That was especially true this year, with record temperatures bringing large crowds to beaches up and down the Sussex coast.
From dramatic evacuations to rockstar book donations, here are eight stories that dominated the headlines in July and August.
Ikea opening day in Churchill Square in Brighton (Image: EDDIE MITCHELL)
There were cheers and applause as the long-anticipated opening of Brighton Ikea happened on a Thursday morning in August – the 14th to be precise.
Hundreds of people, some who had queued for hours, streamed through the doors of the shop in Churchill Square shopping centre to the tune of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) by Abba on the steel drums.
Before the launch at 10am, queuers were kept entertained by the musicians, as well as a magician and two seagull mascots.
Once inside, customers were greeted by brightly dressed staff who waved Swedish flags in what looked like a guard of honour.
Gayle and Paul Newman left the Ladies Mile after more than 22 years (Image: UGC)
A beloved Brighton couple who had been at the heart of their community for over two decades prepared to say goodbye.
The publicans of Patcham’s treasured Ladies Mile pub, Gayle and Paul Newman, announced via Facebook on Wednesday, July 9 that after 22 years of service they would be stepping down from their roles in the business.
During the more than two decades Gayle and Paul have spent at the pub they have “built it up to a really successful business” and created a place that much of the Patcham community “calls their home”, they said.
They left the business in September.
Nick Cave donated 2000 books
A Hove charity bookshop received a donation from a world-famous rock star.
Oxfam on Blatchington Road in Hove received a donation of around 2,000 books from Nick Cave’s personal collection in July.
The books are believed to be part of an art installation which toured the globe.
Richard, who works at the Hove store, explained how the opportunity came about.
He said: “Someone from Cave’s organisation contacted Oxfam centrally. There was an art installation about Nick Cave and his working processes, which had toured. Part of this installation was his library.
“When this ended the books went into storage and then they came to us.”
The use of hosepipes was banned in Sussex this summer (Image: South East Water)
A hosepipe ban was implemented due to heatwaves and a dry spell.
South East Water banned the use of hosepipes for its customers in Sussex, meaning they could not be used for watering gardens, washing cars or windows or filling paddling pools.
The utility company said a “record-breaking demand for drinking water”, combined with multiple heatwaves and a prolonged dry period, had left them with “no choice”.
Low levels of water exceeded the limits in the company’s drought plan and “will soon start to impact the environment”, they said.
The ban covered South East Water customers in Sussex and Kent, impacting around 1.4 million people.
Nathaniel Byng got the top mark in the country (Image: Brighton College)
A Brighton boy celebrated achieving the highest mark in the country in one of his GCSEs.
Brighton College pupil Nathaniel Byng celebrated ten grade 9s and one grade 8, alongside a prestigious national award for achieving the highest mark in the whole country in his English Literature GCSE.
He achieved 100% in his exams.
This was made “all the more wonderful”, the college said, as both of his parents are senior figures in publishing.
With both parents having a passion for books and believing in the power and magic of words and storytelling, Nathaniel started reading early, the college added.
A homeless man was evicted (Image: EDDIE MITCHELL)
Pictures showed specialist enforcement officers removing tents and throwing away people’s possessions in August.
Specialist Group International, a provider of rescue, underwater search and protester management, sent enforcement officers to Madeira Drive, Brighton to clear away tents which had been there “for months”.
The Argus saw a letter from the High Court that granted Brighton and Hove City Council permission to enter the land and take possession of it on August 1.
Enforcement officers were seen pulling items out of the tents, including pillows, blankets and duvets and throwing them down from the terrace on to the ground.
HM Coastguard were called to Eastbourne Pier (Image: EDDIE MITCHELL)
A pier was closed after it was discovered to have become damaged.
Coastguard crews were called to Eastbourne Pier on July 30 after a member of the public reported an area of the decking which had come away.
Eastbourne Coastguard assessed the damage and cordoned off the area.
In a post on social media, the coastguard wrote: “Team tasked to Eastbourne pier yesterday to assess some damage reported by a member of the public.
“Once on scene, teams were deployed to locate and assess the damage safely; the area was cordoned off by our teams then shortly after the pier itself was closed by management.”
The cafe in Saltdean (Image: EDDIE MITCHELL)
A seafront café closed just months after being taken on by new owners when its sale fell through due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’.
On June 6, Kitti’s opened on Marine Drive in Saltdean, at the previously named Whitecliffs Cafe.
The café was run by new managers, who worked to rejuvenate the site and completed a range of improvements to the venue.
However, after being open only several months the café announced in August it would be closing.
The café later reopened as Whitecliffs Cafe, but the drama did not stop there.
Police were also seen at the cafe in November after reports of threats being made, with the force not taking any further action into this incident.
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