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My girlfriend and I are weighing up the options between moving back to London or moving to Brighton. We've both lived in London before for years so we know where to look and where is affordable/decent to live, but neither of us have lived in Brighton.

Do any SXPers have any info on areas in/around Brighton that are affordable and in good location (particularly for people involved in music)? Or any areas to avoid?

Thanks in advance.

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Crazy haired surfin' slacker

I know Brighton reasonably well. Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb are famously bad from memory but I'm only going by reputation. I know Kemp Town, Brunswick, Seven Dials and Hanover are good areas. Hove is only a short bus ride away too if you want to avoid the all year stag and hen groups.

There's a few SXP-ers who live down there so I've IM'd them to see if they can make a rare venture on here and confirm.

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Mod Supreme, Demon Headmaster

Thanks, Bov, much appreciated.

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Crazy haired surfin' slacker

Interesting and strange occurrence my mate had when he lived in Brighton...

He went to the gents in the pub he was in where another man offered him money for sexual favours. My mate, being straight, politely declined. He was then offered a bit less money for a bit less action. Again he declined. The bargaining continued and in the end this guy asked if he could sniff my mate's arse - through his jeans - for a fiver. My mate went for that one and walked off with a fiver...

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Definitely isn't inbred...has the GCSEs to prove it!

REVOLUTION PURITY LOVE SUICIDE ACCURACY

http://www.thesoundofconfusion.com

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Crazy haired surfin' slacker

It's a shame he didn't get his number. You could have had a nice little earner there. This was probably 10-15 years ago now mind.

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Definitely isn't inbred...has the GCSEs to prove it!

REVOLUTION PURITY LOVE SUICIDE ACCURACY

http://www.thesoundofconfusion.com

My mate has lived in Brighton/Hove for about 10 years. He's not online much. He swears by Hove as it's a bit less hectic/touristy.

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Has something against Spotify...

I still get a huge buzz from going down to Brighton, walking the North Laines and having a few pints but maybe it's an age thing but I no longer desperately want to live there. Lewes has similar bohemian tendencies (and three record shops!) but is more for the 30+ set and less edgy and gets my vote, especially as it's only a few minutes on the train away from Brighton too. Not cheap though, but then neither's central Brighton.

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Mod Supreme, Demon Headmaster

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Crazy haired surfin' slacker

Morning. I've dusted off my user name, dredged up my password and stirred into posting after 3 years inertia. Mostly to confess that it was me sniffing arses for a fiver, so if anyone still wants to earn a few bob... seriously, its mad like that down here. Doesnt matter which end of the ballrooom you dance at, walking round town is just one long Russell Brand night out. I'm surprised I can ever get to work in the morning.

As for places to stay, I'd agree with Paul (Bovine). Kemp Town, known as Boys Town locally, is pretty interesting, as is Hanover as long as you avoid the metrocentirc southern foodie ponces. Seven Dials, Brunswick both fine, and my daughter lives near Preston Park, which is lovely and also slightly cheaper rent wise. I live that all important bus ride away in Hove, and would agree that it has all the advantages of the City - good food, pubs, entertainment etc - withouht the hen parties or toilet travails. Another very interesting option is Shoreham. 15 minutes from Brighon on the train its a small, self contained village that sits in a lovely estuary overlooking the River Adur. It has its own theatre, great beer pubs and restaurants and a mile long stretch of bohemian house boats if you really fancy 'living the alternative man's dream'.

Happy to chat in more detail if your plans settle on the South coast...

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The brother of the man

Morning all. Having ineptly tried to liaise with Estuary Boy earlier to put forward a unified, concise and amusing reply re. living in Brighton I'd just weigh in and say I agree with all that EB has said. It did half cross my mind to sell Whitehawk or Moulsecoomb as 'up and coming' but if I'm honest they're as bad now as they ever were, deffo to avoid...

For arty folks the key areas have to be the North Laine or Hanover, the latter has a very popular community festival every year (May or June I think), but the flipside is London prices by the seaside.

Good luck

Thanks Devilish and E Boy for the info, really appreciate it.

I think we are pretty much set on Brighton area as we wanna bring our little lad up close to the sea (as I was brought up), but somewhere with a decent music scene for us to get involved in and with a more progressive/evolved attitude than the depths of the South that I am from (and currently live...).

Also, as I said, neither of us have ever lived in Brighton, so it has the feel of a new start/adventure.

I'm leaning more towards the Hove area and it sounds fantastic to be honest. Plus the rent seems a little lower than central Brighton - is this the case or have I just seen anomalous examples thus far? Also, within Hove itself are there any areas recommended or best to avoid?

Thanks again, I really do appreciate the info from (relatively) sound minded souls such as your good selves.

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Crazy haired surfin' slacker