Brighton and Hove is a vibrant, multi-cultural and diverse city situated on the south coast of the UK. Regarded as one of the best to be in for the creative industry and only a short hop by train from London. Surrounded by the beautiful South Downs and the sea, Brighton and Hove offers the best of the countryside, seaside and city life all within easy reach.
The vibrant and bustling coastal city has a tremendous amount to offer. Whether you are fresh out of university or settling down with a family, the city has something for everyone. Here are just a few of the reasons we have come to love this city and call it our home.
Brighton caters for both the young and old ones amongst us and is second to none when it comes to families. We’re spoilt for choice and if you can’t find it in Brighton it’s unlikely you’ll find it anywhere. Countless restaurants, cafes, pubs, venues, shops (both big and boutique), and galleries mean there’s always something to do, whatever the season. Coupled with the unique Regency architecture of the town, including the world-famous Brighton Pavilion and the iconic Brighton Pier, it really drives home why this breezy and intriguing city has earned the nickname ‘London-by-the-Sea’.
Anyone who’s lived in Brighton for any amount of time will be able to tell you that every weekend seems to host some sort of festival or event. Be it the Brighton Festival and Brighton Fringe for comedy, theatre, the arts and general creative weirdness; The Great Escape and Soundwaves festival for music; Brighton Pride Festival and the Pink Fringe for the LGBTQA community; Paddle Round the Pier, the London to Brighton Bike Ride or the Brighton Marathon for the athletically inclined; beer festivals, the Foodies and food festivals for… well, we could go on and on but you get the idea.
Brighton’s tech industry has continued to grow and it now plays host to over 250 digital and new media businesses. Every year, for 3 days in July, the Develop Conference and Expo showcases the latest the games industry has to offer. Brighton also has a thriving game development scene with numerous studios (like us) and on the journalistic side of things, Eurogamer make their home here too.
This all sounds rather exhausting, doesn’t it? Well, if you like a bit of peace and quiet then you’re in luck. There’s loads of stuff to do in the South Downs: the national park and areas of outstanding natural beauty which completely surrounds Brighton. The windy Birling Gap near Beachy Head in the East, Arundel castle and its wonderful gardens in the west, as well as miles and miles of walks criss-crossing the Downs, to mention a few. You’ll always be a short journey away from the Great Outdoors.
The city offers lots of options for children’s education, both private and state, with over 50 schools located in Brighton. For students over 16 there are a range of colleges including City College Brighton and Hove and BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music institute), as well as two Universities: University of Sussex and University of Brighton.
As a games studio based in Brighton, we’re pretty lucky at Studio Gobo. While we’re obviously passionate about our day jobs working in the games industry, Brighton specifically is an awesome place to live if you also love to play games in your free time, as there are so many places that cater to so many different types of gamers. And sure, while London isn’t too far away (an hour by train if everything is running smoothly), with so much to do and play here in this beautiful sunny seaside town, it’s definitely Brighton that we love the most.
To find out more about our favourite gaming locations in and around the city of Brighton and Hove, you can read about it here...