8.5/10 The Great Eastern feels like a real pub… view map

its got a great cosy atmosphere and an unpretentious feel making it one of my favourite pubs in Brighton. Situated in the North Lanes, serving reasonably priced beer and playing a good selection of music the Great Eastern staff are friendly and there is a great selection of ales and spirits. The pub is fairly small, its a long and narrow shape and you may have to stand around a bit in an awkward place before you can pounce on a table, but it is worth it.

Atmosphere: 9/10

Price: 8/10

Overall: 8.5/10

103 Trafalgar Street

Brighton

East Sussex

BN1 4ER

Distorted music, shell suit (unzipped) , inane ranting, long hair and dancing and roller skating. Who is he and why does he do it?

For a while now we have debated as to the motivation of the now labeled “dance master”, we first saw him a while ago sporting a full shell suit, roller skating along Hove seafront turning heads as he carried a speaker blasting out incredibly heavily distorted music.

He then sat on a bench by the small cafe, placed the speaker next to him on the bench and unzipped his shell suit top to reveal his pasty chest. After sitting facing the sun for a good 30 minutes he got to his feet/rollerskates and proceeded with what could be called the greatest or possibly worst dance performance you have ever seen. In a hypnotic trance he dances, shell suit top now off the shoulders.

He seems to be there everyday, same time, same routine. Watching him yesterday his face and chest looked incredibly red, we assumed it was sunburn from all the pre-dance, bench-sitting sun worship. After sightings of dance master walking down the street looking like a pretty normal well groomed guy we all started to think he was of sound mind and not a result of heavy drug abuse, just a man who liked to keep in shape through rollerskating dance. But after a closer inspection a couple of days ago dance master could be heard angrily talking to himself and it was again witnessed yesterday. Was he just disappointed his routine was not as tight as usual?

6/10 The first few times I went in the Bell my main impression was how smokey it was… View Map

The Bell is a nice pub, maybe lacking a bit in character, but every time I’ve been to the bell it’s been getting busier and busier. The bar staff is one of the Bells biggest asset, they are very friendly and the management really are trying to get people in with a new beer garden (more of a backyard), happy hour, live music on Fridays and a pretty good pub quiz on Sunday. The food seems like fair pub grub, had a steak sandwich the first time I went and it was pretty good.

Price: 6/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 6/10

8/10 The Neptune is a fantastic traditional real old fashioned pub, serving a good selection of ale’s and reputedly the best pint of Harvey’s in Hove.

This is what a pub should be like, not an ounce of chrome in sight and certainly not conforming to the trendy bars of Brighton, The Neptune has individuality and a whole lot of character… View Map

The first time we went into the Neptune after overcoming the usual apprehensive feelings of entering a local’s pub we were prepared for silence and staring as we entered but were delighted to find friendly staff and patrons alike. It was Easter Sunday and the bar was laden with pickled onions and cheese on sticks. It instantly became my favourite pub in Hove.

At £2.50 a pint of Harvey’s its one of the cheapest pubs I’ve been to so far in Hove, positioned on the seafront The Neptune is a small pub with not a lot of seating or standing room but each time we have been we managed to get a place to sit.

Fridays and Saturday nights are host to live music with a leaning towards Jazz and Blues. I’ve not been yet but I am hoping to attend the Neil Young and Bob Dylan tribute night on the 3rd of June. The last visit was slightly tarnished by a drunk crazy fat welsh man unprovoked insulting a friend but these things are to be expected when drinking in Hove, I’d rather the ramblings of a drunk local than being beaten up by a townie on west street.

Price: 9/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Overall: 8/10

The Neptune

10 Victoria Terrace,

Kingsway, Hove,

East Sussex,

BN3 2WB

7/10 A girl next to me at the bar tentatively asked if it was okay just to have drink, “of course! This is a tropical pub!” the bar man replied.

At the end of First Avenue hidden away in the bottom of a 1960s block of flats sits The Bali Brasserie, Restaurant and Tropical Pub. After one previous attempt to experience the kitchness of a cushioned bar we cautiously walked the corridor expecting the “Tropical Pub” to be completely empty… View Map

As we got nearer music and chatter could be heard and was a welcome relief as we walked in to find the Bali Brasserie full of people dressed up in their finery. It felt like we had entered into a time warp.

Whats a tropical pub? I here you say. Well it was quite warm in there, a bit like the tropics, full of punters dressed up like they were on holiday with deep suntans. The seating consisted of bamboo table and chairs and cushioned booth seats plus a pool table. Most of which were taken up by the entertainment, a guitarist singing over prerecorded backing tracks of classics such as sultans of swing. The bar man seemed very friendly, i’d very much like him to remember my name.

We didn’t try the food, we’re saving that for a special occasion (at £6.95 for 2 courses it looks like a pretty good deal) but tasted a couple of pints of Carling and thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment. A round of a pint of Carling and vodka and diet coke cost £5.75, not cheap but head and shoulders above Hove Place.

Price: 6/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Overall Rating: 7/10

Bali Brasserie
Kingsway Court, First Avenue
Kingsway, Hove. BN3 2LR
Tel: 01273 324572
Open: 12-2, 6.30-10.30 (11.00 Fri, Sat)