The Gin Tub

Have wanted to go here for YEARS since the conceit is they have retro phones on each table which you use to order your drinks. Just went in for one on a Friday night, they will make you share a table if there’s just two of you and it gets busy, but that’s fair enough. Nice cosy vibe, bustling but you can hear each other pretty well. And had an amazing jaffa cake gin!

Verdict: Awesome

Location: 16 Church Road

https://www.thegintub.co.uk/

The Cauldron

A really cool potion themed bar. While you can theoretically just walk in and have a drink, the main draw is the potion “experience” where you get a welcome drink from a mythical beast, then make two – quite involved! – potion drinks for yourself, interacting with some neat little props on your table using your wand. Well worth a go!

Verdict: Awesome

Location: 1-2 Clarence Gardens

https://thecauldron.io/brighton

Pier Nine

A weird one! A relatively small casino, but only about half of it is casino, the 2nd floor being a massive open space with a huge screen, tables etc with a bar, food and pool and other tables. Went on a Tuesday: dead empty. The drinks reasonably priced, the food pretty good; the pool etc really, really expensive. I’d love to see it busy but for now, more casino than otherwise (ie a bit depressing).

Verdict: Ok

Location: 9 Grand Junction Road

https://www.pierninebrighton.co.uk/

Bison Beer – Hove Bar + Bottleshop

Bison started as a craft beer shop in the Lanes, and recently opened their second location which is a bar and bottleshop, so falls under our remit. As a shop, it’s excellent for craft beer, wide range, great service. For me, as a bar, not great – really, it’s a shop with a couple of tables in it.  Fine, but not a place to hang out.

Verdict: Ok

Location: 57 Church Road

http://bisonbeer.co.uk

Koba

Small cocktail bar that plays cafe by day; I went by day and thought it was the other way around. I’m sure it’s cosy for cocktails, but I know it’s great for a coffee and a cake. Nice, spacious and warmly furnished. A real oasis.

Verdict: Awesome

Location: 135 Western Road

http://koba-brighton.com