Was out with my friend Y the other night, revisiting some old Kemptown haunts. Was a bit disappointed to see the St George Inn had had a character-stripping refurb (and clearly I wasn’t the only one: it was pretty dead when we went, and we left after only one drink), but the Barley Mow – whose own refurb a while back I didn’t love, but have warmed to since – was bustling as ever. (Maybe the same will happen to the St George – it can take a wee while for these things to bed in, I realise…)

And a jar of dog biscuits on the counter reminded me that, yes, I am back in Brighton…