Our favourite pier to pier destinations

There isn’t much of the West Pier left these days to walk to! But it’s hanging in there and the pier to pier walk remains one of the most popular along the city’s famous beach front. If you fancy a fascinating, fun promenade, here’s what you can expect.

Art and craft galleries

At the Brighton Pier (the Palace Pier to old Brightonians) end of the walk there’s a series of tiny beachfront galleries, arched and deep, packed with wonderful work from local arty types. It’s the Artists’ Quarter and it’s the perfect place to pick up an extraordinary, beautiful or unusual souvenir.

Look towards the sea and there’s a real, live, traditional carousel, a huge thing which children and adults alike adore, complete with music and horses and flashing lights.   

Seaside rock and amazing shells

If you want traditional seaside rock, head up to the road and cross over at the bottom of West Street, hang a right and you’ll discover rock shops galore. Or try the pier itself. One of the rock shops has the cutest dog on the planet, a mix of pug and something else ridiculously sweet, also a big hit with children. And they sell amazing shells, too.

The Fishing Museum

Once derelict and tatty, the Fishing Museum gives a fascinating glimpse into the life and history of the city’s fishing fleet, now more or less long gone. But you’ll still find the occasional fishing boat moored at the eastern end of the Marina, full of netting and buoys and rich, fishy, oily seaside smells. 

Look out for Jack and Linda’s Smoked Fish stall, also in the Fishing Quarter. Jack and Linda built their own smokehouse and smoke fish there the traditional way with fragrant oak and apple wood, and no chemicals except salt. Walk this way for hot mackerel or fresh crab sandwiches, home-made fish soup and more. Yum.

The Pump Room cafe

The World Famous Pump Room Cafe is right below the Grand Hotel, a great place to sun yourself and watch the beach life go by. Look for the Beach Volleyball Court, aim right and you’re there. They sell at least 22 flavours of tasty, ice cold farmer's ice cream. Their locally roasted coffee is a legend, recommended by The Guardian newspaper. Their butties and toasties are fabulous and their summer smoothies are to die for. Epic stuff.

Live music and events line your route in spring and summer, with plenty of places to eat and drink alfresco.

Brilliant pubs and restaurants

There’s no danger of going hungry or thirsty. Along the way there’s everything from candy floss and sweets to burgers, Italian food and fish ‘n’ chips. And there are some smashing pubs, including the famous Fortune of War and trendy Gemini. Stay late and the Brighton end of the walk reveals several excellent nightclubs, too.  

The beach itself

If you love the happy crowds, perch yourself on a square metre of pebbles at the Brighton end of the beach and join in the fun. It gets quieter and less crowded as you get further into Hove. 

Gorgeous hippy stuff

At the Hove end of the walk, where the old pier used to stand, there are loads of stalls selling jewellery, scarves, clothes and artwork, a great place to pick up something with serious Brighton style. After an ice cream from the nearest kiosk, you can walk back again with the sun to your right so you can even up your tan! 

(Thanks to http://www.sxc.hu/profile/Skitz27 for the lovely image)