Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Waggon & Horses

    3.6 (18 reviews)
    ModeratePubs, British
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Waggon & Horses Photos

    WAGGON & HORSES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Waggon & Horses

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Chris H.

    The Waggon and Horses is my favourite Brighton old-man pub, and for good reason: it clearly hasn't changed significantly in the last 20-odd years! It's got that old pub smell, old tables... it's just a grotty old wooden pub, and I love that it's retained its identity so strongly. Sure, the grottiness does mean it's not the most pleasant place to sit in, but it does have a huge outdoor area in a very nice part of town, the prices are nice and cheap, and it's an amazing alternative to the crushed Mash Tun. I really wouldn't recommend sitting inside here: it's all just a bit ugly and smelly. It does smell like 20 years of beer and spirits has seeped into all of the wood here, and it's not always pleasant. However, I do admire the Waggon and Horses for it: in a town that's often too cool for school, they've stuck by their guns and remained one of the best places in Brighton for a drink. Yes, it's grotty, but it's also homely and nice not to have to blink through neon lights and glitterballs to get to the bar. Despite all that, sit outside anyway. It's far nicer most months, and there's loads of space to spread out. Also, you're on the main concourse at the beginning of New Road, so there's always plenty of people about and a nice vibe going on. No heaters, but it shouldn't matter: it'll probably be heaving with Mash Tun and Fitzherberts run-off, who'll all be generating plenty of heat on their own. Don't let that disturb you: there are plenty of tables, and the atmosphere is great.

    Taken by me
    Pete L.

    This is certainly a proper pub. Decorated in the style of pubs from old and decked out with chunky tables and mis matched chairs. There is a good number of benches outside and this is probably the best area to get comfortable for an evening if the weather permits. The staff are very nice, but will be somewhat curt on the busy evenings. It can be a bit of a squeeze inside when trying to get a round in. In a lot of ways everything about this place is average at best. They do have one trump card however. Whisky. The whisky menu is as good as you will get in the city whether single malts or bourbons are your thing. I'm not a massive fan of the golden nectar, but some of the offerings here will get me ordering off the menu. If whisky isn't your thing, then you will also find a good number of ales and spirits also. This is a great spot to start off a night, or stop off for a round on route to a club etc. Thumbs up for me.

    Photo courtesy of Emma J.
    Emma J.

    This pub has a prime location right in the centre of the Laines and with a huge outdoor space to boot. That doesn't completely explain however why the outdoor tables are packed most of the time- don't these people need to work?! I guess I'm stood there looking at them so they might be wondering the same thing about me.. On a bright day I do like sitting out on the street with a drink and watching the world go by- and if you want some privacy, the Waggon and Horses has a 'secret' beer garden at the back. I wouldn't want to sit inside the pub though- it seems a bit shabby and dirty somehow. It' s popular though and always bustling- a good place to start an evening out.

    wah
    adam s.

    Feeling down in the dumps? Head on down to Waggon and Horses for a few. It's not that it is has a jovial party pub it's more in keeping with the old saying ' there's always someone else worse off than you'. There's something quite poignant about a solitary old boy boozing his way through the afternoon, it reminds me of drinking and playing dominos with my granddad. There is no awkward atmosphere here, it's all just a little bit hush hush. But as my granddad said, nothing raises spirits or warms the cockles more than a hearty whiskey.

    See all

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah-Jane B.
    280
    1096
    3360

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alice C.
    7
    319
    359

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris H.
    6
    379
    416

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Pete L.
    6
    340
    206

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Emma J.
    4
    359
    194

    17 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sophie W.
    12
    326
    332

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of adam s.
    5
    314
    301

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of James Y.
    2
    794
    763

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joseph J.
    7
    324
    352

    17 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sam R.
    1
    329
    94

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Waggon & Horses Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Waggon & Horses

    Why stand up at the Mash Tun when you can sit down 20 feet away at the Waggon and Horses?

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Pubs 208 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Queensbury Arms - Photo taken from mybrightonandhove.org

    Queensbury Arms

    3.3(3 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    ££

    This tiny pub - also known as 'the Hole in the Wall' - is tucked away at the sea-front end of…read moreQueensbury Mews. Reputed to be Brighton's smallest pub, it has two small rooms either side of a central bar, serving a couple of real ales, and the usual range of lagers, wines and spirits. The decor is plush and cosy - rather like the inside of a theatre. This is appropriate, as the walls are covered with hundreds of old theatre posters and signed photos of theatre performers. (Or should that be 'artistes'?) It's reputed that Laurence Olivier (among others) once drank here. The staff are very friendly, and it attracts a loyal following of (mostly) gay men, although it's not exclusively gay. A perfect spot to escape from the winter gales on Brighton sea-front.

    The Queensbury Arms, weather it intends to be or not, is something a bit different. This pokey…read morelittle pub behind the Hilton is rich with the kind of charm normally possessed by an old Gay thespian. The seats are of faded pinkish velvet and the air somehow stuffy as though thick with back stage stories from days that have long since come to pass. It's not going to be everybody's cup of tea, but if you've ever watched the fast show's Arthur Atkinson story and aside from the comedy been taken in by the romance of 1950's theatre this place is well worth a trip. The drinks selection's not bad either it has the usual standards and last trip a made there I enjoyed some Harveys Sussex best and marvelled with complete ignorance at the signed monochrome photos across the back wall.

    Hop Poles - Open mic night !

    Hop Poles

    4.2(41 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    ££

    I hate leaving bad reviews but I am worried someone might DIE here…read more 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.

    Five minutes walk from Brighton Centre, The Dome and Corn Exchange, the Hop Poles is a great pub to…read morego 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.

    Photos
    Hop Poles - Ranking.

    Ranking.

    Hop Poles
    Hop Poles

    See all

    The Mesmerist

    The Mesmerist

    3.8(18 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    ££

    As far as Brighton bars go, The Mesmerist is maybe as most versatile as you're going to find…read more Came here with a party of 30 people. I let Cat, the booking manager, know the situation, and she was a wizard at making sure everyone had the food that they ordered. We had a room upstairs to ourselves, and everyone loved the food and service. We all got what we had pre-ordered with Cat, and the people who didn't preorder were proffered dinner in a timely fashion. The food was great! I got the tomato tart and the beef cheek. I had never had a tomato tart before but really enjoyed it, and I thought the beef cheek was very tender. Other people raved about the fries. There were lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Drinks were good! I had a cocktail called "The Bees Knees," which I really liked. There are plenty of beers on tap, and the waitstaff gets around to bar belly-uppers quickly. The space is amazing. There's a second story, rooftop courtyard, and a large downstairs area for dancing, live music, picture taking, and a brewery/beer store attached. As someone who loves lots of diversions and micro-vibes within a bar, I really enjoyed bopping between all of these areas. What better way to finish off the night than to catch a trio downstairs playing motown and rock? These guys were terrific: the bass player/singer was getting the crowd dancing, and the guitar player and drummer were seamlessly providing a groovy beat. This band is good enough for a high cover and the Mesmerist brought them in on a Thursday night, no cover. Thanks for everything, Mesmerist!

    The Mesmerist is a bar in the very centre of Brighton. As far as bars go, this is definitely a…read moredecent one. As it is central, it is pretty much always busy - and particularly in the evenings - but it doesn't take long to get served as the staff are efficient. The decor is really rather lovely. It has a very vintage feel to it which goes well with the music that they play which I believe is soft jazz (I am not very good with those sorts of genres so please forgive me if I am wrong!). Upstairs, there are several tables and it feels homely but spacious at the same time. I have not had food here in a few years but from what I can remember it is very decent indeed.

    Photos
    The Mesmerist
    The Mesmerist - Sunday Roast

    Sunday Roast

    The Mesmerist - Chelsea Rose

    See all

    Chelsea Rose

    Waggon & Horses - pubs - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...