BITE user comments - napoleon_dynamite
Comments by napoleon_dynamite
Great pub for watching football. Food looks pretty good but haven't tried it yet myself. Ale selection is pretty poor.
25 Feb 2012 10:18
Great freshly prepared food- a significant cut above most pub fare in Brighton.
Beer selection is nothing special. Nice atmosphere, quite small and not too many tables so get there early or reserve one! Would be a great spot for a Sunday roast I would imagine. No outdoor space.
25 Feb 2012 10:18
An old school boozer in the centre of Brighton. No frills. Two ales on tap were Harvey's Sussex Best and Doom Bar (which was not available). A nice place to stop to see how pubs used to be, cosy and pleasant atmosphere on a cold winter's day.
12 Feb 2012 12:54
Still brilliant- great selection of beers well kept. You will struggle to get a seat alot of the time but standing up is small price to pay.
The best pub in the city by a mile, no food, no messing around, just top drawer beer and a great atmosphere.
29 Mar 2010 21:30
Has reopened with new owners- nice and cosy inside with an open fire. Beers- three on tap I think, two them decent guest ales. Small, pretty basic, but fine.
29 Mar 2010 21:22
Soon to be refurbed by the folks who have taken over The Connaught. Thank god.
Please rip everything out and start again.
29 Mar 2010 21:19
Odd place. They have repainted the frontage of the pub and completely ruined it- the old school character has been lost and I would be tempted to boycott it on principle if it wasn't such an awful pub in the first place.
Avoid, unless you want to watch horse racing and are frustrated that you can't drink in Ladbrokes.
29 Mar 2010 21:18
Still doing great food but the beer is still pretty poor- Harvey's best is always the only option- lazy!! How difficult would it be to have one interesting guest on tap?
Had a strange experience on a Friday night when the tables in the front (pub) room were one by one marked as reserved for diners until we were eventually forced to a table in the back room. In the past it seemed like the rear room was more resauranty, but it now appears that drinkers are not welcome in the front room on busy evenings- odd. Maybe best to visit during the day or on quieter evenings unless it is warm enough to sit outside.
29 Mar 2010 21:14
After a recent change of owners finally got round to visiting this one. Layout of the pub can be offputting- the tables being jammed together to maximise how many they can squeeze in. This means that large groups of people can dominate and couples or smaller groups are left feeling rather squeezed in and may spend the evening listening to other peoples conversations. Even getting in and out from tables seemed to be a challeng- saw some people climbing under tables to escape! Taking out a few tables would solve the problems.
A decent beer selection- Harvey's best, Darkstar Hophead, a Ringwood and one other. Food was very good, not cheap- �10-�14 for a main course turned out to be good value with high quality meals and generous portions.
Best kept secret is the rear garden- huge with lots of new tables and chairs, decent planting and a raised lawn which should be a real afternoon / evening suntrap when (if??) the summer arrives. Looks like the best pub garden in Hove.
29 Mar 2010 21:09
Now The Poets' Corner. Slightly w@nky name which will no doubt rub some people up the wrong way before stepping in, the OTT signage all over the building is also doing them no favours. Inside the pub has been tastefully refurbed and was very impressed to see no less than 8 different Harvey's ales on tap- more than I saw in any pub on a recent trip to Lewes! Prices seems to range from about �2.80 to �3.40- I can't beleive they will continue to stock so many- there can't be enough customers to justify it.
The pub quiz (Wednesday I think) was decent. Has a wood burning stove in one bar. Outdor space limited to two tables at the front, and a pretty grotty rear yard.
Much improved.
29 Mar 2010 21:02
Has heavily invested in a large kitchen which dominates the rear room (in a bad way), and no attempt has been made to expand the limited, unimaginative menu which never seems to change. Why bother upgrading the kitchen if the food doesn't improve?? Now being well and truly shown up by the likes of The Forager and The Connaught, and with The Portland on the way to being revamped, the Westbourne risks being left behind. It will always be a half decent stop for a relazed pint but no more than that unless the step up a gear.
Beer is always Harvey's Best and a lacklustre guest ale like London Pride- not particulary well kept either.
29 Mar 2010 20:55
Visited today and was pleased to see two Darkstar beers on tap as guest ales (Hophead and Festival). The first decent ales I have seen in this pub and such practice could make the place great. Interesting to see what they plump for for as the next guest (please no more Red River!). Now summer is on the horizon, sitting outside with a great pint would make the Mariner really special, however inside remains dominated by loud music in the evening, and a couple of chunky sofas which take up a lot of space mean that tables and chairs are in short supply at busy times.
Food is still good, however the menu remains pretty much unchanged and specials lack creativity.
21 Mar 2009 15:34
Still amazing. The best pub in the city, and light years ahead of the rest when it comes to the selection and quality of the beers on offer. Does get incredibly busy, so don't expect to get a seat.
26 Feb 2009 20:48
Visited on a Friday evening, it was completely dead. Shepherd Neame pub- the ales were pretty dull. Big place, but no customers- not sure exactly what they are doing wrong, but they are definitely doing it wrong.
26 Feb 2009 20:44
Odd little place. Only Harvey's on when I visited but I believe they usually do a few others. Due to its size, only needs a few people in to feel lively. Smokers are limited to a few tables out the front on the pavement.
26 Feb 2009 20:38
Expensive drinks prices, unimaginative basic food menu, characterless unwelcoming interior. Harvey's only. Huge smoking garden.
26 Feb 2009 20:36
Recently changed ownership I think. Is now a pretty grim chain style pub, very basic and dated inside. Ales not taken seriously, and bar prices seemed particularly high. North facing yard for smokers may be the best attribute of this place. Only worth a try of you are nearby and feeling desperate or extremely weak; if not, walk on..
26 Feb 2009 20:34
Harveys on tap (no surprises there!). Front room is dominated by pool tables, jukebox and quiz machine, and the rear by an impressive darts set up. Quite a big yard area for smokers which might catch a decent bit of sun when summer comes round.
The place has some honesty and integrity about it- an old school boozer for blokes. If you're looking for great ales and food this probably isn't the place for you..
26 Feb 2009 20:30
Not great. Harvey's and fortyniner on tap. The locals propping up the bar are a dodgy looking bunch of characters.. Small yard area out the back for smoking. If the Forager round the corner is too 'gastro' for your tastes this place will certainly serve as an antidote, but I can't help thinking they may be a taking this role a bit too far.
26 Feb 2009 20:26
No ale at all available last time I was there. Quirky interior, full of locals from over the road. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit this one if I were you.
26 Feb 2009 20:22
Really awful- the front bar is small, selling 'fresh crusty rolls' and Harvey's which is usually well past its best. The rear room hosts rock / heavy metal nights which is probably the only reason to come here, if that is your thing.
26 Feb 2009 20:20
Still the best pub in town, even with a poor ale selection. The gleaming new toilets do not really fit in with the more worn-in atmosphere of the rest of the pub but I guess it�s only a matter of time before they fall into disrepair if the state of the old toilets is anything to go by!
I do wish they would put some of the passion they have for rum into providing a few interesting, well kept ales but you can't have everything..
8 Oct 2008 10:40
Still not a great place to be. No decent ales on offer, and the fact they are doing a free raffle on Saturday nights with a prize of �100 of vouchers to spend in the pub sounds like desperation to me. If they can't get the punters in on a Saturday night I dread to think how they are doing during the week..
8 Oct 2008 10:36
Still offering excellent food at reasonable prices. The staff are great, and the rear outdoor area is welcoming and ideal for smokers with heaters and a retractable roof. The ale selection is always disappointing (I think Abbots and Green King IPA are the only options), and beer prices do seem a bit on the steep side, however this place remains the best option in this part of town, especially if you are looking for a few daytime drinks and some food.
8 Oct 2008 10:32
Visited at the weekend, and was disappointed to see no guest ale on offer, just a very dull selection of Abbot, Spitfire, and Courage. Food was as usual uninspiring but edible; however price increases have put many main courses at over �10 which is a bit too much. An unusual �innovation� sees the pub offering takeaway style pizzas after 10pm which are served to your table in a pizza box! Is a plate too much to ask for?! The fact that bar staff (mostly female) wear branded polo shirt uniforms also adds to the down market feel of the place.
There remains little competition for pub trade in Horley, however the lack of effort made at each and every establishment is a bit depressing.
8 Oct 2008 10:28
The menu now appears to change daily, however the range of ales on offer does need to improve. Having said that, you will struggle to find a better pub in the centre of town.
1 Oct 2007 22:03
Menu still hasn't changed!!! Very lazy. There are a few daily specials.
Currently offering a guest ale; the first was Tim Taylor's Landlord (excellent), now Tribute (also top notch), can they keep up this high standard??
There is a new 'garden' area to the rear offering an additional haven for smokers, and a pub quiz is on offer every other Tuesday.
1 Oct 2007 22:02
Great pub, an excellent range of beers including Woodforde's Wherry which was in perfect condition and served in proper mugs- as it should be! The decor manages to be modern and homely, and the food menu looked good. A youngish crowd. A large pub with plenty of tables and chairs- overall, one of the best pubs around.
30 Jun 2007 11:32
Probably the best pub in Horley, always a few decent guest ales on and the food, although unimaginative, is honest pub grub. The garden is large and pleasant with a children�s play area- indoors there is a cosy atmosphere. The locals are an oldish crowd of Landshott residents.
30 Jun 2007 11:28
A boring pub with little to recommend it, best to visit on a sunny day and stay in the garden which is large, but is positioned next to a car park and crossroads- not the most pleasant view. The food is very poor- stick to peanuts and crisps.
30 Jun 2007 11:24
Old school boozer with a oldish crowd of locals, a decent range of beers and reasonable food. Overall, a bit chavvy but you could do worse in Horley.
30 Jun 2007 11:21
More of a restaurant than a pub- drinkers are not really made to feel welcome. Service is often of a poor standard- I once witnessed a customer being told he could not eat his lunch in the garden because the staff would not carry it out there, he then volunteered to carry it out himself but this was also not acceptable!
The food is standard chain pub fair- unexciting and lacking high quality fresh ingredients and creativity. Similar to all pubs in Horley.
On the plus side the garden is a nice place to be on a sunny day.
30 Jun 2007 11:19
Downstairs the decor is dated and grotty. The crowd is 'townies' most of which are 30-40 years old. The place has no style, no class, and it appears little effort is being made to change this fact other than the conversion of the first floor to a tacky dated cocktail bar.
Two ales on tap- Harveys and Adnams Broadside- neither are well kept. I would descibe the atmosphere as 'office christams party in croydon'.
30 Jun 2007 11:11
Update- the food on offer has certainly improved- the menu has been slightly expanded and the daily specials are usually quite interesting. The Bombadier has been well kept of late, and the excellent outdoor seating available continues to provide a smokers haven in the face of the July 1st regulations.
Clearly maiking some effort to put up a fight in the Westbourne/Forager/Mariner Hove battle of the pubs.
There is still room for improvement in the form of decent music, better food, and a reasonable range of well kept real ale.
30 Jun 2007 11:01
Amazing selction of beers- the best in the city- THE essential pub to visit if you come to Brighton. The pub is very small which is part of its charm, but if you want a table you might be in for a wait.
9 May 2007 21:56
Visited for the Champions League semi final (ManU Milan), split into two bars; one showing the football, one not. The footballing side was absolutely packed, almost standing room only with a good atmosphere. Staff were doing their best to cope, and managed to keep polite and friendly (a real challenge!). Had a few very nice pints of 'Olympia' and Harveys was also on tap. Full of local characters/geezers. Overall, a good place to watch football if you fancy somewhere busy and lively, I would have to visit again to be able to recommend it for anything else. There are a few outdoor tables next to a relatively quiet road.
9 May 2007 21:50
Now called the Westbourne. Has been split into two distinct areas- the front bar appears to be reserved for �riff-raff (the old locals)� with the back bar being one large room with a variety of tables and chairs. Seems to be attracting a nice crowd of youngish people. The food is excellent and good value, however I was disappointed to return two weeks later to find the menu had remained unchanged. The menu only had a few dishes which isn�t a problem in itself but I can�t see many people returning to eat once they have tried every dish on the menu in a few visits. The music was a good selection(from the owners laptop) however the high ceiling of the back room means that echoed conversion makes for a rowdy atmosphere when the pub is busy drowning out any music. Outdoor tables next to the noisy Portand Road are not very appealing which could be a problem when the smoking ban arrives on the 1st July.
9 May 2007 21:38
Used to be called The Stirling Arms. The new owners have proudly announced the 'first gastropub in Hove'. Food appears to be of a high standard and the menu is very interesting. Staff are friendly, efficient and polite, and the beer tastes fresh (Harvey's Best). The food isn't cheap, but the standard is way ahead of virtually all the pubs in the city. This place brings a high quality of interior design and food all the way down from London making a valiant attempt to drag the pubs of Hove into the present. The pub seems to attract well to do customers of a certain age (around the 40 mark) so you could end up feeling old/young if you are too far either side from this age group. Not one for pub purists, but if you value good food as much as good beer, definitely worth a visit.
9 May 2007 21:26
Has recently changed hands- the food menu has now been reduced to burgers and bangers and mash with a few daily 'specials'. Also have been subjected to some shocking music played at at an offensively loud volume- does anyone who visits this pub really want that?
I think they've taken their eye of the ball and newcomers in the locality are making more of an effort to create a decent atmoshphere and serve high quality food and beer, although given the location of the pub and all the outdoor seating I doubt they will struggle for business, especially with summer and the smoking ban on the way.
9 May 2007 21:15
Nice honest pub, open fire and plenty of tables- there is usually one free as this place is off the main drag. Harvey's on tap.
5 Feb 2007 19:20
I would agree with the reviews below. Great little old school pub with decent beer- what more do you need?! Often live music playing (blues last time I was there), is a bit small so you might wait for a table.
6 Jan 2007 15:48
Hotel du Vin and Bistro, Brighton
I liked this place- nicely done out inside with a good atmosphere. A pint of red stripe was �2.05 in happy hour and the food looked good.
6 Jan 2007 15:46
Usually full of locals. The fact that they have Timothy Taylor's on tap makes it worth a visit.
6 Jan 2007 15:45
More like a restaurant/bar than a pub. Good range of lagers. Food is expensive but usually worth it- the Sunday roasts are outstanding.
6 Jan 2007 15:43
More like a restaurant/bar than a pub. Good range of lagers. Food is expensive but usually worth it- the Sunday roasts are outstanding.
6 Jan 2007 15:42
Nice interior and atmosphere, and cheap pizzas. All the profits from the business go to charity (hence the name!).
6 Jan 2007 15:40
The Lion And Lobster, Brighton
A pretty decent pub, usually has a few darkstar beers on tap..
6 Jan 2007 15:38
Top quality pub, atmosphere and staff are great. Always a few decent beers on, and a good selection of spirits. I have never tried the food. This place is pretty small, so finding a table isn't always easy. Overall one of the best pubs in Brighton.
6 Jan 2007 15:34
An excellent pub. The interior is really nicely done, especially upstairs. Downstairs there are a lot of sofas and armchairs. Food is really well done, but the menu rarely changes. Some mid-week nights there is live music. A well run pub with a great atmosphere- a nice find in the centre of Brighton.
1 Jan 2007 23:13
Go here for the food, which is good value and there is a lot of choice. Standards have slipped, however the dishes are still a cut above average pub fare. Beware- the pub is usually very busy so it can be a battle for a table. The interior is a bit quirky (in a good way) and there is always a nice atmosphere to the place. There is a small courtyard to the rear.
1 Jan 2007 23:09
My favourite pub in Brighton and Hove. Always has a couple of beers on and a huge range of spirits. The thai food is very good and very cheap. Best thing about the place is the atmosphere- always buzzing and the music in the evenings is usually great. You will find quite a mix of people in here which adds to the fun.
1 Jan 2007 23:05
Nice pub- much better than the other locals nearby. I have always found the staff very friendly. Does suffer from a lack of decent beer, usually bombardier and an IPA or speckled hen- How about some Tim Taylors please! Often the beer does not taste too fresh. Food is of a pretty good standard, although the menu isnt too imaginative and rarley changes. Sunday roasts are pretty poor. Lots of outdoor seating for the summer, and there is usually a good atmosphere to the place. Overall, the beer and food isn't perfect, but this pub is still light years ahead of all the local competition.
1 Jan 2007 22:59
Back to napoleon_dynamite's profile
The Prince Albert, Brighton
Amazingly good pub. Good ale selection-usually 5 different Dark Star brews plus a guest ale or two. Shows most football matches. Great atmosphere and decor. A couple of main bar rooms and some separate rooms to the rear which can be cooked for functions etc. Small outdoor seating area to the rear yard for smokers, a number of bench tables out the front as well- a great spot for people watching as people arrive at Brighton Station and head down through the North Laines.
Live music venue upstairs- a gig on almost every night of the week with a number of bands on.
Food is freshly made, good quality and good value.
Not sure what more you could ask for!!
25 Feb 2012 10:22