Review: One Broad St B&B

Guess what? I’ve been trolling round Brighton again, drinkin’ cocktails and  convincing His Lordship that we so need that hamburger shaped telephone from Cyberdog. (Him: “You’re a grown woman with a management role in a respected profession who claims to want a tasteful home with a hint of 60s charm...” Me: “But it’s a phone shaped like a haaamburrrger...”).

In between these deep and meaningful marital conversations, we mostly were sleeping at One Broad Street, a fab little place which bridges that gap between B&B and boutique very nicely indeed.

Run by Ramola and Mary, it's located in the Kemptown area of the city, a popular, buzzing area with night life a-plenty. Broad Street itself, however, is small and residential - oh, and they provide ear plugs if you're very sensitive to noise (including pesky seagulls). We took the 'cosy' room to the rear of the hotel and I didn't find the noise an issue - well, apart from a certain husband leaving their smartphone on to ping merrily away every twenty minutes because there was an unread text. As they snored. Grrr.

The 'cosy room' is advertised with many a disclaimer about how very, very tiny it is. We went for it because we simply wanted a base, and really expected something fit for little mice in clothes (like out of Beatrix Potter). However, to be honest whilst small it wasn't miniscule: there was comfortable walking space round the bed, a desk, two chairs and a small fitted wardrobe. The only concession to the room being 'smaller' than the norm was the sink in the room and ensuite shower room/toilet (rather than a full sized bathroom). This actually worked out very well in a practical sense as I could apply my many, many layers of slap whilst His Lordship showered, saving valuable cocktail/shopping time. As one of their more basic rooms (£89 p/n on a July weekend), it was a very pleasant surprise indeed.

The room itself was scrupulously clean. Everything is ice white, bar some cute tropical cushions, drinking glasses and the art on the walls. They are proper, unashamed, childhood-80s-holiday-best brights, and the contrast is superb. It's not the place for shabby-chic 'Vintage' or kitsch: One Broad Street has its 'own' style and stands out, distinct from both the chainy budget and the ubiquitous 'boutique-look' B&Bs across the city.

So far, so good - I would definitely recommend it as a good example of the price range, but there is one final detail which just lifted my experience and prompted me to review. Breakfast. Famed, locally sourced, cooked-to-order breakfast. OK, OK, sometimes it seems  that everywhere in Brighton (bar the bars of hen-night-street) uses the buzzwords 'local', 'fresh' and 'organic'... but it is rare to find somewhere where, and I know I'm sounding like a granny here, where you can taste that the bacon's from a 'proper butchers' (and the eggs fully free-range, the mushrooms and tomatoes locally grown...). My particular favourite combination was two eggs, two bacon and mushrooms (not that the sausages weren't fantastic, it's just I can't eat that much first thing. That I had a fry-up is testament to its deliciousness).  I have eaten £15 breakfasts in Brighton that weren't a patch on this one; it was utterly superb. Just remember to note down what you want before you retire to sleep... these breakfasts are bespoke to order and they buy their produce that morning.

If you would like more details on One Broad Street, click on their link here, or read more reviews at Tripadvisor.