Your Little Black Book of Brighton & Beyond
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The Magazine of Contemporary Living on the South Coast
Fold
Fold, 14 Sydney Street, Brighton BN1 4EN
Fold is a beautifully curated independent shop that champions thoughtful design, craftsmanship, and quiet confidence. Stepping inside feels calm and intentional, with a layout that gives each piece room to breathe. The edit is impeccably judged—beautiful clothing, considered accessories, and objects that feel timeless rather than trend-driven.
Fold excels at balancing modern design with wearability. Everything on the racks feels chosen for longevity and integrity, favouring quality materials and refined silhouettes over noise. There’s a strong sense of coherence throughout, making browsing feel focused and rewarding rather than overwhelming. It’s the kind of place where you discover pieces you’ll live with for years.
Service is knowledgeable, relaxed, and genuinely helpful, offering guidance without pressure. Fold feels deeply aligned with Brighton and Hove’s creative, independent spirit—understated, intelligent, and confident in its point of view. A destination shop that values restraint, craft, and lasting style.
Peggs & Son
Peggs & Son, 27 Duke Street, Brighton BN1 1AG
Peggs & Son is one of Brighton’s most distinctive independent menswear shops, defined by clarity of taste and an unwavering commitment to quality. The space feels purposeful and well considered, giving the carefully edited selection room to speak for itself. Stock focuses on modern workwear, refined basics, and brands that value craft, durability, and intelligent design over fleeting trends.
Everything here feels wearable, useful, and built to last. From jackets and denim to footwear and accessories, the emphasis is on materials, construction, and quiet confidence. There’s a coherence to the curation that makes browsing both inspiring and reassuring—you trust the choices being made.
Service is knowledgeable, friendly, and refreshingly honest, offering guidance without sales pressure. Peggs & Son feels rooted in Brighton’s independent spirit while maintaining an international perspective. It’s the kind of shop you return to regularly, knowing you’ll always find something thoughtful, well made, and refined.
Penhaligon's
Penhaligon's, 29 Duke Street, Brighton BN1 1AG
Penhaligon's is a wonderfully immersive retail experience that feels both luxurious and warmly human. Stepping inside is like entering a world of quiet storytelling, where heritage, craft, and character are given space to unfold. The shop is beautifully presented, allowing the fragrances—each with its own distinct personality—to take centre stage.
What truly elevates the experience is the service. Staff are knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely enthusiastic, guiding you through scents with care and insight rather than sales pressure. Whether you’re discovering Penhaligon’s for the first time or revisiting a favourite, the experience feels personal and unrushed.
The fragrances themselves are refined, expressive, and memorable, balancing tradition with a playful edge. Penhaligon’s in the lanes feels perfectly placed—elegant without being stiff, indulgent without excess. It’s a shop that turns choosing a fragrance into a pleasure rather than a transaction, and one you’ll want to return to.
Gorringe's
Gorringe's Auction House, 15 North Street, Lewes BN7 2PA,
Gorringe's Auction House is a quietly authoritative presence in the world of fine art, antiques, and collectables, combining deep expertise with a genuinely approachable atmosphere. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a curious first-time visitor, the experience feels welcoming rather than intimidating. The salerooms are well organised and thoughtfully presented, allowing objects to speak clearly for themselves.
What sets Gorringe's apart is the professionalism of its team. Specialists are knowledgeable, generous with their time, and refreshingly clear in their guidance, making both buying and selling feel transparent and well supported. There’s a strong sense of trust here, built on scholarship, integrity, and long-standing reputation.
Auctions are efficiently run yet full of character, reflecting the breadth and quality of material handled. Gorringe's manages to balance tradition with accessibility, making it an important cultural fixture in Lewes. It’s a place where history, expertise, and discovery come together seamlessly.
Woven Store
Studio 50, 50 Brunswick Street W., Hove, BN3 1EL
B.Y BOHO is a beautifully expressive independent shop that captures Brighton’s creative, free-spirited energy with confidence and care. The space feels warm and inviting, with displays that encourage discovery rather than rush. Every piece—whether jewellery, accessories, or small objects—feels thoughtfully chosen, celebrating craftsmanship, texture, and individuality.
B.Y BOHO excels at offering items that feel personal and meaningful rather than mass-produced. Designs are distinctive yet wearable, balancing bohemian character with a refined sense of style. It’s the kind of shop where each visit reveals something new, whether you’re buying a gift or treating yourself to something special.
Service is friendly, attentive, and genuinely enthusiastic, adding to the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. There’s no pressure here—just an obvious love for beautiful things and the people who make them. B.Y BOHO feels deeply rooted in Brighton’s independent spirit: creative, soulful, and full of charm.
Kirk & Kirk
Kirk & Kirk is a refreshingly distinctive eyewear company that combines bold design with exceptional craftsmanship. Instantly recognisable for its vibrant colours and confident silhouettes, the brand manages to be expressive without ever feeling excessive. Each frame feels carefully considered—lightweight, beautifully balanced, and designed to complement the face rather than overpower it.
What truly sets Kirk & Kirk apart is its use of innovative materials, creating glasses that are striking yet incredibly comfortable to wear. The finish and detailing speak to a deep understanding of both aesthetics and functionality, making the frames as practical as they are eye-catching.
There’s a sense of individuality woven through the entire collection. These are glasses for people who want to express personality through design, but with refinement and intelligence. Kirk & Kirk strikes that rare balance between creativity and wearability, offering eyewear that feels modern, confident, and genuinely joyful to put on each day.
Capsule Records
Capsule Records, 37 Western Road, Hove BN3 1AF
Capsule Records is a brilliantly curated independent record shop that captures the joy of physical music culture. Tucked along Western Road, it offers a calm, focused space where browsing feels immersive rather than rushed. The selection is wide-ranging and intelligently chosen, spanning new releases, reissues, and carefully graded second-hand vinyl across genres.
What makes Capsule Records special is its sense of knowledge and care. The collection feels considered rather than cluttered, making discoveries both easy and rewarding. Whether you’re searching for a specific edition or simply exploring, the layout encourages curiosity and conversation.
Staff are friendly, informed, and genuinely passionate, always happy to guide without pressure. There’s an authenticity here that feels deeply rooted in music rather than trend. Capsule Records is the kind of shop you return to regularly—not just to buy records, but to reconnect with the ritual of listening. A standout destination for vinyl lovers in Brighton and Hove.
Gresham Blake
Gresham Blake, 20 Bond Street, Brighton BN1 1RD
Gresham Blake is one of Brighton’s most distinctive tailoring houses, combining traditional craftsmanship with bold, contemporary flair. From the moment you step inside, there’s an unmistakable sense of creativity—this is tailoring with personality. Fabrics are rich and varied, linings are playful, and details are handled with precision and imagination.
What truly defines Gresham Blake is its ability to balance individuality with impeccable fit. Whether commissioning a bespoke suit or selecting from ready-to-wear pieces, the process feels collaborative and considered. The team take time to understand your style and lifestyle, ensuring the final result feels both expressive and wearable.
The atmosphere is relaxed yet professional, making the experience enjoyable rather than intimidating. Gresham Blake proves that tailoring can be both sharply cut and creatively daring. It’s a Brighton institution that celebrates confidence, character, and craftsmanship in equal measure.
&halt
&halt, 7 & 9 Hanningtons Lane, Brighton BN1 1GS,
&halt on Hanningtons Lane is one of Brighton’s best-designed independent shops—calm, beautifully curated, and genuinely inspiring. Rather than feeling like a busy “gift shop,” it’s closer to a small design gallery you can actually buy from: sculptural ceramics, considered glassware, modern tableware, lighting and home accessories, all chosen with a sharp eye for form and function. The edit leans contemporary (with a subtle modernist/Bauhaus sensibility), but it never feels cold—everything is tactile, useful, and quietly special.
What really stands out is the coherence: the space is styled so you can imagine pieces living together at home, making browsing feel effortless and rewarding. It’s also the kind of place where gifts look and feel premium without being flashy. &halt manages to make good design feel accessible—thoughtful objects, well presented, in the heart of The Lanes.
John Moore Studio
John Moore Studio, Unit 11 Chapel Mews, Hove BN3 1AR (Studio practice)
John Moore Studio is an award-winning jewellery studio led by the eponymous British designer, whose work bridges contemporary art, craft, and wearable design with joyful precision and imagination. His pieces range from everyday editions to expressive sculptural forms that feel both modern and deeply considered. Moore’s philosophy of jewellery as “wearable sculpture” is evident in the way colour, movement, and form come together—each piece resonating with personality and artistic purpose.
What makes the studio genuinely stand out is Moore’s commitment to craftsmanship and experimentation. Working with materials from anodised aluminium to silver, gold, and mixed media, he creates objects that feel light, tactile, and expressive while maintaining structural clarity and refinement. Collectors and admirers describe his work as joyful, imaginative, and beautifully balanced between art and adornment.
John Moore Studio feels like discovering jewellery that isn’t just worn — it lives. Accessible editions sit alongside pieces that are more sculptural, meaning there’s something for both daily wear and special occasions.
Be Chocolat
Be Chocolat by Michel Clement, 15 Duke Street, Brighton, BN1 1AH
Be Chocolat by Michel Clement is a true artisan chocolatier that stands apart from the usual high-street confectioners. Founded by French master chocolatier Michel Clement, the shop reflects a deep commitment to traditional techniques, precision tempering, and refined flavour balance. The moment you step inside, the aroma of freshly made chocolate signals that everything here is crafted on site.
The selection is elegant rather than excessive: beautifully finished pralines, ganaches, and seasonal creations that showcase layered, nuanced flavour rather than simple sweetness. Textures are impeccable—smooth, clean, and perfectly structured—revealing the technical skill behind each piece. There’s a noticeable European sensibility in both presentation and taste, favouring restraint and depth over novelty.
Service is knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic, happy to explain origins, flavour profiles, and production methods. Be Chocolat feels personal, authentic, and proudly independent. It’s not just a chocolate shop—it’s a place where craftsmanship and flavour take centre stage, making every visit feel like a small, luxurious discovery.
shesaidboutique
She Said Boutique, E12A Ship Street Gardens, Brighton BN1 1AF,
She Said is a beautifully curated erotic boutique that approaches intimacy with intelligence, style, and genuine care. Tucked away in Ship Street Gardens, the space feels welcoming and thoughtfully designed—more contemporary concept store than traditional adult shop. The atmosphere is calm, elegant, and refreshingly free of awkwardness.
The product selection is carefully chosen, focusing on quality, body-safe materials, and design-led brands that prioritise wellbeing and pleasure equally. Everything feels considered rather than sensationalised, creating a space where exploration feels natural and empowering. From lingerie and accessories to beautifully crafted intimate products, the emphasis is on aesthetics, functionality, and inclusivity.
Staff are knowledgeable, approachable, and discreet, offering guidance without pressure. What sets She Said apart is its tone: confident yet respectful, playful yet sophisticated. It’s a boutique that normalises conversation around intimacy in a way that feels modern and positive. A standout independent business in Brighton—thoughtful, empowering, and impeccably presented.