Hove YMCA

As from shopping perspective, YMCA always has some good stuff. I bought here awesome DIY bedside drawers, only for 5 quid each, in almost perfect condition. Saved 50 quid!
If you’re looking for some cheap second hand furniture, particularly if you’re student, before you go to Argos, pop in to YMCA. You might get much better quality (e.g wooden) furniture for lower price. Just little bit of fantasy and paint — and you’ll bring that useless piece for it’s second life. Very sustainable!
There is plenty of proper vintage furniture shops in Brighton, but not affordable for students and people, who are looking for cheap alternative rather than broken table from 15^th century. Also, there are plenty of charity shops, but only several of them sell furniture. YMCA is a good charity shop for cheap and useful furniture.

This YMCA is par for the course, a good value second hand furniture shop. It’s mostly basic, functional furniture — you can pick up a small bookcase for about £10, a large one for about £25, and a small desk for around £20. If you’re not troubled by the concept of a second-​hand mattress, you could find a fairly okay one in here for £40 — 50, and they’re often nearly new. There are bed frames as well, and various bedside cabinets and smaller bits. The interest comes in the odd few jokers in the pack, in the shape of a retro cane hat stand or a set of bar stools. There are a few really well made pieces of furniture in here too — last time I went there was a 1940s luxury-​travel set of suitcases with a trunk that opened out and stood as a miniature wardrobe and vanity stand, complete with foldaway triple mirror and shelves. There’s also a surprise in the shape of a large book section, and shelves of VHS tapes, all of which are on the cheap side even for a charity shop — some books come in at well under a pound. For larger items, the store will deliver for a charge. You can generally rely on them to have all the basics in. The stock rotates on a roughly two-​yearly basis as students and roamers move out and take their CD racks back whence they came — it’s almost like renting furniture, with the money going to charity. It’s reasonably conveniently situated, with cheeky almost-​parking on the street out the back where a blind eye will be turned to pulling up at the pavement briefly while loading. Overall, it’s handy, functional and you might serendipitously turn up a prize.

Second hand furniture shops are such a good idea. Even better if they’re for charity.
I’m so sick of throwaway, flat packed, cheapie Ikea and Argos furntiure. The idea that for £99 you can ‘buy a lifestyle’ buy buying some cheap laminate that’ll fall apart after a couple of years. And yet, anywhere other than those places is hideously expensive. This is where Hove YMCA comes in. Genuinely good quality wardrobes, tables etc that have stood the test of time, at very reasonable prices. And maybe even with a bit of character thrown in (not everything needs to be fake beech).
If you have old furniture to get rid of, they’ll pick it up from you for free — really useful if you haven’t got a car.

Hove YMCA is a great place to buy secondhand furniture and what’s more, it’s a charity so you’re helping the community whilst fitting out your new pad! Prices in here are really reasonable and they quite often have great 30s wardrobes and chests of drawers. I picked up a beautiful dark wood art deco dressing table with full-​length mirror for just £25! They often have cheap sofas and dining room tables. Also if you’re in need of a vase or some tasteless crockery look no further, you’ve struck gold!
Although there are often absolute gems to be found, it can also be like walking into MDF land– if you find it to be this way, don’t despair, just pop back in a week or so and you will find the stock changes quickly. By the same token though, this means that you should act fast when you do find something you love… Hove YMCA has regulars who like to swoop in and grab a bargain.
If you have no joy here, there is also another larger store (the mother-​ship, if you will) located in… yep, you guessed it — Hove!

«It’s fun to stay at the Y-​M-​C-​A
Young man, young man there’s no need to feel down
Young man, young man pick yourself off the ground
Y-​M-​C-​A … then just go to the Y-​M-​C-​A»
In my opinion, it’s been too long since I started a review with a song and what a better one than the YMCA? Were you dancing? I bet you were!
I think sometimes that little song and dance number overshadows the fact that the YMCA is a charitable organisation: oh yeah it’s hella fun, but there’s a serious side too y’all.
Alas, the Hove YMCA — curiously situated on London Road, BRIGHTON — is a second-​hand furniture and goods store whose profits go to the commendable YMCA charity (contrary to the popular belief that the proceeds ensure the Village People’s policeman has the shiniest helmet in town). When they stay away from corruption, charities are generally a force for good, so if you are needing to furnish your property, are on a tight budget and probably a student, then do something posititve and buy your furniture from a charity store such as the Hove, YMCA, in Brighton.
Y-​M-​C-​AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!