I went to this charity shop for the first time today and boy, was I impressed! I so admire the…read moreprecision with which the shop is arranged. I realize I sound a little overzealous, but I am a girl who likes things to be in their place, especially when it comes to clothing. The shop is organized, uncluttered and unlike many secondhand shops, its enjoyable to browse the rails, as they aren't rammed full and everything doesn't fall of its hanger the second you touch it. There is an impressive wall of books: fiction, nonfiction, cook books, travel books, dictionaries and more. They also have a good collection of coats at the moment- I saw two Levi denim jackets, which are v. trendy at the mo and I also saw a great cosy sheep skin coat, which I definitely would have bought, had it been a little smaller. I'd say the collection of men's clothing is bigger, there are tons of jeans and an incredible amount of smart suit jackets! This is also a great place to pick up your Xmas cards, whilst supporting a local HIV/Aids charity.

A friendly greeting is a great way to get in my good books in any shop, let alone a charity shop…read morewith such an organised and easily manoeuvrable layout. Clothes, books, nic-nacs and bric-a-brac A wonderful charity and a great cause, it's a pillar of strength and a strong link of the community-I haven't seen such an extensive Gay and Lesbian book section in a bookshop or library, but the Beacon has quite a collection.

Mind on St. James was the first charity shop I went to upon moving to Brighton. I bought a single…read moregreen coffee mug for about a pound. Step one: Move to new country. Step two: Ensure a means to morning cup of coffee. Clearly my priorities were in order. There's a decent selection of books - each £2 and I saw several classics on this most recent visit. Perhaps a good stop for English Lit majors. DVDs are £3, but there are only five of them at the moment. The home décor selection is also a bit slim - a few trinkets, dishes and a set of wine glasses for £5.50. Of course there's also clothing, accessories and shoes - more for women than men. There's not too much unique about this location, other than personal nostalgia.

Loved it! The woman helping me was friendly and got several things out of the window for me…read more I got a lot of gothic pieces here for very cheap, £15 for an amazing Lolita dress, and £4-6 for some jackets, because her neighbor was donating and I was so lucky to receive slashed prices on these amazing items!

The first time you go there, it's amazing to find this hall, tucked away back from the road in a…read moreresidential area. Despite being only five minutes' walk uphill from the station, it feels like a little village hall, the sort of place you went to as a kid for a fete with cakes, a raffle and bunting. They are of course limited by noise constraints and they don't have an alcohol license, so it's bring your own booze (BYOB) but the hall puts on some great events. It used by groups such as Brighton Woteva and Brighton Zinefest. There are also occasionally gigs.

This is a hip venue. It seems the Hall is used everyday. Mondays is Crazy comic club 3.30pm then…read moreYoga & 7.30pm. Tuesday there is a pre-school music 10am and a quiz last tuesday of the month 7.45pm. Wed & 11am is Exercise 50 plus and crazy comic club again 4pm. Yoga is then on at 6pm followed by fencing 8pm. Thursday 10am is Rhythm-a-jigs. 7pm is B Gua then Tai Chi Chuan & 8pm. Fridays is mother & toddlers 10am then Capoeira class 6.30pm. On Saturdays 9.30am is childrens drama. Sundays Chi Gung is 1st Saurday of the month. It seems every Saturday night there is live bands & DJ's. This community Hall may look old and boring but its a big part of the Seven Dials community and worth a check out if only once.

Raystede is an amazing place that is primarily a rehoming centre for stray pets. They rescue,…read morerehome and look after more than 2000 pets each year! As well as this, the centre is open to the public. It's free of charge, but they do ask for donations to help look after the animals. As well as visiting the cats and dogs, they have huge averies with many tropical birds, beautiful lakes with friendly ducks, geese, coots and moorhens. Stables with horses and donkeys. Rabbits, goats, turkeys, chickens, alpacas...and many more. There are some lovely walks around the lakes, a shop and a cafe to visit, as well as the visitor centre. Raystede is a great place to come with all the family. And if you are looking for a new pet, come and see if there is a fluffy friend here for you!

Congratulations to the organisers of the Christmas Fair..A great idea having the marquees, as they…read moregive so nuch more walking space. Incidentally I am registered to have a dog once again and am still waiting to hear from the dog staff. following the visit today, I am interested in homing Richie

Someone must've been fond of the YMCA song in Hove, because just when I was thinking there was only…read morea Hove YMCA on London Road, Brighton, I find out there are THREE of the blighters in two streets in Hove alone. There may even be more! Where the George Street store is your standard clothes charity shop, and the other Blatchington Road branch (see review) focused on furniture, this store is all about electrical products - from radios and TVs to fridges and heaters. If you're in the market for second-hand electrical products then be sure to check this place out, as they are slightly more reliable than other non-charity shops. You're also helping the YMCA out, so they can make more awesome pop videos with the Village People (who, coincidentally, seemed to be working at Lewes Bonfire Night this year!)

As well as all of the electrical products and other amazingly useful buys or just as easily,…read more ridiculously old fashioned and perhaps useless tat, Hove YMCA does what it's name suggests; Advise Youths. Monday to Friday Hove YMCA runs drop in sessions, giving much needed help on issues ranging from unemployment, and job hunting to sexual health and free pregnancy tests. These types of places are in my opinion the bed rock of a good society, so naturally I will give it 5 stars!

Brighton boasts a diverse café culture that caters to the needs of locals and visitors alike from…read morethe waffles to the Wi-Fi. Your Brighton and Hove coffee experience isn't complete until you've visited one (or all!) of the six conveniently placed Small Batch Coffee Company sites dotted around the city. Pop-up pitches greet the commuters at Brighton and at Hove railway station and both areas boast two café's a-piece on busy central thoroughfares. So do take the time to sample some beans from these enterprising Brighton baristas. My local SBCC sits on the corner of Norfolk Square and is a welcome addition to one of the less grand regency squares currently undergoing a transformation. All the sites have a distinctly hip interior that you'd expect from a seriously cool coffee house. Personality can be found in the nod to local attractions, such as the pavilion domes in the shop signage and the beach hut mural on the Norfolk interior. If you're after a speedy verdict, THE COFFEE IS AMAZING. You can now move on. I had a cappuccino that came in a generously sized cup and finished off with a heart motif. The heart did look a bit like an onion, but that's ok. I love onions. The taste was rich and warm and a cut above your regular coffee on the go. The reasonably priced drinks come in at around £2-£3 and the tea is just as lovingly brewed as its flavoursome coffee brother. If you fancy a nibble there is an array of cookies, cakes and hot snacks for between £1.50-£3 that are fresh and tasty. I opted for a slither of brownie. I've been tricked by brownies in the past. It's hard to talk about, but they've been deceptively brown yet distinctly lacking in choccy goodness. I'm happy to report that this sweet treat was moist and rich. Phew. So whether you're a connoisseur or after a quick quench, be sure to stop here and have a cup of the hot stuff.

Lovely spot recommended by a friend. It was too early for a coffee for me so I ended up having a…read morematcha. Excellent matcha flat white, the best I've had I think. Also had some toast which was great but perhaps a tad dehydrated?