Viva Brighton Issue #56 October 2017

INTERVIEW
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order. You just feel like you’re
somewhere very, very special.”
Does Brighton have an
equivalent dining experience?
“The closest we’ve got to that
sort of food is from Duncan
Ray at the Little Fish Market.
If anyone is going to get a
[Michelin] star, it’s him. But I
think he’d be the first to admit
that it’s a small neighbourhood
place with one person
front-of-house, so it’s not the
full fine-dining experience.
I’m not sure that anyone could
replicate the Clare Smyth-type
operation in Brighton. She’ll
have to fill that place all week
through. Who in Brighton has
got a hundred quid a head to
spend on a Tuesday night?
“There is a concern amongst
chefs and restauranteurs
that there are only so many
customers in the city, and that
restaurants that open will just
be sharing that same customer
base between them. But, having
said that, the fact is that
people are still interested in
opening new places, and you’ve
got operators from London
looking to open down here.
“People like Douglas [Mc-
Master of Silo], he’s worked
in top places in London and
Europe and chose to open
down here. Matt Gillan [of
Pike & Pine] has chosen to
open here, and Steven Edwards
[of etch]. When we started
Brighton’s Best Restaurants, it
was because we thought there
was loads going on in Brighton
and there wasn’t any national
attention. Now, when I talk to
chefs and PR people, they are
aware of what’s going on. People
in the industry are keeping
an eye on what is going on, and
they’re coming down to check
it out.” Lizzie Lower
The 2018 UK Michelin Guide
is out on the 2nd of October.
Check to see if any Brighton
chefs made the cut.
From the 1st to the 15th, the
Brighton’s Best top-20 restaurants
will be offering special
£20 menus for the OctoberBest
festival. (Better book quick.)
brightonsbestrestaurants.com
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