Best of Brighton: A Brightonians Guide to Eating & Drinking at Develop (July 2023 Edition)

Best of Brighton: A Brightonian’s Guide to Eating & Drinking at Develop (updated for July 2023)  

Develop conference is always a team favourite at Skillsearch and largely the reason behind this is that it takes place in the city that we know and love. As our offices are based in the heart of Brighton, I thought it would be nice to pass on some of our local knowledge of eateries and watering holes. Please note these recommendations are all based on my personal opinion...  

Don’t forget this year Play@Develop is back! Our beachside event in aid of SpecialEffect is once again taking place on the second day of Develop (Wednesday 12th July), down at Loading Bar! After a successful year last year, we are hoping that along with our new co-hosts Glowmade, this year will be bigger and better than ever! Expect drinks in the sun, raffles, competitions and more, with some of the best company the games industry has to offer. Click here to reserve your FREE ticket now!  

Without further ado, let’s get into my top refreshment recommendations!  

Psst... Keep an eye on our socials for our raffle prizes announcement as some of the below venues might just have some vouchers on offer... 

Best Coffee – Café Coho or Small Batch 

Café Coho is an award-winning espresso bar and one of the first shops on the left as you come down Queens round from the station to the seafront. You can also find a stall in the shopping centre, Churchill Square. 

Small Batch is one of Brighton’s most successful home-grown business with multiple establishments across the city. You’ll probably find them everywhere you go but the closest to the venue are one on Western Road and the cart at the train station. 

Best Breakfast – Kenny’s Rock and Soul Cafe 

Kenny’s Rock and Soul Café, in the heart of the North Laines, features excellent food, great music and fantastic balcony overlooking the busy Kensington Gardens! From a classic or vegan full English to fluffy American pancakes, you can get your brekkie here all day long!

 

Best Lunch – The Deli or Halisco 

The Deli is the perfect stop to pick up handmade artisan sandwiches, paninis, salads, and this summer, Greek inspired Souvlaki! All created fresh to order while you wait! 

 

Halisco, located on Preston Street, is a Mexican taqueria and a great spot for small plates and street eats (with tequilas, mezcals and margaritas if you fancy a boozy lunch)! 

Best Fish Restaurant – Riddle & Finns 

With two restaurants, one on the seafront and one in the lanes, Riddle & Finns servers the best locally sourced seafood with daily specials. It’s a very popular choice and it’s not possible to book a table, so be prepared to wait for the best! 

If you’re not down to queue, another option and local secret is Regency Fish Restaurant on the seafront which is well known locally for its relaxed dining environment and a wide range of seafood dishes. 

  

Best Vegan Restaurant – Purezza 

The UK’s first vegan pizzeria and one of its best vegan restaurants, Purezza! Located in the heart of Brighton, Purezza doesn’t compromise on taste, quality or sustainability! Definitely deserving of a visit whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian or just looking to try something new. 

  

Best Sandwich– Social Board 

With healthy, locally sourced food, Social Board is perfect for a grab and go or a quick sit down! Offering handcrafted sandwiches and daily specials, it caters for all without ever being dull! 

Best Coolers – Boho Gelato 

If you’re after an ice cream, Boho Gelato is the place to be. Serving traditional Italian ice cream as well as dairy free alternatives, in a range of wacky flavours (previous specials include hibiscus & tequila, black sesame, salted caramel & honeycomb donuts, matcha green tea & mochi, and plenty more!). With two in central Brighton, you can’t miss them while you’re in the city.  

Best Parties 

Play@Develop – Hosted every year on the Wednesday (this year on 12/07/23) by yours truly, Skillsearch and Glowmade! We’re once again on a mission to raise as much money as possible for SpecialEffect with drinks, competitions, a raffle and more on the beach. Come along to Loading Bar from 3-6pm to hang out and enjoy the sun before the evening awards! Get all the details and reserve your FREE ticket here and follow @Play_At_Develop on Twitter for all the updates!  

Quick Directory:  

• Taxi number: 01273 20 20 20  
• Closest place to buy toothpaste, sun cream or anything you may have forgotten – Boots   

• In need of tech? Pop to Churchill Square

  

Hopefully those tips have given you some inspiration of where to head for your refreshments during Develop! If you are going to be at Develop conference this year and want any other local tips, feel free to contact me at gf@skillsearch.com  

Look out for the Skillsearch and Glowmade teams at the conference, wearing their branded t-shirts, and let us know on Twitter if you’re coming along to join us at Play@Develop this year!