Your favourite memories of Buddies on Brighton seafront

For more than two decades, the 24-hour cafe and bar provided hearty breakfasts and more for hungry punters looking to fill their rumbling stomachs before dawn.

The immensely popular seafront site is currently unrecognisable, with a major renovation under way to transform Buddies, along with neighbouring Buddies Plaice and Bad Boy Chicken, into a high-end restaurant.

Regulars will barely recognise the spot where they could enjoy a sit down meal at every hour of the day

The new venue hopes to open in the summer under a new name. And, critically, it will no longer be a 24-hour establishment.

When The Argus broke the news, loyal customers were quick to wish owner Andy Cheesman and his team the best, sharing their excitement about the new venture. However, they could not hide their disappointment that the now infamous Buddies breakfast was no more.

Buddies owner Andy Cheesman in front of one of the hidden doorways uncovered during the refurbishment

So, in homage to the early hours write of passage, we asked you for your favourite memories of Buddies. And you answered.

Buddies is probably best-known for its all-hours breakfast offerings, but many may be less aware of its match-making talents.

Following the news of its reimagining as a restaurant, Argus reader Jennie Bryant shared the incredible story of how a decision made at the seafront site changed her life forever.

She said her prevailing memory of the cafe was "sitting with my good friend Angie Craven after a great night out, trying to decide when would be the best time to text the boy who gave me his number".

She added: "I did text, and we have been married 16 years."

• READ MORE: 'The loss of a Brighton institution' - the Buddies breakfast is no more

And, while Buddies was the place where it all started for some, for others it was their first port of call after their big day.

Rachel Cattell said her fondest memory of Buddies was: "Going for breakfast the morning after our wedding - up do and all."

Romantic entanglements aside, hundreds of loyal customers lamented the loss of Buddies as their go-to destination after a night out.

Tamara Sumner said she went to Buddies after a night out in Brighton to celebrate her 18th birthday, and had a distinct memory of a friend "lobbing a sausage" inside the venue.

A Buddies breakfast

Meanwhile Gina Bardley recalled having "a vodka and coke, full English and then playing truth or dare/shotting vinegar from the table".

"If you didn’t have a 3am fry up from there then you truly missed out," Liam Jones said.

Donna Marchant added: "It was always the sign of a great night out when the last pit stop was a Buddies breakfast."

However, it was not just Buddies huge breakfasts which were on offer in the early hours. A whole menu of treats was offered to bleary-eyed visitors, and they took full advantage.

• READ MORE: Buddies undergoing major transformation (here is what will happen to the site )

Oddly, the humble carbonara was cited by hundreds of customers as their abiding memory of 4am dining at the site.

Cali Lowes said she would miss having the option of a three course dinners at 3am.

But Donella Colchester-Stone had a less fond memory of Buddies as she looked back on her time spent at the diner.

She said her main memory was "sitting outside with my mum having lunch and a seagull s*** in my carbonara".

The exterior of Buddies in Brighton with refurbishment works under way

Memories of revelry dominated the many responses we received when asking for your favourite Buddies moments, but other customers demonstrated that the cafe and bar's target demographic catered to far more than just club-goers.

As was made clear to The Argus when we visited the site to see the latest developments, everyone was welcome at Buddies, and this will also be the case at the new restaurant opening on the site.

Angelena Moore Churcher recalled "finishing work in the early hours and having breakfast at Buddies before heading home".

Dave Sommer said: "I had many a Buddies Buster here. Over 25 years working on the doors, it was the first place to go after work. Andy, I wish you all the best fella."

Regulars will barely recognise the spot where they could enjoy a sit down meal at every hour of the day

Matt Allen remembered always been greeted with a cheery "how you doing?" by staff, saying he missed finishing work at The Event in West Street in the 90s then popping to Buddies for breakfast.

Richard Powell said: "As a former door supervisor, it was the go to place when finishing around 3am for a much-deserved Buddies breakfast.

"Andy used to give door staff discount too. Fond memories had and good luck Andy with your new venture."

And Maria Baker said: "My last visit was with some previous West End stars from days gone by.....always have loved taking people and impressing them with being able to get more than just breakfast at 3am or 4am. Very sad to see it go Andy, but waiting for the phoenix to rise."