Recommendations for a drinky in Brighton

[CHIEF]

After the bith of my baby son I'm currently staying at the in-laws in Brighton, I've got some family visiting at weekend and hopefully we'll be wetting the babys head so to speak.

Brighton isn't short of bars i know that but i haven't a clue where to go that is decent.

I dont fancy west street due to the pissed up aholes causing bother just want a few nice bars and besides I'm a bit old to be hitting west street anyway. I was thinking of around the lanes but apart from this i really haven't a clue.

I just want some nice bars with an older, decent clientele.

Any recommendations greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

[AcidReflux]

Enjoyed the Hop Poles in Middle Street many times. Good for a pub lunch but it's a small pub so gets crowded on a weekend evening.
Been a few times to The Mesmerist in Prince Albert St. on a Saturday and felt at home. It's a big pub and noisy/busy at the weekends, but there's no trouble and it's not a meat-market. I wouldn't take a new-born there though.
For a laid-back Sunday-with-the-papers pub, try the Basketmaker's Arms in Gloucester Rd. Haven't been there in the evening.

Congrats on the birth though.

[anonymous-user]

Hop poles is now renamed the Spotted Dog in case you have trouble finding it! But for beer, by far the best is the Evening Star - just Google it.

Cheers!

[AcidReflux]

MercScot said:

Hop poles is now renamed the Spotted Dog

Ahh, that might explain why it was closed when my wife and I tried to pop in for lunch a few weeks ago.

[Not the Sam]

Valentinos is a must, it's above/next to Theatre Royal is is tiny, but they serve the greatest cocktails ever.

Fiddlers Elbow is more traditional and great.

Pretty much any bar in the laines is gonna see you right, depends on if you want a drink or to get drunk and go elsewhere afterwards!

[FLGirl]

MercScot said:

Hop poles is now renamed the Spotted Dog in case you have trouble finding it! But for beer, by far the best is the Evening Star - just Google it.

Cheers!

The Evening Star is my favourite Brighton pub! If you end up there and want to eat, try the Yeoman just up from the train station, outstanding food. Or heading the other way towards the North Laine, head for the Earth & Stars.

In the South Lanes, look out for the Bath Arms. Really good service, obviously central, 'proper' pub with decent food too. Amongst my very mixed group of friends we all love meting up here.

Avoid the seafront if you're avoiding West St, and the bars that line the road opposite (Kings Rd). If you want a bit more quirky but near the sea, Northern Lights is a Scandinavian bar with a great selection of drinks that even I hadn't heard of. Nearby The Globe is also not bad.

If you happen to go to Kemp Town, you have to go to Brighton Rocks. Their cocktails are fabulous and it attracts an older crowd.

[petrolveins]

Try the Bulldog, full of a very very friendly older crowd.

[dcb]

MercScot said:

But for beer, by far the best is the Evening Star - just Google it.

+1

It's won many awards over the years from the beard'n'sandals CAMRA mob.
A constantly changing and very large selection of drinks in a basic
interior. Always busy.

Basketmakers Arms probably 2nd best pub in Brighton for beer. Always
busy too.

Others worth mentioning include

1. The Battle of Trafalgar. Even closer to the train station
than the Evening Star.

2. Prestonville Arms. Away from the tourists and quite mellow.

3. Constant Service. Harveys of Lewes. Nuff said.

4. Hand in Hand. Down the east end. Tends to attract a
"cosmopolitan" clientele.

Cocktail bars I don't care about and bars serving stylish
overpriced heavily marketed Eurobland yellow beer I don't care
about either. If I want a lager I go to the
Evening Star and buy the authentic German stuff.

[sussexjob]

Lion and Lobster, great pub http://thelionandlobster.co.uk/

[CHIEF]

Well excellent night was had round the Laines. No dicks and a decent crowd.

Started off at All Bar One. Then after something to eat went to Mesmerist. Wow what a place. Really good crowd and decent music, then onto The Cricketers, The Sussex, then The Druids, went into Pitcher and Piano but walked straight back out as it was too busy and noisy so went back into Mesmerist.

Great night and I'm sure I only scratched the surface.

One thing I noticed people have a lot of hair in Brighton - In Oldham about 50% of the clientele seems to be made up of
big and bald grunts.

Top night but tender this morning,

Thanks chaps

[sussexjob]

CHIEF said:

One thing I noticed people have a lot of hair in Brighton - In Oldham about 50% of the clientele seems to be made up of
big and bald grunts.

Thanks chaps

if I recall Oldham has the only JD Sports with an evening wear section.

[CHIEF]

sussexjob said:

if I recall Oldham has the only JD Sports with an evening wear section.

Your not wrong there.