Brighton & Hove Commercial Property Report
A Guide to the UK’s Creative Coast on Comparetheoffices.com
Why Brighton & Hove? A Magnet for Talent, Tech, and Creativity
Often dubbed “London-by-the-Sea,” Brighton and Hove is a vibrant, progressive city renowned for its unique cultural identity and dynamic economy. It is a leading UK hub for the digital, creative, and tech (TMT) sectors, fostering a powerful ecosystem of innovative start-ups, scale-ups, and established companies. This thriving business scene is powered by a highly skilled talent pool drawn to the city’s exceptional quality of life, iconic seafront, and famously inclusive and independent spirit.
With two leading universities, excellent transport links to London and Gatwick Airport, and a culture that champions innovation, Brighton and Hove offers a compelling proposition. For businesses that thrive on creativity and need to attract top talent, the city provides an energetic and inspiring environment that is unmatched outside the capital.
The Brighton Office Market: A Snapshot
Brighton’s office market is defined by strong demand, particularly from its dominant TMT sector, coupled with a constrained supply of high-quality space. This dynamic has created a competitive environment for businesses seeking a foothold in the city. In 2024, office take-up remained robust, driven by the expansion of local tech companies and the arrival of new businesses attracted to the city’s talent pool. There is a clear “flight to quality,” with a strong preference for modern, sustainable buildings that offer excellent amenities and support flexible working.
Prime headline rents have reached a new peak of £40 per sq ft for best-in-class Grade A office space. A new wave of development and major refurbishment projects, particularly in the New England Quarter and at Preston Barracks, is set to deliver much-needed new supply and further enhance the city’s commercial property offer.
Your Workspace Solution: Deciding Between Flexible and Fixed
Choosing the right office is a critical decision in a fast-paced market like Brighton. A serviced office provides an agile, all-inclusive solution, perfect for start-ups, creative agencies, and companies needing the flexibility to scale quickly. A traditional lease offers a long-term, stable home with complete control over branding and culture, making it suitable for more established companies with predictable space requirements.
| Factor | Serviced Office | Traditional Leased Office |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Short-term contracts, often on a rolling monthly basis, allowing for rapid growth or changes in size. | A long-term, legally binding lease, typically for a minimum of 5 years, offering stability but less agility. |
| Financials | A single, predictable monthly payment covering rent, rates, service charges, utilities, and internet. | A base rent per sq ft, plus separate and variable costs for business rates, service charges, utilities, and insurance. |
| Move-in Speed | Extremely fast. A company can occupy a fully furnished and operational office almost instantly. | A much longer process involving property searches, legal negotiations, and office fit-out, which can take several months. |
| Community | Provides access to a built-in community of other businesses, fostering networking and collaboration. | A private, self-contained space that is exclusively for the tenant and their employees. |
Featured Office Providers in Brighton
Brighton’s workspace market offers a diverse range of high-quality options, from creative hubs in historic lanes to modern business centres near the station.
Bartholomew Square
This business centre offers a prime address in the heart of The Lanes, Brighton’s historic quarter. It provides high-quality office space surrounded by a vibrant mix of independent shops, cafes, and restaurants, ideal for businesses seeking a creative location.
- Prestigious address in The Lanes
- Close to the seafront and Royal Pavilion
- Surrounded by top retail and dining
- Characterful and professional environment
Queens Road
Situated on the main thoroughfare between Brighton Station and the seafront, this provider offers superb connectivity and visibility. It’s an ideal location for businesses that prioritise easy access for staff and clients, with the station just a short walk away.
- Excellent location near Brighton Station
- Superb transport links for commuters
- Modern, professional office facilities
- High visibility on a key city artery
Trafalgar Place
Located in the modern New England Quarter, this business centre is at the heart of Brighton’s tech hub. It offers contemporary workspace designed for innovation and collaboration, making it a perfect base for TMT businesses.
- Located in the New England Quarter tech hub
- Contemporary, design-led workspace
- Close to Brighton station and major corporates
- Fosters innovation and networking
Spotlight on Key Business Districts
North Laine & The Lanes
These two adjacent but distinct areas form the creative and cultural heart of Brighton. North Laine is a bohemian and energetic hub, home to a high concentration of digital media start-ups, creative agencies, and independent businesses. The historic, labyrinthine Lanes offer a more premium setting, popular with boutique professional firms, jewellers, and high-end retailers.
New England Quarter
Located immediately adjacent to Brighton Station, the New England Quarter is the city’s primary modern business district. This area has seen significant development over the last decade, delivering large-plate Grade A office buildings that have attracted a mix of corporate occupiers, particularly in the tech and financial services sectors. Its proximity to the station makes it the most accessible location for commuters.
Hove
Offering a slightly more relaxed atmosphere than central Brighton, Hove is a popular location for professional services, wealth management, and established creative companies. The area around Hove Station is a key commercial hub, providing excellent office stock and great transport links, while the elegant streets and squares offer a prestigious and desirable business address.
The Future of Brighton: City-Shaping Developments
Brighton’s future growth is being secured through several ambitious regeneration projects designed to deliver new homes, modern workspaces, and world-class innovation facilities.
Preston Barracks
This is one of the city’s largest and most significant regeneration projects. The £300 million scheme, a partnership with the University of Brighton, is transforming a former military site into a new innovation hub. The development includes 50,000 sq ft of commercial space designed for tech and science businesses, a new university campus, and over 350 new homes, creating a vibrant new academic and business corridor.
Circus Street
Recently completed, the Circus Street project has regenerated a formerly derelict municipal market site into a new, vibrant quarter. The development provides over 30,000 sq ft of high-quality office space specifically designed for creative and digital businesses, alongside new homes, student accommodation, and a new dance studio for the community, creating a new cultural and economic hub.
Conclusion: A Premier Destination for Innovation and Talent
Brighton and Hove’s commercial property market is a direct reflection of its dynamic economy: creative, competitive, and driven by innovation. Its powerful appeal as a place to live gives businesses a crucial edge in the war for talent, particularly within the TMT sectors. The city’s constrained supply of office space creates a competitive market, but ongoing regeneration is delivering the high-quality, sustainable, and flexible workspaces that modern businesses need. For companies built on creativity and talent, Brighton and Hove remains a premier UK destination.
Key Takeaways for Businesses:
- A Hub for the Creative & Tech Economy: Brighton is a nationally significant cluster for the TMT sectors.
- Unrivalled Quality of Life: The city’s unique culture and coastal location make it a powerful magnet for attracting and retaining a skilled workforce.
- High-Demand Market: Strong demand from local businesses means competition for the best office space is high.
- Growth Through Regeneration: Major projects are delivering new, purpose-built innovation districts and modern office space to support future growth.
