How do you reconcile a tale of visitor numbers being down with a claim that the place is overcrowded?
Numbers are down, not down to zero though. Also the beach is crowded most days in Summer with locals. The service heavy industry in Brighton means people have all sorts of days off, it's a student city with plenty of free time on their hands, it's full of unemployed alcoholics and homeless, chocca with wannabe musicians and hippies, stall holders etc hence Brighton beach is always busy even on weekdays.