14 of the best pubs in Brighton, from The Shakespeare’s Head to the Wick Inn

We know Brighton’s no stranger to a bit of razzle dazzle – small plates with big PR, drag brunches on a Tuesday, bike rides in the nude. But pubs? Pubs are where the city kicks off its boots.

Amid the wine bars and craft taprooms, the humble local stands its ground. The kind of pint pullers where dogs (or cats) nap under tables, sausage rolls come piping hot and half your mates are already at the bar (or at least it feels that way).

With more pubs per person than anywhere else in the UK – around one for every 680 locals – you’re rarely more than a stone’s throw from your next round. And while it’s hard to have a bad time in most of them, some have that certain Brighton magic: think handsome gastropubs, theatre in the backroom, boardgames by the fire and beer gardens for stretching out with a summer evening and pint glass of pét-nat. These are the regulars on our rounds. Long may they pour.

Brighton Palace Pier, Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom. Photo Taken on the 1st of March 2025.Getty Images

The Basketmakers Arms

Best for: Your Brighton bingo card

One of Brighton’s best-loved boozers. Simple as that. You’ve got the 19th-century charm of some dark-wood panelling, Fuller’s on tap and hundreds of old tobacco tins decorating the wall (peek inside and you might just find a note from punters past). The team will happily steer you to something special, the whisky list rivals most bars and it’s packed most nights. Arrive early, stay late and order the Branston Pickle croquettes to keep you going.

Address: 12 Gloucester Road, Brighton BN1 4AD
Website: thebasketmakers.pub

The Hand in Hand

Best for: Hazy, artsy pints and unadulterated Brighton weird

Possibly the smallest pub in Brighton and certainly one of the most eccentric. Think Victorian curiosity cabinet crammed with puppets and vintage posters and, occasionally, a guy tuning a mandolin in the corner. It’s got an indie microbrewery – Hand Brew Co. – pumping out citrussy Toadlicker ale (among many juicy beers), and an events roster that’s just as creative. Make sure to check ahead of your visit.

PSA: not to be confused with The Heart in Hand (we write from experience) though we love this pocket-sized spot too, for its jukebox and resident cat Bailey. A handy one if you want to be nearer to the train station.

Address: 33 Upper St James’s Street, Brighton BN2 1JN
Instagram: @handbrewpub

The Prince Albert

Best for: Live music and legging it to the train home