On a Plateau

I've been in Brighton for nearly a year and had almost given up hope of finding a bar that makes great (or even good) cocktails.

I had heard of a wine bar called Plateau and after dinner at Moshi Moshi Sushi we called in for a drink on the way home.

Finally somewhere that knows how to mix a cocktail!

My Old Fashioned took a good ten minutes to stir by hand - sugar and angostura bitters over ice first followed by a slow drip by drip addition of Woodford Reserve bourbon and twisted orange peel.

The orange oil hung in the air like a cloud adding to the experience as I took a first sip - amazing!

Decor - the bar is a relaxed mix of zinc topped bar, Tolix chairs and strolls and exposed brickwork. The menu is rustic - meat platters, cheese and steaks.

The bar staff are the cool side of relaxed - lots of heavy black rimmed specs!

Redwood coffee shop

I've not been to Redwood for a while and had forgotten how laid back and friendly it is.

I love the fact you can order your flat white Aussie style (short, strong, authentic) or Pommie style (bigger, weaker, not authentic). I dare you to order it Pommie style from the Aussie barista!

Service is chirpy and attentive, but expect a 10 minute wait whilst your coffee is individually crafted for you - reassuringly the wait is exactly the same whether the shop is full or empty...

The decor is in the 70s vintage style - Danish sideboard and low slung tan coloured sofas - but not overdone, chalkboard style signage stays the cool side of whimsical.

Music tends to be whole albums played beginning to end - pre-digital style. Today's album is the Pulp Fiction soundtrack, on previous visits it's ranged from specialist concept albums to late period Beatles.

Food - the usual range of cakes and pastries and fantastic toasties made with Real Patisserie bread, or simple toast and marmite or jam.

The clientele is a mix of mature Mac users and studious kids from the local FE college, whose campus is just behind the shop. Naturally I fit into the former group.

The long commute

The major downside to living in Brighton is days like today, in order to get to Manchester for 9.30am I have to set my alarm for 4.30am and catch the 5.23am, then lots of waiting around because the trains are less frequent.

To get through the Brighton - Victoria leg, I upgrade to a large skinny latte, for the Euston - Manchester leg, another skinny latte, on arrival at Piccadilly - another skinny latte, then finally for the journey home a skinny latte.

Far too much caffeine.

Far too much milk.

...eight months as a Brighton resident

So - eight months in, what's my new life looking like?

Commuting is not so bad, first few weeks were awful, then I kind of hit a wall (or maybe broke through one?) and from then on it's been ok - landslips in Croydon and signal failures aside.

Building a new friendship circle - much more difficult than I imagined, particularly when you want it to not be alcohol based; I have however joined (and left) a Dining Group, joined (and stuck with) a Conversation Group, a Book Group and a Cinema Group; set up my own Coffee Group; done some internet dating and got a lodger.  Early days!

On the home front - I have moved twice, first into a mate's house for two months then finally in May into my own house.  I have gutted the lower floor and garden and ripped up nasty laminate floors and changed restored fireplaces in all rooms.  Starting to come together now, before I reconvene on the bathrooms in the New Year.

Community - only met one neighbour so far (poor show on my part) and I'm not thrilled to be living on a student street - I'm more 'early riser' than 'party animal'.  I have successfully had an extra skip bin installed on the street and complained about rats on my walk to the station, in a less 'angry from Tunbridge Wells' style I have also become a school governor.

Moving to culture, the Book Group has got me back into reading in a big way, which is great - I'm reading books I would never have chosen myself; the cinema group is similarly broadening my film viewing habits.  I've joined the Regency Society and have completed the Kemptown Blue Plaque Tour.

Finally my perceptions - Brighton is fun and quirky and I love the architecture and coffee culture; but I'm not so keen on the shabbiness and litter problems.