London Road

London Road has definitely changed for the better in the past couple of years. It’s had somewhat of a cash injection so the area is being gentrified a bit.
I’m usually against too much gentrification of an area (eg Shoreditch, East London in General) but London Road is definitely an area of Brighton that’s a little rougher around the edges, so a lot of people tend to avoid.
There’s been an influx of new restaurants, bars, coffee shops and student accommodation, as well as the revamped Open Market which lovely to see.
I live on the other side of town to London Road, but I have found myself popping down there to buy some bits and bobs of late.
I look forward to exploring the area a little more!

Reeking of faaaygs, Super Tennent’s extra strong and looking like something off the set of Eastender’s, I can’t help but feel fiercely protective of the good old ‘Landan’ road.
Yeah it’s scummy but it’s one of the only places in Brighton that hasn’t changed for donkeys… It’s a bit of history man! Saying that though, with the renovation of The Open Market and a few places like Meat Liquor just up the road and the Hairy Mound (Hare & Hounds) getting a revamp — I suppose it’s a becoming a tad more palatable for the likes of Brighton’s young hipster brood.
Besides, the London Road is home to some of my most FAVOURITE places, i. e Poundstretcher, Duke of Yorks (ok it’s not technically the London Road), Noble Amusements (sheerly for tanning purposes), Ransoms and of course the MAGNIFICENT ALDI!!!
Oh yeah Landan Road. You’ll do just fine.
That’ll do pig. That’ll do.

Weirdly, I’m quite a fan of London Road. It’s hard to put in to words what it’s appeal is. On first impressions, it’s grubby, shabby and a bit run down. Shop-​wise, there are a few gems such as David Rhodes fruit and veg, and couple of nice butchers, but on the whole there are a lot of cheapy shops, charity shops, and the ever useful Aldi.
I don’t really frequent the pubs on London Road — most look a little scary, as do many of the punters. Restaurants include the fabulous Eastern Eye, Cummin Up and Bangkok Express — all worth braving the insalubrious London Road for. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there is a McDonalds, Starbucks and numerous kebab shops.
All being said, there is something very appealing about wandering down London Road, maybe its for the people watching, there are certainly a few sights! I don’t tend to wander there on my own at night though.
Last, but by no means least, it is the home of the wonderful Duke of York cinema, which is worth a couple of extra stars on it own.

A wonderful and delightful street, any shortcomings it may have are made up for a bullish charm. It’s a colourful and busying street but come Saturday it’s really on form. Bus stops full of greying and tired faces, pushchairs filing in and out of McDonalds and drunks arguing amongst themselves over trivial but ultimately passionate matters. If the drama watching isn’t as enticing as it is for me, the street is sprinkled with charity shops and discount stores. Occasionally an empty premises pops up but is quickly replaced with a fitting attribute to the road. RIP Woolworths.

Aaah London Rd… I have quite unresolved, conflicted feelings about this place– a combination of fierce loyalty and even defensiveness (I made the area home for two years) and a resigned awareness that it is pretty dingy. When i used to tell some people where I lived, they’d look at me sympathetically or even questioningly…‘God, but London Rd is SOOO depressing, how can you stand it?’.
The thing is, yes it can be a little depressing… it’s not exactly in it’s heyday… there are many empty shops and if you wander the street during the day, you do come across some interesting characters. But that’s life! A city has to be able to accommodate all sorts of people… not every street can be lined with bistros, delis and wine bars after all! Although I recognise that London Rd is hardly paved with gold, I also recognise that it has lots of local small businesses that I use regularly… cobblers, green grocers, stationers… you name it, it’s there. I sincerely hope that London Rd’s identity doesn’t get gentrified out of existence… admittedly, it doesn’t look like that’s on the cards at the mo! ;)

London road contrasts to the other central areas of Brighton (think St James’ Street Kemp Town, the lanes, George Street Hove). It consists of large chain stores (supermarkets, peacocks, superdrug, boots, costa coffee) and one hell of a lot of pound stores — seriously count them if you ever have some time on your hands — from the high street staple that is Pound Land (or is it Stretcher), to independent pound/​99p stores. As well as this there are loads of dreary looking betting shops and cafes. Always busy (with depressed looking people), it reminds me a little of some parts of London’s Whitechapel. BUT, don’t yet dismiss London Road! The great thing about it, despite the host of major high street players, is that it probably has one of the highest proportion of local independent stores in Brighton. Think repairs, newsagents, fruit and veg… My (Indian) friend also tells me that the Indian restaurant is the best in Brighton! You’ll also find some gems, like charity shops, The World’s End, the Open Market, Grubb’s, The Duke of Yorks, The Cobbler’s Thumb, Pause Café, Poppy’s Café, The Cowley Club… all in all I like the concoction London Road offers (just watch your handbad :-/)…

London Road is not the classiest and most salubrious road in Brighton, and when it’s a grey day walking down the London Road can sometimes make you question whether it’s still all worth it all? But… you know what. It is. It is all worth it all, I mean happy hour at the Worlds End? Cheap Yoghurt at Aldi? Anarchist/​counter culture hang out, the Cowley Club? The Duke of Yorks (basically on London road)? Flames great kebabs? Are these not all reasons to live? Well yes I think they are.
O.K. the scores of pound shops and generally quite decrepit looking shops/​people, the recession; in your face and fizzing away before you, the bookmakers, with their faded fronts, and beige interiors, and the general lack of beauty are all things which may change your mind about living, but it’s not all that bad.
I used to live on the London road as a student, and when you dwell around it, you don’t know better, and it really holds most of what you need. Takeaways, pubs, banks, second hand shops, chemists, etc… it’s just that it doesn’t hold all these things with the added bonus of much beauty or charm. Your not gonna trek there unless for something specific, but I wouldn’t rubbish it either, and if your around the area there is actually quite a lot of useful shops.