The places to be

Lyon & Hall where I bought my records
From the private collection of Andy Grant

The Zodiac then onto Tiffany’s

I have such great memories of the 1960s and all the great times I had. There were such a lot of good places to go in Brighton. I lived in Hollingbury, and used to catch a bus to St James’s Street, to go to the Zodiac with my friend Beryl. When we got fed up with there – off we would go to Tiffany’s further into Kemp Town. Tiffany’s was a place where lots of ‘Mods’ used to meet up. In fact I met my first boyfriend there, he was called Robert; I wonder where he is now.

The place to be

I then moved to Westdean and used to go to the Penny Farthing in East Street and the Cafe Continental. After then I progressed in to going to the Regent. Of course that was ‘the place to be’ at that time and it was always busy and you met lots of people there. I used to catch the last bus home number 112 to Westdean and what a laugh that was, but it was just good clean fun.

Fab 1960s music

The old ice rink in West Street was one of our favourite places. There was the Druid’s and all the pubs in The Lanes – they were favourite stop off places.. The Scan in Western Road, was a fab coffee bar, so was the Cordoba Coffee Bar also in Western Road and of course the Gallion near the Regent. Does anyone remember the record shop called Lyon and Hall in Western Road? I used to spend hours in there in the cubicles listening to the Beatles, Beach Boys, and all the fab music that was recorded in the 1960s.

Comments about this page

  • The Druid’s was the only pub I was ever asked to leave in Brighton; or anywhere else, come to that! The manager came over and asked why I wasn’t drinking. I had just scoffed a whisky-mac with my cousin, but he insisted that we had to either buy another drink, or leave. We couldn’t be bothered to argue, and bought another round, but I never went back!

    By Stefan Bremner-Morris (18/07/2013)
  • We girls always went to the Druid’s Head in the 60s, it was the place to be, and to be seen. However one Babycham or gin and lime were all we could afford, even though we were all working. No-one could afford to get drunk then. How times have changed.

    By Jennifer (19/07/2013)
  • I remember the Druid’s pub. It was a lovely place to have a cider or two! I used to work at Nat West in Norfolk Square and used the Cordoba Coffee Bar on numerous occasions. In the 70s it was the Costa/Cafe Nero equivalent, but with so much more atmosphere! Lyon and Hall was a great music shop. Loved the grand pianos. Bought many vinyl records there.

    By Maggie Williams (19/07/2013)
  • My friends’ parents, Pam and Eric, ran the Zodiac. I was too young for most of the places you mention but I remember seeing Lyon & Hall. Dorothy Perkins had a juke box and I remember hearing this fantastic song. Looked on the juke box and it was Hey Jude, so I marched straight over the road to Woollies and bought it, abandoning the new skirt I was going to buy! Went skating every Wednesday in the new ice rink but did see Jackie Pallo and Mick McManus wrestle in the old ice rink. Used to go to Saturday morning disco at the suite in 1966 in my new mini-skirt! My real haunt was the Bird’s Nest.

    By Renia (21/07/2013)
  • My haunts were Sloopy’s and Montpelier Blues (in a basement in Montpelier Road) discos in 1969 and 1970. Sloopy’s used to be called something else, but can’t remember. It was up Dyke Road behind the Clock Tower. Many Scandinavian girls used to come to learn English and frequented the Blues disco. I had a Norwegian girlfriend with whom I kept in touch by letter for some time after she went home. The Basketmakers Arms was a regular pub for me. You could get a pint of Scrumpy Cider for two shillings. The landlord and lady were very large people. The lady used to wear a leather hotpants suit and had a lot of dyed blond hair. They looked quite menacing but friendly! I later changed sides so to speak and spent my Hippy days in the King and Queen pub.

    By Stuart Spagatner (20/01/2015)
  • Hi Renia – I saw that you used to go to the Birds Nest a lot and so did I, but I can’t remember where it was.  I’m sure we must have known each other?

    By Geri Adams (19/09/2015)
  • The Bird’s Nest was at the Gloucester at the bottom of Gloucester Street, near St Peter’s Church. It’s called the North Laine now.

    By Renia Simmonds (21/09/2015)
  • Hi, can you please tell me if the Codaba cafe is still around? Thank you. 

    By Angela Adams (01/09/2016)
  • I remember the Cordoba in Western Road in 1961/62. We used to go there on a  Sunday Morning  before going to Norfolk Road Methodist Church for Bible Class or meet afterwards! Many a time we were a bit hungover after having a great party the night before. I can see the black coffees piled up to sober up my friends. Mick Haslam, Ray Head, Peter Reed, Chris Trowhill and many more. Wonderful memories. 

    By Gina Head (15/10/2017)
  • I was looking for an old photo of the cordoba when I came across Ginas letter, I was there a bit earlier but I recognize the names and can add a few more, I will never forget the egg and chips! delicious or Roger Banks toast and marmalade. Very happy days . John Clements.

    By john clements (24/02/2018)
  • Hi Clem, we have been looking for you for ages but nobody knew where you were! The first had a 50th reunion and last year a 60th. We hope to have another next year and it would be great if you could join us. How best can we make contact? I still live locally and you can find me in the telephone book.

    By Frostie (26/02/2018)
  • Dear John,

    So good to know you are still around please get in touch. Would love to catch up. George Frost & I have been searching for you. Hope to do a reunion soon. Regards Gina.

    By Gina Head (07/06/2018)

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