Hove Lagoon skate park has one of the coolest locations you could hope for in so far as it's…read moreliterally a stone's throw away from the beach. The layout is good too. Unlike many of the more public skate parks to be found in the UK the space between its features is not to vast as to have used up all your momentum before you reach whatever you were hooning towards. There is the usual jump box in the centre with a large flat bank at the lagoon end and both a quarter pipe and a flat bank flanking each end of the moderately sized half pipe at the east side of the park. The park is more family orientated than other public parks, so expect Groms. On the plus side this means that as a skater you are less likely to have to contend with agro BMXers and the usual pusher types. What's more if you hit it on a week day or later in the evening it should be relatively quiet. The surface is great too the whole park is marble smooth from the ground to the top of the ramps, but this does make it impossible to use if it's at all wet. On the whole due to it's great locating, relaxed vibe and great combination of features this is a sweet park to session regardless of what your chosen board, bike or style is.

This is a really pleasant area situated right in the centre of Haywards Heath. Pretty much every…read morebox is ticked that you would expect of a park. For children there is a sectioned off adventure playground with a decent rubber based safety surface. Teenagers get a skate park with a few ramps to flex some tricks on boards , bikes and blades. Sporty type can play tennis in the fenced courts. Finally, those that prefer to take things at a slower pace can relax on the maintained lawns or under some of the big trees dotted around the area. A number of benches are also situated on the outside if sitting on the grass isn't your thing. The park has male and female toilets, which is handy for longer stays and some of the paths winding around the park make for a good route if you want to have a jog or a stroll. The park also hosts a number of events over the year including a fun fair twice a year and also an open aired music concert. The location makes this a nice spot to have a break from your shopping, or to enjoy your lunch whilst having your break from work. Also, a good thumbs up to the council for the excellent job they do with maintaining the area.

Relaxing, big field for running or football.... They now even have exercise things. Oh a park,…read moretrees, Great for picnicking,

If you're after a grittier take on urban sports without being arrested, then it's well worth a trip…read moreto the Level skate park. There are a selection of ramps and boxes for pretty much all abilities and styles here. In recent years this spot has been made a little more family friendly too though this is dependent on when you're there as with any public park. With the Brighton BMX centre close at hand this is the kind of spot that retains a good sense of community. The park does have certain drawbacks though, it's definitely a BMX heavy park, and while this is great for the super trendy multi coloured BMX bandits out there it can be a bit tricky for those of us on planks. What I will say for this place though is that for the skater with a tinge of insomnia it's a rad place for a three a.m. rampage, particularly if you skate old Skool and want to get a flow on whilst mastering your bertslides.

Like many kids of my generation, I watched Back to the Future when it was first released and…read moredecided that for my birthday I was going to ask for a skateboard. For the next number of years I chocked about with my friends bombing down steep hills and suchlike. back then there were no skate parks in Burgess Hill, so I never ended up getting any ramp experience or major trick skills (I did manage feeble ollies). Anyhow, that was kind of the end of my skating career, but I still retain a special spot in my heart for decks. Whilst I wouldn't embarrass myself with an epic crash at this skate park, I do regularly check out the talent when i am on the level. There are a number of drop in ramps, grinding rails and box jumps to allow riders to show their skills. usually though you don't see that many Tony hawk protege's. Also, like Josh mentions, there area lot of bikers down there. The park is decorated with the near cliche graffiti that seems to accompany urban sports and some of the work is not bad. As there is the children's play area right next door, you will likely get a spill over of young bikers and boarders onto the park in the summer or at weekends. Whilst I've only experienced the park as a spectator, there usually seems to be an amicable atmosphere for those using the ramps, but parents would want to be close by if you had younger children using the park. A nice area that adds a bit extra to the level without seeming out of place.

With very little in the way of traffic and some of the most beautiful panoramic views of both the…read moresea and the downs this has to be one of my favourite skate spots. I discovered this road one "board" afternoon when I first moved to Sussex and was staying in Rottingdean. The road itself used to serve as access to and old water pumping station but is now nothing more than a residential road connecting two small farms and a house nestled away in the downs with the rest of the world. With the exception of a little gravel spilling out from a drive at the top and the odd pothole, midway down this run is something of a utopia for the retro short boarder. It's a three quarter mile straight run surrounded by soft grass verges and fields, that levels out for long enough to stop before becoming a kamikaze drop into a T junction. Remember to stop at the flat or you could get into some serious difficulties with gravity and automotive traffic. The only real draw backs to this place are that it's a little too narrow for long boarders to carve properly and if you get the wind behind you you're almost sure to carry too much speed for the short run off. Other than that it's a beautiful way to spend an adrenalin filled summers afternoon with plenty of time on the walk back up to the to to have a natter about how good the last run felt. Get pumped!!

For those familiar with the film 'Dogtown and Z-Boys' Bazehill Road will be a sight to behold: a…read morequarter-mile, straight, fairly smooth road with a gentle but effective gradient and safe run-off. It's really easy to find and it's pretty much unknown as a skate-spot. Fringed with fields and a sweeping panoramic of the coast it's one of the most beautiful spots there is. When the sky is blue and the wind is calm, Bazehill Road is always in my mind. I recommend you and your skater mates take a car, some short-boards and some tunes and head up to the most picturesque, easily accessible and perhaps safest run in Sussex. It doesn't reach white knuckle standards but it's massively satisfying.

Strolling down the South Bank, we came across a really cool part of the South Bank Centre, the…read moreskate park. Just when you think you've seen the most of South Bank, this impressed me. On the lower level they had a skateboard park that had quite a few young kids/adults skating around. I really appreciated the use of space and thought this was a cool way to integrate activities for locals into this area which is known for being touristy. We stopped and watched for a bit, when I got home and looked into it - I read up that this skate park has been around since the early 70's! I knew I had to write a review about it and share my photos. "The space is unique as it grew organically into what is now widely recognized as the home of British skateboarding. As an import from California, skateboarding in Britain was difficult due to the weather. The Undercroft space provided the perfect environment for skating as it was covered from the rain, smooth, flat with unusual architectural features resembling the ramps Californians skated, but most importantly disused." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Live_Southbank

I'm not a skater, but wow - what an interesting place to people watch!…read more Skateboarders and occasionally a few rollerbladers, this skate park is a nice place to get some shade along the South Bank. What make this place for me? The unique graffiti expressions on the wall. Artistic!

The Level is a funny old place. On the one hand, it's a great green space for lounging around with…read morefriends and a few beers in the summer. On the other hand, it is a roosting spot for some pretty dubious characters- I've seen a lot of quite open drug use happening just yards away from me, which can be a bit uncomfortable if you're just trying to have an innocent picnic! I'm generally a 'live and let live' kind of girl, but if you're a bit more sensitive... Although I guess it is technically a park, it feels a bit more like a green or a common, as it is essentially just a stretch of grass and a skate park. I just realized I'm still defining a park as somewhere that includes a children's play area. I'm 25! Oh dear. Despite my encounters with some dodgy goings on, I still enjoy a spot of sunbathing on the level, as it's really close to my house and lots of nice local pubs. And if you steer clear of the little wall lined with benches at the north perimeter, you'll be a-okay. There's plenty of space for Frisbee, football and all sorts of other summer games. In the Autumn the Level is visited by a funfair complete with waltzers, candy floss and groups of local youths.

the level puts everyone from all walks of life on a level playing field so to speak. You never know…read morewhat sorts of people you will get down here which can be good and bad. Think of it as an experience either way. People are always happy for you to get involved in their games and it is always good to spend sometime with people you have never met as you always learn something. At night however it can be a little bit strange so really use it during the day. Everything else has been covered by the guys before so read up on their review.

While there's quite a few bits and pieces hidden away in Victoria Park, with this one they go a bit…read morefurther: there's no paths leading to it at all. It's adjoining Grove Road where it goes through the park, and on the park side it's bounded by open grass. It's not massive, but contains a few lowish metal ramps and some railings for tricks. I don't actually do the sports myself so can't really comment, but it looks a little square and restricted to me. Still, the ramps do look in good condition, and it's not overly crowded. Incidentally this park is currently appearing on one of the little joke sponsor messages during the current series of Big Brother (other locations around Victoria Park also appear), so you if you watch that, look out for it!

What a find this place is! This is food about as good as it gets and the menu is ever changing…read morebased on what is locally available. The menu is simple and perfect, a choice of a 6 course or 8 course tasting menu; with a wine pairing option. They will happily alter to suite vegetarians etc. Everything we had, from a light broad bean and mint velouté soup, 20 minute sugar/salt cured fresh mackerel blow touched to crisp the skin, local beef and two deserts was outstanding. The staff were very professional, knowledgable and helpful. Decor is modern, clean and very attractive. There is absolutely nothing I can say negative about this place. Apparently others feel the same way, it is becoming extremely difficult to get a reservation. Interestingly the kitchen is open and a hive of activity. Steven Edwards (an award winning British chef) and his team clearly know what they are doing and are not afraid to experiment and surprise. For example; bread is a light, warmed brioche bun with a glossy Marmite glaze. Absolutely stunning, especially considering I do not like Marmite! My wife, daughter and me spent a very enjoyable 3 hours dinning at Etch and left very happy and pleasantly surprised. The 8 course tasting menu is not over indulgent, just right for anyone with a normal appetite. You may have noticed all my reviews to date on Yelp have been 5 star, this is deliberate. Life is too short to focus on that which does not make us happy. This is why I restrict my reviews to those things/places that make me happy and appreciate life. Sure, I have been to some really awful restaurants, but, like I said, life is too short to spend time thinking and writing about them

From the owner: Monthly changingBritish tasting menu restaurant from MasterChef: The Professionals Winner Steven…read moreEdwards