Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Category: Brighton

  • 200 Years Ago in Norwich : Angry King George IV in Brighton

    200 Years Ago in Norwich : Angry King George IV in Brighton

    Another article in the Norwich Mercury of 200 years ago this week. Now, I accept this has little to do with Norwich, but it’s some early form of royal gossip of which there has been plenty more over the last 200 years. The story is likely true, as King George IV made only one more visit to Brighton following this story and he had made huge efforts to make the Brighton Pavilion a decadent and suitable home.

    Its future as a residence for the Monarch was already reaching its end. King William IV did use it, but Queen Victoria wasn’t that surprised and delighted with it, so she sold it to the City of Brighton in 1850.

  • Brighton – Evening Star

    The rain decided it would fall quite heavily tonight in Brighton, which meant that I had to do the only logical thing I could of, which was to run inside a pub. By run I actually mean walk.

    This is a tempting little number and the staff member was keen to engage about the options, mentioning there were some bottles of dark beer to choose from as well. The beer had only just been put on (I didn’t guess that, the staff member told me) and it had a sweet taste, but was very drinkable. At the appropriate temperature, it had a surprising number of flavours to it, much better than I had expected.

    I have a rule that if it rains when I’m in Brighton, then I’ll have a dark beer and a packet of Hula Hoops. Since this was a classy pub which sold such delights, I was pleased to be able to meet my rule. Which admittedly is a rule I’ve started tonight.

    Part of the beer list, there are certainly some expensive little numbers on here….

    I really liked this pub, it had a quiet atmosphere even when it was busy. Lots of character, although it’s one of the darkest pubs that I’ve visited. By dark, I mean that it hasn’t got much light, not that customers were taking part in some dark deeds. One customer was sitting directly under one of the few lights so that he could read his newspaper, and it did feel that it was a bit too dark. Anyway, it’s a charming pub and the service was efficient and friendly. and they had Hula Hoops.

  • Brighton – Prince Albert

    This live music and rock pub is part of the Brighton scene and it’s noticeable from the road if only for the graffiti and artwork on the side of it. It’s a bit hidden away at the bottom, but there’s a Bansky work there which is well known, the Kissing Policemen. Unfortunately this is just a copy, as the original was lifted on the pub in 2011 and sold at auction.

    I opted for the Broken Dream breakfast stout and the beer was well-kept and tasted of a good quality. I’ve seen quite a bit of the Siren Craft Brew beers over the last day, although I’m not sure why as it’s not a local company, it’s from Wokingham.

    The pub’s atmosphere felt just that bit tense to me, so I didn’t feel entirely comfortable throughout my time there. I think that’s the first time in 2018, so it’s not a feeling that I get very often. However, it is a vibrant pub and so they aren’t likely aiming to deliver a relaxed and refined ambience.

    I had thought about eating at the pub, but I decided against it given my thoughts about the atmosphere. But the menu options looked interesting, although perhaps just a little on the expensive side.

    The service was friendly and helpful, with the staff member knowledgeable about the beer selection. He also said goodbye when I left, and that sort of acknowledgement is nice to see (well, hear).

    The signage inside the pub for the toilets is excellent, one of the best that I’ve seen in a pub. However, that’s probably necessary as the male toilets are outside and they would be difficult to find without the clear signage. They weren’t in the best state, but outside toilets are not known for their decadent surroundings. The door to the toilets though is a work of art.

    Overall, I liked the pub, with a friendly atmosphere putting aside the slightly tense feel to the whole affair. The beer tasted fine, the staff member was polite and the food offering looked interesting.

  • Brighton – Craft Beer Co

    Primarily a London company, as this is their only pub outside of the capital, the Craft Beer Co have a reputation for excellent beer. They claim that they have the most beers on keg in Brighton with 22 to choose from, along with a selection of 200 bottles and cans. That’s certainly an impressive array of options….

    I asked about the dark beer selection and the staff member was positively enthusiastic about explaining them. I liked that engagement and the staff member seemed knowledgeable about what was available. This is the Sadako beer from the Weird Beard brewery in London.

    It’s a 9.5% imperial stout and so I asked about the price before ordering, and it’s a cool £13 per pint. I chose a third which cost just over £4, but it’s a drink to savour like wine, so the price didn’t seem entirely unreasonable. And it was excellent, with a rich taste and notes of vanilla and coffee. Beautiful and it was also at the appropriate slightly chilled temperature.

    And here’s some more of the beer menu, with numerous other options that were worth consideration. This is what is frustrating about visiting a Greene King pub which has the option of Greene King IPA and, er, Greene King IPA. The pub also serves food which are primarily burger based options, although I visited on the only night which it doesn’t (Tuesdays).

    Tastefully decorated, I only realised that there was an upstairs lounge area as well later on after I had left.

    There was a fire which the staff kept alight (it was meant to be on fire, this wasn’t some sort of Brexit protest), meaning that the atmosphere was nice and warm. It was actually too warm for me, but I like Arctic conditions, so I can’t blame the pub for that.

    I like this chain of pubs and I know I’ve visited one of the branches in London, although I’ve rather unhelpfully completely forgotten which one it was. So that story was slightly irrelevant. Anyway, the prices are expensive, but the surroundings are comfortable and the selection is interesting and pretty exceptional. All that comes at a cost, as no doubt does the competence of the bar staff who were engaging and knowledgeable.

  • Brighton – Pump House

    When we went to the Chequers pub in Oxford a couple of weeks ago, I downloaded the Nicholson’s app when our group ordered food. Roll forwards to my arrival in Brighton today, and I received a notification that I could get a pint for £1 at the Pump House, the Nicholson’s pub in the city. So, being easily tempted, I went along.

    The real ale which was going to be £1 had run out, so the helpful staff member suggested that I have a gin and tonic instead which would also be £1. This seemed like a good deal, so I went for that. I’m not really a gin person, primarily because I never think to order it (it looks expensive is the primary reason), but it’s a fashionable drink and I should really know more about it.

    Whilst I was at the bar I noticed the rather tempting Sweet Dream, so I went for half a pint of that as well. It’s a chocolate milk stout and it didn’t disappoint, with a rich flavour and a pleasant after-taste. It was also served at the appropriate slightly chilled temperature and the only thing really wrong with it was that I didn’t order a pint of it.

    I took a seat by the window and had a good view of the bar area of this historic pub, which apparently has cellars dating to the medieval period. The pub is one of the oldest in Brighton and an effort has been made with the interior, with some impressive mirrors and wooden panelling.

    A lady at the neighbouring table commented to her party that I typed very quickly, which is technically accurate, but she said it loudly enough that I had to acknowledge what she said. Anyway, she was rather lovely and conveniently I was offered some advice on Italy, which was well-timed since I was in the pub planning the 2019 Hike Norfolk trip to the land of pizza and wine.

    The view from inside the window looking outwards to an interesting part of Brighton, which like the pub also feels historic and full of atmosphere.

    The pub was comfortable and felt welcoming, with the two staff members making an effort to engage with customers. I still think that Nicholson’s are one of the better chains, something which the historic nature of their pubs helps with as they’re full of character.