Eat, Vote, Love: The 2026 Brighton Restaurant Awards

The Brighton Restaurant Awards, better known as the BRAVOs, have officially hit their ten-year milestone this month. If you’ve lived in the city for a while, you know the drill: it’s that time of year when we get to have a direct say in which local spots deserve the top spots on the city’s food map. This year’s theme, Eat, Vote, Love, is paired with a Choose Local campaign, which feels particularly relevant given the pressures independent hospitality teams are facing right now. Since the voting opened on February 10, the focus has been on celebrating the independent restaurants, pubs, and cafés that give Brighton, Hove, and the wider Sussex area its specific character. Unlike many industry awards that rely on a panel of critics or secret diners, the BRAVOs are entirely democratic, meaning the results are based purely on the 70,000-plus votes expected from people who actually eat at these places every week.

There are 18 categories to look through this year, covering everything from high-end dining to the best Sunday roasts and local takeaways. A new addition for the 2026 edition is the Best Sweets and Treats category, which has been introduced to recognise the skills involved in patisserie, artisan baking, and gelato-making. You’ll also find familiar categories like Best Brunch, Best Cocktails, and Plant Champions. Sustainability remains a major part of the awards too. The Sustainability Champions category, supported by the University of Brighton, requires venues to complete a specific checklist to prove they are actually making improvements in how they handle waste and sourcing. This partnership also promotes the Sustainability Toolkit, a resource for local businesses looking to improve their environmental and social impact. Even the trophies themselves reflect these values, as they are handcrafted by Sussex-based Designs Woodcraft using recycled materials and traditional artisan methods.

Participating is straightforward and takes place online until the deadline on March 10. You can cast one vote in each of the 18 categories, though you don't have to fill them all out if you only have a few favourites. To keep things fair, you’ll need to verify your vote using an email address or a social media account. Beyond just giving your favourite barista or chef a bit of recognition, there’s a practical incentive for voters this year: a chance to win £400 worth of Restaurants Brighton Vouchers, which can be spent at various independent venues across the city. The visual side of the campaign also has a local touch, with illustrations by Brighton artist Kirsti Davidson appearing across the promotional materials, capturing the creative energy of the city.

The impact of these awards often goes beyond a trophy on a shelf. For many of the independent businesses in Brighton and Hove, placing in the Top 20 of a category can lead to a noticeable increase in new customers looking to explore the city’s best-rated spots. It’s a way to support the local economy while discovering places you might have walked past a dozen times. Nick Harvey, the founder of Restaurants Brighton, has noted that the awards have evolved from a simple vote into a way for the community to show genuine support for the venues they love. Once the voting window closes in a few weeks, the results will be verified and then revealed on March 31. Whether you’re a regular at a North Laine café or prefer the quiet bistros in Hove, your input helps shape the guide that many of us use year-round to decide where to head for a Saturday night out or a quick midweek lunch.