Every Pub in Brighton #11-15
It’s taken several months to pull my finger out but now we’re 3 blog posts in, I think this is officially A Thing. Praise be(er)!
Entry three - here we go…!
#11 // The Poets Ale and Smokehouse
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Address: 33 Montgomery St, Hove BN3 5BF
Date visited: August 2022
Formerly ‘The Poet’s Corner’, The Poets Ale and Smokehouse is another Good Times pub, like The Railway Inn from the first entry and it’s another fine drinking establishment.
It has a lovely old wooden central bar that straddles itself across two rooms - the larger side has lots of seating and screens for watching televised sports whilst the smaller side is a cosy snug complete with a fireplace. But that’s not all, there’s a secret garden at the rear and even an upstairs space reserved for private hire so you’re not pushed for space here.
We wandered in here whilst looking for somewhere for lunch and were overwhelmed by the menu. Being a ‘smokehouse’, it’s not hard to work out that they smoke all their meats (and cheese) on-site but also butcher the produce they buy in from local, sustainable suppliers. There are BBQ plates and sharing platters of chicken, pulled pork, baby back ribs or brisket to choose from which come with a huge amount of sides, sauces and toppings of your choice. Not only this is a second menu with small plates (padron peppers, chicken wings, calamari), burgers, nachos and kebabs. Phew. I almost went for a BBQ plate but wasn’t feeling super hungry so opted for a lamb kebab served on an open flat bread topped with red cabbage slaw, honey, harissa and raita and it was bloody brilliant.
Whilst the food is obviously the star of the show here, there were decent local options on tap (Harvey’s Best is always welcome) as well the usual macro keg, bottle and spirits options.
I definitely need to go back for a proper BBQ plate sometime soon.
#12 // The Westbourne
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Address: 90 Portland Rd, Hove BN3 5DN
Date visited: September 2022
I am notoriously bad for taking photos in general. More so for this project which is why there haven’t been any so far. However, rather than describe the facade of this pub, I thought it’d be better to show you in all its glory so I’ve pilfered a picture from the pub’s Instagram:
Phwoar. Look at that. I really like that it’s a bit different and really helps the pub standout on Portland Road amongst the other commercial properties. Handily, it’s just as good on the inside - a lengthy bar is adorned with four rotating cask options and even more choice on keg. We’ve been a few times since this first visit and it seems to be more local cask options and keg options from across the country.
The pub is a long boy - the building goes really far back (further than you expect) with lots of tables and seating options and even more space outside. The food choice here is also excellent, in particular the pad thai. I heard someone at the bar being excited it was back on so obviously had to order it and I’m glad I did as it was great. Apparently their Sunday roasts are worth booking in for so I have a feeling a Sunday visit is on the cards soon.
#13 // The Cricketers
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Address: The Cricketers, 15 Black Lion St, Brighton BN1 1ND
Date visited: September 2022
From a fairly modern pub to the oldest pub in Brighton - The Cricketers stakes its claim as the oldest pub in the area, dating back to 1547.
As this pub is in the Lanes area of Brighton, it is always busy. Every weekend we are in the area and wander past, it’s full of punters so we’ve struggled to visit. However, we decided to check it out one weekday lunchtime when it wasn’t as rammed and managed to get a table outside in the late summer sunshine.
It’s a beautiful pub - very Victorian with plush red velvet seating, thick carpets, dark wood and a plethora of framed historical pictures to admire. Being as old as it is, it boasts a few interesting bits of trivia - it’s allegedly the pub where one of the Jack the Ripper suspects came to plot his crimes, travelling from Brighton to London and back to avoid detection. The pub was also immortalised in author Graham Greene’s book ‘Brighton Rock’ which is why the upstairs bookable function room is duly named The Greene Room. I think the most interesting thing is that the original landlord, Deryck Carver, was burnt as a martyr for his religious beliefs. Apparently in a barrel in Lewes.
History aside, this is a lovely pub well worth a visit (if you can get in) - Harvey’s Best was tasting particularly on point when we visited.
#14 // The Hole in The Wall
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Address: The Hole in The Wall, Queensbury Mews, Brighton BN1 2FE
Date visited: September 2022
From the oldest pub in Brighton to one of the newest (sort of). And best.
Dating back to 1837, it was originally called The Hole in The Wall (allegedly because when the fishermen arrived for their pints they stank to high heaven after days away at sea and so they were served their ales through a hatch – or hole in the wall) and then the Queensbury Arms before being put up for sale in 2020 due to the previous landlord retiring.
The pub was taken over and re-opened in 2021 by current landlord Jim (who should know a thing or two about Brighton pubs having worked at The Brighton Beer Dispensary, Haus On The Hill and Vine Street Tap in the past).
I bloody love this place. An ever rotating tap list boasting a massive 9 kegs and 4 casks to choose from means that there’s always something good, interesting or good and interesting.
On my first ever visit (I’ve obviously been back several times), it happened to be my birthday and there was a beer aptly named Birthday Beer (to celebrate The Hole in The Wall’s first year, not my 35th…) so it felt like fate. They regularly get in much sought after beers and were one of the select few local pubs offering a first pour of Beak Brewery’s best bitter, Bampa (try saying that after a few) which I was lucky enough to sample. The beer is incredibly well kept and the bar staff very knowledgable and willing to make suggestions.
The pub itself is small but perfectly formed - the bar divides the room in half with the front half containing a few booths, tables and stools as well as the ever impressive chalk board listing all the beers ready to be imbibed. In the back are a few more seats and a Toad table, which sounds a bit weird but I’ll explain - Toad in the Hole is a traditional Sussex pub game which has seen a bit of a revival in Brighton in recent years, there’s even a league now!
The Hole in The Wall is definitely up there as one of, if not the, best pubs in Brighton and it’s one I always try and take visiting friends to. Top stuff.
#15 // The Paris House (Le Pub)
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Address: 21 Western Rd, Hove BN3 1AF
Date visited: September 2022
We called into The Paris House (Or ‘Le Pub’ as it’s also called, confusingly) as we made our way home from The Hole in The Wall and felt like we’d been transported across the channel to the French capital. Jazz was playing quietly over the speakers as we entered and a band appeared to be setting up for the evening to set the tone.
Euro lagers in Vedett and Amstel take centre stage here (naturally) but there are still beers from Dark Star and Harvey’s on offer to the more local minded. Not only that but there is a great selection of Belgian bottles in the fridge - Westmalle and Chouffe from memory. I opted for a very continental Cherry Chouffe which hit the spot.
As it was late afternoon, we were two of only a handful of patrons but I’ve walked past Le Pub on several evenings and it’s been much livelier with bands playing jazz and people dancing (both in the pub and out on the street!). We didn’t eat here but perused the menu and there were way more options than we’d expected - mainly French cuisine (as you’d probably have guessed) - French onion soup, croque monsieur/madam, Boeuf Bourguignon, Coq au Vin and a smorgasbord (or ‘assortiment’ if we’re being French) of cheese and cured meats to choose from.
Definitely one to pop into for something a little different or if you want to see some jazz.
