I admire Charita Jones and am encouraged by the fact she is off to Amberley and elsewhere to promote her fantastic food.

I don’t believe she would blame “competition” for her restaurant’s demise – how many other Soul Food restaurants are there to choose from in Brighton?

The problem lies a little deeper.

Charita was a business owner who welcomed many families and couples intent on experiencing the Momma Cherri magic.

We went when it was in the smaller premises and, although I enjoyed what I had, I never felt inspired to return. But that’s not to say there was anything wrong with the experience.

However, there are queues outside many Brighton restaurants.

Try to book a table at Hotel du Vin, which costs far more than the places those which have closed down did, and you rarely get the date or time you want.

Yet the place remains packed.

Love’s Fish Restaurant in St James’s Street was another example.

People booked, only for some to be let down by the experience.

Opposite Love’s is Sawadee Thai, which is busy night after night.

There isn’t a single solution but “recession” is an easy scapegoat when something fails – just look at the Beachdown festival. That failure has already cost me £240 but that should be recovered by Monday.

Brighton remains a vibrant place and some recent visitors from Dublin were astonished at how busy the bars and restaurants were.

So don’t despair, because there are parts of the UK which are suffering more. In comparison, Brighton is thriving despite its high-profile exceptions.

Brian Snow
Upper Rock Gardens
Brighton