Viva Brighton Issue #56 October 2017

INTERVIEW
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MYbrighton: Michael Bremner
Chef and owner, 64 Degrees and Murmur
Are you local? I’m not. I’m from
Scotland. But I’ve lived in Brighton since
2004, and I very much see myself as a local.
I may not have the accent, but I love
the place.
What brought you here? I used to come
down for weekends while I was working
in London, just to be by the sea really,
though I enjoyed the nightlife. Initially I
got a job at the Seattle Hotel, which had
just opened at the Marina. Then, after
travelling in Canada, I came back and
met Rob Shenton from Due South, and
became their chef.
What do you love about it? I love the
fact Brighton is a city with a small-town
feel. It’s very friendly. Also - and this will
sound weird - I really like stormy days, so
I like the beach when it’s rough and brutal.
I used to love working at Due South
when a storm was coming in.
Where was the first place you ate? It
was a place called Saucy near Palmeira
Square. The food wasn’t that great - I
can’t even remember what I ate - but
I remember thinking it was a fantastic
location for a restaurant.
Where do you live? I live next to St
Ann’s Well Gardens with my partner
Carla Grassy, who’s a photographer. We
met at Due South when she was working
as a waitress. We’ve got two girls, Bonnie,
seven, and Heidi, five.
What do you make of the food scene
in Brighton? There’s a lot of curiosity
in Brighton, and people enjoy something
different. There are some great chefs
here – I get on really well with Steven
Edwards of Etch, Matt Gillan of Pike
and Pine, and Duncan Ray of the Little
Fish Market – and I think the standard of
food is just going to keep getting better.
I predict there will be a Michelin-starred
restaurant in the future.
Where do you eat? I could eat at Chilli
Pickle every day, and I absolutely adore
Pho. I also spend a lot of time in the
Flour Pot Bakery. If I was going on a
night out, I’d go to Meat Liquor for their
dirty chicken burger. It could well be one
of the best things I’ve ever eaten.
And your worst dining experience? I
got barred from Buddies once. It was a
misunderstanding…
What would you change about Brighton?
It will sound petty, but the parking.
I hate driving in Brighton. It kills me.
I drive in and out, no worries, but I’d
rather do anything than drive around the
city centre. Other than that, I think it’s
pretty perfect.
When did you last swim in the sea?
I went skinny dipping a few years ago,
but I haven’t been in since. I’ve not been
a massive fan of open water since I had
a really bad snorkelling experience in
Australia where I met a massive fish.
Interview by Nione Meakin
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