Brighton has a well-earned reputation for being a laid-back seaside resort. Over the past few decades, it has blossomed into a bohemian city of creativity, inclusiveness and entertainment. It's also carving out a reputation as a centre of green politics.

What's colloquially known as Brighton usually refers to the City of Brighton and Hove, two conjoined settlements whose name will be familiar to any fan of English football. But what's the city like for business? Let's dive in.

The top business areas in Brighton

As cities go, Brighton isn't exceptionally high in density and has no distinct business areas as you'd see in London, Glasgow or Manchester. The high-rise buildings in the city are residential rather than commercial. Instead, businesses occupy smaller offices dotted around central Brighton, but there are one or two popular areas.

BN1 Postcode

Look for the BN1 postcode if you want somewhere central, with Queens Road being the closest the city gets to a business district. The main city centre area surrounding the train station also has its fair share of good offices to rent.

If you are looking to be more set away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, but still within close proximity of the amenities and transport links, then you may want to consider the BN3 postcode, an area known as Brunswick.

Hove

Hove is mainly residential, with commercial and hospitality areas on the seafront, so offices in Hove tend to be smaller and more modestly priced, which is perfect for smaller or start-up businesses.

The promenade area

Most cities aren’t simultaneously seaside resorts, but having the sea so close by does make Brightons beaches quite desirable. Popular areas for such Brighton offices include Churchill Square, just 190m from the promenade, so staff can actually dip their toes in the sea during lunch.

Business travel in Brighton

Brighton has excellent transport links to London and the South Coast thanks to its place on the rail and road networks. You can get a train directly to Brighton Station from London Victoria (only a one hour journey) or Southampton Central. You can also easily get there by train from anywhere on mainland Britain, perhaps with a change or two. By road, it's connected to the rest of the country by the A23 and A27. The A23 is just a continuation of the M23, which emerges from southern London and ends at Crawley.

Shoreham Airport lies between Brighton and Worthing and is a small airstrip used for private aviation, serving the Isle of Wight and the South Coast. And if you've got your sea legs, you might want to arrive by small boat via Brighton Marina. The closest port is Newhaven which is a 30 minute car journey or train from Brighton.

Brighton's entertainment

There are around a thousand places to eat and drink, from small local pubs to late-night bars. There are also several theatres hosting comedy, drama and music, as well as Brighton and Hove Albion FC, where many big games take place. Not to mention Brighton Pier, considered one of England’s most visited tourists attractions which features a waterfront theme park with rides, restaurants, arcades and activities. The pier is also great for a quick stroll to enjoy the scenic seaside views. If you’re looking to get acquainted with a bit of history, the Royal Pavilion is a remarkable seaside palace with a colourful history. The garden surrounding it is exquisite and provides visitors an idyllic green haven amongst the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

Your office building will always be a short walk away from dozens of culinary options. This means that business lunches can include flavours from around the world and some of the best fish and chips.

How much is it to rent office space in Brighton?

You can rent offices in Brighton with all the necessary facilities. Depending on your budget there are also the options for private offices, meeting rooms, coworking spaces and event spaces.

As a rough guide, in BN1, prices range from about £250 per person per month to around £370 pppm. The cost varies depending on the location and nature of the office. BN2 and BN3 (Hove) are a little less central and cheaper but still include the waterfront areas to the east and west of the city centre.

How to find an office space in Brighton

Most businesses set up in Brighton to take advantage of the local amenities, thriving creative community and proximity to London – here are some things to look out for.

Networking potential

Brighton is the sort of place people live in because they want to, and it retains a high proportion of those who are born here or move here. That makes it great for networking and meetings of minds, so make sure you choose an office space with plenty of collaborative potential, such as breakout areas and coworking.

Creative community

There are few cities as creative and lively as Brighton and Hove, with its nightlife, carnivals, festivals and conferences bringing an influx of people all year round. The creative community, especially those working in digital, are behind all that, so choose an area close to the more creative quarters if you want to be associated with it.

Ease of reaching the capital

As great as Brighton is, one of its biggest draws is how close it is to London. You can be in the heart of the capital in just over an hour by train, so if you’re likely to be shuttling back and to frequently, a city centre office near the station will make every minute well spent.

The easiest way to find a workspace in Brighton is to go to a page dedicated to the city's office facilities and browse for the one that best suits your needs. Click on the links to find more information on meeting rooms, coworking options, transport links and how many sq ft they occupy. Most will be in the BN1 postcode, but other options may become available.

Interesting facts about Brighton

This city is undoubtedly an excellent place for business, but it also has many other points working in its favour.

• Hove regularly appears near the top of surveys of the happiest or most desirable places to live in the UK.
• The station was connected to London in 1841 and quickly became a popular resort.
• The British Airways i360 tower was completed in 2016 and is the tallest structure in Sussex.
• Brighton hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, which Abba won with Waterloo.
• New Brighton on the north tip of Wirral was named after the town.
• Brighton and Hove won city status in 2000.
  
  

Why Brighton is a great place to do business

If you like to mix business with pleasure, you can’t go wrong looking for offices to rent in Brighton. You don't have to go clubbing or frequent cocktail bars, either. If pleasure means quiet walks along the front, a delicious meal or two, people-watching, or just having a lovely place to live, you'll find it here. Thanks to this friendly, cosmopolitan vibe, the city is full of digital start-ups and entrepreneurs. It also hosts many conferences and exhibitions. All of this adds up to a coastal ecosystem where you'll always be able to find a partner for your latest project and the perfect place to bring clients (making them go back home is the tricky bit).

Why you should rent an office in Brighton

All good things come at a cost, which also applies to Brighton property. Buying an office space in Brighton would be prohibitively expensive for most small businesses, but renting is much more flexible and affordable.

Even if you don't want a private office, there are many meeting rooms, coworking spaces and boutique office facilities to choose from. In fact, if you're going hybrid, the question should be, why would you not rent an office in Brighton?