please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Sister in law had her 40th birthday in here last night. Excellent welcome from the staff, great spread, and great selection of beers on offer. Will go back in for a few Brighton gins next time we're in town!! Recommended!
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Outstanding external architecture outside but disappointing inside. Dull and average.
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The good: refurbished and nice choice of ales, late opening.
The bad: Chris, the Australian con artist. Ban him imediately, please.
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What happened to this place? It used to be an okay boozer but it looks like no one has done any maintenance on it for years, all the seats have stuffing coming out of them and your elbows stick to the tables. Won't be back until they start to show some pride in the place.
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A strange "Paradox" of a pub. It has a modern almost Lap Bar booth, with football available upstairs and yet an old traditional pub appeal. On both occasions I have been here they have had a good ale (Christmas Ale over the festive period) and very good food with good staff. The food has been excellent and I will return.
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Very pleasantly surprised with this place - superb Christmas Ale (8% !) and although was too late to order food - they gave us Roast Potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding free!! Very comfortable atmosphere.
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Can't help but think, if the Freemasons didn't exist where would be good to drink in Hove. H-bar, yeah right, the bowsteet bummer, bradshaws or whatever the �1000 prize winner called it. Barneys, the weatherspoons of Hove, Pearl the revolting clientel in their is enough for me to stay clear. Do you know what? I'm going to pull up a stool, order myself a bulleit and coke and thank the all seeing eye that The Freemasons is my local.
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The Freemasons has aways had a reputation in Brighton for one reason or another and not always favourable. For this reason i was always a bit reluctant to make the trip out on a weekend night, having read about the 'estate-agent crowd' and cheesey music...
I can honestly say that having been there a few times over the last couple of months, i've had some great nights, and not just weekends..the staff have been genuinely chatty and friendly, the service is quick and professional, and the music was a really eclectic mix of tunes.
Yes, the weekend can be really busy, and people do drink a bit too much and dance around, but that's what lively bars are about isn't it?!...my advice is, give it a try. I did and i was pleasantly surprised.
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Only ever been there on a fri and sat night, always too packed, and full of chavvy wannabes with there fake diamond earrings strutting about, always too long to wait for drink too, and a place to avoid for sure.
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Thank you napoleon_dynamite, I don't need to write a full review, you've got it spot on. A generous 2/10
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Downstairs the decor is dated and grotty. The crowd is 'townies' most of which are 30-40 years old. The place has no style, no class, and it appears little effort is being made to change this fact other than the conversion of the first floor to a tacky dated cocktail bar.
Two ales on tap- Harveys and Adnams Broadside- neither are well kept. I would descibe the atmosphere as 'office christams party in croydon'.
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Have to disagree with the poor reviews - it is busy on Friday and Saturday nights, so best to get there early if you want a seat for the evening.
Music is good and the service generally OK given how busy it can get. Spent New Year's Eve 2006 there and we had a great time!
The Sunday roast is excellent value and (Veggie)recommended, though I was a tad dissapointed with the Valentine's Day meal we had back in 2005 - maybe that since has improved.
Wills - 28 Jan 2007 23:48 |
Normally against my principles to agree with posters that are anonymous but they are on the ball. Tried this place a couple of times and didn't like it one bit. Shame, I bet the pub has a very interesting history.
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bad house too loud on the weekend, good if you can catch it while it's a bit quieter (about 3pm on a tuesday!!)
anonymous - 29 Jul 2006 18:25 |
full off chavs and estate agents but well behaved dogs are wellcome. the beer is rubbish.
anonymous - 26 Oct 2005 23:16 |
Really good, groovy pub, attracts a mixed crowd of all ages and makes a streong commitment to serious quality drinks - no cheapo house doubles here. Good range of beers, knowledgeable staff - what a trendy pub should be, unlike the many others (e.g. The Station, Hove) who only have a limited choice of poor quality mass market drinks
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