Brighton Beach Bikes, Kings Road Arches, Brighton
Ask any Brighton resident or day-trip tourist and they will no doubt tell you the same; one of the city’s only downsides in the summer is the traffic. The car parks, main roads and even the shortcut streets are brimming with vehicles by midday, so what better way to explore the city than on two wheels?
Brighton Beach Bikes is a cycle hire shop that has just opened its new premises in Kings Road arches. They have a range of Californian beach cruiser bikes available, so you can take to the cycle paths in comfort and style. For a family day out they also offer kid’s trailers, and the recent addition of fold up bikes means travelling further afield by car or public transport can be simple.
Boulder Brighton, Victoria Road Trading Estate, Portslade
Have you ever wanted to crimp, match and heel hook in order to flash a problem? Think we’re talking nonsense? Then it’s time you got down to Boulder Brighton, where it will all become clear.
Boulder Brighton is a converted warehouse in Portslade dedicated to bouldering, a form of rock climbing without ropes or harnesses. After developments in 2014 the centre now features three more circuits and new holds, so you’ll have plenty of climbs to try with every visit.
With skilled instructors there to guide you, beginners are more than welcome, and there are many challenging circuits for experienced climbers to tackle too. Weekly taster sessions, bouldering courses and even birthday parties are on offer for kids.
Demolition Paintball, Albourne, Henfield
Based at the foot of the South Downs just ten minutes from Brighton, Demolition Paintball is a course spread across 50-acres of woodland with both themed and flag-to-flag games to try your hand at.
Work with your teammates to defend the Stockade, locate the plane crash and be first to fire the rocket launcher in a range of exhilarating games, which anyone over the age of 12 can play.
Demolition offers full or half-day sessions, and caters for birthday parties, stag and hen celebrations and corporate events. If you are a paintball-pro, you can even request to customise the rules to include your favourite games or your own unique format.
Fly Sussex Paragliding, Tollgate, South Downs National Park
Take a short drive out of Brighton and in just 20 minutes, you could be flying. Based in the South Downs national park, Fly Sussex is the country’s largest paragliding company, and has unique access to private flying sites to ensure your experience is safe, unrestricted and unforgettable.
Fly Sussex aims to get amateurs flying solo on their very first day, and strives to help more experienced paragliders hone their skills. Their team of enthusiastic, full time instructors will be keen to share their knowledge and excitement with you at any time.
They even have upcoming paragliding holidays planned for destinations such as Annecy and Laragne, France.
Brighton Jet Ski Tours, The Waterfront, Brighton Marina
Get down to the Marina, slip on a wetsuit and prepare to get wet and wild with Brighton Jet Ski Tours.
After a safety briefing, you will be free to experiment with your jet ski as you head out into the open waters, passing the iconic piers and admiring the seafront like never before.
Those aged over 18 can take to the waves on their own, and younger riders of 14 and over can ride as passengers.
And soon, Brighton Jet Ski Tours will be offering a superhero experience with the introduction of flyboards to their range of activities. Stand on the board and you will be propelled into the air by water pressure in this unforgettable activity.
Q Leisure, Albourne, West Sussex
If you’re after a day of action-packed fun but can’t choose between all the activities on the market, then look no further than Q Leisure. Here you can do it all.
The wide range of activities on offer include archery, karting, paintball and clay pigeon shooting, all based just 20 minutes’ drive from Brighton, making it an ideal destination for an adult or kids’ birthday celebration, a stag do or just a day with friends.
There is a restaurant on site to keep you fuelled up throughout the day, and they even have a licensed bar and offer evening meals. Their function room is a great place to spend a special occasion with the option of a marquee containing a stage and dance floor.
Brighton Wakeboard Club, Brighton Marina
From beginner to pro, a day at Brighton Wakeboard Club is the perfect way to experience the thrill of wakeboarding, along with a range of other water sports such as wakeskate and waterski.
Created by wakeboarders, for wakeboarders, the club is an informal, sociable place to have fun and meet like-minded people who have a passion for the sport, as well as being reasonably priced.
You’ll be hitched up to a Mastercraft X2 speedboat, which are equipped with a heater, tower speakers, lights and sound system, so you can party on the waves as well as riding them.
Skatefresh, Hove Lawns, Brighton
The project of skate enthusiast Asha Kirkby, Skatefresh was founded in 1999 and is now the longest running skate school in London. Their branches are now located across the country in Reading, Leicester and Brighton. Classes are held once a month during skating season – March to November – at Hove Lawns and teach budding skaters how to practice and improve their skating skills.
From a Kids Club all the way up to advanced level sessions, Skatefresh is widely inclusive to ensure that each student has a relaxed, confident and above all, enjoyable session that is not restricted by age.
So whether revisiting an 80s passion or putting on your first pair of skates, don’t miss a chance to do so in a lovely beachfront location.
Hove Lagoon, Kingsway, Hove
Sometimes the challenge when learning something new is the very first step. And in the case of water sports, that first step is getting to grips with the water itself.
At Hove Lagoon, this challenge is their priority, making it the perfect place to try out water sports for the first time. The seawater lagoon is shallow, sheltered and without a tide, making it so much easier to master your balance and technique than on open water.
But the Lagoon’s proximity to the sea makes it easy to get out on the waves as soon as you feel ready. Offering activities such as windsurfing, SUP and wakeboarding for all ages and abilities, Hove Lagoon is a popular destination for kid’s parties, stag and hen dos alongside advanced visitors.
You can also make the most of the long summer days at the Lagoon, as from May to August it is open from 8am to 8pm. Drinks, snacks and hot showers are available in the clubhouse all day.
Yellowave Beachsports, Madeira Drive, Brighton
We are now well and truly into those long days and warm evenings of the summer, and this year why not make the most of it down on the beach?
At Yellowave Beachsports, visitors of all ages can try out activities from beach volleyball and football to Pilates and yoga, or just relax in the beach-themed booths of the Barefoot café.
Yellowave is an ideal place to while away a family day as breakfast, lunch and evening nibbles are served in the café to keep you going.
And on the hottest of days at Yellowave, with its warm sand, glittering sea and sociable atmosphere, good old Brighton beach will feel more like the Californian coast.
