Some places just have a certain feeling about them – and English’s of Brighton is definitely one of them.
Earlier this month, we joined the team to capture a very special evening celebrating 80 years with the Leigh-Jones family, and over 150 years of Brighton’s original oyster house. That’s a long time to be part of the city, and you can feel it the moment you walk in.
The night had the kind of atmosphere you can’t fake. Tables were full, glasses were constantly being topped up, and people were catching up like old friends. There was laughter drifting through the courtyard, stories being shared, and that familiar sense of warmth that English’s always seems to have.
Our job was simple – to capture it all as it happened. From the first pour of champagne to the team photo under the umbrellas outside, we wanted to keep it real. No staging, no overthinking. Just honest moments that tell their own story.
We shot throughout the evening, mixing stills and short reels that would bring the night to life online. You can almost taste the oysters and hear the glasses clinking when you play them back. It’s always fun when the energy of an event naturally shapes the content – everyone was relaxed, happy, and just enjoying the moment.
The English’s team were brilliant to work with too. They were right in the middle of it all – chatting to guests, laughing, and making sure everyone had a good time. Photographing them together at the end of the night felt like the perfect way to wrap it up.
This shoot also ties in with the wider work we’ve been doing with English’s over the past year. We recently helped redesign their website to better reflect who they are today – timeless, local, and full of character. You can take a look at that project here on our portfolio, or visit the restaurant’s site at englishs.co.uk.
Being part of their 80th anniversary felt like a celebration of everything that makes English’s so special – great food, good company, and a team that genuinely loves what they do.
Scroll through the gallery below to see a few of our favourite shots from the night, along with a few reel clips that capture the atmosphere perfectly. Here’s to 80 iconic years of oysters, champagne, and Brighton charm – and to many more evenings like this one.
