please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Parked my car in the Hannover area of the city one Sunday in September, whilst visiting. We had time to do a couple of pubs before departing and this was the first of the two. It's a small corner pub on a street with more of its fair share of pubs. A few people were tucking into late Sunday lunches. But we made do with a drink. Ales were Franklin's Mama Knows Best, Hopback Summer Lightning & Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter.
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Beer selection disappointing and expensive, possibly the most expensive in Hanover. An Enterprise Inn I gather so that tells a story. Good for music though. Sadly and old friend couldn't make the Sam Hutt gig this coming sunday. (He used to go to school with him).
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Visited with a family group on a recent Sunday. I found the staff friendly, the atmosphere relaxing,and the beer and the food very much to my liking. Why can't more pubs be like this? Wish I lived in the vicinity. I would like to thank the staff for a very pleasant afternoon.
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I visited after reading a good review in an article about The London Unity, very disappointed, the place may have changed hands, but still just Harveys Best and Timothy Taylor Landlord, I had a very average Harveys Best, nowhere near the value of £3.40 I was charged.
And as for doing music again, with the mass of speakers stuck to the ceiling, I imagine that you will be able to hear it down on the level.
And how on earth does it get into The Good Beer Guide, with only the same two beers on?
Another pub off of my list.
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A recent visit, also on the local Ale Trail and I have to say this pub was in a different class to the others - unfortunately a class well below. All the other pubs had at least 4 real ales available, including a minimum of one guest ale. This pub had just the two, the same two as always. Don't get me wrong, Harveys Best and Tim Taylor Landlord are fine beers in their own right but neither were anything other than of average quality on my visit. For a pub that is both in the GBG and on the Ale Trail a lot more effort is needed to justify inclusion in both.
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nice clean interesting pub,good tim taylor ,pleasant staff, if your out of shape catch the bus here as the hills a killer.
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The best pub in Brighton - it feels like a country pub in the middle of a city. Its a brilliant little place to chill out, meet friends and have a quiet evening. No Sky Sports (such a precious rarity these days), no irritating fruit machines, just a relaxed atmosphere and a super selection of proper beers on tap and Belgian beers by the bottle. No Fosters, Carling or Stella in sight. The food is pricey but worth every penny - not just 'pub grub' but a high restaurant standard cooked by an amazing chef. Ticketed (and excellent value) live folk/country/bluegrass music is on only 3 Monday evenings a month which doesn't make it a venue rather than a pub! Lots of friendly & interesting regulars - I have made so many new good friends just sitting at the bar in the Greys.
Marvellous.
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Very reliable no frills pub. The beer is always spot on - a decent selection of high quality ales and Belgian beers, good staff and friendly owners. Very high food standards too from a smallish menu. A genuinely pleasurable environment if you like your pubs on the mellow side. Best in Hanover I'd say.
jim66 - 13 Feb 2011 14:40 |
Having not been since the early 2000s, it was time to catch up with the Greys following check-ins at the Charles Napier and Constant Service. The exterior turquoise-fest and out-of-kilter 1950s design are not to everyone's taste, and could be considered a little crass in an otherwise well-preserved Victorian quarter of the city. However, within one can still find a down-to-earth local vibe pervading what is quite a small pub, with a few tables outside for good measure to accommodate the inevitable overspill.
Ale-wise, things weren't perhaps as inspiring as one reads; well-kept Harvey's Best and Tim Taylor Landlord are never unwelcome but somehow I had expected at least 1 or 2 more unusual choices. Nevertheless, a real cider featured in the shape of Thatchers Heritage, which turned out to be a splendid choice and a worthwhile brief distraction from the ales that sandwiched it at other pubs.
Definitely a relevant stop-off although for an entire night, as a cask ale devotee I am bound to say there are more diverting alternatives in the vicinity.
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Had a spare hour early eve before meeting other folk so checked out the Greys as I hadn't been for about 5 years. Fantastic pint of Harveys, great soup & selection of bread - all came in at about �12.
Civilised atmosphere - the merits of Miles Davis being discussed at bar - but don't let that put you off.
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This is one of my favourite pubs in Brighton, and my favourite in Hanover. It has a really good atmosphere, and the big draw has to be the brilliant selection of (mostly) obscure belgian beers. The staff (especially the manager/landlord) have a good knowledge of what they are serving too which really helps. Only once I was bit miffed as I wasn't served kwak in the correct 'serving apparatus' (google kwak if confused!)
The one disadvantage of the pubs excellence and deserved popularity is that often the pub is crowded to the point that it's not worth considering entering, the key is probably to get in there early!
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Friendly, atmospheric pub with an excellent range of bottled belgian ales. Welcoming and knowledgable barman.
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Agree with the other comments praising this pub. Nice selection of real ales and belgian beers, with friendly staff and more space inside than you might think. Definitely worth a visit.
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Always visit this pub when in Brighton. Food was excellent, service brilliant and beer top notch. Add to this a really nice laid back atmosphere and it really is hard to fault the place.
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Fantastic food, fine beer & great atmosphere - can a pub really get any better?
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The Greys has been a 'cult' pub in Brighton for ever - well, long before i moved here in 1995. It is clean, well kept, serves fantastic food ( that really is restaurant quality at almost half the price - although eccentric bearded chef 'Spatz' has retired ) and a good selection of drinks including the (in)famous Belgian beer menu that is becoming more popular in other city pubs ( but the difference is the barstaff are really interested in it and know all about the different beers.)
It also keeps top quality ales such as Harveys ( Best pint in town! ) and Timothy Taylors Landlord, has a really diverse and interesting clientele ( including well known actors, authors and musicians ) and always seems to have atmosphere - even on a quiet night, which really is something for a Brighton boozer. My partner and i call it a home from home on a cold winters evening.
I don't understand the gripes in the other comments about it 'being a music venue first and a pub second'. The pub is open 7 days a week and music only happens on one of those evenings, usually a Monday. They do charge for the concerts... but if they didn't we'd not have seen the likes of John Renbourne or Damien Rice gracing the pub stage. I can honestly say that watching Devon Sproule for �8 at The Greys and then seeing her on Jools Holland's 'Later' within a week sums up just how good this pub really is. Great beer, great music - hence this essay. 10/10
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Nick Lowe was outside yesterday.
Excellent pub. food now back on.
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friendly quiet pub (on a sunny afternoon atleast) well kept ales, the belgium beer list not that extensive but far better than your average town pub
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Fantastic little pub, great atmosphere, food and beer.
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Visited on the ale trail and sat outside in the sun. Looked to be a small one roomed bar area - beer fine.
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I've only ever been during the day to enjoy a spot of lunch, which is ALWAYS delicious. Arguably the best pub food in Brighton.
Decor is neat and traditional.
Couldn't tell you about its worth as an evening boozer however as I've never been. Must admit it can seem a bit daunting on your way in however, and now more so after reading the comments on ticket holders only welcome during music nights.
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I, too have had that experience there in the past. This is a music venue first and a pub second, something the guides should include in their literature.
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I arranged to meet some friends here but we were booted out when the music began (ticket only admission).
It used to have a very mixed crowd but seemed rather full of "New Brightonians" the night we were there, working their way through the Belgian beers by tick list.
The beer is still well kept.
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A tiny pub which nonentheless manages to host live music
and provide excellent cuisine. The landlord prides himself his rudenss and his Egon Ronay listing. I well recall his reaction when someone dared to ask for a bowl of chips...
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Rather hoity-toity. The food is great of course, and so are the Belgian beers. But the current barstaff have a policy of waiting until their friends have finisjed drinking then serve them immediately, even if you've been waiting a while. This has happened to us twice now and I'm fed up with it.
Sorry to make this anonymous, but I live locally.
anonymous - 16 Oct 2005 20:05 |
Top of the range
(but not top of the hill, which is useful)
An all star line up..
Mike on the sounds
Spatz on the stove &
Chris on the beers.
Keep it up fellas.
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An absolute gem of a place - even my Sherpas loved it!
Don't fret at the cost of the food, it's worth every penny. Excellent beer selection, friendly staff and overall ambience is warm and welcoming.
If you're visiting Brighton, search this place out
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Only been to this pub once, for the Belgium Beer festival. The food, drink and atmosphere were great.
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Very very small inside, but with a quality reputation. The bar staff are known for their friendliness, and the atmosphere is cosy and intimate. The beers are popular with my real-ale fan partner, and the food has won awards all over the place (although it's expensive, but worth it). My favourite place for a gossip and a pint with a friend or two.
Lucy - 20 Oct 2004 13:39 |
the greys has been voted the 11th best pub in the u.k in a morning advertiser poll, august 2004.
rob jones - 19 Aug 2004 02:44 |
I can confirm the superb selection of Belgian ales, especially the Trappist ones (made by monks). The Orval is one of the best beers in the world, and not too strong.
Vasili - 30 Jul 2004 17:04 |
The food is magnificent - last time I ate there I had the best rack of lamb I have ever eaten. Care and consideration is applied... The Timothy Taylor Landlord has won the Best Beer at Hanover Beer Festival (50 meters up the hill each year) 2 years running and is jus the thing to help you up the hill after a supermarket session on London Road... Small but perfectly formed with a friendly owner and staff. NB on live music nights (lots of Bluegrass) you'll be lucky to open the door let alone fit yourself through it...
Rod - 11 Jun 2004 01:29 |
I can confirm that the food is top-notch. I've had several meals there, and they've been perfect every time. They use good-quality ingredients, which are carefully cooked, to produce food that actually tastes of something. (Also, it seems to me that the meals are more designed than just thrown together like in some places.)
Ian - 8 Oct 2003 22:29 |
An attractive pub up the hill towards the university halls of residence. Needless to say students form a large part of the clientele here. Well kept real ale, usually Timothy Taylor's Landlord, plus a guest or two, is served alongside a wealth of Belgian bottled beers. Live music, for many gigs you must pay. During my visit on 18/10/2002 I never got the chance to try the food but local and national write ups suggest its is top-notch. A great pub - pay a visit on your next trip to Brighton!
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