My ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ Challenge: Brighton & Hove + Which venues are carrying on in September
I will be doing my bit to support the hospitality sector this August by eating out every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
What a great person I am — I should get a knighthood.
September 6th Update
I have really enjoyed eating out every lunch time Mon - Weds in Aug. I really recommend all you working from home to get out for lunch three times a week as it’s made a huge difference to my state of mind.
Try and enjoy the amazing food, drink, creativity, interior design, people and quirks of the restaurants, cafes and bars around you. A lot of the venues listed below are continuing the Eat Out To Help Out scheme in some way through September (I’ve stated which are against each one) so if you missed out, or you loved it, then get out to enjoy some of these absolute delights.
My top three are, Mangetout (continuing EOTHO in Sept) for fine dining, Found Cafe for cake and colour and Organic Earth for healthy eating (also Wild Flor was a particular fave)
I’ll add to this list every Friday with my recommendations for venues in Brighton and Hove that are registered for the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ scheme, and I’ll give my thoughts on each after the visit.
If you don’t know already Eat Out To Help Out is a government-backed scheme that helps support the hospitality sector in the UK. Any restaurant, pub, or café can sign up, and you (as the customer) will get 50% off your bill up to the value of £10 per person.
For me, it’s the perfect system for lunchtime, as it’ll get me out of my home office and into the world during the daytime. I can experience some amazing venues at half the price (unless I go mad and order enough for a family — very tempting).
Each week, I’m going to try:
One street food business 🍔
One restaurant with a healthy vibe 🥗
One fine dining establishment 🦞️
For too long, I’ve been cooped up cooking my own samey (but delicious) lunches. Now’s the time to see what these guys have to offer, all while keeping within the rules and guidance of the government, of course.
Bank Holiday Monday
Monday 31st August : Aji Sushi
What an absolute treat Aji Sushi is.
We started off sitting outside and I worried we were missing out on part of the experience by not sitting inside, and I was right. From the Kikkoman bottles hanging from the lights to the the wood paneling and the chefs working this is a really lovely space to be in.
The y had prepared a ready ,made ‘Eat Out To Help Out ‘ Menu for £20 which is the selection you can see to the right here. Absolutely delicious. As it was a special treat we got a Sake tasting tray and a couple of glasses of prosecco to really enjoy the last day of the scheme.
Week Four! Can this carry on in Sept? #SpoilerAlert - yes it can!
Monday 24th August: Mangetout
OMG, this food was absolutely incredible. The best mussels I’ve ever had. Fat and juicy and the sauce creamy garlicy HEAVEN! The natural wine was divine.
Mangetout will be continuing the EO2HO during Sept
Tuesday 25th August: Gails Bakery
Now, not exactly fine dining but on this day I was in a bit of a rush, but I am so pleased I pushed myself to get out for lunch even though on another occasion I would have definitely got a sandwich from Canhams and sat at my desk (love Canhams, especially their sausage rolls). So, even though it was s working lunch this little salmon delight broke up my day and brought a slice of joy.
Wednesday 26th: SIX Hove
Dessert for lunch? Yes, of course yes.
I had to. All these opportunities for half price food and I hadn’t once had a dessert. SIX has beautiful interiors and a gorgeous bakery attached . The hot choc pud with edible flowers and creamy gelato was all you would hope for and that bowl of in the background there is a vegan chocolate… well, not a mousse, nor as thick as a torte - really rich but as made with dark chocolate has that tartness you need to keep going and get to the end
SIX will be continuing the EO2HO during Sept
Week three here we come!
Monday 17th: Wild Flor (Hove)
Healthy Option
This is a Hove staple and one that’s often recommended to me, so now’s the time to get involved.
“A relaxed neighbourhood restaurant serving classic cooking alongside world class wines.”
Tuesday 18th: Found Cafe (Preston Park)
Café, well, cake (I’m letting street food include cafés)
Fiona opened Found this year to an incredible response, as chef Mark is a genius with cake, and a master of vegetarian delights. Judging by their Instagram, they’re now selling lovely-looking jewellery and homemade crafts too, which isn’t surprising — earlier in the year, they were running regular craft evenings, and Fiona’s style is evident throughout the café.
Can’t wait to come back and treat myself to a cake, or a Happy Endings ice cream, or a veggie breakfast, or, or… maybe all of it…
Wednesday 19th: The Salt Rooms
Fine Dining
This is one I have been really looking forward to. I’ll be going with friends. That’s something this challenge has made me realise: how wonderful eating out is for connecting with people. I’ve been missing it so much.
Salt Rooms will be continuing the EO2HO during Sept
Boasting uninterrupted views of the Brighton seafront and iconic West Pier ruins, The Salt Room is a modern British seafood restaurant that celebrates cooking over coal. Winner of the Seafood Restaurant of the Year 2017, our seaside restaurant is the best restaurant in Brighton to enjoy sustainable, local produce.
Week two was spent in Portslade & Hove
Monday 10th August: 17 Grams (formerly The Plant Room)
Street Food/Fast Food Style
This is a coffee shop in Portslade. They had one of the best makeovers by opening up the whole of the front of the shop, so when you sit in, you feel like you’re on your ‘olidays.
All vegan food, and the staff are wonderful. The mushroom bean burrito was delicious, and I was lucky enough to be given a HUGE brownie for free! Absolute treat! I love it here.
Tuesday 11th: The Railway
Fine Dining/Pub Food
This pub has had a makeover during lockdown, and the place looks brilliant. With a beer garden that features real-life train carriages, this is a great venue to come to during the summer. This picture doesn’t do it justice, but this was delicious, and the tacos are a good size. We had a selection of small plates, as the mains were fairly limited to burgers and chips.
The Railway aren’t carry on with EO2HO in Sept but they do 2-4-1 burgers on a Weds!
Wednesday 12th: Organic Earth
Healthy Option
Oh wow, this was the game-changer this week. Not just an all-organic ‘fill your own’ supermarket, but a café with fresh, inventive, made-on-site dishes.
If you ignore the heavy use of plastic, there’s not much to fault. I’ve walked past here most days to get to Platf9rm, where I often work. I thought it was just selling groceries, but the taste of these salads and homemade hummus has made me sad for my past self. She had no idea.
For week one, I’ll be trying:
Monday 3rd August: Fika Hove
Street Food/Fast Food Style
Judging by their Instagram, these guys are about big, juicy burgers and cheese toasties — drippingly delicious. I think this will have to replace my Saturday treat day. Hmm… carrot juice on a Saturday. The Corona Coaster just keeps getting weirder.
Verdict
Omg, the. biggest sandwich I’ve ever eaten. The flavours of the sauces were incredible and only £3 on. the. Eat Out to Help Out Scheme!
Tuesday 4th August: Jo & Co
Healthy Option
With an all-day menu featuring flavourful salads with lengthy ingredient lists, this was a natural first choice for the healthy option. I really like that the website has been written from Jo’s point of view, as I feel like I know her a little bit now. Really looking forward to this one.
Verdict
Went for a HUGE salad, broccoli, asparagus, halloumi in a fresh mint yoghurt dressing 🤤. Such a sweet venue too, flowers drape the entrance and the wallpaper has dinosaurs and cheetahs on!
Wednesday 5th August: The Ginger Pig
Fine Dining
I’ve wanted to try The Ginger Pig ever since moving back to Brighton in September last year, and now’s my chance. With a two-course lunch menu set at £16, it sounds ideal.
Verdict
The hardest thing about The Ginger Pig was remembering to take a photo of my food before I got stuck in. I had the mussels to start and then the chicken and bacon pie and mash. So good. My sister came with her new born and ordered the cauliflower vegan option and said it was incredible. Loved the waiter and LOVED the mango trifle dessert. The venue is gorgeous and well deserved of the hype.
If you have a restaurant in Brighton and Hove that’s part of the ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ scheme that I should visit, follow me on Instagram and drop us a message, or email info@trapezemedia.co.uk
Shortlist for following weeks:
Found Cafe
I love it here. A beautiful café with incredible food. The chef Mark cooks up as good a meal (and an even better dessert) as you’ll get in most fancy restaurants, honestly. Plus, Fiona’s style and design makes this cafe truly one-of-a-kind.
Hixon Green
“A New York-inspired space serving food and drink all day; we start with great coffee and a quality brunch offering, moving to lunch and evening menus, complimented by a super wine list and cocktails.”
Constantinople
I’ve eaten from here recently and LOVED it, so can’t pass up the opportunity to eat in the restaurant rather than collection for home.
The Salt Room
Another I’ve been excited to try since moving back to the seaside.
“Boasting uninterrupted views of the Brighton seafront and iconic West Pier ruins, The Salt Room is a modern British seafood restaurant that celebrates cooking over coal. Winner of the Seafood Restaurant of the Year 2017, our seaside restaurant is the best restaurant in Brighton to enjoy sustainable, local produce.”