This doesn't just happen in Brighton. I travel the country a lot for work and I can count with one hand the number of taxis which have let me pay by card. It's insanely archaic. Who carries cash anymore?
A taxi driver once left the meter running while my friend was sorting out the money to pay the fare. I pointed out this wasn't right, and I was told "It's a busy night. Market forces." Shame B&H Taxi's don't seem to be so keen on market forces now Ubers in town challenging their monopoly and...