An opportunity squandered

The worst street in Brighton simply has to be The Strand, the main road running through the Marina. Why? First off, it is inaccessible. I feel so sorry for all fans of boring, programmatic, unimaginitive architecture. Second, although largely built in the 1990s, it retains all the worst faults of the 1980s ‘retro-rehash-the-past-will-this-do?’ style. Finally, and most criminally of all, it’s an opportunity squandered. What a waste of what could have been made into a stunning location.

Comments about this page

  • If you are thinking of relocating to the Marina, don’t be put off. The Strand is a delightful place to live and entertain. Functionality in a clean, practical and stylish environment. Since moving to the Marina, development has really began to pick up with new exciting bars, restaurants and other ongoing projects. Even with the additional clientele that such a change brings, there is a distinctly relaxed ambience that surrounds the Marina’s bars and restaurants in the evenings and weekends. With all due repect to Nicky, her statement borders on the ridiculous. The architecture was selected with the environment in mind, and couldn’t be any different.

    By Karl (30/04/2004)
  • In response to people who think that any street in the Marina is one of the worst streets in Brighton (let alone The Strand!) – I have lived in Trafalgar Gate, The Strand, Brighton Marina, with my husband and children for nearly 18 months now – and I must say that every day that I wake up in these surroundings I feel like we are on holiday. Really strange feeling to last for so long! But true. Whether it’s the clean pavements, living in an area where flowers are present everywhere, reasonably priced ‘outlet’ shops (very handy with 3 daughters), really pleasant neighbours, wonderful choice of quality restaurants, having Asda 2 minutes away, Casino, Pubs, bowling, Cinema, health studio/hairdressers, being able to park your car without fear of anything (parking tickets/theft/vandalism), just feeding the swans from our patio or maybe enjoying some of the best of what this city produces: I cannot say. All critics must be allowed their free opinions. All that I can say about the streets of the Marina is for an area which was mostly claimed from the sea – financed by private monies, creating employment for all trades and professions from day one, enhancing our tourism appeal (which after all is Brighton’s largest overall industry by far) – I find it hard to agree that we have the worst street in Brighton.

    By Catherine Beard (29/08/2004)
  • I work at the Marina and it is true that it has been built piece by piece so is uncoordinated and unsightly in places. However it redeems itself because of the life it has brought to a dead end of town. It’s great fun to imagine how it could look when, not if, its redeveloped. The entrance to the Marina, the multi-storey, and Black Rock will all be developed sooner rather than later (before the concrete finally gives up!). You can get trouble here late on Friday and Saturday but it’s just a spot of bother compared to what’s going on in the city centre.

    By David (24/03/2005)
  • Yes, it’s an ‘opportunity squandered’ but not just for the reasons given. To build the Marina we lost forever the Black Rock swimming pool that was such a boon for Easten Brighton (we also lost some damn good winkling beaches).  This was supposed to be a marina ‘for all of Brighton’ and we were promised a new Black Rock pool onsite (which never happened) and even cross-channel passenger ferries – but all that happened was that it tried to be a wealthy yachtsman’s playground, went belly up financially when this didn’t take off and was reborn as a sort of semi-detached oceanic suburb of banal townhouses and apartments with all of the social committments (the pool, etc) conveniently forgotten.

    By Adrian Baron (24/01/2007)
  • The Marina has a major plus point that separates it from Brighton: it actually has some usable parking unlike the rest of town which is battered by a naive and pointless green mentality that has seen the entire transport infrastructure of the city degenerate into a shambles over the last 10 years since I was a student. Unfortunately the Marina is otherwise a shrine to corporate banality on a grand scale and a weekend hang out for worthless freeloading scum.

    By John Drake (07/11/2008)
  • Hello All, I grew up at Black Rock, the nearest property to the Marina. Madiera Masions, now pulled down to make way for the present Coursels flats. A certain Mr Cohen Car dealer residing in Wilsons Avenue, Kicked the Marina into start mode, with certain restrictions against him, any tall propertys were to have grass roofs and must be below cliff height, point one. The next point I make is all building must be of sympathetic design to include replacement of swiming pool, sports facilities, etc. Whats happend is we have a concrete JUNGLE, what a mess you cannot see the boats and yachts or for that matter any nautical notes you have to hunt if this is your purpose for being there. You dont have to hunt for concrete though or tin do you. Thank God I still have the memories of winkles and prawns for tea. God Bless you all and those who sail in her.

    By Anthoy Freeman (25/01/2013)

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