THE votes are in – and Brighton  has ousted tradition in favour of something a little out of the ordinary.

More restaurants in the city are taking part in today’s Pancake Day celebrations than ever – but it is not customary crepes they have on offer.

Alistair Doyle, general manager and head chef of The Breakfast Club in Market Street, said: “I think the city is opening up to American style pancakes, especially when they eat out.

“People want to try something different that they can’t make at home.

“Pancake Day is our busiest day of the year, but year-round they are still among our best sellers.”

English pancakes are similar to French crepes and are often eaten as a sweet dessert with a topping of lemon juice and sugar on Pancake Day.

Other options include a drizzling of golden syrup, or a thick spread of Nutella.

However, American pancakes have risen in popularity in the city, and those eating out this Shrove Tuesday will find more restaurants offering the thicker, fluffier varieties, often topped with maple syrup or more unusual concoctions.

The Breakfast Club is going all out with a special pancake menu which includes collaborations with Pizza Pilgrims, Bulleit Whiskey and Meringue Girls, plus a charity challenge for customers to eat a stack of 12 pancakes in 12 minutes or under.

Compass Point Eatery in St George’s Road, Kemp Town, will also be serving up itsfamed American-style pancakes, along with Nowhere Man in Upper North Street.

Meanwhile, those who prefer a traditional English pancake will be able to pick up crepes at Crepeaffaire in East Street with toppings including Ferrero Rocher and Reese’s peanut butter.

Mobile pancake van Three Stack will be popping up by Cafe Plenty in Circus Parade.

Starfish and Coffee in Egremeont Place, The New Club in King’s Road, Murmur in King’s Road Arches, Moksha Caffe in Trafalgar Street, The Trading Post Coffee Roasters in Ship Street and Smokey’s in King’s Road will all be frying up a treat on Pancake Day.

For those cooking at home, Mr Doyle said the secret to the perfect pancake – made from just flour, eggs and milk – was to make sure it was “the consistency of double cream”.

As a nation, the UK will use 52 million eggs this Pancake Day, 22 million more than any other average day.

The word pancake first appeared in English in the 15th century and the dish has been enjoyed in the country ever since.

But the first record of pancakes was in the time of the Ancient Greeks, whose “tagenias” were first referenced in the works of the 5th century BC poets Cratinus and Magnes.

Tagenias were made with wheat flour, olive oil, honey and curdled milk, and were served for breakfast.