Inside Studio Grizzly and Brighton’s Creative Scene
A look inside Studio Grizzly - a Brighton-based design studio working with local businesses, building a creative community, and doing things differently.
Your Friendly Neighbourhood Designers
We speak to the team behind Studio Grizzly - a Brighton-based design studio working with local businesses across branding, web and creative direction.
“I was lucky enough to be born here,” says Henry, founder of Studio Grizzly.
What’s kept him in Brighton is the creative culture - something that continues to shape the way he works today.
“There’s no better place to find well-suited creatives to collaborate with. There’s always the right person just round the corner.”
That sense of proximity sits at the core of Studio Grizzly.
Rather than operating as a fixed team, the studio works as a collective - bringing together local freelancers and matching them to projects based on their strengths.
“It means we can offer a specialist for each project,” Henry explains. “You’re not getting a one-size-fits-all approach.”
The studio spans branding, web design, creative direction and digital marketing, supporting independent businesses at different stages. The collective model allows each project to be shaped by the right people, rather than forced into a single way of working.
Henry describes the studio simply:
“We’re your friendly neighbourhood designers.”
More broadly, Brighton reflects a shift in how creative careers are being built.
“More and more people are chasing freedom, harnessing their skills and starting their dream businesses. Brighton is a huge testament to that mindset shift...
It’s fantastic to see people build something that sets them free of the 9–5 grind.”
As part of this, Studio Grizzly is continuing to grow its community - hosting social events and creating opportunities for connection across Brighton’s creative scene.
“We want to become the go-to people for design in Brighton,” Henry says. “The dream is to open a collaborative space - somewhere open to the public for coffee and consultations, where we can connect people with the right designer.”
When it comes to client work, Studio Grizzly is about helping businesses stay consistent - across branding, web design, creative direction and digital marketing - while adapting to what each project actually needs.
“We love working with brands who value creativity and expression. It allows us to design more freely and test the boundaries of what’s possible.”
They’re particularly drawn to brands that value creativity, individuality, community, and a connection to the outdoors.
Henry’s Brighton
He often starts at Cafe Coho - a window seat, good coffee, and a slow start while the city wakes up. For a quieter reset, it’s Chasing Rabbits in Hove - somewhere to sit in the sun and switch off.
And when he’s looking for something more social, Fortune of War.
“Great vibes, amazing staff and great music nights. Everyone’s open to making new friends.”
If you're looking to shape your brand or start something new, you can get in touch with Studio Grizzly at henry@studiogrizzly.co.uk
A conversation with My Skin Feels founder Danielle
We spoke to My Skin Feels founder Danielle about building a skincare brand in Brighton, doing things differently, and her go-to spots across the city.
We spoke to Danielle, founder of Brighton-based skincare brand My Skin Feels, about building a wellness business in the city, what it’s really like growing a brand from the ground up, and the places she returns to when she needs to reset.
Could you tell us a little about how My Skin Feels first began and what inspired you to start the brand?
"I've been in the beauty industry for 15 years, including being part of the founding Charlotte Tilbury Beauty team, so I've seen first-hand how little sustainability is actioned.
I wanted to prove, if I could create a brand that does better, then what are we doing in the industry? We all need to do better."
What was the journey like building a skincare brand from the ground up and what makes My Skin Feels different from other skincare brands??
"It's been a mad journey, full of so many highs and lows, but it's been truly rewarding, mainly because so many people have sent in such lovely messages about how our products are helping their skin, which has been our greatest achievement."
"What makes us truly different is our rescued food ingredients. We take ingredients rescued from Italian food manufacturing including the by-products of Tomato Ketchup, Olive Oil, Breakfast Oats & Orange Juice.
We don’t believe in over-complicated routines. We focus on multitasking products that do the job, with better ingredients, better ethics & less impact on the planet.”
Manufactured locally in the UK using recyclable EU-sourced aluminium and avoiding cargo shipping wherever possible, My Skin Feels also incorporates recycled water into its formulations, upcycled orange juice, and donates 1% of sales to the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership.
Brighton has such a strong creative and entrepreneurial scene. What has it been like building a business here, and how has the local community shaped your journey?
"Actually, very interesting. I work alongside so many entrepreneurs, so I'm surrounded by start-up buzz which has been a huge help, but the support of the wellness community has been invaluable. It’s so hard to look after yourself when you're 'all systems go', but having all the amazing wellness spots on our doorstep has been a huge help for both my mental and physical health."
Brighton has such a strong wellness scene. Where are your go-to spots across the city, from resetting and movement to coffee, food and hidden gems?
"Oh so many. Beach Box, Luna Hut, The Float Spa, The Tree of Life Centre and Be Well Massage Therapy in Five Ways, all game changers an very close to my heart."
"Preston Park is always my go-to especially because my gym Fitness Hub is based there which means I get to work out whilst looking at nature."
"YouJuice is my absolute favourite place in Brighton, then Mediterraneo on Portland Road and Rust is my weekend go-to."
"The Stanmer Sauna Garden in Stanmer Park is truly magical, plus there are so many small biz markets like The Makers Fair and Paper Daisy which are well worth a visit!"
What does your ideal slow Brighton / Sussex day look like?
"A slow day in Brighton rarely happens these days… but when I do get some time it starts with Pilates at Barefoot Pilates in St Anne’s Well followed by brunch at YouJuice. A stroll down the seafront to Infinity to pick up some of the very best fruit and veg you will ever eat followed by an evening sauna at Luna Hut."
Built in Brighton, shaped by community, and rooted in doing things differently.
Discover My Skin Feels →
Meet Bobby: 18 and running Café Tostig at Battle Station
Café Tostig is a café at Battle Station, opened by Bobby at just 18. We meet the young owner behind the Old Station Master’s House café and hear how it became part of daily life in Battle.
Meet Bobby, the owner behind Café Tostig.
At just 18, he opened the café inside the Old Station Master’s House at Battle Station - taking on a building full of history and the responsibility that came with it.
Here’s how it began.
“Cafe Tostig started as a conversation between me and my mum on a car ride back from Eastbourne. We said we should open a cafe one day, like people do, but instead of leaving it there we actually looked into it.”
At the time, he had already left college early. Education hadn’t felt like the right fit. After trying everything from being an apprentice equine groom to looking into dog grooming, nothing stuck. “I did not want to just bounce between jobs. I wanted something that felt like mine.” Working as a barista gave him insight into how cafés operate day to day - and the idea began to feel possible.
When a CIC in Battle approached his mum about a space becoming available at the station, it shifted from talk to reality. The Old Station Master’s House stood out immediately - full of character and history, and positioned in the middle of daily life. Commuters, locals and visitors pass through constantly, making it part of people’s routine rather than a tucked-away destination.
Opening so young came with pressure. “At 18 you are still figuring out who you are, so opening a cafe and suddenly being responsible for everything is a lot.”
“If something goes wrong, there is not someone above you to pass it on to. You are the one responsible.”
From the beginning, the aim was simple: create somewhere relaxed. A calm stop within the pace of station life. “I was conscious of not making it feel rushed. I did not want seats that felt like timers or a space where you felt in the way for staying too long. Whether someone is stopping in for five minutes before a train or staying longer to catch up with a friend, I wanted it to feel comfortable.”
After nearly five years without a coffee spot at the station, Tostig arrived to a strong response online. New locals continue to discover it each week.
Day to day, it’s the conversations that stand out most. “I love hearing where people are heading or where they have come from, whether they are off to watch sport, visit family or just starting their day.” The café isn’t just about coffee - it’s about the small interactions in between.
One moment that confirmed it was working came on Battle re-enactment day. “The town was packed, the station was busy and the cafe did not stop all day. It was a constant stream of people coming and going from the morning through to closing.
We sold more hot chocolates that day than we ever had before, and my mum ended up driving to Bookers three times to restock cups. It was completely non-stop, but in the best way. Days like that make you realise it is not just an idea anymore, it is something people actually show up for.”
If you’re visiting for the first time, be quick with the cinnamon buns.
“If it is your first time, you have to try one of our cinnamon buns. All of our reviews mention them, and we only get six in every other day. They almost always sell out within the first couple of hours, so you have to be quick.”
Looking ahead, the focus is steady growth. “Over the next few years, I would love to see Cafe Tostig properly cement itself as part of Battle. I want it to keep growing steadily and building on the support we have already had.
I would also love the possibility of expanding to a second location one day.”