Excellent atmosphere with lovely drinks and food. The staff are so kind, professional and friendly especially Mia. Thank you Mia and the rest of the team I'll definitely return. read more

I did get to visit a couple of pubs in Brighton, and this one lay just outside the Laineways. I actually quite liked it, if only for the outdoor area down the side. Like a lot of pubs in the area this one is quite old, and has a decent amount of heritage behind it (though don't ask be any specific historical details because all I can say is that it is old, and it certainly looks old). The problem with England is that there are so many pubs, picking a good one can be a challenge at time, however I will have to admit that I did find that this one was a good one, if only for the outdoor area (since that is something that seems to be lacking in a lot of English Pubs). Certainly one I would visit again if I happen to be back in the area (which is unlikely). read more

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Any pub that plays Bettye LaVette, Marlena Shaw and The Supremes automatically gets the thumbs up from me. I'm a big soul and funk fan and don't think there's anything better than catching up with friends in a cool bar with good drinks. And the Black Lion is a cool bar with big wooden tables, clean white walls and eye catching street art. The only problem is, its so spacious that when it gets busy - which it does every weekend - it can be hard to make conversation over the beautiful din of good music and other peoples voices. I haven't sampled any myself but as well as offering fine range of bottled beers, ales and spirits, they also sell hearty portions of food at lunchtime and early evening. Mine's a Havana Club Rum with coke and a slice of lime. What's your tipple? read more

Black Lion - Pubs Near Me - Brighton, BNH

This is a great Brighton pub. I've been in here a few times and will most certainly be back! There's a great atmosphere about this place. It is, essentially, an 'old man pub', but it's by no means dingy or intimidating and is a great balance between casual and well-done. There was football on, for example, last night and though there was the occasional rowdy cheer (which you've gotta expect during the World Cup) the atmosphere remained pretty civilised and my friends and I were still perfectly able to sit and have a nice dinner amongst the buzz. The food here is really great. I've eaten here several times and always been impressed. They do you usual suspects - burgers, salads and the likes - but they do them well. I had a chorizo & haloumi salad, which was really tasty and my friends had some fantastic looking burgers! They serve a range of drinks too, beers, wines, cider and they also do some incredible cocktails for a very reasonable prices, which is always a great find in my books! The staff are great in here too - very friendly and helpful - and the service in general was slick and fast. A great place for dinner or a drink with friends. Oh, and I guess the football, if that's your thing...! :) read more

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The Black Lion is located right in the centre of town, between the South Lanes and the seafront. It is a deceptively big pub: what might look like an oldy-wordly fisherman's cottage from the outside turns out to be a spacious contemporary pub on the inside! The decor is light ans modern, its all clean lines, white walls and minimalist wooden furnishings. For this reason, the pub can feel a little characterless- I would have preferred a restoration of the original cottagey interior. Saying this, the pub does have a nice atmosphere and is vastly superior to some of the nearby chain pubs. Drinks are not extortionate, but like most central pubs, they don't do particularly great drinks specials. Nevertheless, the Black Lion draws an impressive crowd- located right next to the new office development above Jamie's Italian and close to the town hall, it's a favourite with after work punters. Friday and Saturday nights see the Black Lion fill with students, as it's one of few decent, large pubs in the area. read more

Black Lion - Pubs Near Me - Brighton, BNH

The Black Lion offers a great combimation of traditional pub, and funky bar. The outside is uniquely interesting, being a tall, old fisherman's bulding, inside stretching back tardis like away from the frontage. The interior is sleek and modern, in contrast to the outside. At weekends it does get very busy, thanks in part to the fact that they generally have DJs playing at weekends, playing various styles of music, making this a good Saturday night choice. They also serve a basic but tasty selection of standard pub food. read more

Black Lion - Pubs Near Me - Brighton, BNH

The Black Lion is one of my favourite pubs, and yes, avid readers, it's because it has a nice big smoking garden. More than just being nice and big, it is heated, covered, and they serve a variety of ales and wines: just my sort of pub. The food is also perfectly good and very nice: little to compain about here, beyond everything inside. Inside, the Black Lion is a disaster. The music is too loud, the bar is understaffed, and the clientele atrocious. This is the only pub I've been in and never sat inside: I just can't see the point. If I wanted to spend time with a bunch of drunk, unruly students, or a chavtastic crowd of deadheads, I'd venture onto campus or West Street past 7pm. Honestly, it isn't that brilliant here, I just like the outdoor bit and the selection. If you're not thick-skinned, or a smoker, there's little point going here: there's much nicer places nearby, like the Hop Poles. read more

Black Lion - Pubs Near Me - Brighton, BNH

Particularly on a Friday night the Black Lion is a great night out. As the night goes on - a dance floor appears and you could spend the night dancing and drinking the evening away! They've recently done up the garden & smoking area and it's much much better now - lots of heaters and making the most of the outside space. If you want a lively night out but want to stay in a pub - this is for you. read more

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Maybe the security should keep their swearing to minimum and boasting about making girls pregnant is t impressive. Actually brings the place down. They should be more respectful with women sitting outside. The badge doesn't entitle them to be abusive and loud. read more

I've been in the Black Lion before, on a Friday and Saturday, and it has always been so rammed that I've never stayed too long. Just recently, I popped in on a Wednesday night and kind of fell in love with the place. Busy for a school night, but with plenty of seating options. A live band playing at the back, but not so loud that you couldn't have a conversation at the front. Friendly and helpful bar staff, good red wine, and a few random clientele that always make for an interesting night - card tricks and magic anyone?? I'm not sure what time they officially close but I vaguely remember leaving around 2 ish (not so good on a school night!!) They do food but I haven't tried it yet. I had a fab night here and will definitely be back for more...however, I may have to leave instructions with the staff to kick me out earlier than 2am!! read more

Always busy on a weekend, The Black Lion is one of those places where you know there will be a good atmosphere and decent music if you can't decide where to go on a night out (basically me and my friends last night) It does get a little bit rammed which makes it quite hot in there, but it's not a major issue. Nice vibes, good mix of people and friendly staff. It seemed a lot more packed than usual last night, but then I noticed the large smoking area out the back was closed off for some reason, so maybe that made a difference. They do food here during the day and early evenings, it's been a few years since I have eaten here so can't really say what the food is like. I'll just use that as an excuse to eat out yet again :) read more

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Normally it takes a crowbar and a boatload of tequila to get me to go out on a Friday night during term, but some of my housemates convinced me to meet up with them at the Black Lion recently. I had been once before for an after work drink and found the place to be pleasant enough. I'm glad I gave it a second chance. The furniture is pub standard: thick wooden tables meant to withstand the occasional intoxicated dancer on top with chairs to match. The decor is pretty modern and arty, though nothing that would attract business on its own. The staff are friendly enough for a busy pub, and the drinks aren't prohibitively expensive, but certainly not for someone on the dole. The real reason for going on a Friday night is the music. It was an eclectic mix of Motown, funk, and modern top 40 that will find a note for anyone's ear. Everyone seemed to be having a great time: groups mingled, couples pulled, and it only took me one shot of tequila to start dancing for once. read more

I have only eaten at the Black Lion twice, but from my few experiences the food rivals that of most pubs in Brighton (I had the Seafood Salad once and the Chorizo & Haloumi Salad the other time). The staff are enthusiastic and attentive and as happy for you to order from the bar as they are to do table service, which is no mean feat considering how busy the Black Lion can become at the weekends. By day, customers are a mix of about 80% locals, 20% tourists and range from students and young professionals, through local business people to retired couples. This creates a busy, friendly buzz and a great atmosphere for lunch or an early evening meal. By night, the pub transforms into a cosy, dimly-lit space, with a cavern-like feel. Early in the week, you can expect to find live music and staff with great taste in what to play and when. The Black Lion is a great example of a pub that manages to constantly and seemingly effortlessly transform itself from busy day to busy night with a good sized beer garden, which can be covered and heated in the colder months. read more

I only popped in for a quick drink on the way to another venue and I have to admit from the outside I thought it was going to be a bit of an old mans pub but it couldn't have been further from the truth! Once inside you are greeted with a much bigger space than expected with lots of seating. I went straight to the courtyard to meet my friends and again the space out there is great. There are loads of picnic benches which are tightly crammed in to make use of every available corner - I bet this place is heaving in the Summer. Even though it was March, the outside heaters made it a cosy space to sit & enjoy a drink. I will be back to spend a bit more time here later. read more

The black Lion is one of those great pubs that borders between a place to sit and drink and a place to dance your feet off. I have not yet had the chance to eat here, but have been here to drink several times. From the outside, ti looks like your usual town center pub, but once you get inside you start to see just how big it is! The bar is very long, and there is not usually a very long wait to be served. There is a DJ on the dancefloor, so you are always dancing to live music, and I have even seen people make requests. The beer garden is HUGE, and is a great place for people to go for both a smoke and to hangout. There are big chairs with cushions, as well as rows of park benches, and it is always busy. You can also enter the beer garden from the street, without having to go through the bar. read more

This place is great! Fun pub atmosphere, plenty of brews to choose from, really great pub food. Had live music on a Monday night in February to top it off. Close to the beach. Can't go wrong here! Try it. read more

Situated in a really busy corner in the Laines the Black Lion sits between the Cricketers and Jamie Oliver's restaurant. It can look a bit lout tastic from the exterior but the Black Lion is far from it, its always bustling with students, young profs and general cool Brightonites. Unlike a lot of pubs in the area a proper dance fest gets going to the DJs at the weekend playing Motown and soul classics. Its got a large court yard out the back which is always rammed. There's a really nice atmosphere even with a couple of unnecessarily arrogant bar staff. Its pretty lively at the weekend so I wouldn't go in for a quiet drink. read more

We've always had a good time at this quaint little pub. If you manage to get a table outside then that makes it even better. The staff are really enthusiastic in here and the music policy is ace which does attract a varied clientelle. The decor is pretty contemporary but it still has a nice cosy feel to the whole place. We had a nice lunch there a few weeks ago - nothing too posh but very nice indeed. I can highly reccomend the jacket potatos! The place can really kick off in the evening with people dancing around which is great to see. read more

The South Laines is a very mixed bag that often fails to offer the charm of its more intimate sibling over to the North. Places like Old Orleans and Jamie's Italian make it a bit predictable. However, Black Lion goes some way to restoring parity in the battle of Brighton. Once inside, the Black Lion is surprisingly large and spacious, yet you'll still find a good atmosphere for either a drink or meal. Selling a mix of Gastropub type foods, you can find a range of things here that will suit your tastes. Duck wraps, burgers and chorizo stews being an example of the differing options. If you're more interested in a watering hole, Black Lion succeeds there also, offering a good range of ales and wines on top of the normal bar you'd expect to find. Staff also tend to be relatively friendly and likeable. read more

The Black Lion looks great from the outside. Nestled right next to The Cricketers, it's a lovely old building that I couldn't date, but looks, well... old! Inside sadly, it's a bit of a different story. It's clearly been taken over by a chain co. and had a bar-style makeover, and is fairly characterless. I'm never really keen on been open-plan arrangements, and this is no different. They had fairly bland and not well kept Adams bitter, but the sight of Weston's Old Rosie meant that at least you could get reasonably trashed and forget where you were drinking... read more

Resembling an old fisherman's cottage, this place is deceptively small looking on the outside, but is funky and modern on the inside. Enter and you're greeted with masses of long wooden tables, a huge bar and a dance area to skank away to the many DJs playing on weekends. Another of Brighton's very busy pubs, and a premier spot to have a dance and shake your thang to some real funk and soul. With a large outside area with covered tables, it's always heaving outside as the smokers warm their lungs. Decorated in modern street art and funky posters, the Black Lion plays host to Brighton's coolest kids, from students to young professionals trying to forget about the working week. The music's quite loud on weekends, so not the place to go if you're up for a quiet drink, but definitely worth a wiggle if you're looking to bust a groove. read more

Stopped here for a Sunday lunch and couldn't finish the portion of grub they served. Perfect Yorkshire puds as well. Reasonably priced in contract to the level of food that arrived. The staff were friendly and happy to explain how to get on to their free wifi. Toilets were a bit on the grotty side and the outdoor courtyard was a bit drab so get the tables out the front if possible and watch the world go by. read more

Love the food out here :) only minus was the lime in hendrix gintonic .. Best chiken club ever!! read more

Black Lion - Pubs Near Me - Brighton, BNH

The Black Lion is Situated in the heart of Brighton's South Lanes. I'd say the exterior gives you a false impression of both that it is in fact fairly large pub and the warm chilled out vibe it has to offer, which you notice once you've got your foot in the door. The Black Lion Looks like any other British Pub, but tends to offer a little more - with it's nice atmosphere, friendly bar staff, interesting people and fantastic beer garden it (brill heaters for those frosty British winters).. Plus, always seems to be bustling with people of all ages looking to have a good time. A thumbs up from me. read more

Great beer selection and great ambiance! I have been lured into this great location 2 nights in a row. Both Wednesday and Thursday evenings they had lots of patrons and the Beer on tap is the main reason I went back. Great little area in The Lanes! read more

Incredibly yummy food! Food is well priced, drinks are too for Brighton prices. Nice interior, with a nice smoking area as well as limited spaces in front of the pub on the lanes with a lovely view. Would recommend for a place to catch up with old friends over lunch with. read more

The Black Lion is a nice little pub. From the outside it looks great: from the inside too! There are big wooden tables and a decent beer garden/smoking area to the rear. Situated in the South Lanes, it draws in a well-to-do set of customers and the staff are all very friendly. There is usually something to keep your ears entertained too, as they offer free live music, open mic/decks events as well as DJs. There is also a food menu to keep those stomachs from growling and with student and local worker discounts, you're sure to be satisfied. read more

Black Lion - Pubs Near Me - Brighton, BNH

Well supposedly oldest pub in Brighton. Looks a bit abused with time and substantially is a classic boozer without any interesting features other than being cosy with a few real ales . read more

On a wet Saturday we found refuge here! Chilled with nice interior, unusual ales, comfy seating and a happy vibe - mums & babies, Brighton kids, shoppers and tourists alike were at home and at peace. Liked it a lot. read more

The Black Lion can be found minutes from the seafront in the Lanes, its location means is popular with tourists and locals alike. Weekend evenings off late have been too rammed for me with stilettos and sequined tops, not the usual Brighton crowd. I've never had to queue for the bar so long in my life. They have a large outside space for all you smokers but not very scenic. If you like soul music and being squashed this is the place for you. read more

This looks like some kind of olde worlde pubbe from the outside, but inside it's a modern and welcoming spot with comfy sofas and friendly staff. I am addicted to the halloumi, chorizo and potato salad it blows my mind. There's a decent happy hour here most nights and the pub always seems to be frequented by a good, friendly crowd. It's well positioned near to both the seafront and town and has tables outside at the back, front and side, so it's a great sunny day option if you can find a seat. It can get crazily rammed on Friday nights and weekends, but there's still never too much of a wait to get to the bar. If you can grab a table early in the evening then you're laughing. There are sometimes DJs too I think at weekends. It gets really loud then, but people are often up dancing which adds to the fun atmosphere and gives you a chance to show off your flyest moves. read more

UPDATE: Black Lion's response below. The bouncer told the people behind us over capacity as we were staring straight at him. As he saw us walk away, he didn't realize I turned around and saw him motion the guys behind us in. Hope that helps clarify my thoughts about your establishment. You have somewhat of a back-handed insult towards the end of your letter. First impressions do matter but who knows, if I ever visit Brighton again, I'll see if I'm treated any differently. Btw you can find me on Tripadvisor and Yelp. Feel free to read my reviews. You'll find them fair and justified. There are more positive reviews than negative and none about racism. Response from the pub: There are many reasons why someone may be turned away from the Black Lion on any given night. As the licencee for this pub, I can state quite categorically that race has never been one of them. We are often at capacity on a Friday or Saturday night, so this would certainly not be out of the ordinary. I would suggest that it's more likely that the people behind you were: staff members; on the guest list and, therefore, accounted for in capacity calculations; had been in the smoking area; had already been in the pub and returned; a myriad other reasons more likely than your (I won't go as far as to say libellous) assumption of racism. The Black Lion is a great place to be of an evening, precisely because of the wide and diverse range of clientele we have due to our policy of preferring friendly people to non-friendly. I would urge you to come back, possibly earlier in the night, and experience the place from the inside before making a judgement such as this and then continuing to make sweeping comments and accusations about a whole nation like the ones you have made above. Pot, kettle, (any colour you'd like to insert here). read more

Fantastic food at a great price. Got the Pie Special(beef, ale, mushrooms), as well as a French onion soup. Maybe the best meal I've had during my trip in the U.K. Couldn't recommend this spot enough. read more

Went there yesterday for Mothers Day lunch ages varying from 12 to 80 and loved it in there. We had great meal everyone having something different and enjoying it, also very reseaonably priced. Staff were very attentive. Loved the atmosphere in there can't wait to go go back maybe to an evening of soul and motown. :-) read more

The Black Lion looks really tiny from the outside, but it's a bit like the Tardis!! Friendly staff and the new chef - apparently called Adrian - obviously knows his stuff! The home-made burgers were outstanding; succulent and not at all fatty. The chips were to die for! The smoked mackerel salad was simply delicious, although it could have had the sauce on the side. For an extra 75p, we had a very generous amount of freshly-baked baguette and wonderful salty butter. Would wholly recommend this place for its great food and good value for money!! read more

The beer garden is really nice and if you manage to get a table close to the heaters you can sit outside no matter how cold and rainy the weather is. read more

From the outside it looks like a lovely old pub, on entering it is the total opposite. Very modern with candles and white fairy lights. Staff were very friendly but the food is defineately over priced for what it was. A chicken and bacon baguette with chips, a burger and chips and 2 pints for £27. On paying the bill I was asked if the food was ok. I replied that it was ok but I felt thaqt it was a little over priced. The girll behaind the bar just looked at me and said 'Really, I dont think so'. No wonder there were hardly any people in there! read more