BITE user comments - Spratticus
Comments by Spratticus
It's OK. Always found it a bit characterless. It's fairly large, has a lot of tables, beer is OK, food OK but there's nothing to get me back in there. Always busy for Sunday lunch but I think that maybe because it's kid friendly at that time (judging by the number of prams around the place).
Bland is how I would describe it, but maybe bland is what some people are looking for.
22 Sep 2011 14:37
Now a building management firm. Don't think it's the best place for a night out.
22 Sep 2011 14:32
Love this pub. A really eccentric tiny boozer that brews its own beer on site (Kemptown Brewery). The standard best is OK I think but their bitter called China (as in porcelain rather than the country) is lovely. Usually at least three real ales that change regularly, often more. A large selection of Belgian bottles beers too.
Food comes in the form of warm pies. Great music including fantastic jazz on Sundays. The odd quirky event - e.g. Christmas decoration making afternoon and the annual pickled egg competition.
Decor eclectic - tired old benches, old newspaper clippings, snipped off neck-ties dangling from the beams, and yes, the ceiling Victoriana 'porn' as previously mentioned (more some old risque b&w images so don't be offended). There's even a 10p one-armed bandit to keep you amused. Almost a cross between a pub and an old curiosity shop.
Drinkers are characterful - arty students, colourful locals, ale fans and those that just appreciate the unique (and usually a couple of dogs).
This is the sort of pub that we need to keep! A gem.
22 Sep 2011 14:22
Local boozer that does very good food. Sunday roasts a speciality. Pretty relaxed and nice eclectic crowd.
Downside - beers aren't cheap and it is a real footie pub, so if you're not into footie, avoid it on a Sat afternoon etc as it gets rammed (and you can forget about getting quick service!).
22 Sep 2011 14:07
Re-opened as the The Ginger Dog gastro pub. Part of the 'Ginger' group that includes The Ginger Pig & The Gingerman in Hove and Ginger Fox near Poynings.
They do serve ales at the bar. Dogs welcome (naturally).
22 Sep 2011 14:02
This used to be the Sudeley Arms (see reviews). Decent enough pub - part of the Drink In Brighton chain (that retains the character of the pubs it takes on). Sussex Gold when on is lovely. Black Sheep also good. They have a house best (can't remember name) which is less appealing. Also bitter not included in Happy Hour (as usual).
Food is consistently good by all accounts although my experience of Sunday roast was quantity over quality. It's always the gravy that lets down a Sunday roast!
Client�le locals and hospital workers (NHS discount I think).
Nice walled beer garden/patio that catches the sun in summer (when it shines!). Awnings and heaters for the less warm periods.
The manageress (French woman) recently moved on, so we shall wait to see how the pub fairs.
22 Sep 2011 13:13
Became the 'Bohemian Lounge' although pretty un-BoHo minty green colour scheme and bright lighting. Didn't last. Now closed once again. NEXT!
22 Sep 2011 13:01
Disclaimer - it's my local so I am more likely to pop in here.
This is not the pub it was in the previous reviews. Pub changed hands just over a year ago. Now run by cousins Josh & Ben. They've given the interior a fresh lick of paint, and made the rear snug more homely (dark, red and comfy seats) but pretty much kept the layout as is - big with plenty of rooms/areas. They've done a cracking job of the patio garden - neat & tidy with pot plants and a covered, heated seating area for the puffers if the weather's not great. [The loos are spotless if that's an issue.]
It is still a 'local' pub but far more inviting than it was previously and the client�le is a real mix of locals, workers, students, language school teachers and folk just meeting up for a chat over a drink.
Beer - Harveys as the 'house bitter' with Doom Bar and Summer Lightning currently as guest ales. Well kept. Always two ales on at least. Usual suspects from the lagers. Currently Happy Hour is 4-8pm Mon-Fri & 2-5pm on Sat when ALL draft beer (including all real ales and Guinness) is �2.75 a pint - now that's unheard of around Brighton. Standard prices for bitter are �3.50ish - not a bargain but not atypical either.
Food - limited. Rolls at the bar through the week. Sunday roasts on...errr...Sunday. Can't vouch for the quality as not tried the food.
Great pub quiz on Thursdays. Currently do an open mic night on Wednesdays and there's a poker evening (usually in the downstairs bar) on Tuesdays (I think). Other assorted events take place such as DJs/party in downstairs bar (latest was a Mods & Rockers night) through to a monthly book club, mum's and baby meetings, art displays, music and drama events. National events are usually celebrated 'somehow'.
They have a ping pong table upstairs that's free to play. They have wall mounted TVs showing Freeview channels (ie not Sky Sports) if there's anything people want to watch (i.e. Wimbledon or the Six Nations Rugby or the occasional football game). If there's a sporting event on (on BBC or ITV), they'll show it but in the evening they are switched off if there's nothing specific on. A selection of newspapers are also available for browsing.
Hats off to Josh & Ben for really trying to get the community involved in their venture and making The Rock more of a social club and meeting-up venue than a cliquey old man's boozer (which it used to be).
22 Sep 2011 12:52
Quick update - still has name St George's Inn (not Sudeley Arms). Last time they had Arundel Sussex Gold, Black Sheep and a.n.other bitter (can't remember the name).
Pub quiz stopped for summer (lack of students apparently) but they're planning a monthly 'something' that may or may not involve charades. Who knows.
Elsewise still the good ole local.
20 Apr 2010 15:35
Still boarded up but signs of work behind the boards after a long period of stagnation.
21 Oct 2009 19:08
Now called the Saint George's Inn. As previous reviewer guessed, part of the same group that own half of Brighton pubs including Sidewinder, Open House, Earth & Stars, Fishbowl, Fountain Head and Mash Tun to name just a few (but I don't mind as they leave them 'character intact' rather than formulise them).
I would say things have improved greatly since Jan 08 (although prices still a little steep!). Good local atmosphere with strong showing of afterwork crowd from the hospital close by and no doubt encouraged by the discount prices for NHS workers. Very noticeable on the last two Thursdays and Fridays in the month (something to do with pay day I guess).
Food is much improved since they gave the kitchen over to a local chef (who also cooks in another pub as well but can't remember the name). He rents the kitchen from them.
I have found it one of the few Brighton pubs where you can go to solo for a pint and have a chat at the bar.
Harveys Bitter is well kept and they also have London Pride. There are the usual fizzy lager and Guinness drinks but I don't drink them so who knows what they are like (and how hard can they be to get right).
A few different seating areas and styles from trad stools and tables to slouchy couch cranny. Large (for Kemptown) outdoor seating area at the back with heaters for the leaf fiends.
Pub quiz every other Wednesday I think (...that wasn't that good when I went to be honest but hey - there's the Barley Mow and Hanover Arms for quizzes if you want).
One thing is that they have a 'Happy (5) hours' between 4pm and 9pm where a selection of lagers are discounted and there's a deal on a bottle of wine. I asked the bar manager why bitter wasn't included in the offer and was told because they lose money on bitter due to the wastage. We had a discussion and I suggested that not every pub serving real ale was losing money on it. They were adamant that bitter = loss of money and that they only serve it to keep the regulars happy. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I doubt that's true and they're doing something wrong.
Anyway, a fine local boozer for a friendly pint in my opinion. Perhaps someone can help them out and show them how not to waste so much bitter and thereby make a little money on a barrel and discount the price of a pint of bitter during 'Happy Hour'.
21 Oct 2009 18:55
Now closed. Being refurbished and opening as...??? Dunno. Rumour has it that it will be an Indian restaurant/wine bar. Sounds a little odd. We'll wait and see what incarnation it takes...and how long it can keep in business.
21 Oct 2009 18:22
The Ship Inn, Langton Matravers
The good points: friendly; good range of beers.
The not so good: Like Fawlty Towers style service. We went for a drink and my girlfriend had a very frothy pint of admittedly nice. locally brewed lager (�Oooh, it�s lively tonight!�); I had to take my IPA back as it was pretty rank and got a replacement which I didn�t finish as it wasn�t that much better; a couple had been waiting an hour for food to be told that their order had been forgotten and what they originally wanted wasn't available now; and one chap at the bar was complaining about his main courses and got some form of refund! Not a good advert. Might have been a bad night.
Decor: generic 'done-up' pub trying too hard to be something that it's not - standard grey/green paintwork etc etc.
Alround disappointing. Would not recommend.
2 Jul 2009 13:53
Grand Central, Brighton
Pubs near stations are rarely fantastic, something to do with a constantly rotating clientele of commuters in and out. The Grand Central takes that a step further.
The good - inside it's large, relatively tidy, almost pleasant.
The bad - one staff member (who admittedly was very nice and efficient) on a summer's evening...during the World Cup meant 15min wait for a drink! Ridiculous.
Claims of a roof terrace. In reality it's a shabby slightly raised deck at the back below the level of any surrounding roofs. The wooden tables are in a shocking state - wobbly planks, rotten wood, splinters and exposed screws and nails. I was going to say 'Ladies, beware snagging your tights' but in truth you're more likely to receive a more serious aggravation. It could be quite nice but no energy, enthusiasm or care has gone into it.
Expensive - £4 for a pint of standard bitter (that tasted OK) that in any other pub in central Brighton would be £3.40-£3.60. It's just an additional 60p because of the location near the station. Two other people at the bar when I was ordering widened their eyes at the cost of their rounds.
If you're looking for a long wait to pay a lot of money for drinks then sit on a shabby deck and rip your trousers or get a rogue nail in your derriere, this is YOUR place!
Otherwise - avoid.
27 Jun 2014 08:25