The Westbourne has recently had a fresh lick of paint and bunting galore added ( a great touch in…read moremy book).It has an inviting feel to the pub. There are two different sides to the pub, the small front room with a sofa or two and a mix of small tall and regular sized tables. On the other side is a big room with a whole mix of tables able to accommodate bigger groups. Here you can see the food being cooked in the kitchen. There are a number of outside benches which are always full when I walk past. The bar staff are very friendly and helpful. Wednesday is 2 for 1 burger day, available all day. Great burgers, and an absolute bargain. They have quiz nights. I've watched sports on the TV here in the past too. There is a large range of local ciders and a fair few ales. If you are looking for Crabbies or Kopperberg like me you might be disappointed to hear it's not sold here, but it's good to see a pub offering something different. All in all a great local pub with a good atmosphere.

The Westbourne is a great little pub on Portland road. Well, it's actually almost two pubs as it…read morehas two rooms with separate entrances. I usually head for the back bar, a large space, well decorated with a good range of seating. The kitchen is also at the back and you can peer in to see your dinner being cooked, On one wall the is a giant map of the world - great for pointing out where you have been and where you dream of visiting. There is also lots of outdoor space with seating both out the front and also a little courtyard out the back, great for summer al fresco drinking. The bar staff are great and super friendly and the whole place has a laid back and relaxed vibe. They host a quiz night on a Tuesday and a 2 for 1 burger night on a Wednesday (I can recommend the spinach and falafel burger!). I've not been here on a Friday or a Saturday, but on other days it's not too busy, a great place to catch up with friends over a few drinks or maybe a first date!

Verrrry good!!! We had just arrived in town, hubs first visit to Brighton, this was just what we…read morewere looking for. Great atmosphere!! The staff was very friendly. We came on half-priced prosecco night, sweet!! We were able to sit and chat and relax after a day of travels. The table next to us happened to order everything on the small bites menu, so we got a good view of the options. The steak pie was outstanding!!! Very tasty and comforting. I didn't need much gravy but it was all delicious. Loved the homemade focaccia and smashed potatoes. This was a perfect option for us!!

An amazing British pub!! With food and service above a traditional pub standard. Came here after a…read moreday of walking around Brighton in crowds of people and loved the local vibe of this pub. The clientele seemed to be regulars that knew each other and the staff. I'd highly recommend getting a seat out in the garden - it is beautiful back there. Tonight the garden was packed so we enjoyed our meal indoors. Started with an elderflower Collins that was refreshing and delicious, and a flavorful Pimm's with cucumber, mint, lime and orange. Dinner tonight was the oyster mushroom bao buns which were super flavorful (though a bit spicy) and the hit at our table for the evening. My friend had the crispy chicken thigh burger which was good but a bit overcooked for her liking. The crispy smashed potatoes were amazing and the fries were perfect with a drizzle of vinegar. Finished the night off with a G'n'T and left truly satisfied. The staff, though very busy, were very attentive and friendly. If I were a local, Connaught would be my regular place to meet up with friends!

I've only been here twice but both times I have been hugely impressed. Big pub, fab decor and…read moreatmosphere. Friendly and helpful bar staff. The garden area is definitely worth checking out. I've eaten a roast dinner here which was outstanding. So flavoursome. For my most recent visit I had a black bean and beetroot burger even though I am not vegetarian I was lulled in by the tempting sound of hollumi. I have never gasped so much as the site of a burger and chips. It was unbelievably good. Plentiful and full of flavour. Even the chips were probably the best I have ever had. I spotted there is a curry night on selected nights too for £5. I will be back!!!

Great local and well-used pub tucked away in Poets Corner with a good array of ales, beers, lagers…read moreand ciders - some guest. Good for kids too with a great array of old skool sweets they can order. Adults can choose these or grown up posh snacks like jerky. A good choice of interesting food. We came here for the Sunday Roast which was good however seeing this was our mission, I can say I have had far better. As it was cold and miserable outside, some of the kids were a little unruly but was pleased to see the landlady not afraid to temper them or tell them off. I'd probably come on a weekday evening next time and try some of the other items on the menu which certainly look yummy!

This Seafood restaurant Pub is tucked away on a side street in Hove, and ticks all the boxes for…read moreme. Small plates of food, excellently executed in a casual environment, with craft beer brewed on site. Walk-in was manageable in the bar and outside seating areas, service was prompt, friendly, and efficient. This will be one of my go to venues for future trips to the Brighton and Hove area. Looking forward to my next visit.

If you want a break from the tourist traps and pretend like you're one of the locals I highly…read morerecommend! The octopus and potatoes salad was on point and the Cajun fried mussels were fun kick to the standard seafood fare. Had very pretty outside seating area, diverse delicious reasonably priced shellfish/seafood offerings all in a relaxed atmosphere with friendly staff. It might be a bit out of the way and random for the typical tourist but so worth the visit!

Went to the better half today for the first time. Its recently been refurbished and it looks great…read more Really nice cosy comfortable atmosphere even thought it was very busy. We booked a few days ago and the earliest time they had available for Sunday roast was 3.30. They serve roasts until 5.30. The service was really good, great selection of quality drinks. I recommend the Bloody Mary with smoked vodka. Couldn't fault the roast, so good and decent portions. Will go back soon to try their cheese board.

Located but a few minutes' walk from Hove seafront the Ref Lion is a wonderful little local pub…read more It's not a gastro pub, it's not an ale place; it's just a warm, friendly watering hole with plenty of attractions. First of these would have to be their pool table which is rarely oversubscribed and only costs 50p per game. They serve a regular selection of wines, ales, beers and spirits and the usual bar snacks. Out the back is a lovely little beer garden with outdoor heaters and comfortable garden furniture. Inside is a Bose sound system, which is used to play a refreshingly good range of music including everything from Fleetwood Mac to Ray Charles. They also serve handmade pizza and offer free internet access. On top of this they also put on regular quiz nights, on Tuesdays general knowledge night begins at 9pm and on the first Thursday of every month there's a great music quiz that begins at 8.30pm. All these factors combined with the fact the landlord and lady are incredibly friendly mean the Red Lion is a perpetual safe bet for any occasion.

What a lovely pub indeed! I was walking down Blatchington Road and happened to glance to my right…read moreand noticed a little pub nestled down Belfast Street so popped in for a pint. The Bell is Owned by a chap called Bertie Burton who unfortunately wasn't there when I popped in but the friendly barmaid said he's a real character. The first thing I noticed was the great selection of real ales (Harveys, Bombadier, Tim Taylor and Summer Lighting) and then I saw a plate of food being wisked out to a customer; a plate of bubble and squeak, smokey bacon, poaced egg and hollandaise. Made my mouth water. I'm popping back on Sunday for their slow roasted pork belly (not bad at £7.25) and then possibly for a game of Wii on Monday night.

My boyfriend and I popped in yesterday for lunch on an off chance really. We definitely don't…read moreregret going in! The gent at the bar was lovely, very outgoing and seemed fun, the regulars weren't the type who'd glare at you for daring to enter their pub and the burgers we had were great, the bean burger was amazing and the corn on the cob they serve with the burgers, though small, is heavenly. Best I've ever tasted! Certainly worth visiting here if you want good pub food, we intend on going back!

I spent about a week in Brighton/London area visiting my daughter as she was going to school at the…read moreuniversity of Brighton. While, I have a lot of highlights of my trip in the UK, one of the best was going to The Basketmakers Pub for drinks and dinner. It is interesting how many people asked me when I got back to the states if I'd gone to a pub and they wanted me to share the experience with them. It was a joy to be able to tell them about my time at The Basketmakers.

I loved my visit to this pub. The bartender was very friendly in helping me choose a beer and an…read moreorder of food to eat. I ended up with the HSC beer and Sausage & Mash with the leek and chive mash on her recommendation. The food was very good and the beer selection was good as well! They have multiple food & drink specials in addition to the regular menu items. I will be back next Thursday for the surf & turf special. Can't wait!

Walking from Brighton Pier to Due South in cowboy boots is fine…read more Walking from Brighton Pier to The Forager requires more sensible footwear. Luckily, The Forager was worth the long hike and the stupid blisters. There's a spacious beer garden in the back and plenty of seating in the main bar and back room for more chilly days. The staff are friendly and welcoming, the music is mellow and they have a tempting selection of great quality food and drink. I usually opt for the 8 year Havana Club Rum but since it was only mid-day, I settled for an Americano and a hallumi sandwich. Both arrived within 10 minutes and hit the spot p-e-r-f-e-c-t-l-y. At busier times, you might have to wait for a table but trust me, it's worth it. The food here is all local and organic and a small portion of it is foraged, hence the title. I'm aiming to go back in a few weeks to try one of their famous Sunday roasts. I'll just make sure I'm wearing sneakers next time!

Hove is home to a number of fine establishments, be it restaurants or delis. The Foragers combine a…read morenumber of great elements of what Hove offers and also what British pubs and restaurants offer. As a pub, this is a lovely place to drink. You can get a good selection of lager, wine and spirits, all with a relatively friendly smile. It is as a restaurant that The Foragers really excels however, offering locally sourced modern food, all to a fantastically high level. Nothing here is cheap, but The Foragers is good enough that it deserves to be contemplated against some of the city's best eateries.

This is the Blue Lagoon but with a revamped menu and no parrot…read more Myself and my husband often grab a drink in here as it's our local, but the food was rubbish last year when we are there once. With the new menu we thought we'd give them another chance and glad we did! We had a roast yesterday and it was delicious - lots of vegetables, loads of meat and a nice option for my vegetarian husband. We shared a pudding (brownie and honeycombe ice cream) and it was one of the nicest things ever! I wanted another one immediately but controlled myself :) Lovely staff and good table service. Would 100% recommend!

From the owner: The Gather Inn (formerly the Blue Lagoon), is a great place to eat, drink and stay in Brighton and…read moreHove, with everything you need under one roof. Benefiting from free parking and Sea Views, its the ideal location for any trip, drink, meal, party....

A very good Craft and ale pub just a stones throw from Brighton railway station. Beer list is…read moreextensive, the pub very popular with local and visitors alike.

Situated close to Brighton railway station, this superb little pub is an institution amongst beer…read moredrinkers for its amazing range of award-winning, home-brewed real ales. The pub itself is very small, with two seating areas indoors and a small outdoor seating area. It's usually fairly quiet during the day, but in the evenings it can get packed - especially when they squeeze in a band for some live music. During the day they also do a limited range of bar food and snacks. My only criticism is that the gents' loo could do with some tlc But the thing to come for is the beer, from its own brewery. Orginally situated in the Evening Star's cellar, the 'Dark Star' brewery has now moved to larger premises outside Brighton. The pub offers a rotating selection of its beer range (up to 7 at any one time) which, as well as traditional beer types, encompasses those with an original twist - such as beer brewed with a hint of ginger, coriander and orange or espresso coffee beans. Coffee bean beer? I kid you not: the 4.2% Espresso coffee beer is a naturally dark ale, brewed using espresso coffee beans, blended especially for Dark Star. These are added towards the end of the brewing process with late hops. The result is stunning. It was voted 'best beer' at the Bath Beer Festival. Naturally, the Evening Star is a constant favourite with the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) crowd. Why not try it when waiting for a train next time you are in Brighton? ********************** Stop press at 06-05-2008 The Gents' loo has (at last) had a makeover, and a great improvement it is too.