the council estate where she grew up!
Afterwards, walk a few minutes south to The Lanes. The shift is quick: wide open lawns become tight, twisty passages. The Lanes suit slow browsing, with independent jewellery shops, vintage finds, and cafés squeezed into old shopfronts. Keep an eye out for hidden courtyards, because some of the best places sit just off the main path. .
Palace Pier, the Bandstand, and seaside strolls
Brighton is also home to one iconic seaside pier (the only one left out of three, the others both destroyed in storms).
Next, amble west along the promenade towards the Bandstand. It’s an easy landmark and a handy meeting point, with seating nearby when you want a break. On a clear day, it’s also one of the prettiest spots for photos because you get the curve of the beach behind it.
One practical note: the beach is shingle, and the wind can cut through, even in warmer months. Bring a layer you can put on fast.
Roedean School (very humble beginnings)
Roedean is ‘the poshest girls’ school in England’, with past students including Tessa Dahl and actresses Sarah Miles and Honeysuckle Weeks.
But it had humble beginnings, founded by three sisters in 1885, who had fallen on hard times while caring for their father (injured in a climbing accident) and believed that girls should have good education. Today, there is even a Brighton bus called ‘the Lawrence sisters!’
Elected One of England’s Green MPs
Green party MP Sian Berry is part of the city’s story. A former engineer, she ran for London mayor and used to be a London assembly member, before taking over the seat from former Green MP Caroline Lucas, after she retired from politics.
Zero Waste Vegan Eats in Brighton and Hove
Brighton and Hove takes food seriously, but it doesn’t have to be fussy. You can eat well, shop independently, and make a greener choice or two without turning the day into a lecture.
Vegan eateries don’t accept cash (as bank notes contain animal fat and plastic). Check sites for info on accessibility and being dog-friendly.
Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets. Also read about pet-friendly gardens, to know plants and flowers to avoid.
Infinity Foods (a thriving community grocery)
Infinity Foods in the city of Brighton has been around since the 1970s. Democratically run by its workers, it offers a huge range of organic fresh produce, in-store baked bread, vegan groceries and natural beauty and cleaning products, along with a wholesale division.
Many items are sold in refill containers, so bring along clean dry containers to fill up, saving you money as well as packaging. The shop also avoids selling items made with palm oil.
There is also a Community Card, which gives discounts to regular customers. A portion of profits are donated to local charities, usually ones to protect Sussex wildlife or to help poverty and homelessness in Brighton.
Only assistance dogs permitted (due to food at nose level!)
Kindly Supermarket (a zero waste vegan supermarket)
Now this is more like it! Kindly (Brighton) is a big busy vegan supermarket that was founded by an Internet techy wizard, who got bored and decided he wished to do something with his money, to do good.
His aim is to ‘flip the supermarket model on its head’ and put planet before profits. His supermarket even offers vegan sandwiches in compostable packaging (handmade in Brighton).
Locals in Brighton can also order online, or just pop in the store to shop in person. It supports local artisan brands including local beers, to keep money circulating within communities.
The good news is that as a former techy entrepreneur, the founder has plans to take this model nationwide, to rival the big bad supermarket chains! But this time it will be business doing good, not harming animals or the planet.
People want to do good, but they don’t want to do it at the cost of either convenience or choice. We’re trying to bring in a food revolution, where we change the way we consume things. Shiv Misra (founder, Kindly Supermarket)
Harriets of Hove (an indie zero waste shop)
Harriet’s of Hove is a lovely zero-waste shop. It’s cofounded by a dentist, who now will give you a refill, rather than give you a filling! It also offers click-and-collect for food and household goods, and local delivery.
Purezza (homemade vegan pizza)
Don’t give leftover pizza crust to garden birds or wildfowl (could choke, and salt is toxic). Throw away greasy parts of pizza boxes (can’t recycle).
Purezza (London, Brighton, Manchester) is an award-winning vegan pizzeria that launched around 10 years ago, founded by an Italian who uses mostly local organic ingredients and no palm oil (outlets are furnished with reclaimed materials, run on green energy and even the loos have recycled bathroom tissue!
The range includes pizzas topped with their own cashew mozzarella (sold wholesale to other restaurants) includes Quattro formaggi (4 vegan cheeses!), Fungi pizza (with truffle oil) and Plant-based salami pizza.
The No Catch Co (a vegan fish and chippy!)
The No Catch Co (Brighton) is England’s first vegan fish and chip shop! Set up by animal welfare campaigners, it was designed to offer an alternative to fish caught in nets (that catch other species), and help reduce fishing for cod (now endangered), sold in zero waste packaging.
Most items are made from algae-based protein (2.3 trillion fish are killed each year for food). The fishing industry also catches dolphins, seals, whales, sea turtles and sharks – and causes immense suffering and greenhouse gas emissions.
Diners are blown away by wonderful alternatives::
- Vegan Cod or Smoked Haddock & Chips
- Jumbo Battered Saveloy & Chips
- Jumbo Lemom Shrimp
- Calamari Sides & Chips
- No-Cow Desserts!
Chips are no longer wrapped in newspaper, due to food regulations. And if you visiting a normal fish and chip shop, it’s not good to buy ‘fish leftovers for cats’, as most are too fatty, and have hidden bones.
Vegetarian Shoes (a retail shop in The Lanes)
Vegetarian Shoes (Brighton) has a physical shop but also an extensive range online and offers a wide range including safety shoes. It also offers a good sale shop, with many items often half-price.
These shoes are made from quality Microfibers (not plastic) so won’t make your feet sweat, and are easy to clean.
Skylark (non-profit coffee from Brighton)
Skylark is the world’s first non-profit coffee brand (the roaster spins at the foot of the South Downs). It pays twice the Fair Trade rate to coffee growers, giving other profits to environmental organisations, and those seeking to stop exploitation in the coffee trade (roasters receive the most profit normally, not the growers).
NHS says that it’s best to avoid caffeine for pregnancy/nursing (or no more than 2 cups of weak tea daily – or 1 cup of mild coffee or cola). Also avoid caffeine for certain medical conditions.
Use a sink protector to catch coffee grounds, then bin (caffeine may affect compost creatures). Same with tea leaves.
The company has key artistic support! The poetry on their bags is from Robert Macfarlane and art by Welsh painter Jackie Morris. If you’ve never read it, treat yourself to a copy of their gorgeous book collaboration The Lost Words.
