Brighton Beer Blog review The Gladstone, Brighton
Read a beer-by-beer account of our visit
The Date: Thursday 8th August 2019
The Beer: 360 Degree Session IPA cask
The Gladstone is not a pub you’re likely to miss if strolling down Lewes Road. For one it’s painted an in-your-face bright yellow. But looks aside, you’ll hear good times, good music and general hubbub emanating from the pub and benches out front. Once inside, you are likely to be tempted to stay.
The pub has a centralised bar and wood-panelled layout with tabled seating all the way round. Follow that through and there’s a good sized back room, regularly used for music and other events. There’s a policy of never charging for events, and an eclectic array of things on the calendar. Ska, dub and punk music seem to be regularly on the calendar, along with a riotous monthly musical comedy event by MC Gramski called Bars Against Humanity, which has to be seen to be believed. We notice that the website isn’t the best place to find out what’s on; the Facebook page and posters within are a more reliable source.
It’s not like the indoor space is small, but if it’s not big enough for you the garden is vast, with various sections of boothed heated seating and central communal benches in an almost tropical setting with all the plants.
The combination of traditional front bar, free live event space and bustling back yard, along with the Lewes Road location, makes for a really interesting mix of people from all demographics and ages. There’s a very down-to-earth, punk, hippy, alternative vibe, and plenty of dogs about too, so all are welcome.
Drinks wise, there are four cask options on the bar, and the cask menu on the wall proudly displays the rotation of local brewers that are supported on the pumps. Interestingly The Gladstone bucks the trend when it comes to the cider-to-craft beer ratio: there are three different cider options on tap but only one keg pale, BrewDog Punk IPA, plus Meantime Brewing Company lager. It would be nice to see one of Brighton’s excellent local breweries supported on keg. Our wine-drinking friend wasn’t a fan of the house wine.
We drank 360 Degree Brewing Co’s Session IPA. It’s crisp and well rounded, but resoundingly bitter and refreshing – a nice change from the sweet IPAs around.
The icing on the cake is an excellent value mains and burger menu that offers good veggie options as well. We had a couple of burgers and fries, and were extremely satisfied all round. The food was plentiful and arrived quickly.
The Gladstone is a place with bags of character. A bit edgy, rarely dull, and you feel nights here could get messy if you stay too long – and that’s OK with us.
The Date: Thursday 8th August 2019
The Beer: 360 Degree Session IPA cask
The Gladstone is not a pub you’re likely to miss if strolling down Lewes Road. For one it’s painted an in-your-face bright yellow. But looks aside, you’ll hear good times, good music and general hubbub emanating from the pub and benches out front. Once inside, you are likely to be tempted to stay.
The pub has a centralised bar and wood-panelled layout with tabled seating all the way round. Follow that through and there’s a good sized back room, regularly used for music and other events. There’s a policy of never charging for events, and an eclectic array of things on the calendar. Ska, dub and punk music seem to be regularly on the calendar, along with a riotous monthly musical comedy event by MC Gramski called Bars Against Humanity, which has to be seen to be believed. We notice that the website isn’t the best place to find out what’s on; the Facebook page and posters within are a more reliable source.
It’s not like the indoor space is small, but if it’s not big enough for you the garden is vast, with various sections of boothed heated seating and central communal benches in an almost tropical setting with all the plants.
The combination of traditional front bar, free live event space and bustling back yard, along with the Lewes Road location, makes for a really interesting mix of people from all demographics and ages. There’s a very down-to-earth, punk, hippy, alternative vibe, and plenty of dogs about too, so all are welcome.
Drinks wise, there are four cask options on the bar, and the cask menu on the wall proudly displays the rotation of local brewers that are supported on the pumps. Interestingly The Gladstone bucks the trend when it comes to the cider-to-craft beer ratio: there are three different cider options on tap but only one keg pale, BrewDog Punk IPA, plus Meantime Brewing Company lager. It would be nice to see one of Brighton’s excellent local breweries supported on keg. Our wine-drinking friend wasn’t a fan of the house wine.
We drank 360 Degree Brewing Co’s Session IPA. It’s crisp and well rounded, but resoundingly bitter and refreshing – a nice change from the sweet IPAs around.
The icing on the cake is an excellent value mains and burger menu that offers good veggie options as well. We had a couple of burgers and fries, and were extremely satisfied all round. The food was plentiful and arrived quickly.
The Gladstone is a place with bags of character. A bit edgy, rarely dull, and you feel nights here could get messy if you stay too long – and that’s OK with us.
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