Best-of list · Pubs
The 10 best pubs in Brighton for 2026, from the Evening Star to the Hand in Hand brewpub and the seafront Cricketers. Ranked and verified by our editors.
The short answer
10 ranked rooms follow. How we picked is at the end of this guide.
Brighton drinks the length of the city, from seafront Victorian survivors to North Laine corner pubs and a Hove oddball or two. These ten run on cask ale, live music and the kind of room that earns the word, the sort of places regulars treat as a second front room. We checked each against current listings and venue records in June 2026 and kept only the pubs still trading.
The Evening Star on Surrey Street is a small, plain-fronted pub near the station that helped launch Dark Star Brewing from its cellar. The cask range still rotates fast across local and national ales, and the room fills with serious drinkers. Order whatever guest beer is freshest. Best early evening before the after-work rush. For drinkers who want Brighton's most respected real-ale pub.
The Basketmakers Arms in the North Laine is a tiny Fuller's corner pub lined with vintage tobacco tins that regulars stuff with notes. The cask is well kept, the food is honest, and the two snug rooms fill fast. Order a London Pride and a plate of fish and chips. Best for a weekday lunch before the seats go. For drinkers who want a classic backstreet local.
The Cricketers near the seafront claims to be Brighton's oldest pub, a red-and-gold Victorian room thick with mirrors, prints and clutter. Graham Greene drank here, and the upstairs bar trades on that history. Order a cask ale and take in the decor. Best on a quiet afternoon away from the crowds. For drinkers who want age, atmosphere and a central spot by the Lanes.
The Mash Tun on Church Street is a loud, central student and creative favourite with a big covered courtyard out back. The taps lean craft, the music runs late, and the crowd skews young. Order a craft pint and head for the yard. Best on a warm evening when the outdoor space fills. For drinkers who want a livelier room than a backstreet snug.
The Bee's Mouth in Hove is a narrow, dimly lit junk-shop of a bar known for Belgian beers and international bottles. Live music runs Mondays and Thursdays, with an open mic midweek and a basement cinema most nights. Order a strong Belgian ale and find a nook. Best after dark when the candles do the work. For drinkers who want an oddball Hove hideaway.
The Prince Albert by the station is as much a music venue as a pub, its gable end painted with a mural of late music legends. Upstairs hosts gigs most nights while the downstairs bar keeps a solid cask and craft range. Order a pint and check who is playing. Best on a band night. For drinkers who want a proper pub with a stage upstairs.
The Hand in Hand in Kemptown is one of the smallest pubs in the country, a single bright room that brews its own Kemptown beers on site. The walls are papered with old prints and the regulars are loyal. Order a house-brewed ale and squeeze in. Best on a quiet afternoon when you can get a seat. For drinkers who want a true brewpub in miniature.
Full listing & hours →The Fountain Head on North Road is a North Laine corner pub with high ceilings, dark wood and a calm, grown-up feel. The cask range is well kept and the back room suits a long sit. Order a local ale and settle in. Best for an unhurried afternoon pint. For drinkers who want a traditional room without the North Laine noise.
The Craft Beer Co on Upper North Street brings the London group's deep tap wall to Brighton, with rotating keg and cask plus a long fridge list. The room is simple and the focus is squarely on the beer. Order a third-of-a-pint flight to taste widely. Best early before it fills. For drinkers who treat the tap list as the menu.
The Eddy near the station is a friendly corner pub of real ale, Sunday roasts and regular live music, with a piano and an open mic. It took Best Local in the 2023 BRAVO awards and Best Pub in 2024. Order a cask pint and stay for whoever is on. Best on a music night. For drinkers who want a warm neighbourhood local.