Kemp Town high street (St George's Road) is in rude health with everything a good town centre should have: local butcher, greengrocer, excellent coffee shops, cafes, decent pubs and a wonderful patisserie along with the little Co-Op for everything else.
It could be worse. I know the town quite well and have friends there. You're technically in Sussex although only just, and there is some nice countryside around to enjoy. Pubs wise I think the town is quite poorly served, catering more for the underage drinkers and chavs who want to pile into...