If you're interested in bonsai, Bonsai-Ko is a plant shop and supplier in the centre of Brighton, at 45 Sydney Street, Brighton and Hove, BN1 4EP. It's closed on Mondays, so plan your visit for another day of the week. The shop is run by Eric Danot, who set it up in 1990. Before he got into bonsai, he worked as a professional actor. He now has over 30 years of experience with bonsai and teaching it. According to the shop's website, bonsai is an ancient horticultural art in which seedlings are trained through pruning and wiring. It isn't a specific type of plant.
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The shop sells a wide range of healthy bonsai trees and offers tree selection, expert guidance on care, pruning and styling, and general maintenance and care. There is also a babysitting service for people who are away and don't want their trees left alone. Customers mention that Eric helps with practical problems, such as cleaning the soil, cutting unwanted branches and reshaping trees. He also gives free lessons on how to trim, shape and correctly place wire. One review mentions a tree bought from Eric 25 years ago that is still being cared for, and another describes Eric looking after a bonsai five years after it was bought.
The shop has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 from 94 reviews on Google Maps. One detailed review gave scores out of 10 for customer service (10), atmosphere (10), presentation (9.5), products (10) and location (10). Reviewers describe the shop as full of bonsai trees and say it's a good place to learn, with people often spending a long time talking with Eric. The shop does not seem to be a quick stop, and it suits anyone who wants advice along with a plant.
At the moment, Eric has put a giant man-eating plant prop in the shop window. He is also performing in a production of The Little Shop of Horrors at the Barn Theatre in Southwick, where he plays the roots of the lethal plant. The show is listed to run from 25 to 29 November. For more information, you can visit the website at bonsai-ko.co.uk.
Published Date
29 October 2026
