My Favourite Independent Shops In Brighton

Good bread is something that I will actively go out of my way to buy, ever since I lived in Paris. Let’s be honest, in the UK, we aren’t exactly bread connoisseurs. We call baguettes ‘French stick’ and live off soggy supermarket sandwiches. It’s for this reason that in my regular diet I barely eat bread at all. But! Bread from Breadwinners is an exception. From bloomers to baguettes, ciabattas to focaccias, their Saturday stall at Upper Gardner Street Market is something I will visit every weekend (they also are at other Brighton markets throughout the week). Breadwinners is a bakery in its own right, but its aim is to support refugees and young people seeking asylum into employment through artisan baked goods. They’re doing wonderful work.

There are SO many hairdressers in Brighton, so if you’re going to get your hair done, you have a lot of places to choose from!

I’ve actually included two hairdressers in this list, and alphabetically, Cuttlefish Eco Salon comes first. I’ve been going to their Brighton salon for the past few months to get my hair cut and coloured, and I always enjoy a visit. It’s like a spa break that leaves my hair looking better than ever! Everything here is sustainable – hair products, interior design, and even the magazines.

If you’re looking for curated homewares and irresistible extras, Dowse is the place. From dopamine decorations to cute ceramics, I often pop in to simply get a bit of inspiration for my own home. I’d recommend visiting on a week day if you can, as Gardner Street (and most of the North Laine area) becomes a bustling mess on the weekends. (Although you can always sneak into Pelicano‘s secret garden if you need a moment of peace!)

If you’re looking to buy a book while in Brighton, give the big Waterstones by the Clock Tower a pass and instead walk just one more street to The Feminist Bookshop. Here you can find an array of books written by and about women, non-binary and marginalised people, as well as their plant-based café. Is there anything better than a good book and a coffee?

Our Daily Edit is Brighton’s best store for sustainable fashion, stocking the latest from designers like Ganni, Meadows, Le Bon Shoppe, and more. In all honesty, it’s the place I would shop if I won the lottery, but I definitely have to save my pennies to be able to afford pieces here. That being said, it’s a breath of fresh, eco-friendly air, just a stone’s throw from the high street on North Street.

The second hairdressers on my list is The Point! Here, you can find Ian, his dog, and the team, for a welcoming, eco-friendly haircut or colour. From eco-friendly dyes to hair recycling, they really do attempt to be as planet-friendly as possible.

Plus, upstairs is The Point Beauty, a brightly-lit, friendly beauty salon offering everything from manicures to waxing.

If you love music as much as my boyfriend does, Resident will quickly become your favourite place in Brighton. An independent record shop by day, and a tiny, fantastic music venue by night, Resident caters to music lovers of all genres. Here, we’ve seen live sets from some of our favourite bands, some acoustic, some not, and all very special.

If you’re looking to delve into the best of Brighton’s creative scene, be sure to visit The Stanley Road Store. Here, you’ll find handmade jewellery, leather bags, cute ceramics, prints, hand-felted rugs, clothing, and more. And, like many Brightonians, many of the designers here care about sustainability, so products often have an eco edge. Go explore!

Finally, my favourite vintage store has to be Wolf & Gypsy Vintage. I wanted to include Wolf & Gypsy in this list, as opposed to my charity shops guide, as I do think there’s a difference between shopping second-hand and vintage. Good vintage shops are curated, and Wolf & Gypsy Vintage does an amazing job of this. Even if you’re not visiting Brighton any time soon, I’d recommend checking out their ever-rotating collection on their website!