A midwinter break by the sea.
In January 2025 I had a some leave from work. I arranged a short break in Brighton with Carl. Carl is a steward on Cross Country Trains, and lives in Bournemouth.
Wednesday January 15th 2025
I set off from my home in Calcot, around 9am and travelled by bus to Reading station, and Cross Country train to Southampton Central Station. I had a spare 30 minutes before I met Carl, and decided to go out for some fresh air.
I like street art and I managed to see some outside the station.
When I met Carl we caught the 11.20 Southern service to Brighton, via Havant and Barnham.
We arrived at 13.05 and stopped for lunch in Greggs. I had a "Mexican" chicken roll and a cup of tea.
Carl outside The Quadrant, also home of the Folklore Rooms
After lunch we checked in to our hotel, a Travelodge, Brighton Seafront.
In the afternoon we settled in and arranged to go out for our dinner around 5pm. We had a Thai dinner in Siam Siam, in Preston Street. I had a mild pork curry with coconut rice and spicy prawn crackers.
Carl had managed to contact Josh (Webb) who used to be a steward with Cross Country in Reading and Birmingham.
Carl and I returned to the Travelodge. As Travelodge offer a 2 for 1 drinks deal between 5 & 7pm, we decided to arrange to meet Josh in the hotel bar where I had 2 bottles of Budweiser. Although the deal sounded like a bargain, there were too many limitations. Josh joined us later for a drink and we then moved to the Fortune of War on the sea front. This pub has a nautical theme. Josh has an app on his phone which enabled us to special deals for local and international beer. I had Laine's Mango ale.
Carl and I returned to our hotel around 11pm.
Thursday 16 January
The weather was dry and mild.
Carl and I had our breakfast in the Bright Helm, a Wetherspoon pub close to the hotel.
After breakfast we caught a Number 12 bus to Rottingdean, which a village to the east of Brighton.
We had a coffee in the White Horses pub/restaurant, where we met Josh. Rottingdean is an upmarket village, and among its famous inhabitants was writer Rudyard Kipling.
The Pond, Rottingdean village, Rudyard Kipling's home from 1897-1902 is behind.
Josh, Carl and I went for a walk around the village, stopping off at the village pond, the church, the Windmill and the beach. We had a coffee and a mince pie outside Molly's cafe.
Carl and I then walked along the coastal path to the next village, Saltdean. We returned to Brighton, Old Steyne. We went for a stroll around the Lanes, where we saw street art, and independent shops.
Angel painted on the side of a building We also visited a retro clothes shop, Quadrophenia and we talked with the owner about Mods activities in Brighton.
After having lunch in Burger King we returned to the hotel for a couple of hours.
We arranged to have dinner in the Marina, we travelled on the Number 7 bus. We had our dinner in a Harvester restaurant, named about a ship called Katarina. Had the complimentary salad, a soft drink and stuffed pasta (with spinach and cheese)
We returned to Brighton for the rest of the evening. We had an early night.
Friday, January 17th
I went for a walk along the beach promenade before having breakfast. I took some photos along the way to Madeira Parade.
Street art
Former Olympean mid-distance runner, Steve Ovett
Carl and I had a light breakfast in the Bright Helm. I had tea, toast & jam, which at £2.49 with free drink refills is a bargain.
We arranged to meet Josh at the station and after buying our tickets we caught the 10.28 train to Shoreham-by-Sea. Josh suggested we visited Brighton City airport, which is a small airport, serves small planes. The main building is a beautifully preserved 1930s Art-Decor control tower, offices and waiting area. The building has photos and pictures on the walls inside.
Brighton City airport main building in Art-Decor style
Visitors are allowed to go outside and watch aircraft departing and arriving. Carl & I had coffee, cake which is served from a converted caravan. Josh had a fresh full English breakfast.
Unfortunately, the weather was cold, misty and overcast.
Light aircraft on the runway, Brighton City airport
After spending a couple of hours watching the aircraft, we walked back to the station and caught the 12.50 train back to Brighton.
In Brighton we had different plans to spend the afternoon and I decided to explore, Lewes and neighbouring village Stanmer.
I travelled to Stanmer village on the Number 78 bus.
Stanmer House is a stately home, set in a lovely park, ideal for walking. The house is a Grade 1 listed building, which means modifying the building is limited. The only part of the house open was a cafe and restaurant.
I walked around "One Garden" which is a botanical garden with greenhouses and a college on the edge of the village.
I later had tea and a cake in the Stamner tea rooms in the village.
I walked in the park, then to Falmer, and I caught a Number 28 bus to Lewes.
Lewes is the County Town of East Sussex with a traditional High Street, where many of the shops are independent.
Lewes, the War Memorial, High Street
I explored the castle, walked along winding streets and explored Southover Grange Gardens before it started to become dark.
Singing monks, Southover Grange Gardens
I returned to Brighton on the 28 bus, and met Carl back in the hotel.
We had fish and chips, and I had a beer in the Bright Helm (Wetherspoon) bar.
In the evening I went to a gig in The Folklore Rooms, a well known intimate venue, suited for acoustic shows.
I have a detailed blog about the gig on my music blog page, but briefly, singer-songwriter Rosie Mark and her band headlined an evening of live music with support from ALY and Georgie Moon.
Rosie Mark and her band in The Folklore Rooms Saturday January 18th
After breakfast in the Bright Helm, and packing we checked out and on our way to the station we bought a cup of tea and cake for our train journey, the 11.43 to Southampton. I then travelled back to Reading on the 14.15 Cross Country train.
