I hate leaving bad reviews but I am worried someone might DIE here. I ordered a whisky and after sitting down noticed it had fruit flies in it. I went back to the bartender and he apologized and then offered me another drink. I looked at multiple bottles and ALL of them had flies. I said they needed to throw them away and I would just take a beer. He gave me a beer free and then went outside to hang with my friend. I then watched him pour the bottles through a strainer and then back into the bottles. Not only did they never rinse the glass but didn't rinse the strainer that had the flies in it. So - Do NOT drink any whisky in this place. In fact don't drink any hard liquor in this place. Other bottles had flies but didn't see them "recycling" them. Bartender was very nice and amicable but this place should be shut down. Someone will get sick. No idea if they clean their beer lines or not but just stay away. read more

Five minutes walk from Brighton Centre, The Dome and Corn Exchange, the Hop Poles is a great pub to go to after a gig. I went here after seeing Kings of Leon and Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds earlier this year and noticed lots of other people from the shows wander in. The staff are friendly, the bar stock everything from Guiness and ale to quality spirits and the atmosphere is warm and bustling. There's clusters of wooden chairs and tables and a window seat where you can watch the world go by or strike up conversations with - equally intoxicated - locals. read more

See all

If you don't fancy the bars and pubs the seafront has to offer (and in many cases I wouldn't blame you), don't panic...the Hop Poles is just around the corner! Countless times I've been sitting on the beach, wondering where the inevitable post-sunbathing drinks are going to take place...and it always comes back to the Hop Poles! It's proximity to the beach makes this pub a winner if you can't be arsed with wandering around looking for a table in a more central pub. The inside is small and charming, lots of wood and traditional pubby decor. Like many other pubs in Brighton, they seem to have a penchant for hubcap sculpture- not sure what this is all about but it makes me think that the Hop Poles must be part of a small local chain. Even so, the pub feels unique and full of its own character. They do good food and the menu isn't overcomplicated or flouncy- they serve easy sharers such as nachos and Mediterranean mezzes, as well as other heartier mains and a variable soup of the day. If you can, grab a table on the small outside terrace- it's full of plants and has a really cosy, intimate atmosphere. read more

Hop Poles - Pubs Near Me - Brighton, BNH

The Hop Poles is one of my favourite pubs in Brighton, and for good reason: it has the best outdoor seating area in the whole Lanes area, it serves lots of different spirits and ales, and the food... oh my goodness, the food! You've had pub food in Brighton before, you say, but this is one of the best kitchens in town: they're even all trained as butchers! Go here for the food, stay here for the amazing drinks, never leave the outdoor seating area... You really shouldn't imbibe alcohol anywhere else; unless it's ridiculously busy, that is, which it often gets between 8-11 on Fridays and Saturdays: worth missing at that point. I think I've mostly said it above: there is almost nothing wrong with the Hop Poles, apart from how busy it can get. The outdoor area is brilliant, lots of space, lots of heaters, covered in winter and open in summer, with great music (rock and punk) playing most of the time. A really cool place to chill out, and a very relaxed place to enjoy your real or ale or spirits, of which they have a bunch, as well as some lagers if you REALLY want one. I stand by the statement I made at the beginning of the review: it's the best pub in Brighton. However, I'm not going to recommend you go there: don't take over my favourite spot in town! read more

Hop Poles - Pubs Near Me - Brighton, BNH

I brought my 70yo mother-in-law and my 10yo daughter here for lunch. It looks like a dive bar but it's sooo much better than that. We came based on other Yelp reviews which proved the place stellar. The food was scrumptious - we were all delighted! Good selection of beers and non-alcoholic bevvies too. Our table was a bit wobbly and the bathrooms were a bit whiffy, but we all enjoyed the great food. read more

Hop Poles - Sunday roast chicken with lemon & thyme - Pubs Near Me - Brighton, BNH

See all

Great little pub with great atmosphere inside with a focus on girl power (yaY!). Seating limited inside but there's also a cute little back patio area with picnic tables for overflow & smoking. Truly the best fish & chips I've ever had, no question! In fact, it was SO good that we ordered a second round of fish & chips immediately on the heels of the first round AND on top of an order of bangers & mash! The bangers were good, but that dish just could not rival the fish and chips in my opinion, so I held off that while the hub put it away & waited out more fish & chips. The tartar sauce is filled with capers, and though I'm not sure of the other ingredients, I know it's the most unusual and tasty tartar I've ever had! The fish was high quality, breaded just right, and the mushy peas were absolutely fantastic! The beer selection is quite good, and they're happy to let you taste until you find one you like. We were fortunate enough to be there while they were serving a hot mix of apple juice and cinnamon whiskey that was bone-warming and absolutely DELISH! And yes, it was an add on to the two beers we already ordered, but who was counting? Not me! read more

See all

I had a bunch of Aussies wanting a top British pub lunch... Anyone who knows how fussy Aussies are about food would know that the pressure was on. Found this place on Yelp and it did not disappoint! Absolutely no complaints from the Aussies about anything which is probably some sort of record lol! The fish and chips are great (the chips are particularly well cooked!) as is the sausage and mash with a yorky! Will keep this place in mind for next time! Presentation is great. Staff friendly. Just a seemingly average looking pub that has a cracking kitchen service. read more

Owned by the same people as the Eagle and the Snow Drop, the Hop Poles is the jewel in Brighton's pub crown. One of the smallest pubs in Brighton, the Hop Poles is filled with wall to wall comedy memorabilia assembled from all over the world. These artefacts reflect the alternative character of the pub, also reflected in their vegetarian friendly menu. The food here is well regarded; they source a lot of local produce and rotate the menu relatively frequently, offering some very tasty seasonal dishes. The food is good value, although the drinks prices are more expensive than in most pubs around, although not enough to really put you off. The Hop Poles is best experienced when busy, while this does mean you might struggle for a table, it also means you can enjoy the bustling atmosphere that this pub so easily generates. read more

The Hop Poles is easy in the top 3 Brighton pubs for food. They would seem quite unassuming on your first visit. The menu is merely printed on sheets of A4 paper stapled together. Most end up looking pretty tattered by mid afternoon. DO NOT let that put you off however. All the food is of a very high gastro quality and you will find a wide range of dishes to choose from each day. The meat is all locally sourced and they tend to present a menu that touches on a lot of cuisine from across the world. Be warned that the place can get busy at lunch time, or for early evening so you will likely want to get there early if you can. As the menu is presented daily they will run out of some of the dishes. The staff are all very chilled and up fora laugh. As a pub to drink in, it's also pretty good. There is a large covered seating area out back which is great in the summer. They have a good range of beer and ale on tap and play good music from behind the bar. If you haven't been here yet, then you really have no excuses. All meals they sell will be under a tenner (unless there is something exceptionally random on the daily menu) and the portions mean you won't be ordering bar snacks later in the night. Pub food as it should be done! read more

Always busy due to the fact is so close to the sea front and Laines, the Hop Poles is very popular with Brighton locals. Offering great wine and real ale, as well as a varied pub grub menu there's hardly a bad word to be said about the place, except get there early to nab a seat. They have a substantial outdoor seating with loads of heaters so winter smokers are well looked after. Its reasonably priced considering its location, massive food portions and a full bar. Its has a really friendly atmosphere and instead of chucking us out when my friend passed out they just passed along a pint of water. Its has very varied clientele from young hipsters to old brightonian ale heads. Its always my stop off after a day at the beach, rain or shine. read more

This is a real Brighton institution. Tucked away in the Lanes, but away from many other pubs, it is always packed at weekends, for good reason. It is not the largest pub in Brighton, but few in the Lanes are, and its location away from the more popular streets means that it is frequented mainly by locals rather than tourists. One of its biggest draws is its garden area - very unusual in this area. There is room for several tables and, like the main pub, is always busy, thanks in part to the retractable cover. The staff are cheery and unfazed even by the biggest of Saturday crowds, and although I have yet to eat there myself, I am reliably informed that the food is very good quality. All these factors make the Hop Poles a compulsory stop on any Brighton Lanes pub crawl. read more

I've never had a bad meal at this place, it really is impressive and not at all over priced. The decor inside is cool, lots of timber and old fashioned artifacts from when it used to be a stable but it also has a real contemporary feel to it. The staff are really friendly and the service is fantastic even when they're busy. The menu changes quite a bit but is not one of those massive 'pub grub' lists - just a handfull of things cooked really well indeed. Try the moules and frites for a starter and the sirloin steak as a main. The house white is definitely good and a nice glass of Shiraz with your steak. After this you'll be ready to face the hell and carnage of the seafront in the summer! read more

The hop poles is a lovely little pub on a street nearby the seafront. It's quaint, full of charm and character with a funky décor and somewhat loopy music to match! I popped in here in the afternoon for a hot chocolate and a slice of cake. The cakes are delicious; they have a good selection of cakes, scones and even cheesecake to quench your hunger. It has a very laid back atmosphere making it easy to just sit for ages drinking your tea and watching the world go by - an ideal way to spend a lazy afternoon. I haven't seen it but I've heard the decking area outside is just as sweet as the indoors and will definitely be going back to check this out in the summer. The only problem with this pub is the space. The time of day that I went here it wasn't overly busy but I can see it getting very packed at lunchtimes and in the evenings and as there wasn't a great number of tables to sit at and it's not huge inside I can imagine it getting very crowded. Nonetheless I would still recommend going here even if for a few minutes. It simply has such a pleasurable and comforting vibe to it. read more

The food is the #1 reason I come here. The foxy bar staff is my #2 reason. Only thing that can be rough is finding a place to sit. This place gets PACKED. They play awesome music here too read more

I absolutely adore The Hop Poles, it's easily one of my favourite pubs in Brighton. The only downside is that so many other people feel the same way it's near-on impossible to get a seat unless you get there about an hour before you want to eat or queue at the door as it opens. The first thing that hits you when you walk in (provided, of course, that you look upwards) is the enormous octopus made of hubcaps on the ceiling. Absolutely brilliant. There's also an alligator made of various car parts outside in the trellis-covered beer garden. The rest of the decor, in stark contrast, is very traditional and homely chunky rough-hewn tables and a huge wooden bar with gleaming brass pumps. I've also been told that they have a fabulous selection of real ales, although I never touch the stuff so quite honestly I wouldn't know one from another. I'm very happy with my pear cider thank you. The best thing about The Hop Poles though is their food. They have a menu which changes on a daily basis and is sourced entirely from local produce. Their menu is a great mix of traditional pub fare (like sausage and mash, roast lamb and steak) as well as slightly more restaurant-style dishes (like risottos, roasted Mediterranean vegetable dishes and lasagnes). But the BEST bit is that on their menus they print fantastic (and often hilarious) descriptions of all the dishes detailing things like which of their chefs came up with the recipe and how and where they discovered it, how they think you'll feel when you're eating it or what the staff members think of the dish. Among the dishes I've sampled are their sausage and mash, wild mushroom risotto, sweet potato with roasted Mediterranean vegetables and, the pièce de résistance, their Sunday roasts beautifully presented, flavoursome locally-sourced meat and wonderfully al dente vegetables. Just get there early to secure a table! read more

Let me start off by saying the mushy pees are off the hook! But...I want to give them 5 stars but I can't. I had the fish and chips. The fish was cod, and very fresh but the batter was incredibly bland. Even doctored up with malt and lemon it still left something to be desired. The spot is really cool though. I would come back again and try other food, but not the fish and chips. Staff was great and very accommodating for my 5 and 3 year old. read more

Hop Poles - Fish and chips - Pubs Near Me - Brighton, BNH

A thriving pub with very personable staff, the place has few pretentions and a wide cross section of customers. Lots of real ale to choose from, including bottles from The Kernal microbrewery, and should therefore be part of any good Brighton ale trail. read more

Fab pub. I used to go here loads when I lived in Brighton and it is one of the once I miss. I went back a few weeks ago to find it was as good as ever. The food is all homemade and is as good as mum used to make! They used to sell cigarette behind the bar at reasonable prices (i.e. not the inflated machine prices) but I have given up smoking now so I didn't check if they still do it. They have got a little outside area that is covered over, so you don't have to worry about getting wet in the summer showers. read more

Easily one of my favourite pubs in Brighton. I come from a dying breed of original Brightonians, and I can confirm that this pub has remained full of character for at least as long as my 10 year drinking career. If I have friends visiting, I always take them here for some of the best pub grub I've come across in the city. Massive portions (I'm yet to finish the chilli con carne) and unique interesting food, at a reasonable price. The place is often packed on weekends, but this is a reflection of its popularity. During the week it has a slightly more laid back atmosphere, and you can usually find a seat. This pub perfectly represents the qwirky style of Brighton. read more

I've been going to this pub for about 10 years and was really disappointed when it had been taken over by the Cask, they utterly ruined it. Thankfully the new owners have returned it to it's former glory. There is a nice heated outside area and inside the tables and chairs are arranged in a way that really gives it a good vibe when it's busy. It's great for daytime meetings and also very welcoming if you have kids. In fact last time I was there it was early in the evening and my daughter played on Mario Kart on the resident Nintendo machine housed on the bar. read more

This place was great, lots of community, lots of laughs, really nice time. I think the pub has the ability to get pretty packed, although it was fairly mild the night I went. Found a nice couch downstairs and snuggled up with a friend, while sipping on wine and sharing secrets. Loved this spot. :) read more

The Hop Poles doesn't seem particular remarkable on first site, but there's just something endlessly inviting about it. Its warm custom, varied drinks and relaxed seating, both inside and out, make it a constant source of temptation if you're ever anywhere near. And then there's the food. This is surely the best pub kitchen in town, with a cracking menu full of adapted classics and inspired creations. During winter their roast venison is tempting enough, but add to that a supporting cast of rough, buttery kale, roasted chunks of beetroot and garlic-spiked Swede, and you are in rooty heaven. The pork belly is as it should be: soft and juicy underneath; salty and crackly on top, with buttery mash and palette-busting gravy. Outback they neatly sidestep smoking regulations, with a semi-covered seating area buzzing with the good chatter. read more

This is one of my favourite Brighton pubs. Centrally located, seconds from the old Lanes, it's perfect to hop into, whatever kind of night (or day) out you've been having: the beach, North Road clubs, or venues and pubs off the Laines. The staff are incredibly friendly, polite and approachable. They stock a gorgeous and constantly changing variety of ales, as well as a full selection of lagers, spirits, and a wine list. The building itself is spacious, I love the wooden beams and 'traditional' pub decor, including the giant hub-cap octopus hanging from the ceiling. It's always rammed at weekends but to wander in there in the middle of the week you'll still find a few gregarious locals hanging around and cheerful music playing. And the toilets are clean. Always a priority. There's a lovely little garden, with heating, for the smokers, and an array of benches, pews, and large and small tables for all sizes of groups, huge or intimate. There is also an amazing, if slightly expensive, menu. Popular for their delicious Sunday roasts, unsurprisngly. My friend and I had chicken and lamb respectively: both were mouthwatering and had fresh veg, including melt-in-the-mouth sprouts and exactly the right amount of gravy. Even when the place was packed out with diners we still only waited about ten minutes for food, and our plates were cleared equally quickly. All in all a brilliant welcoming atmosphere, anytime of the week, enjoyed by locals and students alike. read more

I was a bit disappointed with the food here, but am giving 4 stars as I love it as a place for a drink! I went to Hop Poles for a roast and although it looked great, it was a bit lacking in taste! I went for the pork which was good, but just not fantastic. The yorkshire pudding looked amazing but again lacked taste. I liked the different veg though. Also the chocolate brownie for dessert was so INTENSE! I'd heard the food at this place was incredible so was a little disappointed. Overall though, I really love this pub! It has a good atmosphere and I love the decor! read more

Food here was really really good! We had the beer battered halloumi which was absolutely delicious, and a very good calamari salad as well. We sat on the back patio which was a lovely escape from the bustle of the lanes. Unfortunately on our visit the lady that took our order at the bar was not friendly at all and served me cider in a pint glass covered in lipstick stains, otherwise this would have been a solid 4 star experience. read more

Good pub in heart of Brighton - but a bit off the main drag. Good atmosphere, small outside area and nice food. Feels a bit chainy and the seating isn't that comfortable - but definitely worth a look-in. read more

Great Sunday roast at reasonable prices, good music, lovely outside seating area, nice staff. I highly recommend.

This pub is now called The Spotted Dog, which the owners probably need to update on Qype. My husband and I wandered in here to get out of the wind and ended up staying half the afternoon. The food is absolutely delicious with a cool Meditteranean flair and they have an excellent selection of ales, which the staff will encourage you to taste. The staff are super fun and friendly and I would recommend it to anyone. read more

This is undeniably one of my favourite pubs in Brighton for a Sunday roast. It fills up pretty quickly so if you want a good spot for Sunday lunch you'll need to get there for 12.30pm or go later (but risk some food choices being sold out). There is a really wide selection of Sunday roasts, chicken, beef, pork, lamb and a couple of vege choices which always excited me! Prices are pretty reasonable too. There's always a really laid back vibe here and the staff are all young and friendly. There is an outside part with heaters for chillier days and interesting crocodile art pieces made from large sheets of metal! It's a nice place to visit on a wet cold day as well as it gets really cosy inside! A definite thumbs up from me! read more

If you're looking for a place that still feels like a pub (as opposed to the many 'bars' Brighton seems to have) that has authentic, home cooked food which uses high quality ingredients combined with very friendly people, then it's certainly worth coming here. It's certainly no secret, and this place is very popular amongst Brightonians, and on the downside it can sometimes be hard to find a table, but that does refect the overall quality of this place. read more

Tucked away in Middle Street just off the main drag The Spotted Dog serves great hearty wholesome food in a nice atmosphere. I have only been the once but thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to my next visit well worth checking out! read more

Cosy pub with great food, beer selection and soundtrack!

I had a really disapointing soup. Not really worth the huge wait for food. Really nice staff though

The place is quite nice with friendly staff. Good beer and cider but the Sunday roast was ok not so good. Also the pub was super noisy.

Def worth a visit, I have been visiting since about 1995 when I was a student, and im still visiting, foods great, especially the roasts!!!

This place has always got a nice welcoming atmosphere. The very good, though the last time I went it had just been bough by a new owner and the it was a little under par. Will try it again though read more

Good pub, good beer selection and nice meals. Went there during holidays, would have stayed longer.

The Hop poles has a fantastic reputation for great food of restaurant quality, served by friendly staff in a welcoming atmosphere, & previously this was quite justified. I used to eat at the Poles regularly, enjoying their Sunday roasts as well as their mid-week menus, but until recently had not been there due to travel & other unrelated obligations for about eight months. Unfortunately, judging by my most recent visit (23 July '10) their reputation for excellence is no longer justified: My main, apparently a fillet steak, peas & home-made chips, arrived smeared with instant/packet gravy (the overly salty stuff, glutinous from cornflour starch), presumably an attempt to hide the fact that the peas had also come from a packet rather than a pod. The texture & consistency of the steak lead me to think that like the peas it had also been frozen, but I couldn't be sure due to it being drenched in the horrendous Bisto (or whatever foul concoction was used) which eliminated any chance of its true flavour being discernible. The plate arrived minus cutlery, & when my fellow diner requested mustard from the waitress she directed him to fetch it from the other side of the pub & bring it to the garden himself - A strange notion that an establishment's patrons should pay for the privilege of serving themselves whilst employees who are paid do their job simply can't be bothered (she was previously very busy sitting at a table talking to a friend after all). My friend with whom I dined had to trim an inedible rind off his Parma Ham to make it edible (not once in over thirty years of restaurant dining have I come across such a basic error, what next, serve guests unopened oysters perhaps?). We both had 'Battered Calamari with Garlic Mayonnaise' to start. The mayonnaise was from a jar (fresh mayonnaise takes less than two minutes to make with a hand-whisk, & less than one minute with an electric one), the squid was dry, though whether this was due to it being frozen or simply overcooked was impossible to tell. When the staff cleared the plates I clearly & politely explained our dissatisfaction with the meal, but was met with blank indifference. With one drink each we were charged about £30 for a culinary insult the like of which I have not received since I dined at Marco Pierre White's now infamous 'Titanic' in '99. read more

This is a really nice pub with fantastic food, especially the Sunday roast. Great outside seating area and good music too. I could waste a lot of time here read more

Love this pub, in my top 3 in Brighton. Read reviews above saying "disappointing soup" and "a bit chainy" which really surprised me because in my experience and dozens of visits I couldn't agree less. read more