Brighton Marina

How it once was.

If you’re in the mood for some discombobulation, I can recommend Brighton Marina on a drizzly February morning.

Built on land reclaimed from the sea, the marina was a 1970s project, turned into a Thatcher’s island kind of retail park in the mid 1980s.

It is dominated by a giant Asda and car park, and getting around on foot is an afterthought, as it is in many places designed for shopping and consuming and not much else.

You’re supposed to drive on in, on the rather thrilling concrete ramp, buy as much as you can, and then drive on out, maybe stopping for a drive-thru McDonalds on the way.

It’s a fascinatingly grim place, and well worth a visit.

There’s even a Harvester.

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