More than five years after their West Street location shut its doors, the popular Belgian frietkraam BeFries has returned to Brighton for good.
The business is run by brother and sister trio Chan, Dashal, and Ezda Beevers, who quickly established the establishment as a beloved fixture in the city upon its launch.
Within half a year of debuting in 2016, the family enterprise had achieved the top ranking on TripAdvisor, maintaining that position until its unexpected shuttering in 2020.
The siblings took to social media on April 8 to reveal their comeback, generating substantial online engagement with hundreds of comments and tens of thousands of shares.
We had no idea it would generate that kind of response, Chan Beevers remarked. The level of affection from the local community for BeFries has been truly humbling.
The refreshed BeFries operation, running from a mobile unit beside the i360 promenade, attracted snaking lines of more than two hours as eager customers sought out their legendary fries and house special sauces.
We were hopeful that people would still think fondly of us and want to return for BeFries, but we never imagined such an incredible welcome. So many of our regulars have been coming back, reconnecting with us, and picking up their beloved sauces once more.
Having all three of us working together in the unit again felt wonderful – preparing potatoes, cooking, serving customers.
The three siblings spent their childhoods enjoying Belgian frites in the Netherlands and yearned for the snack after each relocated to Britain.
My brother Dashal spent two decades living in Amsterdam, and the first thing we would do when visiting him was head to one particular fry shop there for a portion, Chan explained.
BeFries returns to Brighton with launch party at the i360
BeFries returns to Brighton with launch party at the i360
Brighton siblings behind BeFries launch new vegan condiment company
Brighton siblings behind BeFries launch new vegan condiment company
Dad-of-two gets Brighton and Hove sign tattooed on his back in Turkey
Dad-of-two gets Brighton and Hove sign tattooed on his back in Turkey
Dashal relocated to Brighton from Amsterdam fifteen years ago, joining Ezda who had moved there to attend university and remained in the city.
At that time, Chan was employed as a pastry chef in the capital.
During one of our conversations, I mentioned I wanted to establish my own venture, and my brother suggested, Why not try Belgian fries? It seemed like an excellent concept. No one had attempted it in the UK before, so it represented something genuinely fresh, Chan recalled.
They actually made a return trip to that same Amsterdam establishment to master their methods – understanding precisely how they achieved their results – and now we spare no effort ensuring the chips are flawless, combining our own house-made vegan condiments with sauces brought over from Holland.
BeFries presently stocks 13 of their original 22 sauces, featuring classics like Oorlog, a traditional Dutch condiment combining mayonnaise, satay, and sweet onion.
The owners intend to periodically reintroduce discontinued popular varieties as limited guest offerings.
Their house-made sauces are sold under the BeSaucy label and are currently distributed to more than 150 retailers nationwide, stocking shelves at Kindly in Seven Dials, Infinity Foods in Brighton, and Harriets of Hove.
BeSaucy demands much of my attention these days, so it will be different from those early days when all three family members were permanently on shift, but I still find tremendous joy in the work. Being back, particularly at the i360, feels extraordinary, Chan noted.
Having this vista every single day is wonderful, and the warmth from the i360 team has made us feel genuinely included. The atmosphere here buzzes with energy, and we’re thrilled to be part of it. While we cannot predict exactly what lies ahead, BeFries is most definitely back in Brighton for good.
BeFries operates seven days weekly from the i360 terrace: Monday through Friday from midday until 7pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 11am until 7pm, with extended trading anticipated during the summer season.