Fortune of War

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.

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The Late Lounge

3.0(1 review)

•££££

Arrived here after the font closed disappointingly early. It was empty at one am when we arrived…read morebut got a bit busier over the next hour or so. Apparently it's open till five so it'd be a good spot for those nights when you just don't want to go home. The decor was reasonable - comfy stools and sofas - but a bit try-hard. The tables and the walls were covered in copies of the beano. Not my cup of tea but I guess useful if your date is a bit dull. Cocktails were reasonably priced and if we'd made it there before ten they would have been 2-for-1. We had an espresso martini and what was meant to be a passion fruit dakari. The dakari arrived in a martini glass with no ice though so I think there may have been some communication issues. Whatever it was it was delicious though! Overall a decent place to end the night but I wouldn't spend all evening there.

The Late Lounge Bar

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Lucky Voice Brighton

4.3(22 reviews)

•£££

I really enjoyed lucky voice, we went in spontaneously after a few drinks and had such a fun time…read more It was £5 for an hours worth of singing, which wasn't enough after we go into it. We may have got a bit carried away with the air guitars and the group sing alongs. The only two negatives I have about my experience was that I had previously been too Slam star, and they had a larger selection of songs. Which was great for me as I like alternative rock music. I found lucky voice quite limited in comparison. Also, I don't know if it's just me but I like a slight backing vocals to a track so I can properly time myself, where I felt like it was all me and it made me feel a little self conscious. It's not the worst thing in the world but it did hinder my experience ever so slightly. Apart from that, I had such a good time singing my little heart out.

Loved my night in lucky voice!!!! Went as part of a bday party and really enjoyed it. We had a…read moregreat room to ourselves and waiter service for drinks. Great song selections and an awesome box of props to play with to make ur performance perfect. Drinks prices were very steep! Club together for the offers 7.50 for a cocktail was a low point. Well worth a visit though

The bar at Lucky Voice Brighton

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The bar at Lucky Voice Brighton

Misty's

3.6(16 reviews)

1.4 mi

I can't say I was as keen as Mike was, but this was a decent place to go for what I was looking…read morefor. The buy one get one free offer on cocktails is always extremely attractive, but then most places in Brighton that sell cocktails also have this offer. The deal runs from 5-9pm during weeknights, so there is time to get a few 2-4-1's without arriving at the crack of dawn. The inside is comprised of wooden tables, chairs, polished floors and black walls. One complaint I would make was that the staff weren't particularly friendly, but saying that, I didn't exactly go here to make friends with the bar staff.

Misty's is certainly an interesting place. As a great lover of cocktails, I am always wanting to…read moretry new places that serve delicious beverages! When I went out with friends recently, we ended up finishing our night at Misty's. I was a bit overwhelmed by it. It's incredibly tiny and cramped out the front with barely any seats. The bar is very busy and the staff do not rush themselves. The drinks are not cheap but they are incredibly tasty and they free pour which is great as you get quite a lot for your money. The clientele are boisterous and are certainly not up for a quiet night. The smoking area is extremely bizarre as it is almost 100% covered so I'm not sure how they legally get away with it. Personally I will not be in a rush to go back.

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Casablanca Jazz Club

3.6(25 reviews)

•£

Casablancas is a Brighton classic; one of the biggest and crummiest music venues, this jazz dive is…read morea big student attraction, as well as one of the coolest and cheapest places in town to grab a drink and hear some funky tunes. Not your average club or bar, it does repel most of the West Street chavs with it's jazz, funk and slightly-more-out-there music: a boon in this area, to be sure. Thanks to the immense popularity of this place waning slightly, it is now slightly more fun to hang out in (it used to be so packed you could hardly move), yet is still a bit too busy for my liking. Still, one of the nicer of Brighton's music bars, with the occasional live band to round it all off. Although it used to be wall-to-wall rammed with students here, this has now calmed down somewhat: not sure what soured at Casablancas, but it seems many of the students aren't coming back. The prices are still cheap, which is a bonus, but I suppose it does look more and more run-down: a spruce-up wouldn't do this place any harm. Still, if you're looking for a cheap night with slightly more esoteric music, this is as good a place as any to start!

Admittedly I've only been to Casablancas once, but I was sorely disappointed. It's the sort of…read moreplace that people rave about going to, so I was expecting something amazing. In fact, it was a bit plain and grubby looking inside, with not that great music. I wouldn't be against going back there on a different night, though (we went on a Thursday night, which seems the stereotypical night for students to go - I saw loads of acquaintances there), so it clearly wasn't too bad. Just not as good as I'd expected judging from other people's opinions of the place.

*Taken from official website

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The Colonnade

3.8(17 reviews)

0.2 mi

The Colonnade is the theatre bar for the Brighton Theatre Royal. With a traditional 1920s green…read moretiled outside the venue stands out against the modern development of New Road. It not only functions as a theatre bar and is a popular evening bar for Brighton revelers. I even spotted Brighton celeb Zoe Ball on the spritzers one summer eve. The theatre theme runs through out the interior with lots of gold and velvet, and signatures of actors and actresses adorn the walls. On show nights its packed with theatre goers but attracts a variety of Brighton locals post show, One of the main draws of the venue is the outdoor seating areas right on the pedestrianised section of the North Laines, over looking the Pavilion Gardens.

Situated - as the name suggests - under the Colonnade of the Theatre Royal in Brighton, this is a…read moretheatre bar in the true sense of the word. Although physically separated and with its own opening hours, this cosy and traditional pub has theatre memorabilia on the walls and a bell to sound the beginning of performances. They serve a couple of real ales, usually including Harvey's Best Bitter. It's a little pricey, but then it's a real haven of tranquility and comfort in a City Centre that is otherwise packed full of noisy bars. The interior is plush and Victorian: crimson walls, an abundance of dark polished wood, and rich, dark, velvet curtains. There's a small seating area outside at the front, both for drinking and for those who wish to smoke. The lavatories are down a steep winding staircase, so not suitable for those with reduced mobility. As well as theatre-goers, it attracts both a loyal mix of regulars and those who want some respite from a hectic day's shopping. As you might expect, it is very gay-friendly, but not exclusivley gay. Staff are efficient - they have to be during intervals - but they also take orders for interval drinks before a performance: you'll find them lined up on the side when you go in. (Remember to take your tickets with you so you can get back into the threatre, though they don't usually check, and don't order anything you can't drink in 15 minutes...). A delightful haven in the centre of Brighton.

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Ohso Social

3.1(21 reviews)

Absolutely terrible service. Sat for over 30 mins without being served or even checked on. We saw…read moreat least 6 wait staff milling around chatting with one another. We saw another couple that were waiting 30 mins to have their drinks delivered. Upon speaking with the manager, he seemed non plussed and claimed he was training staff. If staff are training then they need to serve tables in order to get trained. We left.

What a beautiful location nestled right on the beach and very close to the Brighton Pier. I tried…read moreto order a gin and tonic as they had quite a few different cocktails with gin on their drink menu but they were out of almost all the gins I requested. I settled for a pint and an order of fish and chips. The fish was very flaky and moist with just the right amount of batter and the chips with malt vinegar were on point. The rest of my party ordered burgers which for the price was not that great. Would definitely come back when we visit our family in Brighton for the view and sunset.

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Robin Hood

4.4(22 reviews)

0.7 mi

Cute place for a drink in brighton. They have several different food options, I'd consider them…read moresnacks not necessarily a meal. We shared a pizza which was tasty after walking around all day. It was a good snack.

Perfect for a cosy pint on an autumnal evening. There's an extensive choice of beers, wine and…read moreteas. Pizza menu as well as meat, cheese and meat & cheese platters available. Check out the baked cheese or for a snack a bit of sausage roll £2.50. A selection of board games to keep you entertained or tinkle on the ivories of the piano. Was loving the music selection however couldn't really hear it.

In we go...

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Pizza time?

Proud Cabaret Brighton

3.5(17 reviews)

1.0 mi

Absolutely terrible. We were sold a carnival Cabaret - with aerialist, fun carnival games and the…read morefun atmosphere of the carnival... and in reality we had none of those things. There were two performers who loosely entertained us with a tiny step up from karaoke, burlesque-ish and some comedy. The food arrived cold, and somewhat inedible. Overall don't bother.

We are still waiting on our refund as our Brighton Show was cancelled and we were not informed…read more(23rd Dec 2023). Our group of 10 travelled to Brighton, standing outside the doors to find the show was not on from a chef working in the kitchen as we managed to find someone inside! The sales advisor Chloe confirmed we could either move to an evening show or have a full refund as we couldn't attend the later show. We requested a refund and now we find they are uncontactable, no response from anyone still awaiting a full refund or any information. I am writing this review to hope that a representative can help us. Please get in contact asap.

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Oxygen

3.1(16 reviews)

0.7 mi

•£

This bar situated a stones throw from 5 of the main stream night clubs in Brighton, it is the ideal…read moresetting to start the night off. It was opened two years ago and is still as stylish and chilled as it was when it opened with a sister company opened up in hove recently. This new store clearly indicates that this bar is giving people an experience that really gets the night off with a bang. With great drinks promotions which include 'the good, the bad and the ugly' shots which can be selected at choice or spin a wheel to let fate decide the outcome. Every night of the week is normally busy so the atmosphere is always thriving and on the special sports events the bar has plasma screen televisions at both sides so you can choose which side you want to support and have friendly rivalries. As I play for a football club and we needed sponsoring I asked Oxygen to help, they happily supplied us with money for all forms of kit and offered even better deals on a Wednesday night which is the biggest student night of the week. It is safe to say that on this day is when the bar is full to capacity so if you like this sort of thing then Wednesday is the day.

This place isn't really for me, first off I actually think I'm a little too old for it (God, that's…read moredepressing). Secondly, West Street itself isn't really for me. Lots of very young gals and guys dressed up to the max in as little as possible, with florescent fake tan being a must. It's also Hen night central, and hordes of drunk women with feather boas and whistles kinda scare me. Oxygen is very much this kind of place. The bar is covered in sticky shot residue, and the toilets are pretty bad, and there's only 2 ladies toilets, and any place that doesn't have enough ladies bathrooms makes me RAGE! Nothing dampens a night like queuing in a smelly toilet for half an hour. This being said, I do like to go in there. No, not for the sticky bar or to use the bogs, but because of the huge range of cocktail like shots, all for two quid. A bargain! You can literally just pop in there (it's often empty) grab a shot and be on your way. Simples.