Best Pub Food in Brighton & Hove

Going out for a traditional pub lunch or dinner is a great way to relax at the weekend, or to catch up with friends.

Alternatively, you might prefer to try a funky retro pub or a trendy Gastro or Foodie Pub serving dinner with cocktails or craft beer, for a different dining experience.

We’ve researched the best of all the different types of pubs in Brighton and Hove, to bring you this great selection of places to eat out in the Brighton area.

The Black Lion Pub

The Black Lion is known for getting back to basics - they use locally sourced ingredients to create traditional pub favourites with a modern twist.

The pub is situated in the heart of The Lanes, making it an ideal place to relax whilst shopping during the day, and a great lively meeting place in the evening.

They call their food “gastro comfort-food packed with flavour” - I think you’re bound to find something on their menu to tempt your taste buds!  

They have sharing foods such as baked camembert, chilli cheese fries and nachos deluxe. The main courses include slow roast pork belly, fish and chips and harassa chicken. Desserts include sticky toffee pudding and triple chocolate brownie. There are vegan and vegetarian dishes to choose from too.

Don't forget their award-winning Sunday roasts - available from 12 pm every Sunday until the last roast is gone!

https://www.blacklion.pub/

The Grand Central

The Grand Central is in Surrey Street, just opposite Brighton Station, right in the centre of town.

The food at The Grand Central is in the style of traditional British pub food, with classics such as pies, fish and chips, burgers, wings and nachos. There are lots of vegetarian options.

Each Sunday the menu features the traditional British Sunday lunch, with a choice of roasts served with Yorkshire pudding and veg.

The Grand Central pub has a lively atmosphere, and features a roof terrace, a gin bar and its own theatre!

https://www.grandcentralbrighton.co.uk/

The Cricketers

This is the oldest pub in Brighton, dating back to 1547, and is situated in the historic Brighton Lanes area. The original landlord was burnt as a martyr, and a famous past customer is Jack The Ripper! There’s a great historic atmosphere to soak up at The Cricketers.

The Cricketers is known all over Brighton for its burgers, and it also serves restaurant-style food thanks to its entrepreneurial chef, Phil Bartley. 

The menu includes traditional pub food with a twist, and fresh, local ingredients are used whenever possible. There are classics such as fresh cod & chips, honey mustard ham, and caesar salad, and there is a choice of burgers such as the Rib and Chuck Burger, or the Dirty Fried Chicken Burger!

There are of course puddings such as bitter chocolate orange tart and salted caramel cheesecake, and a splendid cheese board!

Food is served at The Cricketers from 12 to 8 pm every day. The Sunday menu includes a selection of delicious traditional roasts such as Rump of South Downs Beef and Shoulder of South Downs Lamb.

http://cricketersbrighton.co.uk/

The Cleveland Arms 

The Cleveland Arms is an independent, award-winning, family-owned local Brighton pub which serves delicious food all week and puts on lots of entertainment, such as live sports, quiz nights and live music nights.

All of the meat and fish on the menu is sourced locally, and local Sussex ales and good-quality wines are offered. The weekday menu is traditional pub fayre with starters, ciabattas, ploughmans’, burgers, fish and chips and much more.

There is a special Sunday menu with a delightful selection of Sussex roasts (or roasted vegetable Wellington if you prefer).

The Cleveland Arms has an extensive wine list, which includes vegan and organic wines.

They serve food from 12 pm to 9 pm every day except Sundays when they finish at 6 pm.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CbPYTnZq_N9/

Busby and Wilds 

Busby and Wilds is a gastro-pub situated in the elegant Kemptown area of Brighton. It is named after the two architects who were responsible for designing the magnificent buildings in Kemptown, and much of the rest of Brighton too!

The menu consists of uncomplicated traditional food, with an emphasis on fresh locally sourced ingredients.

The small plates feature delights such as Potted Sussex Crab Bisque on Toast and Burrata, Heritage Tomato and Spinach Pesto Salad. 

The mains include 28-day Aged Sirloin Steak, Locally Caught Beer Battered Fish and Chunky Chips, and Beef Burger with Roasted Tomato, Onion Jam, Dill Pickle and Burger Sauce. 

Puddings include White Chocolate and Strawberry Tart with Raspberry Compote, and Sticky Toffee Pudding with Clotted Cream Ice cream.

Busby and Wilds are open for dinner from Thursday to Saturday and for lunch on Saturday & Sunday. Apparently the Sunday Roast they serve on Sundays is excellent!

https://busbyandwilds.co.uk/

The Mesmerist

The Mesmerist is a funky retro pub which serves delicious authentic Caribbean food, a bottomless brunch on Saturday, and Caribbean roasts on Sunday. 

There’s a roof garden, individually styled rooms and a 70’s cocktail lounge. They have regular Live Music and featured DJs who will entertain you into the night!

The menu features authentic Caribbean dishes to suit all appetites: starters/small bites such as Saltfish Fritters or Jerk Prawns; Homemade Jerk Chicken or Infused Beef Burgers; Mains such as Ackee and Saltfish (Jamaica's national dish) or Jerk Chicken; and of course not forgetting the Tropical Island Salads or the Hot Island Wraps with homemade mango dressing.

Every Saturday lunchtime the Mesmerist serves a traditional Full English Breakfast style Bottomless Brunch, which includes a selection of bottomless cocktails or beer.

On Sunday the emphasis changes to Caribbean infused roasts: jerk chicken, lamb or pork belly, or a vegetarian tropical bake.

The Mesmerist is to be found in The Lanes area of Brighton, just minutes from the seafront.

https://www.mesmerist.pub/

The Ginger Pig

Situated only minutes from the beach in Hove, The Ginger Pig is said to be one of the top 10 pubs in the UK (GQ Magazine) - with delicious food, and luxury accommodation if you want to stay the night. The food is cooked using local ingredients from the best Sussex suppliers. 

The Ginger Pig A La Carte Menu has a great choice of food (including breakfast if you’re there before 11am). There are traditional pub food favourites such as steak or burgers, and also dishes which are a little different like a starter of rabbit scotch egg, or mains of confit duck leg or baked celeriac and chicory.

On Sundays the menu changes to a traditional Sunday Lunch, with classics such as Roast Sirloin of Beef, Chicken & Ham Hock Pie, Plaice or Vegetable Strudel, all of which are served with delicious vegetables and potatoes.

https://thegingerpigpub.com/

The Roundhill Pub

The Roundhill Pub is a plant-based kitchen and bar, which is open every day for lunch, dinner and drinks. The Roundhill has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and is a great inclusive place to enjoy award-winning vegan food and drink.

Their menu can be subject to change, depending on the availability of produce on the day, but typically it includes:

Griddled Asparagus, Gochujang Panko Cauliflower Wings, Asparagus and Pea Pappaerdelle, Beyond Meat Patty Burgers and Fondant Celeriac Steak.

On Sundays, the menu is changed to delicious vegan versions of the Sunday Roast such as: Seitan Beef, Chick’n Mushroom and Leek Pie, and Spiced Nut Roast. 

https://www.theroundhill.co.uk/brighton/

I hope you’ve enjoyed this selection of the best pub food in Brighton and Hove - I’m sure you’ll be able to find one that you would like to sample next time you are in the area.