please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Open again, now the plotting parlour, Still crap. serve you if they feel like it. Should have stayed shut.
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Closed, no sign of it reopening. Another hsitoric loss, but it was a bit grotty.
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Lovely drink in here last night.
Newly decorated,a fresh feel.
Staff were friendly and few customers in nice.
Will return with friends,well worth visit.
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Popped in yesterday for a pint while passing as board outside saying under new management. They were decorating but still serving. All the paraphenalia gone ( forever hopefully) so wait for baited breath for completion . Brewery owned but didn`t get which one . Used to like it previously but really went down the nick last few months. rating is fior what it used to be . Will update when refurb complete
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Glad to say now closed, hope it stays that way.
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The comment below about the Publican Michael publicly harrassing Mark, the positive man in question is all true. I was there that evening. I will never go into that bar ever again and I have told everyone I know to do the same. Any gay man or gay establishment that exposes people for being positive against their will in public to harm or hurt them should be deleted from being part of any society, icluding the gay scene. I did speak to Mark about this incident afterwards. His partner, the barman was aware of his status anyway. So Michael whoever you are, do you want to make a public apology?
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Ugh!
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This pub claims to be a gay friendly bar!!The publicans are Michael and Ben whom you will see pictured together on their site, They used to employ a bar man called Kieran Mc Dermott, who they were very happy with until Kieran began to date a friend of mine called Mark. On the evening of18th November Mark had an intimate conversation with the other publican Ben in the Aquarium, when he admitted to Ben that he had been HIV+ since 1992. On 19th December Mark went to visit Kieran in the Aquarium in the evening as Kieran was working and the publican Michael was suddenly very hostile towards him. He accused Mark of putting Kieran's life in danger. Mark defended himself by telling Michael that there was no way that he would put Kieran's life in danger and requested Michael to stop accusing him of this. Michael would not let it go and then sang the song, "What's It All About Alfie?" as this is supposed to be a "happy� karaoke bar. Michael however changed Alfie to "Whats it all about Mark Buchanan?' serenading Mark as he sang it for the whole bar to hear. He also changed the lyrics of the song exposing Mark for being HIV positive and putting Kieran�s life in danger amongst other accusations that simply were not true. Mark left the bar immediately and Kieran was sacked on the spot. So, gay friendly it may claim to be, but shame on any gay man or any gay bar that persecutes another gay man for being HIV positive.
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A great little gay pub in Brighton. Staff are always friendly and welcoming (which, believe me is unusual in any pub in Brighton). Good cabaret and plesant atmosphere.
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fantastic gay friendly theatre bar, live piano cabaret and karaoke. Mixed crowd of all ages
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HAS BEEN UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT SINCE OCT 2007, NOW BOASTS A STAGE WITH A THEACTRICAL THEME 3 BOYS NOW OWN THE PUB, MICHAEL,DARREN AND BEN, GREAT ATMOSPHERE, VERY FRIENDLY, BEST REAL ALE IN THE AREA, HAS A SMOKING TERRACE. ALL THE PUB NEEDS IS TOO BE BIGGER!
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I have declined previously from making any comment about this pub - as it was PREVIOUSLY Brightons worst. But all bad things come to an end and this pub NOW has a chance to excel.
Originally an 'Irish Straight Pub'. This venue was upgraded into an extremely popular GAY pub by a jovial guy by the name of MAGGIE in the late 1980's.
The pub is small but Maggie still managed to erect a 'walk-way' stage to host Drag comedy shows with even Lily Savage in her pre-fame days.....
During the early 1990's the staff and some loyal customers even put on annual pantomimes which were terrible but highly amusing!
The 'hip' Gay crowd then diluted and moved away to many other GAY venues that were springing up around both Brighton and Hove. The Aquarium then became the haunt of 'BEARS' (larger & usually hairy guys).
Gone was the humour and giggles - to be replaced by the icy stares of hardened Bears attempting to be very butch and practicing not to lisp.
The dark varnished wood walls became unattractive and it was rumoured that any 'decoration' or 'up-grade' involved just the flick of a duster over only a few areas.
Dark and dingy - this pub then changed it's loyal customer base to those that were constantly on the borrow or pinch.... YES, this was the place to be once you had cashed your Benefit Cheque. The hangout of the lazy, work shy. Popular yes, but not with the mainstream GAYs.
Recently this pub was closed for a long period where builders had to saw through layers of grime.
We now have a bright and clean pub which deserves a return of the mainstream guys. No more dark varnished wood walls.
The owners and staff have done well here as I'm sure that the old surroundings had depressed them all and taken all hope of living away from them.
I wish this new presentation the best of luck - but don't spoil it by allowing the scroungers back - as that will keep us all away again.
This pub has never been popular with females - not even butch ones. So if you are seeking a female free environment then this is the current top choice.
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Must agree with Curly. We stayed for 2 hours playing Billiards and I didn't see any fish, let alone a bear. Don't be misled by 'The Aquarium'.
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I went here in the January of 2004 and can honestly say I didnt see a single bear.
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Easily the friendliest pub in Brighton. Good place for bears. Bit small and gloomy but made up for by wonderful people both sides of the bar.
John - 31 Dec 2003 22:42 |
