There are very few places you can actually eat on Brighton beach itself, and fewer still of those that serve decent grub. Achieving both with aplomb is Lucky Beach. This plucky little spot has proven so successful that it’s since sprouted a couple of sidekicks, with sister sites Redroaster Café and Lucky Khao Thai BBQ.
Back on the beach, this no-reservations restaurant is popular with both locals and visitors alike, offering up everything from brunch and sharing plates through to burgers and fish and chips. In the morning the full English is a safe bet, with Sussex sausages and eggs sitting alongside bacon, herb-roasted mushrooms, tomatoes, crispy potatoes, baked beans and thick-cut toast from local bakery the Flour Pot. Elsewhere you’ll find plant-based plates like avocado on toast or veggie favourite, shakshuka.
Later in the day there are plates ranging from local fish tacos and a warm chicken Caesar salad with crispy pancetta through to organic burgers made from cattle that is allowed to freely graze at Goodwood Home Farm down the road. In fact, the burgers are so good they’ve even been given awards in their time, earning them a bit of a cult following.
Of course, this is Brighton beach, and what could be more appropriate to eat here than fish and chips? While the all-time best seller is a classic combo (in this case, made with malt vinegar batter, skin-on fries, and homemade tartare sauce) there are also plenty of other options. The lucky catch is a mix of hake and calamari served with mushy peas, chips and a dill sauce, while a pan-fried piece of hake served with new potatoes and herby salsa verde offers a lighter alternative.
There’s a kids’ menu too, for when you have the little ones in tow, with options including a cheesy quesadilla and a mini burger and chips.