ARTISTS and businesses have been making themselves at home at the newly regenerated creative quarter on Brighton seafront.

The £5 million project replaced the deteriorating late Victorian promenade.

The work has delivered 26 arches with 10 double business units or artists’ studios and a newly refurbished seafront toilet block at the eastern end.

It houses a range of retail outlets selling designer gifts and homeware, children’s clothing, photographic prints, frames and books, and a hairdresser and beauty salon. Tenants include contemporary gifts and interior retailer The Lollipop Shoppe, gallery Brighton Photography, hair studio Banana Louis, clothing and artwork maker Artist Anon Brighton, arts, crafts and jewellery retailer Bailey Alexander Gallery, children's clothes and interior shop Small Folk Run, knitting and crochet specialist Mia Beach and The Hat Hut.

Magi Altwegg, of Mia Beach, said: “It’s high season so the footfall has been great.

“Some people still don’t realise we’re shops so we really want people to know we’re here.

“It’s beautiful to work by the sea. It’s been very successful so far but time will tell if winter is as good.”

Marika Steele, of the Lollipop Shoppe, said: “We were in Brighton before but we relocated to London and when this opportunity came up we decided to come back.

“It’s such a fantastic place to be.”

The scheme is part of a wider regeneration project, including the i360 viewing tower, to improve the eastern end of Brighton seafront.

The arches will be lit at night with sweeping blues, whites and sea greens to represent waves. The lighting scheme was designed by Urban Projects, based in Horsham, which was behind the award-winning Bandstand, which is visible from the West Pier Arches.

Councillor Ian Davey, deputy leader of the council, said: “The arches are stunning, with some really superb businesses already leasing them and helping to make a very special new creative retail quarter on the seafront.”