In recent years, Brighton bars have been getting more and more stylish. Not content with just enjoying good design in our homes, now we expect our local watering holes to stand up to scrutiny too which is why View is supporting the UK's first awards dedicated solely to excellence in restaurant and bar design.

In our interview with merkaba designer Karim Rashid, the design dynamo behind the myhotel bar's stylish good looks talks superior design and why a bar is always about so much more than well-made cocktails.

What was the design brief?
The inspiration of Steph Thrasyvoulou, son of myhotel’s founder Andy Thrasyvoulou, merkaba is the epicentre …

Choosing to spend Valentines Day at Brighton bars without any forward planning is a bit like going skydiving without a reserve parachute – for a couple of minutes it’s going to seem like a superb idea but pretty shortly afterwards you may be coming down to earth with a nasty bang. Although, obviously this is an analogy, I’d like to make it clear that out of the two I’d always rather be propping up the bar and contemplating my poor judgment than leaping out of a plane into oblivion. But I digress. The main reason that choosing to spend Valentines Day at Brighton bars requires such careful forward planning is that come 14th February where usually there is harmony at Brighton’s hostelries, suddenly the city is divided into two camps – singletons …

Confused by wine? There are quite a few of us who can’t tell their Chablis from their Chardonnays (no need to be ashamed!) and find ourselves stuttering when we’re amidst wine connoisseurs. Who knew just a little bottle of fermented grapes would be so tricky?

Now you have the chance to get all that knowledge sorted. Guy Henri Azam, head winemaker at Baron Philippe de Rothschild winery, and fellow wine expert Philip Goodband are hosting a webchat to demystify the concept. From good buys to ones best avoided, and how to recognise which wines are best whilst wandering the aisles of your local off licence.

Want to get your wine questions answered? Click here …

Now I don’t mean to scare you, but I think robots may be trying to take over the world – or the UK at least - I-Robot style. Yes, it’s true. First it was the turn of the ICA in London to introduce robotic punk clubbers (see Neurotic Robots Love to Party), and now the world’s first robotic barman (I swear, it’s true) is making its shiny and new debut at one of my favourite places to spend money – Selfridges Oxford Street - tomorrow.

The robot, lovingly named Mr Asahi (as in the beer) is …

The thing we love most about the Brighton Fringe Festival is its lack of organisation. The fact that anyone can stand up and be counted in front of their fellow residents (and a large dose of tourists) as long as they can get a venue to agree is what freedom of artistic expression is all about. Although there are always going to be some performers who push the boundaries – why is it always the severely unattractive who insist on ripping off all their clothes and performing as nature intended? Thankfully though, most of the acts every year have more going for them than just nudity and it’s a great opportunity to immerse yourself in Brighton’s creative core.

Let’s be honest though, living in Brighton is 10% about the sea view and 90% about the social life and the Brighton Fringe Festival gives us the excuse to fling ourselves headfirst …