Star Buys: Camp Town

The publication of 'The Big Book Of Gaydar (Uncut)' this August reveals the top five gayest UK postcodes with BN2 and BN1 at positions two and four. This should come as no surprise, as Brighton has long been the self-proclaimed gay capital of the UK. Now we have the evidence.

Brighton has been home to some of the hottest gay talent for many years. Playwright Terence Rattigan lived on Marine Parade, broadcaster Gilbert Harding in Montpelier Villas, and cabaret artist Douglas Bing in Arundel Terrace to name just a few past residents.

That list has now been added to by a posse of top-end gay talent: broadcaster and writer Simon Fanshawe, winner of the prestigious Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival, lives by the Kemp Town Enclosures; pop pixie Jimmy Somerville lives in Kemp Town Village (and is often seen picking up a bit of meat at Brampton’s butchers) and international choreographers Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mears are also Kemp Town residents.

Frequent visitors to the city were Ivor Novello, who wrote his hit show 'Glamorous Nights' at the Lanes Hotel on Marine Parade, and Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas stayed at The Royal Albion Hotel.

The truth about Brighton being a gay capital is simply explained. Brighton has a long history of tolerance and, as such, has attracted a wide range of people who would find living an openly gay life much harder elsewhere. Let’s face it, SE1 comes in at number one, but it’s a long way to E14 at number three.

'The Big Book Of Gaydar (Uncut)' is published by Book Guild, price £6.99