If you do like to be beside the seaside, then why not head to England’s south coast for a healthy dose of classic holiday experiences?

There’s a reason why, every couple of years, an up-and-coming British seaside town is promoted and advertised as ‘the new Brighton’. Arriving by train on a sunny summer weekend, you realise this coastal city attracts every walk of life – from London day trippers here for a good time and families with young kids (of which I’m now a part), to dapper older couples and – gulp – stag and hen parties.

Our home for the weekend is the DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, a standout red-brick hotel right on the seafront. Designed by famed architect Alfred Waterhouse and opened in 1890, it has recently undergone a lavish refurbishment and has had millions poured into it. It was money well spent. The hotel holds its Victorian elegance but now has a modern finish.

The rooms are spacious and refined but functional. We’re greeted warmly at the reception and are not only offered early check-in, but are also told the room has been prepared for us. A cot has been set up for our toddler, drinks are perched on a massive plate of cookie crumbs that my son still talks about to this day and balcony doors open onto uninterrupted views of the Channel. 

We work our way through the Brighton classics – a wander through the Lanes, fish and chips, ice cream, a quick dip in the sea, and a refreshing drink by the beach. With its amusement arcades and age-old charm, the pier is juxtaposed against the modern bars that have sprung up along the beachfront.

The atmosphere is lively. With our son feeling the effects of an active day and not in the mood for a restaurant sitting, we head to our room and order surprisingly good room service. The following day is spent around the beach and meeting with some friends who’ve recently decamped to the coast, topped off with an excellent meal at The Salt Room. Restaurants attached to hotels usually have little personality, but this one bucks the trend. 

At our table on the terrace, we enjoy an excellent bottle of Vinho Verde and watch the evening vibe shift to Saturday-night revelry. There is freshly made sourdough slathered in lobster butter; the tangy kick of yellowfin tuna sashimi contrasted by the sweetness of passionfruit dressing and the bite of jalapeño mayo; and the Cornish crab – a mix of textures and flavours with spicy tomato oil and crunchy almonds.

The star of the show is the fresh whole sea bream cooked in a Josper oven, its skin lightly crisped by the fire. You can taste the smokiness of charcoal. Over the weekend, Brighton has charmed us with its pebbled beaches, bohemian spirit and food scene. It’s clear some classics are too good to improve upon.