Why Brighton's Seven Dials is a great place to live

St Ann's Well Gardens

The Seven Dials district of Brighton packs everything that makes the city special into one neighbourhood. Here are three reasons to love the hilltop village:

Restaurants. An eclectic parade of restaurants offers Thai food, a charcuterie, and fine dining at Sam's of Sevendials. With its unique array of Japanese tapas, Murasaki is the city's coolest sushi bar. Best of all here though is Blenio, where dishes are prepared with zest, care and ingredients of remarkable quality; the pork belly is superb. Attentive service and a warm atmosphere elevate this bistro amongst Brighton's finest eateries.

St Ann's Well Gardens. Minutes from the city but a world away from the crowds is this leafy urban retreat, with a walking trail, cafe and immaculate bowling green. There are quality tennis courts and a scented garden for the blind. Picture boards around the gardens depict Victorian-era tea parties on lazy summer afternoons, and this community spirit remains - schoolchildren help maintain trees and wildlife, and locals unite for the park's spring festival.

Location. Perched on the border of Brighton and Hove, everything is accessible from The Dials: beaches, nightlife, The Lanes' alternative shopping chic. A little further off are the vibrant Hanover and Kemp Town communities; stately central Hove is just around the corner. Buckingham Place with its sweeping city views takes you two minutes downhill to Brighton station; Dyke Road's mansions lead you away from the city bustle, towards Devil's Dyke and the great outdoors.

Brighton Wheel: the right decision?

Four months after opening, the Brighton Wheel divides opinion. Supporters praise a landmark encouraging tourism, challengers see an imposing presence on nearby houses. Approving construction was a difficult decision, but was it the right one?

Most opposed to the development are local residents, represented by groups like Brighton's Mad Wheel. They cite poor communication from the council, who are accused of 'breathtakingly arrogant and speedy moves' in choosing the Kemp Town location after previous sites were rejected.

The wheel's 24-hour lighting was allegedly not discussed during planning; one can sympathise with those living on Madeira place (pictured). Dwarfing houses just a few hundred feet away, the structure bathes windowpanes in a light which needs black-out curtains to block.

David Sewell, chairman of the North Laine Traders Association, believes an estimated 250,000 extra visitors yearly to Brighton and 30 new jobs are reasons to back the wheel. It is a 'win-win project', he said.

The project's press release notes the continued success of other wheels in the UK: the Yorkshire Wheel's visitors have increased 20% yearly. The London Eye has surpassed expectations, now famous globally and one of the capital's main attractions.

The Brighton Wheel has attracted customers throughout winter, and moving towards the warmer months this success looks set to continue. 

Although the wheel has come at an inevitable cost to some, it is a temporary structure whose presence looks justified during a deep recession; should the outlook brighten it could be removed. These are exceptional times, when such a boost to Brighton's economy was impossible to ignore.

Ales from The Dials

Ale pumps at The Good Companions

Real Ale has made a remarkable comeback in recent years, with increased demand from a new generation of young consumers transforming the drink's image. For whippets and flat caps now read pug dogs and ironic haircuts, as the once unthinkable is now official: ales are cool.

The return of bitters, milds and stouts in the UK has given rise to local 'microbreweries' who supply British taverns with regional beers; proud times indeed for the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Formed  in 1971 to save ales from extinction, the group campaign towards their vision of pubs as 'centres of community life, the one place to consume real ale'. Brilliantly, CAMRA have devised a 'National Beer Scoring System' complete with scorecards, which my friend and I take along to The Good Companions, Seven Dials.

Unrecognisable since its refurb, the pub is now a true champion of the CAMRA cause. Staff member Julia Smith tells me the owners Indigo Leisure 'change their ales with the seasons and promote small, local breweries' ahead of established producers.

Shooting Star

Impressed by these values we get to work on the first round of the afternoon, marking our pints from 0 (undrinkable) to 5 (perfect). Shooting Star (3.8% volume) is light and frothy, yet despite delivering on its promise of 'toffee in the mouth' is rather lacklustre and one-dimensional, rating 2/5. Molly Malone's Stout (4.5%) brings an instant grimace to the face of my associate, who likens it to 'cold coffee and lemon'. Sadly I concur, and after struggling to the bottom of our glasses we have little option but to award 1/5.

Ruby

Looking dark and delicious beneath a perfect layer of white foam, Ruby (5.2%) was deservedly our pick of the day's selection. This beer instantly packs a punch, its caramel notes and full flavour making for a highly enjoyable pint; with a sumptuous aftertaste to boot, we score a commendable 3/5. CAMRA describe an 'average' ale as one drunk 'without really noticing', a fair description of Arundel Gold (4.2%). Amber-tinted and refreshing it is pleasant but ultimately doesn't inspire, thereby scoring 2/5.

Dark Star Hophead (3.8%) concludes the judging while we can still count to five. Sporting a great head, this golden ale rates highly in the image stakes; yet although it boasts honey and citrus flavours, our verdict is no more than a competent 2/5.

Our testing found these local brews to offer depth, flavour and a genuine alternative to continental lagers. Flowing freely from the pumps of quality bars, the humble beverage's star has never been higher; the real ale revolution continues apace.

For more information on the Campaign for Real Ale visit http://www.camra.org.uk/

Man versus Zumba

If you've left the house this year, you've probably heard of Zumba. Created in Colombia during the 1990s, the dance-fitness program has gone global in the last 12 months and the brand is now a phenomenon; its website boasts over 50 classes in Brighton alone.

To discover what the fuss is about I decide to take the plunge. I arrive at my local class off Seven Dials on a freezing December evening, ready to 'party myself into shape'.

Trained dancer and Zumba instructor Sofia Upton greets me warmly, beaming from ear to ear and looking in alarmingly good shape. Noting I am the only male present makes me nervous, but rating myself a competent dancer at nightclub level I breathe deeply and take to the studio floor.

"A night out without drinking"

From nowhere, 'Hot Hot Hot' booms across the room and Sofia is off, a ball of perfectly choreographed energy busting moves for us all to follow. Each music track has a series of dance steps requiring sharp technique as well as decent fitness levels to keep up with, and I struggle. So far off the pace at times, I realise I've resorted to my default party dance: head nods, hip shimmies.

Sofia Upton

"Sing it!" Sofia commands as the music continues, and the group respond - it's part of what makes Zumba unique. "It's not boring, like going to the gym - it's something fresh and different," she says. The co-ordination is tough but when I finally nail a few steps it's satisfying and by the end I feel invigorated, if slightly relieved.

I ask Sofia if the lessons attract many men: "My classes are generally all girls, men can feel intimidated by that." The ladies present love it however, applauding loudly at the end of the hour.

Sofia sums up Zumba as a night out without drinking, and it's certainly a party that provides an alternative to weights and cross-trainers: try it.

Visit http://www.zumbakrazy.co.uk for more info on classes with Sofia

Food review: Tin Drum Charcuterie

With economic gloom set to persist for eons to come and winter looming, my joy at discovering a half-price food offer at the Tin Drum Charcuterie on Seven Dials was unbridled. 

Charcuterie is a French method of cooking devoted to cured meats (OK I googled it), and the bar-restaurant specialises in pork from the owner's Sussex-based farm. Locally sourced and discounted? All boxes ticked.

Miles at work behind the new bar

Things get even better on arrival as it's also happy hour drinks, and I ask bar supervisor Miles about the recent refurbishment and new menu. 'The bar has been brought forwards to create more of a social atmosphere', he says, and it's succeeded. The low lamps create a warm and inviting ambience and the place is buzzing, most tables taken. I order the mixed charcuterie plate, the dish Miles tells me is most popular with the locals.

Mixed charcuterie plate

The carefully presented meats showcase all the farm's products: chorizo, air dried ham and prosciutto, all tasting fabulous when washed down with an ale. Best of all is the pork terrine with a wonderful rich, earthy flavour while the pot of pickles, onions and capers add a sweet, juicy zing to set the dish off perfectly. The fries are great too, skins on and hand-cut.

So how do Brighton's famous vegetarian community feel about the concept? 'We get asked that a lot, but the owner wants to push his produce' says Miles. Bold principles, and a refreshing approach to bar food which looks here to stay.

Art heist in Seven Dials

A Seven Dials bar manager set up a sting operation to catch thieves stealing artwork worth £1000 from his premises.

Xuma bar manager Cormac Eddery exhibits works by local artists and first noticed a print by Saoirse Louise Towler and one by Sara Abbott, worth £400, had vanished on October 30th 2011.

On October 31st the group returned to steal another print but were followed home by Mr Eddery. He called the police who advised the thieves had to be caught in the act for an arrest to be made. A sting operation was then conceived to catch the gang red-handed: in the bar another work by Towler was hung on the gallery's lowest hook, with cameras trained on the item and security staff ready to swoop.

Exhibition work by Saoirse Towler

The following day Mr Eddery watched in amazement from his cellar as CCTV footage showed the thieves returning and casually removing the picture. Within 10 minutes security staff had arrived to apprehend the group. Stunned locals looked on as one of the gang attempted to order a beer whilst the police were called. 'We just couldn't believe it', Mr Eddery said.

All the prints have now been safely returned and a local woman has been charged, to stand trial in December.

A version of this story later appeared in The Brighton Argus - click here to view