The Best Vintage Shops in Brighton

By Besma Whayeb, Author of Sustainable Fashion Blog CuriouslyConscious.com

Brighton is home to some of the best vintage shops in the UK. (Ok, I may be a little biassed, having moved here a few years ago, but regardless, I have found some gems while thrifting!)

There’s a real joy in finding good vintage items. First, you’re unlikely to find anyone else with the same. Whether it’s a vintage winter coat that costs a fraction of the price of a new one, or a vintage chair rescued from a hotel that you now proudly display in your living room, these items are yours and yours alone. Second, you’re supporting a more circular economy. Circularity supports a more sustainable future, saving beautiful items from going to landfill, and reducing the demand for new, unethically produced knock-offs too.

So, whether you’re a fellow Brightonian, or taking a day-trip from London to the seaside, here’s a few vintage shops to bookmark next time you’re out and about!

Wolf & Gypsy Vintage

30 Sydney Street, Brighton, BN1 4EP

My favourite vintage store has to be Wolf & Gypsy Vintage. If you like a well-curated, vintage shopping experience, Wolf & Gypsy is the place for you. The styles selected in this store fit transcend eras, fitting modern day trends despite being from bygone eras. Here you’ll find rails for womenswear, menswear, and complimentary ethically-made accessories and cosmetics.

All About Audrey

27 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 4ED

If you like bohemian chic, All About Audrey is the shop for you! Here you can find a mix of true vintage pieces, as well as clothing handmade from vintage fabrics. Their specialty is 60s and 70s style dresses, in all sorts of cute colours and prints.

Tut

38 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 4ED

Just up the road from All About Audrey is an entirely different kind of vintage shop: Tut. Here you’ll find garms from the 90s and early 00s, which strike a balance between vintage clothing and today’s Y2K obsession. Think printed tees, skate shoes, beanies, and more. The store stocks both menswear and womenswear, as well as rare collectables.

Vine Street Vintage

88 Gloucester Road, Brighton, BN1 4AP

For the creme de la creme of all vintage homewares, head to Vine Street Vintage. Here you can find “eclectic, eccentric, country house and rock’n’roll” interiors, with a new chandelier or mirror hanging in the showroom every other week. (I actually get a little bit scared about going in, because I know I’ll fall in love and end up penniless…)

Waiste Vintage

3 Gardner Street, Brighton, BN1 1UP

In and amongst the hustle and bustle of Gardner Street is Waiste Vintage, founded by Brighton-based fashion influencer Sara Louise Thomas. Here, you’ll find rows and rows of vintage denim, fanciful frills, and more. It’s a true vintage shop, and is worth popping in while milling around North Laine.

Salvage & Sawdust

84 Dyke Road, Brighton, BN1 3JD

If you love yourself some Americana, Salvage & Sawdust is the vintage shop for you. Here, you’ll find a mix of carefully curated vintage clothing, from French workwear to US military jackets, branded tees to baseball jackets. The shop stocks both vintage treasures and newly made items, so be sure to ask for more information about the item if you’re not sure.

Martlets (The Lanes)

4 Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1UJ

For vintage clothes at charity shop prices, head to one of the many Martlets stores dotted across Brighton! The Martlets store on Church Street may be small, but it’s the most well-curated vintage shop of them all, with everything from berets and brooches to cashmere coats and leather boots. You might also find some quaint antiques to compliment your finds at Vine Street Vintage!

Martlets (Western Road)

71 Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2HA

Martlets has shops all over Brighton, and their Western Road location is home to a sole rail of vintage clothes, but these are well curated and worth rifling through. I also found a 90s Isabel Marant jacket for just £15 here, so be sure to take a look!

Martlets (London Road)

89-90 London Road, Brighton, BN1 4JF

Finally, for vintage homewares, head to Martlets on London Road. This store is the largest of the bunch, and has some great furniture out the back, as well as vintage kitchenware and crockery displayed along the walls. Be sure to pop by if you’re in the market for good quality furniture at rock bottom prices.

Cats Protection (Preston Park)

70a Beaconsfield Road, Brighton, BN1 6DD

Another great charity shop for vintage finds is Cats Protection on Beaconsfield Road. This store is beautifully curated, with items split by style and colour, and an ever-changing mix of great donations from the local neighbourhood. My pro tip is to look out for the vintage leather jackets – I found the vintage leather jacket of my dreams for just £20 here, but upon trying it on, found it just a shade too big for me. Next time!

The Vintage Workshop

17 St George’s Road, Brighton, BN2 1EB

The Vintage Workshop is your one-stop-shop for all things vintage. Here, you’ll find vintage clothing, homewares, furniture, and curios. It’s a perfect example of a traditional vintage shop, with handmade dresses, charm bracelets, and dainty 19th century glassware. The three co-founders operate a real workshop at the back of the store, making repairs and creating new items alongside running the shop itself.

Brighton Flea Market

31 Upper St. James’s Street, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1JN

Like any good flea market, Brighton’s own is a hodge-podge of old and new furniture, clothing, and all kinds of tat that can be seen as both trash or treasure. I used to live relatively close to Brighton Flea Market, so I would regularly pop in, and I furnished my first flat with a vintage armchair in a gorgeous lavender colour. I later saw a similar one being sold in a high-street store for more than double what I paid so… It’s worth choosing vintage! Be sure to visit the upstairs for real steals, but also avoid haggling because they won’t budge!

AGE UK (Kemptown)

111 St George’s Road, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1EA

Now onto my favourite charity shop in Brighton! This Age UK stocks a lot of donations given by residents of Kemptown Village, so there are some real gems to be found here. From true vintage clothing, high end labels, and an eclectic mix of homewares, it’s worth popping by anytime you’re in the area.

Marie Curie (Kemptown)

99 St George’s Road, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1EE

Finally, for one more hidden rail of vintage clothing, head along the road from Age UK to Marie Curie. This charity shop has a huge selection of modern clothing, but hidden by the counter is a special rail of true vintage clothing with some really beautiful pieces. The prices are higher than most of the modern clothing, but it’s reflective of the value, and it all goes to a good cause.

Bonus: How To Properly Shop For Vintage

If you’re new to shopping for vintage clothing or homewares, or if you’re a seasoned shopper, it may be worth taking note of my tips on shopping for vintage! Find the best items and save yourself time, money, and hassle with the following:

Recognise that vintage clothing is different from second-hand: it’s from a specific era, usually 30+ years prior to present day
Use Instagram, Pinterest, or a good old fashioned scrapbook to hone in on the vintage styles and eras that best suit you
Even better, research the pieces you intend to buy to find out what their current market value is, and any buyers’ secrets
Know that the quality and condition of an item can heavily affect its value
Have your measurements to hand – for clothing, make sure to know your measurements in inches/cm, as well as UK, US, and European clothing sizes
Take your time – finding a good vintage item is worth waiting for
Be picky – if you find something that’s not quite right, it’s probably not worth the investment
Pay a premium for certification – making sure a designer label isn’t a fake is worth the extra investment
Be sure to include an additional figure for alterations and restorations – a good deal might not be so good if it needs repairs!

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