Date Night in (and around) Brighton

An article by Hannah Jeeves    No Comments

Before I found out I was pregnant with Busby, Mr H and I used to eat out at least once a week. Food and wine were (and still are) big passions of ours, and sampling the diverse range of restaurants that Brighton and surrounding areas had to offer was one of our favourite pastimes. Fast forward almost two years and here we are, living just outside of Brighton with a 13 month old daughter and desperate to have a night off.

Date night is so important for maintaining who you were Before Children (BC). Chances are you had a few years, or at least months, together BC; think back to how much fun you had! Dinners out, spontaneous weekends away (well, if you were very lucky) and general time to talk, to dream and to appreciate each other as individuals. Nowadays being spontaneous is putting two loads of washing on in one day because you might just fit it all on the radiator. Wild times.

So yes, date night! Mr H and I try to have a date night once every 1-2 months. It’s tough though as we haven’t yet reached the stage of trusting anyone other than family to look after Busby. Anyway, when we do get to go out we try to make sure we sample either somewhere new or revisit somewhere we love, so here are our top 5 Date Night Destinations.

1. Ten Green Bottles, Jubilee Street, Brighton

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This place is our idea of heaven - we usually come here if we have something to celebrate! The walls are lined with wine from around the world, including a variety of beautiful English Wines - some very local. It’s a wine shop as well as a wine bar, so you pay £5 corkage on what you drink in, but if you buy a bottle it’s generally cheaper than buying a bottle in a restaurant (even with the corkage). The seats are very comfortable and cosy, the staff are excellent and extremely knowledgable about their wines, and they also serve cheese and charcuterie boards! What more do you need?

2. Pomegranate, Manchester Street, Kemp Town

Source: Pomegranate website

Mr H introduced me to Pomegranate on our first “official” date back in 2011. I wasn’t convinced by the exterior and location, but inside is a different story. The food is Middle Eastern and the menu is full of delicious, authentic Kurdish dishes! The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive .We’ve revisited on many occasions and have never had a bad meal.

3. The Pelham Arms, High Street, Lewes

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Ok, not technically in Brighton, but I had to include The Pelham Arms because of their burger. It is the best burger I have ever eaten. Grand statement I know, but it is seriously good. They also do fantastic roasts on a Sunday and their food is generally wonderful; locally sourced and cooked fresh. And don’t get me started on their puddings…

4. The Ginger Dog, College Place, Kemp Town Village

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Mr H and I had lived in Kemp Town Village for 10 months before we realised that The Ginger Dog was actually our local! The Gingerman restaurants have a fantastic reputation around Brighton - which is well deserved! The food is fantastic; locally sourced and expertly cooked, with a seasonal menu that changes frequently. Their wine list is also expertly chosen, and the pub/restaurant has a very cosy feel about it.

5. Pompoko, Church Street, Brighton

Source: Pompoko website

Sometimes we can’t get an evening to ourselves, but manage to snatch some time at lunch. Our favourite place to head for lunch when we don’t have a baby in a buggy is Japanese restaurant, Pompoko. The food is so reasonably priced (both of you can eat very well for around £6 each), the service is super quick and the atmosphere is always so vibrant and interesting. If the weather is nice we get take-out and sit in the Pavilion Gardens, listening to the guy on the steel drums and enjoying the hum of Brighton.

Where is your favourite place to go for date night in Brighton?

Hannah

Hannah Jeeves

Hannah is a 20-something Mummy to one (under one) and soon-to-be wifey to her Physicist partner.

When not writing for Brighton Mums, Hannah blogs at Make, Do and Push! a parenting and lifestyle blog where she writes about everything from nappies to nail varnish.