We were staying at the Sea Breeze in Kemptown. Kemptown is also known as Brighton's Gay Village, not something I was aware of before we booked in the area. The contrast to our previous stay in Brighton was quite marked. I remember thinking last time that I couldn't tell there was anything gay-ly special about Brighton. But we were just in the wrong district.
The main area in Kemptown is St. James' Street, eclectic and closer in tone to The Lanes rather than the traditional atmosphere of the sea front, full of restaurants and shops. Rainbow logos and flags are displayed by many of the establishments. Just take 4Sale for example; I did like their slightly off-beat sales/letting signs which say "4 Sale" "4 Gone" "2 Let" and "2 Late". Although no one was particularly happy with the Starbucks opening on the road, with protests outside every Saturday afternoon and some of the shops bearing "Boycott Starbucks" signs.
Oh yeah, while we were eating at tasty mexican El Mexicano, the Brighton Naked Bike Ride 2008 went past the front door. That's what you can see above.