⎧ᴿᴵᴾ⎫ Idle Hands Brighton

Idle Hands Brighton

An independent tap bar with an easy-going charm

There’s an unassuming bohemian, almost Parisian vibe at the Idle Hands Brighton. It’s a good use of limited space with a variety of seasoned Chesterfield sofas, low sitting tables, some booth seating in the windows plus a few stools surrounding large barrels inside and out to perch your pint on. The all-important bar sits at the back, tucked into the corner, surveying proceedings.

If you’re looking for keg craft concoctions, you’ll be very happy here: there are ten taps with a rotating array of local brews and out-of-towners. These are poured by friendly and knowledgeable bar staff who seem happy to chat about their favourites and offer tastings. There are bottles and cans available as well, but no cask ale on pump.

There are no food options on our visit; we will update if we hear that a new kitchen has moved in.

If you’re picking a night to visit Idle Hands Brighton then we can strongly recommend the off-kilter, gypsy rock live music Thursdays, hosted by The Jones Street Boys.

idle hands brighton inside dancers live entertainment band music

idle hands brighton inside seating and customers

idle hands pub tapbar brighton inside bar and taps barmaid serving customer

idle hands brighton wall of coasters and mirror

idle hands brighton crow on the bar nhs discount

idle hands brighton the jones street boys live music thursdays poster

36 Trafalgar St
Brighton
BN1 4ED

01273 695872

The Lord Nelson Inn, Brighton

Nooks, crannies and cask Harvey’s beer aplenty

The Lord Nelson Inn Brighton has never been anything but a pub, and has always had the same name since it was built and opened for ales in the 1850s.

It’s a deceptively large and fresh feeling inside given its age. If you progress beyond the traditional front bar and descend to the open plan ‘lower deck’ there’s a second serving space and large conservatory with plenty of room for multiple groups plus a small but well-decorated little smoking patch.

There is a clear sports angle to The Lord Nelson Inn, with HD screens both front and back and it’s very popular for big football and rugby games.

The most recent addition is the large restaurant space, on the port side (left) of the main bar. The food menu is extensive and ranges from starters, sandwiches and jacket potatoes through to salads, snacks and desserts, all reasonably priced and dare we say ‘cheap-and-cheerful’, so not aimed at the ‘gastro’ market.

There are no less than five cask pumps, and two kegs serving Harvey’s creations at a pretty fair price for central Brighton. There are the typical lager and Guinness options alongside a left-field German lager tap, and plenty of wines, gins and spirits too.

The maritime reference is subtle, and the atmosphere here is comforting – like a good local should be.

the lord nelson inn brighton front bar area and customers

the lord nelson inn brighton inside lower bar area

the lord nelson inn brighton bar harveys ale on cask pumps

the lord nelson inn brighton food burger

the lord nelson inn brighton naval decoration

the lord nelson inn brighton outside front elevation from front

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Harvey’s Brewery

Sussex's oldest brewer is steeped in centuries of brewing experience Brewery Page

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36 North Gardens
Brighton
BN1 3LB

01273 387346

Caxton Arms Brighton

Shepherd Neame beers by Brighton Station

The Caxton Arms Brighton is cheerful and traditional with two main rooms that share a central serving bar.

A bookcase festooned with travel books from all over the world, board games, lego and bar billiards offer some differentiating character and entertainment.
The bar is focused on Shepherd Neame, including Whitstable Bay, Sam Adams and their Bear Island brand of keg options. If you’re peckish choose from tasty-sounding morsels, including burgers and a ‘Roasts in Brighton’ award-winning Sunday dinner.

The garden space at the Caxton Arms is it’s USP, set below street level in a kind-of bunkered-in courtyard, the enclosed design can make it a bit of a cauldron of atmosphere when busy. The decoration is awash with colour and humour with Brighton pop-culture graffiti artists The Postman and the section directly underneath the mazzanine balcony and staircase makes for a cosy drinking cave that’s sheltered from bad weather when needed.

It’s deceptively spacious out here, with long bench and table layouts that can accommodate a number of groups, though we couldn’t see any provision for wheelchair access.
There even seems to be space for a private function room down here, if parties need something more VIP.

caxton arms pub brighton outside entrance

caxton arms pub brighton people standing at bar

caxton arms pub brighton inside people sat at tables

caxton arms pub brighton cask and taps on bar

caxton arms pub brighton cutomers sat at tables

caxton arms pub brighton garden at night

34 Guildford Road
Brighton
BN1 3LW

01273 327997

The Battle of Trafalgar Brighton

A homely cask loving pub just metres from Brighton Station

There are many pub options by Brighton Station each offering something a little different, The Battle of Trafalgar Brighton is the bedded in classic local offering great cask options less than 30 seconds from the platform.

The Battle O Trafalgar 1805 (to call it by it’s full and proper name) is decorated with a homely menagerie of pictures, portraits and posters covering all sorts of themes and the ast majority of the walls throughout the pub.

The corner bar greets you as you enter and there are two rooms, a main room to the right of the door and another narrow one that extends ahead to the left of the bar. Tables laid out nearby to each other in a communal but not on top of each other way

The atmosphere in The Battle of Trafalgar is simple and comfortable, some might consider it dated or old fashioned, but it’s that bedded in feel that makes it unique in the area.

There are an impressive five different cask pumps offering a collection of local favourites but purposefully always a guest option or 2 from further afield. However this is not a hunting ground for modern keg and craft beer.

Food is available at The Battle of Trafalgar Brighton and focusses on burgers and light bites, that is unless it’s a Wednesday curry and a pint night for a respecatble tenner.

battle of trafalgar brighton pub inside pumps on the bar

55-56 Surrey Street
Brighton
BN1 3PB

01273 328931