We all have our favourite places close to home, but what if you could go beyond your own city and see what others love about theirs? Our brand-new series, MYcity gives you the inside scoop, revealing the hidden gems of each city through the eyes of our very own Offspring Community members.
Next up on our MYcity Series, Community member @alitronic chats through what the city of Brighton means to him.
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi, I’m Ali and I live in Brighton with my wife and two daughters. I have a barber shop where I work with a few friends in the heart of the North Laine area.
What was it like growing up in Brighton?
What I remember most about being young in Brighton is the graffiti and skating, I never had a talent for either, but a lot of my friends did. My friend @gary_stanger is an amazing artist and has been honing his craft since we were kids. I remember running around the city with him and a few others skating, painting, and going to the beach.
What do you remember about fashion and culture growing up in Brighton as a young kid?
Rag Freak was the best place to get band T-shirts in the 90s. It was a pretty intimidating shop, the staff dressed like Pinhead from Hellraiser and seemed to hate all the kids that went there. Jello and RE-AL were the best skate shops and seemed to be able to source anything from America, which back then was like magic.
Where did you hang-out back then, did it spark up an interest for you? Has it changed?
Brighton has always been a strange and special place and I don’t think the culture here has changed that much, it’s still heavily independent and arty. There has been lots of development, but I feel the city has kept its spirit. Back then I’d normally hang out at the Level skatepark which was super run down and all of it was made of rotten wood. It’s since been massively rebuilt and the kids have a much nicer place to skate than I did.
What’s the sneaker scene like in Brighton? How has it developed?
Brighton eventually got all the usual sneaker shops, but it was always Offspring on Duke Street that was the real driving force for sneaker culture here. Mark the manager has been there from the start and brings such a great energy to the store as well as a huge love for sneakers, which is matched by the rest of the people who work there like Ed, Sam, and Eugene. It’s a very welcoming store and always has been, with a big selection despite its size and often has pairs you haven’t seen for years.
The sneaker scene has continued to grow over the last 10 years with local galleries Enter and Dynamite holding sneaker art exhibitions with great artists like @awinedesign showcasing his skills.
What brands are people wearing on their feet down there?
Brighton has quite a hippie and skater vibe, so you see a lot of Vans and more recently New Balance and Jordan 1s. Arcteryx jackets and Salomon XT6’s have been a solid winter look for the last few years but as it’s getting warmer, I’m seeing more Birkenstocks. I’ll be wearing Air Max 1’s all year round but seeing others wear them less and less.
When it comes to culture and the fashion industry, how has your city developed into what it is today?
Brighton has an eclectic mix of styles and with two universities the young population brings new fashion to the city every year. There is a big vintage clothes scene with shops like Snooper’s Paradise, Beyond Retro and To Be Worn Again, ready to accommodate any vintage needs.
Where do you like to shop nowadays?
Peggs and Son has always been on point for fashion and everyone who works there has great taste. It’s on the same road as Offspring Brighton and the two go perfectly together. Peggs is an incredible curated space where everything feels like it’s been hand-picked, not a lot of items per brand but everything definitely goes together. When I walk out paying £90 for a plain white Japanese tee, they make me feel like a T-shirt connoisseur.
What is the food like in Brighton, and what are your favourite local restaurants or food spots?
There is a bit everything in Brighton and some really nice restaurants have popped up recently like Flint House, Salt Rooms and my favourite, Five Guys.
There a few Flour Pot cafes in Brighton and I head to my nearest for lunch, they do a sausage bun that is mind blowing. It starts with a brioche bun followed by a sausage patty then a scrambled egg patty finished with gouda cheese and tomato chutney. It’s become a bit of a problem, so I try and only have a couple a week but it’s so good.
What are some traditions or events that are unique to your city?
May is a busy festival month, there are three that run simultaneously, Brighton Festival, the Fringe festival, and the Great Escape. The Fringe has two festival sites, and they are both awesome days or nights out, loads of performers and DJ’s all month long.
What do you think is the best way to experience your city like a local?
Heading to the North Laine area and hanging out as there are tons of great cafes and bars mixed in with all the independent shops. The beach gets busy but Shelter Hall on the seafront is a good spot to get some food and be by the sea. During the summer a walk down Madeira Drive which is the road parallel to the sea that goes from the Pier to the Marina is a must, so much has opened down there in the last few years, Soho House, The Sea Lanes, Beach Box sauna and Brewdog beach bars to name a few. You can walk it or take the Volks which is a 140-year-old electric railway, the oldest working one in the world, it goes the length of Madeira Drive so it’s great to walk down to the end and get the train back.
What is your favourite neighbourhood in the city and why?
Has to be the North Laine area, not only because my shop is there but it has a lot of energy and there is always something new or a pop up going on, it’s down from the train station so it gets a nice amount of people discovering it. At the weekends they close all the North Laine roads to cars so really has a holiday feel about the place, taking the time to walk in the roads and explore the many shops is great even if you live here, I’m always finding new places that have recently opened or art I hadn’t seen before.
What would be the perfect itinerary for a weekend getaway?
For a first visit to Brighton, I’d recommend breakfast at Flour Pot Cafe, followed by checking out the shops in the Laines, drinks at the Fortune of War pub on the seafront and dinner at Burnt Orange. The Royal Pavilion and Pier are a must see and for anyone with a head for heights, the i360 is a 450ft glass pod above the city, although most of the view is sea. Any visit should always include a night at the Concorde 2, one of Brighton’s best live music venues.
What is your favourite hidden gem in the city?
I’m going to have to say my place Gloucester Road Barbers. We’ve been here 14 years, it’s a little hidden and we have a lot of amazing customers. Because of my love for sneakers the shop is wall to wall with stuff I really love.
How does your city differ from other major cities in the UK?
The sea is a big factor and I think gives the city a calming element to all the nightlife. Brighton has some awesome clubs like Zap, Ocean Rooms, and Audio back in the day. Concorde 2, Patterns and Chalk being the best I feel that are around now, most of these are on the seafront and I have definitely felt the benefit of a cooling sea breeze on my face when walking home in the early hours.
Is there one thing that really defines your city and makes it unique?
It’s laid back and less hectic than, say, London and being only an hour away by train everyone seems to notice that when they come down.
Check out more from Ali on Instagram @alitronic and @gloucesterroadbarbers
Our MYcity Series aims to highlight various cities within the UK, imparting knowledge about its history, culture, fashion, art, food, and everything in between. If you would like to get involved and represent your city, contact: OffspringHQinfo@office.co.uk
