They were not that eager to serve you, the bartender didn't really pay attention to you for like…read moretwenty minutes even though you were just in front of her, but when you got her attention finally she was able to make up a fine smile. They have their own judgement of serving or not serving alcohol to customers, and obviously I don't think that's reasonable, and only if they cared about their customers more and had been more skillful in customer service there could have been less confusion, but perhaps that's not in their consideration, it's not an open minded or welcoming place especially when you look nothing like them. And nevermind, a random average damp place by a dull beach is not going to change anything, Brighton is pretty conservative and dumb.Although I appreciate the venue manager Jo I talked to through the phone. If they even care about it I felt so alienated. They may have taken a proper procedure for them but it's far from making me feel comfortable. It seems avoiding this kind of inconsiderate manner of service is necessary moving forward, and if this is the average quality of service I am paying for, then you can really save it for something greater. Maybe they could just say I was a drunk and mean person, then try to deal with people like that with more professional and empathetic mind, unless it doesn't matter, and being more open-minded is important as living by the sea, good for your mental health to accept people look different from you, when you realise eventually people are all the same your life is gonna be much easier cause you can't reverse this globalization:)*, this world is kinda bigger than that small beach and hopefully you are not gonna be stuck there forever, once you can do something called traveling a little bit, you will realise you need a better smile than that you have now and a more fun spirit or you'd feel so embarrassed to receive any open-minded unbiased love from people all across the world. Yes people can generally love others for no reason, unless you need reason to hate.

THE HOPE HAS HAD A MAKEOVER…read more It's pretty cool! It reminds me of a circus ground or freak show! I can't describe it because it's honestly so cool! I made a huge mistake though, they have the end of a caravan at the end of the bar, I thought it was a seating area, turned out to be the kitchen. Needless to say, I got a bit of a - Eh what are you doing mate kind of look. Anyway, it's got a really cool vibe, if you also like Ale they have lots to choose from. Great venue, good to see it in a bit more glory. They hold lots of nights up stairs so it's great to watch a gig and then go downstairs for a cheeky pint in the interval.

From its origins as a comedy venue, Komedia has expanded both its space and reportoire to become…read moreBrighton's main live entertainment establishment, with over 700 performances a year from an award-winning range of stand-up comedy, music, caberet and theatre, as well as an active children's programme. The Komedia is a little scruffy around the edges, but that's Brighton for you. The building has two performance venues, an independently-run cafe bar and foyer bar (and feels much larger inside than its modest facade implies). They also provide food during some performances with a caberet-style setting. But it's the entertainment you come here for, not the surroundings. The staff seem friendly enough, although not always fantastically efficient - on-line booking isn't always available, for example. Arrive with plenty of time for comedy performances, as the best seating gets taken early on. (You can always have a drink while you wait.) If, like me, you have a large, illuminated, 'pick on me' sign on your head which only the performer can see, you'll need to tuck yourself away somewhere inconspicuous...

I went along to Komedia to see Waxahatchee on Thursday night and had a funny turn. Pretty scary at…read morethe time as I fainted three songs into the gig. However, the staff there were so great. The bouncer got me out safely and a door lady, I think her name was Rowena (sorry, my memory is a little foggy), got me a coke and sat with me outside until I was feeling OK. Really sorted me out - I can't thank them enough.

Formally the Joogleberry Playhouse, now under the less fun name the Latest Music Bar, the venue…read morecontinues to provide a constant supply of live music and common interest events. From week to week you could find a local teeny bopper indie band, a political speaker or a cabaret evening. Fundamentally it is still a music venue though, downstairs is quaintly cosy so not much room for dancing, but it gives a nice Greenwich Village cafe vibe. There's a really nice wall feature of a 3-D rooftop scene and little star lights cover the rest of the walls downstairs, apparently the original scenery from CATS the musical. The light and airy upstairs is used as a restaurant/bar where food is served Thur - Sat 6pm til 10pm & Sun 12pm til 3.30pm & has free wi-fi. Unusually for Brighton the downstairs is closed on Friday & Saturday nights and available for hire. Definitely worth checking out if your at a loose end on a weekday evening.

Located at the foot of the unconventional and sometimes grubby St James' Street, The Latest Music…read moreBar is a welcome retreat for those wishing for a bit of style and panache. With varnished wood furnishings, a high ceiling and one wall covered in neatly framed photos of local and famous musicians; the upstairs bar has a refined cleanliness found in only a handful of places in Brighton. The atmosphere is best when the place is at a comfortable capacity, as it suits a seated audience. Serving average quality food and a reasonable selection of drinks the upstairs bar is always a nice place to be. However, the real draw is the cabaret bar downstairs. Having previously hosted such names as Amy Winehouse, The Kooks, Herbie Flowers and Chris Difford, the downstairs bar is definitely where it's at. The walls have been made to look like a charming cityscape complete with real, backlit windows and twinkling stars. This combined with the low ceiling and slightly raised stage makes the venue an intimate place, better suited to bands that are comfortable dealing with much audience participation. Drinks are a little expensive but definitely worth it. The simple pleasure of watching great music in a genuinely charming setting is enough for me to just shut up and pay. Great for folk, blues, jazz or anything rootsy. One of my favorite gig venues!

The Green Door Store is a fab music venue, in my opinion!…read more The space is wonderful - a bit dingy, in this old cobbled building, but fab nonetheless! It looks trendy, rather than run-down, with a rustic (rather than ruined) vibe. The bar is usually rammed, but which good club doesn't have a rammed bar, right? The range of music that's performed here is great! They constantly have great acts lined up and host a good variety of older and newer bands. You get the feeling that people come here for the music and not, like other reviewers have highlighted, just for a pull, a pint or a puke! It's a club, yes, but there seems to be a slightly different atmosphere here to some of the other clubs around town. The gigs are tickets and they charge you for entry, but they also just do general dance nights where you can come in for free, which is always good! The location is a little bit odd... It's very 'terrifying, abandoned building' and so if you don't know where you're going you might be tempted not to venture down it's way. That being said, it's well lit and there are always people milling around outside the place when it's open so, in that respect, it's a-okay! If you like to dance, listen to good music or simply hang out in a buzzing venue, try this place out! It might just be your new favourite place!

Good place to come for a late drink, i like the fact that its a bit industrial looking and slightly…read moregrimy, reminds me of clubs in London from many moons ago. Music is ever changing here, but last night it was the Brighton institution that is Russ Dewbury, i think he plays here once a month as does Rob Louis. Good crowd of unpretentious types, which can be rare in Brighton, filling the small dance floor and in the large bar area. And its free most nights !!

A Brighton institution, The Dome is one of the city's leading gig venues platforming everyone from…read moreestablished rock, pop and funk bands to world music artists from Europe, South America and beyond. In complete contrast to the nearby Brighton Centre, it's a picturesque venue with a grand ceiling, a beautifully arched stage, a generous standing area and two tiers of comfy seats. The sound and sight lines are also top notch. I've seen The Drums, The Macabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Gossip, Pete Doherty, Bon Iver and Richard Hawley here in the last 18 months and the atmosphere was incredible at every single gig. Pete Doherty poured his drink over a heckler, Beth Ditto flirted with the audience and Bon Iver shocked everyone by doing a heavy rock number. My favourite memory of a show here however, has to be the Halloween party The Go! Team threw a few years back. They adorned the stage with pumpkins, dressed in weird costumes and had spooky films playing behind them. It was a magical evening and I danced so much, my legs ached for hours after-wards.

This Grade-I listed complex is both a highly original performance venue (with 3 performance areas,…read moreactually), and an historic building with a fascinating past. History The Dome was originally built in 1803-05 for the Prince of Wales (later George IV) as a stable block, adjacent to his then rather modest Brighton seaside villa. The architect was William Porden, and it was he who chose the iconic Indian architectural style (technically Indo-Saracenic) and designed the huge dome - originally covered in glass, 24 metres in diameter and 19 metres high, to cover a circulating area for the horses. Once completed, the new buildings so overshadowed the original villa, that the Prince instructed that they should be revamped into the iconic Brighton Pavilion we see today. The complex was sold to Brighton in the 1850s, and the Dome was developed as a concert hall in 1866. A major refurbishment in 1935 saw it modernised and given an Art Deco interior, and the Pavilion Theatre was added on the site of Mrs Fitzherbert's stables. Over the years it developed an enviable reputation as a Concert and entertainment venue for both classical and popular music, despite its notoriously poor acoustics. Famous names who performed here include Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones, and in 1974 it hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, won famously by Abba, singing 'Waterloo'. However, both the interior and exterior were crumbling and a major refurbishment was begun in 1999, costing £22m and taking three years to complete. The revamped complex now houses 3 venues: the 1,850 seat Concert Hall, the 570 seat Corn Exchange (which also hosts non-seated events on its sprung floor) and the 220 seat Pavilion Theatre. The exterior (together with the Museum) provides a suitably exotic backdrop to the Pavilion itself. Events The Dome hosts an astonishing variety of events, from concerts, conferences and performances in the main Concert Hall, to more eclectic drama, comedy and dance in the Pavilion Theatre. I've mostly attended events in the Concert Hall, and I'd agree with others that it's a great place to visit: the seating is comfy and spacious, the acoustics are hugely improved and the unusual shape gives it an intimate feel. Practicalities It's a ten minute walk from Brighton railway station, and just about every Brighton bus route passes close by, either on North Street or the Steine. The venue has level access throughout (and specific spaces for wheelchairs in the auditoria), disabled toilets, hearing loops and printed material is available (on request) in large format. Disabled customers can apply for a complimentary ticket (one per booking) to enable them to bring a companion or access assistant with them free of charge - phone for details. Well worth a visit.

This is one of my favourite pubs in Brighton. Entering, you…read moremight think you'd found a very small and busy pub, with only a few tables. Explore futher though, and you find smaller rooms, the size of a small living room with a few sofas and tables. It does really feel in these parts of the pub as if you are in someone's house. Upstairs, there is a large function room, which also provides extra seating on busy nights. It's often used for band nights and big screen football. The place is stuffed full of interesting nooks and crannies and things to look at, without being too self-consciously cool. The toilet graffiti is also a constant source of amusement.

This place is the hang out for every muso / rockabilly / yuppie/ mod / cool kid in Brighton. Over…read morethe years it has become an institution, partly due to the infamous Banksy painting on the outside wall, and the rest is down to everything else it has to offer. The layout of the pub is great. There aren't many big pubs which still manage to feel cosy, but the individual rooms/areas of The Prince Albert mean that even at its emptiest times (which isn't often) the place still feels homely and warm. Each room is decorated uniquely and there's cool music posters, most signed by famous bands and DJs, hanging throughout the pub. They make for good snooping material whilst you're mulling over a pint. Upstairs there's a decent sized live music venue where bands from Brighton and beyond grace the stage. The sound system is good, but the room does get a little hot in the summer months. The staff are part of the furniture in this place, and they're all super friendly, whilst still managing to look uber cool. The prices are very reasonable considering the pubs location and clientèle, and they serve a good range of ciders, beers, wines and spirits. The foods not bad either, and they serve meals much later than any other Brighton establishments. The only downside to the place is the lack of a garden. There is a small patio at the back of the pub, but it's usually very busy, and the seating outside the front of the pub (which there is a lot of) is right on the roadside. But all in all this is a great place and worth visiting just to see the Banksy if nothing else.

Fitzherberts is one of the first pubs I went to when I moved to Brighton and it remains one of my…read moreregulars. The inside is so cosy that on a really busy night - when there's clusters of people standing - you usually end up with someone's elbow or handbag in your face. Luckily, the atmosphere is so friendly and laidback nobody seems to notice or care! There's a cluster of seats outside and a ramshackle assortment of wooden tables and chairs inside. Gig posters decorate the hallways and toilets and there's live jazz and acoustic bands most weeks. The rest of the time, the music depends on which bar staff are working. Most of the time they seem to rotate classic rock, indie and hip hop but I was once subjected to an hour of speed metal. I would have left but it was torrential rain outside. If they'd played The Supremes or Amy Winehouse instead, they'd probably have an extra star. :-)

Often overshadowed by the adjacent Mash Tun and Waggon and Horses, Fitzherberts is smaller and more…read moreatmospheric than either of these. Entering, there is a small bar, with a little bar seating for those who drink fast. The best feature though, is the strangely lit main seating area, a drinker's fairy cavern. A mass of blue fairy lights cover the stark white ceiling, and the effect this creates (especially after a few vodkas!) can be slightly disorienting, in a good way. Outside, like its neighbours, the place has some outside seating, which in summer is a great people watching spot. Its proximity to the Dome and to the Theatre Royal means that this is also a great choice for a pre-show drink.

This is what makes brighton unique from anywhere else in the country. Sunshine, alfresco drinkies…read morewhilst live bands and singers entertain you. Home of a Disco Pete and the best place to people watch in town. It has it all from a Tuesday afternoon to a Friday night

I've always liked this venue through all the years. The food's consistently good and usually the…read moreservice is too. The live bands they choose are always above average to excellent. 5 stars from me :-)

Small spot to shake the stress away, really nice sound system. Friendly door people, but don't mess…read morearound since the bathroom stalls don't lock!

Aside from high-capacity venues like The Dome and The Brighton Centre, The Concorde 2 is arguably…read moreBrighton's premier music spot. Regular appearances from big name acts, such as Florence and The Machine, Kaiser Chiefs, The White Stripes, Bloc Party and De La Soul, mean that it's a must-play for any semi-successful touring act. The ample £250 000 sound system and professional staging gives every show a sense of occasion, lifting the venue above the amateur but not so high as to be inaccessible. Adorned with enough character and history it's possibly the only independent venue in Brighton that consistently delivers first-class entertainment in an elegant setting at an affordable price.

After a winning streak of good dining experiences in Brighton, thanks to places found on Yelp or…read moresuggested by other yelpers, on our last day we decided to start wandering around the town and try our luck with a place we'd never heard before. We stumbled upon this place totally by accident, and to be honest with you, from the outside it looks like a pretentious fancy pub, with fancy décor and not an awful lot of good food. Well, the place HAS fancy décor, It's kind of flashy and I would usually avoid such place. But what the hell. We were seated on the balcony upstairs, we had a view of the isle-bar serving smoking cocktails (literally smoking, by the way) and I thought I had better order something hard to mess up, just in case my prejudice is right and food there wasn't going to be all that much. So we ordered a baked Camembert, a cheese board (what do you mean that's too much cheese? Sorry, can't hear you over the sound of this Stilton feasting in my mouth), and the only burger in the menu. I'm going to say it now: that was THE best burger I've had in the UK, and second best only to one I've had abroad. The bun was perfect: soft with crunchy-from-grilling edges, the cheese was melted AS IT SHOULD BE, the patty thick and juicy, it didn't fall apart despite the amount of goodness in it so I could use my hands like I'm meant to. The burger alone wins half of the stars I'm giving this place, the other half being the amazingly friendly staff, and quick and prompt service. The MINUTE I am back in Brighton, there's another one of those burgers with my name on it. Seriously, go have that burger.

I love this place. I've been twice for late night dancing on a Saturday night, and once for a…read morecooked breakfast on a Sunday morning. The decor is pure class, funky and modern and so much to see. There are lots of different levels and seating areas, each with a different feel. The place attracts a good mix of people, but all pretty high standard. I think the evening has a smart dress code of no trainers or scruffy jeans. The music is brilliant. A complete mix of music jumping all over the decades. There is a big screen showing the videos too which can be quite entertaining. There is a massive bar in the middle of the bottom floor, so easy to get too. The only thing is it slightly dominates people at the bar and less dance space. Get there early if going on a Saturday night as it always gets packed and turns into a one in one out queue. The venue is only small, but makes a good atmosphere because of it. People will start to think I am obsessed with toilets in my reviews, but this has the best women's toilets I've seen in Brighton. Go have a look! I also ate a cooked breakfast here on a Sunday lunchtime and it was top notch. I expected it to be expensive but it wasn't. And to eat in such lush surroundings with very polite and smart staff made me feel like I was in a classy restaurant. Go and check it out if you get a chance is my advice.