A RECORDING studio used by some of the biggest bands around has been named the best in Europe.

Brighton Electric, in Lewes Road, is favoured by the likes of Mumford and Sons, Florence and the Machine, Royal Blood, The Cure’s Robert Smith and Alison Moyet in recent years.

And it has now been recognised by industry experts by being named Studio of the Year, 2016 at the Pro Sounds Awards.

The studio has been shortlisted for a number of awards in recent years but this is the first time it has won a major gong.

Brighton Electric director, James Stringfellow, who accepted the award said, “We keep our heads down and get on with the business of helping people make music.

"We’ve never shouted our success from the rooftops. The success has come largely through word of mouth."

It was founded in 2000 and has since been heralded as an integral part of Brighton’s vibrant music scene, attracted clients from across the music spectrum. Brighton’s own, Royal Blood and British Sea Power are regular clients while The Cure’s Robert Smith is said to be huge fan.

The Foals cut their teeth in the rehearsal studios when they were still unsigned and it has also been used by the Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, Pendulum and Alison Moyet to name but a few.

Mr Stringfellow said: “We have built the business up steadily over the past 17 years. We aim to provide a complete service – everything from pre-production, through rehearsal to recording and mixing. The coffee’s not bad either.”

He built the studio with just £700 when his own band Death to DJs had nowhere to record.

Since then it has developed it into a high-end studio complex comprising of two main recording rooms, 17 rehearsal studios, two tour buses and a showcase venue.

He added: “We’ve gradually grown as the clients that use us have grown. Their demands have grown. They have become more professional artists. So we have matched that, met that demand and grown too."

A fully licensed bar has recently been added and plans have been made to develop further rehearsal rooms to free up space for a larger capacity showcase venue.