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Brighton..UK City of Culture??
- Thread starter Bevendean Hillbilly
- Start date
sjamesb3466
Well-known member
All I've got to say is that Birmingham is the worst city I've EVER had the miss fortune of visiting!!! 
1066 seagull
New member
I was born in Brighton, lived there most of my life but now find myself abroad. I must admit I still enthusiastically sing the praises of this seaside town to many. Yes, without doubt in the last decade or so it has been swamped with wannabe DJs and 'right-on' types. A friend memorably described this process as the 'poncification' of Brighton.
When I think of the 'culture' it offers this is what springs to mind. World class library that made progressive decision to open on Sunday, superb regency architecture, Palace Pier, atmospheric lanes, alternative shops galore, buzzing gay scene, plenty of live music, independent cinema, cycle path that runs from Fat Boy's place to Rottingdean, excellent bus service (I'm thinking the open top to the Dyke and coastal route to Beachy Head), South Downs on doorstep and still a destination for those in pursuit of a dirty weekend.
Now the downside - the 'arts' scene, oh dear, many call themselves 'artists' but do they all make a living purely from their art alone. I think not, so presume family background wealth is funding their bohemian existence. Most B&B's in central Brighton (certainly the Camp Town ones) now call themselves Boutique Hotels, and accordingly treble their prices. Basically, habitants of central Brighton and majority of visitors the town attracts are folks with better than average wage and usually of a liberal bent. In short, these are the folk who frequent the cafes, galleries, museums and the Five Ways art trails. So that's contemporary Brighton - I agree you can hardly call it 'Cosmopolitan' like say, London, Nottingham, Birmingham.
BUT there is the Brighton of the not so distant past - the town that produced one of the great grass-level sporting movements ever - Fans United, (I'll never forget singing along to "It's just like watching Brazil...B R A Z I L...It's just like watching Brazil..." when we went 5 up as the mist hung heavy above the Goldstone). The town that was at the forefront of UK skateboard culture (along with Bristol and London) in the 70s. As for music the mighty Johnny Wakelin was born here "Floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.."(OK I only know that because he was my mates uncle). ABBA got famous here. STOMP originated from here, I think Luke Cresswell was a pupil at Falmer too (a school the new breed of Brighton folk would move address so that their kids wouldn't have to attend).
OK I've probably waffled on too long. To summarise - Brighton is a cultural attraction that many fall for its whimsical charm. My wife loves the place but at present I'm happy to experience her 'culture' in Brasil...samba, futebol, carnaval, caipirinha, dental floss beachwear - now you're REALLY talking CULTURE. Altogether now "It's just like watching Brazil...."
When I think of the 'culture' it offers this is what springs to mind. World class library that made progressive decision to open on Sunday, superb regency architecture, Palace Pier, atmospheric lanes, alternative shops galore, buzzing gay scene, plenty of live music, independent cinema, cycle path that runs from Fat Boy's place to Rottingdean, excellent bus service (I'm thinking the open top to the Dyke and coastal route to Beachy Head), South Downs on doorstep and still a destination for those in pursuit of a dirty weekend.
Now the downside - the 'arts' scene, oh dear, many call themselves 'artists' but do they all make a living purely from their art alone. I think not, so presume family background wealth is funding their bohemian existence. Most B&B's in central Brighton (certainly the Camp Town ones) now call themselves Boutique Hotels, and accordingly treble their prices. Basically, habitants of central Brighton and majority of visitors the town attracts are folks with better than average wage and usually of a liberal bent. In short, these are the folk who frequent the cafes, galleries, museums and the Five Ways art trails. So that's contemporary Brighton - I agree you can hardly call it 'Cosmopolitan' like say, London, Nottingham, Birmingham.
BUT there is the Brighton of the not so distant past - the town that produced one of the great grass-level sporting movements ever - Fans United, (I'll never forget singing along to "It's just like watching Brazil...B R A Z I L...It's just like watching Brazil..." when we went 5 up as the mist hung heavy above the Goldstone). The town that was at the forefront of UK skateboard culture (along with Bristol and London) in the 70s. As for music the mighty Johnny Wakelin was born here "Floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.."(OK I only know that because he was my mates uncle). ABBA got famous here. STOMP originated from here, I think Luke Cresswell was a pupil at Falmer too (a school the new breed of Brighton folk would move address so that their kids wouldn't have to attend).
OK I've probably waffled on too long. To summarise - Brighton is a cultural attraction that many fall for its whimsical charm. My wife loves the place but at present I'm happy to experience her 'culture' in Brasil...samba, futebol, carnaval, caipirinha, dental floss beachwear - now you're REALLY talking CULTURE. Altogether now "It's just like watching Brazil...."
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Harsh on Birmingham, Miles. It does have arguably the best symphony orchestra in Britain,a choral music festival, a massive art gallery and a pretty good theatre scene - Bimingham Rep has proper plays on not the hackneyed old thrillers and pop musicals that are the staple fare of the Theatre Royal. And of course, it's only a few miles from Stratford
It also has curry restaurants that rival Bradford - not to be knocked.
It looks as ugly as hell and the road system is a killer but it has a cultural scene that pisses all over Brighton.
- Jan 18, 2009
- 4,887
Absolutely correct, and in terms of what Brighton and Hove is the 'capital' of you can add Suicides, Drug Deaths and the contraction of Aids.............there are a few cultural flags we can all rally round.
The Spanish
Well-known member
the more the 'city by the sea' mob bang on about it, the more small time and parochial it makes them look.
whats wrong with celebrating whats great about the town, including its cultural offerings and the achievements of its residents? Absolutely f*** all. Brighton is blinding for some many reasons but why people feel they have to be at the top of every list of top British cities is beyond me.
Look at Tony Wilson at his worst, comparing Manchester to major global capitals without any sense of irony. It made him look idiotic and the place seem even more provincial with every insane utterance. The same now happens with Brighton.
Anyway I think I have made my point.
whats wrong with celebrating whats great about the town, including its cultural offerings and the achievements of its residents? Absolutely f*** all. Brighton is blinding for some many reasons but why people feel they have to be at the top of every list of top British cities is beyond me.
Look at Tony Wilson at his worst, comparing Manchester to major global capitals without any sense of irony. It made him look idiotic and the place seem even more provincial with every insane utterance. The same now happens with Brighton.
Anyway I think I have made my point.
- Jul 7, 2003
- 47,641
You can easily see this going to Derry, because the people who decide these things love to be able to bang on about regeneration and positive futures etc etc.
- Jan 18, 2009
- 4,887
Where the f*** is Derry.........doesn't sound like a UK city I've heard of.
The Large One
Who's Next?
Norn Iron.
The Modfather
New member
You have hit the nail on the head here.
It will go to some hideous northern monkeys like, Hull or Carlisle.
A few years ago it went to Liverpool!!!
Bloody Liverpool. City of tracksuits more like.
- Jan 18, 2009
- 4,887
Oh, so its Londonderry.
Ironically my additional tickets for the Cheltenham Festival arrived today and the envelope had the address of the company facilitating telephone sales printed on it, namely; Seatem Call Centre Ltd, PO Box 222, Londonderry BT47 3YF.
Looks like this name change has not been communicated very effectively to the good burghers of Londonderry. Very strange.