Taken over by Jim in 2021, a chap with more than enough experience at running beery pubs in Brighton, Hole In The Wall has quickly become a Mecca for beer lovers.  The pub dates from the 1870s and was previously called the Queensbury Arms, the story goes that it got the nick-name because in times past they served Brighton’s fisherman through a hatch rather than let them in the pub to stink it up.

There’s a front room and a back room, both quite traditional and simply wood clad, and both served by the same central bar. In the front bar, as well as the bar stools, there are 5 tables, lots of comfy bench seating and low stools plus a lean against or high seated bar strip against the left wall. From everywhere you get a good view of the large chalkboard that lists the abundance of keg and cask options, as well as their reasonable prices, up front. The back bar sits a few more at the bar and on a couple more tables, and also houses a popular Toad table.

The bar is absolutely crammed full of options; 9 keg taps and 4 cask pumps plus a fridge bursting with choices including a healthy selection of German and Belgian imports. A full beer menu will be floating about with the complete listings, but the bar staff are really helpful in pairing a punters beer tastes with something on offer.

The pub is open 7 days a week from midday and the chalk board to the right of the bar has a calendar of future beery events such as new beer releases and tap takeovers.

Our visits here have always been to a pub that’s felt warm and friendly and passionate about beer. The Hole in The Wall Brighton pub might be petite, but it’s reputation is gaining and it punches above it’s size on the Brighton pub landscape when it comes to beer variety. In fact in early 2022 they won the Brighton & South Downs CAMRA Pub Of The Year.

Whilst they are very dog friendly, children under 14 re not allowed at any time.