A female vegan activist was punched in the face by a Pizza Express customer after protesters stormed into the restaurant last night.
Footage shows animal rights campaigners from Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) storming into the Italian chain carrying pictures of animals which said: 'I want to live.'
One woman with a loudspeaker addressed the diners while others chanted: "It's not food, it's violence" and, "Not your mum, not your milk."
Soon a confrontation occurs between a man with a shaven head and a young female protester.
The man tells the protesters: "You're scaring these people, f*** off now."
He then pushes the woman who turns to confront him, which causes him to punch her in the face.
The man is held back by other diners and waiting staff as the protest continues.
The video then shows a woman addressing the protesters calmly while they continue their demonstration.
Various protesters hold up placards advocating Rose's Law, which hopes to create an animal bill of rights.
They then leave the Pizza Express while chanting: "What do we want? Animal liberation. When do we want it? Now."
A spokesperson for DxE Brighton, who shared the video on their Facebook page last night: "We must stand together against speciesism, but some are not ready to hear our message of equality and justice.
"Today, whilst bringing this message to diners at the chain restaurant, we were violently attacked. It is not surprising that those consuming violence are quick to partake in it too."
Speciesism is a belief that humans are superior and have greater moral rights than animals.
The Pizza Express is around the corner from the Brighton Town Hall where activists are currently chained in protest for their demands of an animal bill of rights.
After the exchange at Pizza Express, the activists returned to the town hall to join the protest.
Brighton has seen a number of protests in restaurants led by Direct Action Everywhere, which has seen members in court because of their demonstrations.
A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Incidents involving animal rights activists at several restaurants in Brighton on Sunday evening, in which protesters with loud hailers chanted slogans at diners, have been reported to police.
"It was alleged that at one establishment a protester was punched by a customer, and at another activists were thrown to the ground.
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