Dining at TheWitchez Restaurant in Brighton

If you are looking for a dining experience in Brighton that steps completely away from the usual high street setups, TheWitchez Restaurant & Creative Lounge at 3 Meeting House Lane is worth a look. Located in the former Choccywoccydoodah premises in The Lanes, this adult-only venue combines a quirky, gothic-inspired aesthetic with a menu focused on hearty Central and Alpine European comfort food. Founded originally in 2007 as a graphic design and web company by Ewelina Kus and Zaneta Vaughan-Spruce, the business transitioned into what they describe as the UK's first "photo design café and restaurant." The interior is heavily styled, featuring red velvet curtains, vintage portraits, projections of silent black-and-white films, and mystical details like skeletons and black roses. It is designed to feel like a cozy, immersive living room where guests are encouraged to relax and chat.

The kitchen is run by self-taught chef Zaneta Vaughan-Spruce, who draws on her Polish and German roots. Rather than changing the menu with the seasons, the restaurant focuses on consistency and classic comfort dishes. You will find items like Bavarian schnitzel served with chips, parmesan, lemon, and salad for £22, and BC, a dish of chicken with chocolate, chilli, couscous, coriander, and chilli flakes, also priced at £22. Other traditional options include pierogi (potato dumplings) filled with cabbage and mushroom or potato and cheddar, served alongside Polish meat stew and pickles. There are also larger plates like pork hock (Golonka), Swiss cheese fondue, and traditional stews such as Bigos and Lecso. For dessert, they offer a red-fruit crumble served in a soup bowl with warm cream and oat cookies, alongside chocolate brownies and artisanal ice cream.

The drinks menu is presented as a "grimoire of potions," featuring themed cocktails and mocktails like the Midsummer Spritz, which blends almond blossom, cucumber, citrus, and Prosecco. The restaurant accommodates various dietary requirements, offering vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and halal options. Because of its small-scale, intimate setup, reservations are required for dinner. For groups of up to six people, you will need to book online with a £10 per person deposit, which is refundable with 24 hours' notice. A discretionary 12.5% service charge is added to bills for groups of four or more. The venue is dog-friendly for quiet, well-behaved dogs on a lead, but they do not host hen or bachelor parties. Opening hours are generally Tuesday to Saturday from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM, though these can occasionally vary due to private events or photo sessions.