vivabrighton e d i t o r i a l

vivabrighton
Issue 21. Nov 2014
editorial
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Sometimes it takes somebody else’s eyes to make you see the bleeding
obvious. An American friend came to stay the other day who hadn’t been
to Brighton for something like twenty years, and then only briefly. He lives
in Italy and travels a lot internationally with his work. “Oh man,” he kept
saying, as we walked him along the scenic route from station to sea (North
Laine, The Lanes, Ship Street). “This town is buzzing. I can’t see one shop
that isn’t open. And all the people!” OK, so we weren’t on the Lewes Road, and it was a Saturday
afternoon, but still, he did have something there. Brighton seems to be a lot buzzier than it has
been in recent years, and a hell of a lot buzzier than it was in the 80s and 90s and noughties.
New shops, restaurants and bars are opening up or having a facelift every month, with a healthy
combination of chains and independents assuring an eclectic mix of clientele. London Road is
undergoing an extensive regeneration, with the Open Market filling up with stallholders and
businesses. There’s talk in the Council of pedestrianizing East Street; who knows, if this is
successful, maybe whole swathes of North Laine will follow. It’s a healthy climate, then, and to
showcase this we’ve brought out a ‘High Street’ issue, a celebration of the city’s colourful wealth
of retail options, and the people who run them. Plus, of course, our usuall mix of features and
interviews, getting under the skin of Brighton past, present and future. So there’s plenty to chew
on in this latest edition, the first in our new ‘XL’ perfect-bound format. Enjoy the issue…
The Team
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EDITOR: Alex Leith [email protected]
DEPUTY EDITOR: Steve Ramsey [email protected]
ART DIRECTOR: Katie Moorman [email protected]
PHOTOGRAPHER AT LARGE: Adam Bronkhorst
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Rebecca Cunningham
ADVERTISING: Anya Zervudachi [email protected], Nick Metcalf [email protected],
CONTRIBUTORS: Joanna Baumann, Black Mustard, Rebecca Hattersley, Nione Meakin, Chloë King, John Helmer, Kuen-Wah Cheung
PUBLISHER / ACTING PUBLISHER: Nick Williams, Lizzie Lower [email protected]
Viva Magazines is based at 52 Ship Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1AF
For advertising enquiries call Anya on 07596 337 828
Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of our content. We cannot be held responsible for any omissions, errors or alterations.