The Montpelier Inn, Brighton

A truly fantastic pub. Not my nearest, but I go out of my way to make it my local. The staff and landlord & lady are incredibly welcoming, the food is decent, very generous and unpretentious and, if you go there to eat with kids, they'll bend over backwards to make your visit comfortable (including offering to 'baby-sit' while you eat!).

The layout and loos let it down a little (the latter in fairly immediate need of a refurb). It's a Sky Sports / football pub, but I've never found it too intrusive - unless there's a big game on. If there is a big match on the layout doesn't make for ideal viewing, but the atmosphere is great.

Not trendy, not pretentious, not quaint or fussy, but in my view the closest you'll get to a perfect family pub.

29 Dec 2009 11:57