Holidays: HAVE FUN ON A BRIGHT 'N' BREEZY TRIP

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Dec 22, 2002 | by IAN HYLAND

THERE aren't many places where you can spend the afternoon losing money at a fun fair, the evening eating at a fabulous French restaurant and the early hours grinding away on the dancefloor at one of the coolest clubs in Europe.

You can in Brighton. Right now, London-on-Sea has never been so vibrant.

And when you toss in the shopping, the pubs, the culture and entertainment it makes Brighton the perfect cheeky little weekend break.

Then of course there's the beach. Don't worry if you don't have much time for the trendy set. If it's cream teas and a nice walk followed by a pig-out you're after, there's more than enough on the front to oblige you. Although be warned. If you eat as much as I did at one chippie on Sunday night you could be up till 3am rubbing your belly and wondering when it's due.

Anyway, back to that funfair on Palace Pier. Go there for an afternoon and I guarantee you'll spend the rest of the evening moaning "that was soooo fixed", "those darts were blunt" or "those coins were stuck on". One thing's for sure; you'll be lucky to win anything.

Take that from a man who sank at least 50 baskets on one basketball game and came away clutching...a Tasmanian Devil keyring. Worth 20p.

The Dolphin Derby proved more fruitful. Not only was our entire party word perfect in the accompanying song by the end of the day - and I can still remember it now - we also won a fluffy swordfish. We dined at a sweet little restaurant on Ship Street called La Petite Fourchette. Quite simply the best food I've eaten by the sea. And that includes candy floss.

Once the mussels were safely digested it was time to move on to the world famous Zap Club which is right, and I mean RIGHT, on the seafront. Visit The Zap on New Year's Eve when the city's adopted son Fatboy Slim plays at the Concorde II. But be warned; last time Fatboy played 250,000 turned up.

Still, there's always the Dolphin Derby.

-HILTON Leisure Break (call 01273 775 432; or visit www.hilton.co.uk) have a two-night bed and breakfast break at the Hilton Brighton Metropole for pounds 128 per person.