Cyberdog

I used to be heavily into my free parties a number of years back and would drive out into the country to find a random field and a sound system thumping out tunes in a farmer’s field. Happy memories!
These days, I tend to stay a bit closer to home, but do still have a place in my heart for the scene. Cyberdog is probably the Trance/​Techno stalwart when it comes to clothing. Expect a lot of neon and UV garments. Now these have never really appealed to me and although a lot of the other reviewers have been a bit ‘aaarrrrrgh’ about the shop, it is worth rooting through the rails for some of the more low key items.
You can certainly pick up some cool trousers and tops that have a certain style. Don’t expect them to be cheap however where a t shirt can cost £40 and a pair of trousers over £100.
I would certainly agree that it is set up inn a bit of a random location, but then again the North Laine is the ‘cool’ alternative district of the city. Again, I like the place, but if techno/​trance sends you into a fit you may want to avoid.

Cyberdog Brighton is an asset to Brighton City, In an area with already diverse and controversial cultures it is indeed a professional yet fun environment to shoppers, it has anything and everything to please even the most critical connoisseur. The customer service is exquisite not confrontational, advice with friendly mannerisms to all public audiences of all age groups and the products of which it sell of a superb quality. This shop really sets an example of which is to be truly proud of, it is truly worth a visit if you are part of the brighton community or if you are visiting brighton it is one shop you should not pass by without pursuing your curiosity.

I’m partial to a bit of Chicago house, Detroit techno and Mancunian acid house. Trance however, always struck me as music for people that have no sense of rhythm or taste.
I went into Cyberdog yesterday to road-​test my theory and came out five minutes later with my ears bleeding and my opinion confirmed. Not only does the shop play the worst rave tunes at bass-​quaking volume, they also sell a terrible selection of rave clothes. We’re talking black and flurescent tee-​shirts, trousers and jackets with plastic studs, flashing lights and all kinds of horrendous accessories for daft prices.
To paraphrase an old dance tune: ‘Can you feel it?‘
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

A raver’s paradise, it’s a bit hard to miss with its blue UV lighting only found in dingy public toilets and hardcore trance nights.
Don’t get me wrong, I like a good rave with neon facepaint and glowsticks, but have never quite got into the whole clubwear thing with neon legwarmers, bright pink tutus and lime green fishnet tops.
Screaming out at the world from the North Laines, it’s a bold, brash kick in the face to anyone, like me, who curiously stumbles in. As well as the bright and bizarre attire, they’ve got those cool flashing t-​shirts that react to music, although I’ve never been convinced enough to buy one. Maybe I’m getting old.
It’s like walking into a spaceship, all clean and white, (or it would be white if it wasn’t for the blue lighting), with metal flooring and a wide open space.
It’s got its own DJ booth and pumps out psy-​trance all day long, but never looks busy, probably something to do with its minimalist layout. I feel a bit sorry for the staff who have to work under UV light all day.
Part of the contract for any staff member surely must be free eye tests at Vision Express.

How is this place still open? Honestly, they must have been advertising for an in store dancer since opener months ago. Who wants that job? Especially when you go to making half of the shops customer numbers for the day. It sort of works in Camden but then they do have a huge building constantly kept dungeon dark, not a light drowned high street.
I’ve never seen anyone wearing any of those clothes in the past five years, and I only saw them then because a good friend was into horrendous Techno, which again I haven’t heard (thankfully) for years now.
Cyberdog does make laugh every time I pass it though.

The most in-​yer-​face shop in the entire world, I wasn’t surprised in the slightest when Cyberdog finally made its appearance in Brighton. If you ever feel overcome by the desire to browse neon-​coloured, glow-​in-​the-​dark, futuristic space-​wear and self-​programmable t-​shirts to the thumping sound of rave music then this is the ONLY place to go.
There is truly no other shop in the world quite like Cyberdog and I would urge everyone to go there at least once, even if it’s just to make-​believe for five minutes that you’ve stepped into the year 3000. The staff look like space-​age cartoon characters, the kids’ outfits on display in the window border on child abuse and I can honestly say I will never purchase anything from this shop as long as I live… but all the same, I’m kind of glad it exists.

«CYBER DOG??? CYBER DOG!!? WHERE ARE YOOOOUUUUUUU??? CYBER DOGGGGGGGGGGGGG???
Cyber dog! Yes, that where you are my little sausage! I thought I’d lost you. Oh cyberdog I was so scared that you’d gone and that I’d never be able to buy flashing message raving t-​shirts, goggles and neon contact lenses for £25 for me and my children. Come on cyber dog lets go to a psy-​trance night, and I’ll give you some special biscuits to keep you going??? What do you say Cyberdog???
WOOF!
The most ridiculous shop in the Laines, and a bit controversial due to it’s in your faceness, Cyberdog is not the type of place your going to go in just to browse around and see if you like something. This is the type of place that you go if you like raving and you like raving attire, neon, and psy-​trance loudly pumping throughout the day.
With the music, dark lighting, flashing neon and perfectly white floors and minimalst interior, Cyberdog looks a little bit like what they thought the future would look like in the 50s and 60s, a little Clockwork Orange-​y.
If your into raving/​festival culture (a bit too much) Cyberdog’s probably your kind of joint.

I don’t get it! I walk past Cyberdog regularly and can never figure out why it’s there! Who goes into it– I never see more than one person in there? I understand the appeal for clubbers– day-​glo and all, but are there that many clubbers in Brighton who need strangely padded revealing clothing that glows?! Why is is such a big shop– it seems quite empty with only some small amounts of stock dotted here and there. How do they pay rent? I always say that it won’t last long but boyfriend argues with me saying that loads of people must love it. Who are you loads of people? I quite enjoyed briefly marvelling at some of the outfits which are fabulous, odd, and glowing. They are also quite expensive and the hugely loud music drove me out within a minute– I like loud music as much as anyone but not when I’m thinking of trying things on or talking to shop assistants– how can they stand it?! It’s all a mystery.

«It’s the year 3000 and embarking on an intergalactic journey of epic proportions is the Cyber Dog. Part dog, part android, the journey will be fraught and…»
Sorry, I get carried away from time to time! No, this isn’t some futuristic cartoon canine, but rather one of the most colourful shops in Brighton. Providing neon rave and club-​wear, I am not exactly sure who shops in Cyber Dog, but its position in the lanes provides a real focal point. Even if you have absolutely no intention of buying anything it is worth going (try Saturday afternoon), just so you can experience this mad neon world that looks like it fallen straight from a monumental Mad Max/​Human Traffic crossover. You never know, you might actually like something too!

Cyberdog is one of those rare places you just have to visit at least once in your lifetime. It doesn’t matter whether you have any real interest in the type of clothing they retail, or whether you even like shopping. In fact, you could be a devout marxist adament that all forms of capitalism are inherently evil and I’d still recommend you check this place out. You see, this isn’t just a store, it’s an experience. With its very own DJ booth, a catalogue of incredibly avant-​garde clothing options, the majority of which glow in the dark, and some exceptionally friendly staff whose own tastes in fashion will intrigue and fascinate you in equal measure, a trip to Cyberdog is not to be missed.