New York Coffee Club
The centre of Brighton is already over-run with Costas, Starbucks and Caffe Neros, so it takes a brave person to open an independent right alongside the chains. Rarely lacking self-belief, Peter Andre is that man and he and his brothers are the brains behind New York Coffee Club. They’ve picked a great location next to the Clock Tower, and the café includes a kids’ play area, so business for the pop charmer and his bros should be good.

Live At The Palmeira
Brighton & Hove have an exciting new music venue. Brighthelmstone Promotions have teamed up with the good folks at The Palmeira on Cromwell Road to bring the finest Americana to the city. The venue has a capacity of 130 and a brand new custom built stage and lighting rig, offering a unique intimate atmosphere for live shows. Appearing soon under the Live At The Palmeira banner are the likes of Mark Eitzel, The Dreaming Spires, Elliott Brood and Kelly Joe Phelps.

Green Brick
With fashionable roots, being located on the site of the old BIBA boutique along Queens Road, Green Brick buy and trade store is a haven for those bargain hunters with a love of labels. It’s also much more convenient than sifting your way through tat in order to discover those sought after vintage gems, as they’ve already done the hard work for you. Not only can you buy, you can also trade your much-loved vintage clothes, shoes and accessories, putting your ethical mind at ease. A win-win situation we say.

Zushi
There’s a new Japanese sushi café opening on Prince Albert Street in the Lanes this month. Zushi promises fresh fish and hand made dishes including Temaki Zushi (take away sushi in a hand-rolled cone) and traditional, pressed Oshi Zushi. The café comes complete with Japanese music and magazines, while their online shop offers more food and sushi making kits for sale.

Pearls bubble tea Cafe
Bubble tea is fairly new to British shores, although it’s a beverage that’s been gaining popularity around the world since its invention in 1980s Taiwan. Essentially, the ‘teas’ are  fruit or milk blended drinks served with ‘bubbles’ of soft tapioca pearls or fruit jelly, and served hot or cold. Pearls Bubble Tea Cafe on Gardner Street are introducing the drink to Brightonians, and are already gaining big fans in the SOURCE office.

Following the closure of Xuma bar in Seven Dials, Brighton’s Small Batch Coffee Company will be taking over the premises later in the year. In the meantime, pop up bar specialists Off The Map have been invited to bridge the gap between one business and the next by running a temporary late night venue on site. With live music and DJs lined up for their short residency, head up there to check out what’s happening soon, because by the time word gets around they’ll be gone.

Yum Yum Ninja
Created by the team from Riddle & Finns in the Lanes and the former Due South seafront restaurant, Yum Yum Ninja is a new pan-Asian restaurant on Meeting House Lane. Diners can eat inside and out, with a courtyard area designed to replicate the experience of an Asian night market with its parasols, banners and festoon lighting, plus there’s an upstairs bar serving cocktails, sake, umeshu, Japanese whisky and other delights. The menu includes plenty of locally sourced produce ingredients.

Soup-Urb
Punning urban food café Soup-Urb is now open on Trafalgar Street, offering a seasonal menu of fresh local food. The café’s great love is hearty, natural soups, with a rotating range of daily flavours available. There are plenty of other breakfasts, sandwiches, salads and other meals available, with an emphasis on Fair Trade and sustainable ingredients and bio-degradeable packaging.

Words By Amy Bellchambers, Ian Chambers, Stuart Huggett