Thank the lord for the Corn Exchange. Without it, I would never have got to see acts like The…read morePipettes and Le Tigre play gloriously ramshackle sets before splitting up. The sister venue to the grand Brighton Dome, the Corn Exchange is smaller and cosier with sold out gigs being particularly intimate and atmospheric. The fact it's usually standing only creates a good cameraderie and the bar at the back of the venue keeps the drinks flowing. As with the Dome, spirits and beer are reasonably priced but there's no Guinness on tap or in bottles. Ticket prices usually range from £15-£30 depending on how well established the acts are. PJ Harvey played a few months back and Calvin Harris and Dizzee Rascal are set to play this spring. Personally, I've seen some amazing gigs here from Cuban musicians to singer-songwriters. The best show however, was probably Brighton's own Bat For Lashes in 2009. She was so spellbinding, I think I floated home...

The Brighton Dome offers a variety of different venues, and the Corn Exchange is possibly its most…read moreversatile. As a huge hall, it can be adapted to fit a variety of different acts, from live music bands that want more standing space and the like to club nights to the occasional humongous theatre event. I've seen a variety of things in here, and it's amazing how different they can make it look. Anything performed in here will use the space in ways you haven't even imagined: prepare to be blown away each time. As well as all of the different events that can fit into the space, the Corn Exchange also often offers a bar at the back, for anyone dying for a drink during a particularly long gig, and the prices are suitably steep, although not too pricey for your typical live-event music bar. Unfortunately, the ticket prices themselves are often more than a little steep: I understand it costs a lot to see the big stars, but prices here often seem to be a lot higher than similar events elsewhere. It's one of the biggest and best live music venues in the area, and there really is no denying that, but the Corn Exchange isn't exactly the perfect fit. It's just a little bit too pricey for my liking: nothing on the big venues in London, sure, but still a bit much. Nonetheless, it is good to have a chance to see some of the big acts that the Corn Exchange pulls in: I guess not everyone has that privilege.

This place is a fab choice for an inexpensive carafe of red on the long walk back from the centre…read moreof town to Hove. With a lovely interior and heated pavement seating Paris House makes a good backdrop for a date or catch up with friends. I regret to say that I haven't been overly impressed by the food when I've tried it, but there's plenty of eateries in the area to try before heading over for a night cap ;)

Seemed like a nice enough little place - quirky decor, friendly staff, and interesting choice of DJ…read moregiven the setting...! Nothing overly special, but a nice place to go for a drink or two.

This is a charming little public house in the outskirts of Reigate center, very much a family place…read morewith the patrons ranging widely in ages. It hosts events, live music, and taster sessions on certain nights to get the community involved. We had a drink here as a stop off before a birthday party and it was a really great space with a wonderful selection for its size. There is an open fire which we couldn't make the most of as it was mid-summer. I peeked at the beer garden but it was slightly too chilly and dark to check it out properly. Will put it on the to-do list for next time! That will go next to 'trying the food' which is already on the list. The menu features hearty pub food classics and the establishment boasts that its bread and meat come from the local baker and butcher. Seems to be the epitome of the idea behind the original 'public house': community, good food/drink, and good company.

Best place in reigate for Guinness absolutely delicious. Cold creamy pint. Lovely beer garden and…read morefriendly staff. Couldn't beat it with a big stick

With its beautiful roof of Norfolk reeds and oak beams, this pub really is a charming place to head…read morefor a nice long lunch on a warm day. There's a huge garden to accommodate large groups and there's plenty of room inside the place too. The staff and owners are really friendly and can't do enough to make you feel welcome. Food wise, I can't recommend the steaks enough here. They source the meat locally and you can tell the difference in the flavour. The Sirloins are fantastic and the chef really knows how to cook it to order (you'd be surprised how many don't. Perfect place to head to on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

The Thatched Inn will always hold a little place in my heart. Aside from the great impression it…read moremakes on pulling into the car park, due to the exceptionally maintained thatched roof, it is the 'pubiness' that makes it a winner. Located on the fringes of Hassocks and overlooking a beautiful stretch of Sussex countryside (great for a post Sunday roast walk to preserve the waistline!), the pub has the advantage of space that Brighton establishments sometimes lack. You would be hard pressed not to find a parking space and the same applies to seating within. The pub provides a cozy bar including a pool table if you fancy stopping by for a swift pint, the 'Keymer' bar for a more relaxed beverage and a large, yet homely dining area if you have come to eat. I will come back to the food in a minute. In the summer, the expansive secluded garden is perfect for children to bomb about, or for those summer nights when the weather is pleasant (of course, a bit hit and miss in this country!). The menu is wide ranging (check the website for a current list of dishes) and offers traditional, quality pub food. A lot of the produce is locally sourced and cooked to order. Sometimes this does mean that you wait a little longer for your meal, but the wait is worth it in such a nice environment. This is a great pub to consider for a Sunday roast, especially if you live in Brighton and have access to a car. They will happily take bookings and also cater for private parties in the dining area. I would have liked to see a wider range of ales on tap, but they do try and keep a local brew or two in rotation. Aside from that, expect your regular range of alcoholic tipples on offer. Many moons ago, in my youth we used to walk to the Thatched from Burgess Hill for our Friday drinking sessions and I would still make that walk! I guess the one negative is the location if you are without transport, but if you do make the pilgrimage from the station, I believe you will be glad that you did.

This is somewhere to go for underground beats and vibes, with none of the pretension of many of the…read morecity's seafront clubs. It is fairly small, but generally feels about the right size for the nights that are held here. The bar is separate from the main dancefloor, which is a definite bonus, meaning that no-one is walking through the thronging masses to get to the bar. The main room is upstairs, but downstairs is another smaller room, generally with a more chilled out atmosphere than the main section. In summer, in common with most seafront clubs, it is a cafe/bar in the daytime, serving takeaway drinks and basic food. It's not plush or fancy, and could even be described as grimy, but it's also a hell of a lot of fun.

Back when they used to have Dub Pressure in here it was amazing, but as the music has blown up the…read moreclub has been left in the dust in my opinion. They still have decent nights on but none that captured the grime and filth that came with GRAMPS HI-FI soundsystem when installed for said night. The club has a good layout and if it's packed out the main room is loads of fun, the downstairs room is smaller (main one isn't that big though) and can be quite annoying but at least another option.

This is one of the cosiest pubs I've set foot in in a long while. It was freezing and drizzly…read moreoutside and inside the Marlipins - a pretty small pub - they had two open fires going! My face was glowing red within minutes from the much welcomed heat. They had some nice music playing at an equally nice level (Van Morrison and plenty from the same era) and the bar staff were really nice and friendly. The decor was old fashioned but suited the pub and didn't at all look worn or tacky. There was a good selection of real ales and also a good few house double deals which you don't see much of these days. Sunday lunch is offered at £6.95 and during the rest of the week they sell pizzas from 6pm - 10pm. I could have sat here all day to be honest and just soaked up the atmosphere (and Harveys) as it really had a nice feel about the place and its friendly locals.

A lovely 18th century pub that is fully aware of todays changing market, and has adjusted to it. We…read morehad an excellent lunch here today. Reet scrummy! Several choices and dealsthat won't break your bank. Thai food can be had, if you don't want traditional. Definitely go for the Steak and Kidney Pie, (Home-cooked). They maintain a good cellar and serve a varied ale stock, London Pride, Harveys etc. Can be very busy as it's right in the middle of the shopping centre.

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.

The Star is a lovely old 18th century pub, situated at the north end of the High Street in the…read morelovely Sussex village of Steyning. The grade-II listed building has a small room and bar at the front, and a large rambling area at the back, with some small 'snug' rooms off that. The decor, as you might expect, it traditional, with low ceilings, a mixture of stone, wooden and carpeted floors, and lots of exposed beams and brick. But its best feature has to be the garden at the rear, which runs alongside a small stream, and is delightful in summer. There's also a separate children's play area. Real ales include Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter, as well as a Fuller's London Pride and HSB. They have an extensive and slightly pricey food menu, but I've not eaten here. There's a large car park, and it's a short walk from the bus stop with an hourly service to and from Brighton.

This is a spacious place. The decor is clean and seems well looked after. It has Real Ales like…read moreHarveys Best. Food is available. A bit pricey at around £9 for a main. On the menu they claim there is chunky chips with the fish, well look at the picture and judge yourself. The staff are very friendly but don't seem to know much about their products on sale. There are two grardens. One by a streem and the other across the carpark. Both are suitable for children. No worry that they could run across the road.