It's been said that London 2012 would help to boost business and tourism across the country.

The Argus hit the streets yesterday to find out how the Olympics are affecting businesses in Brighton and Hove.

We found that fortunes have been mixed but traders feel a combination of the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee have helped to lift shoppers’ spirits.

And most people we spoke to also had something to say about the recent bad weather.

The Olympic effect has still managed to reach some Brighton businesses with sales of Olympic-themed treats helping to pull in the punters.

Gemma Coupland, store manager of Velvet gift stop in Bond Street, said: “The weather majorly affected us during July but everyone has definitely got into the Olympic spirit.

“We did get through a lot of stock before the Jubilee and in the build-up to the Olympics – during the Jubilee everyone was very patriotic.

“In central London, from watching the news, it looks dead but we’ve just got busier and busier.

“I think people have definitely been coming to the coast to steer clear of central London.”

Shopkeepers and shoppers alike agreed the Olympics and Jubilee had lifted spirits but said the poor weather had dampened spirits.

Eskander Hajezad, who runs Union Jax in North Road, which sells a range of UK memorabilia, said not even the Olympics could help boost business.

He said: “There are a lot of people coming to Brighton but last year it was a lot busier than this year.

“There were a lot of tourists in July and August and the wet weather hasn’t been helping us.

“It’s a typical English summer.

“I am a bit disappointed with how business has been going.”

Increased bookings

Despite a damp day yesterday (August 1) Myhotels group in Brighton said the past month had seen bookings increase.

A spokesman for the company said: “We’ve seen some very positive increases coming through in the past month.

“It is possibly Olympic-related – a report by PriceWaterhouseCooper said 30% of overseas visitors will visit at least one other location while they are in the UK.

“And of course, Brighton is the city to visit.”

Staff in Montezuma, in Duke Street, say the recent wet weather has been good for business and that the Olympics have also had an effect.

Anna Constantopoulou, store manager, said: “Hot weather keeps people away from chocolate shops so the wet weather is not so bad for us.

“We’ve probably done OK out of the Olympics – we’ve done some sport inspired chocolates.

“We were really busy when the schools closed and the Jubilee helped too.

“We brought out a range of Cockney rhyming slang bars and it’s amazing what a Union Flag can sell."

Winter warmer

Poor weather has prevented revellers making the most of some seafront bars but presented some pubs with an unexpected business boost.

Chris Moore, deputy manager at the Saint James Tavern, in Madeira Place, said: “It’s been busier for us even though we’re more of a winter pub, we’ve got the fire and ales.

“Usually the ales don’t sell too well in the summer but they are more popular with younger drinkers now.

“Because we don’t have a beer garden and a lot of people want to sit outside often, we find this a quiet time but as it’s not been that sunny we’ve had a lot more people coming in.

“The bad weather had really helped in that respect.”

David Sewell, who runs the Pavilion Gardens Café and is chairman of the North Laine Traders Association, said: “I think the Olympics, as such, is fairly neutral.

“Any weather-dependent business in the North Laine or the seafront is struggling.

“This cafe has been open for 71 years but this has got to be the worst season.

“When there’s bad weather we don’t get the people out.”