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Detail Pages
The Basketmakers Arms, Brighton
Brighton
BN1 4AD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Basketmakers Arms
An unspoilt backstreet pub in the North Laines area, once owned by Gales hence the current Fullers presence. Two rooms are liberally covered in signs and (mainly smoking) artefacts, with a really nice pubby feel. Equally nice is the bank of 8 handpumps, servings beers from Fullers and guests. Thoroughly enjoyable.
On 13th November 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3352 recommendations about 3289 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Basketmakers Arms
Although a regular drinker of Fullers Beers when at home in ‘the Smoke’, I usually try to avoid their pubs whilst on a crawl of a faraway town, usually on the premise that I didn’t come all this way just to drink another pint of Pride. However I have to say I really enjoyed my visit to this friendly two-room street-corner locals pub, on the edge of Brighton's famous bohemian North Laines, with its bare floors, low ceilings and walls covered in an array of clutter in the form of old metal signs, tobacco tins and various period photos. And it was good to find it very busy on this late Friday afternoon, in complete contrast to The North Laine around the corner.
And I was further enamoured by the range of beer available as on the 8 ale pumps there were 5 Fullers / Gales beers in the form of Pride, ESB, Seafarers, HSB and Spring Sprinter plus 3 guests in the form of Adnams Mosaic Pale Ale and Elsie Mo’s and Harvest Pale from Castle Rock.
So I could duck the Pride and enjoyed a well-kept Castle Rock. A well-kept pub and I enjoyed my visit here.
On 5th April 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2120 recommendations about 1999 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Basketmakers Arms
This popular back street pub has a lively atmosphere, but at the time of my visit a strong smell of fried fish. Not everyone will find that as off-putting as I do, I guess. (To be fair, it was just after 7:30 in the evening, so people were eating.) There are eight hand pumps, with all the four beers available at the time of my visit being from Fullers: ESB, HSB, Lancer and Jack Frost. If thinking of visiting again, I might try a time of day when the consumption of fish was not going on to such an extent.
Date of visit: 3rd January 2017
On 21st February 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3748 recommendations about 3484 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Basketmakers Arms
A very likeable trad pub,no hint of modernisation which in my book is a good thing,downside for me is its a Fullers pub ,not my favourite tipple but drinkable, a good feel about the place though and well worth a return visit.
On 16th April 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1875 recommendations about 1848 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about Basketmakers Arms
A fuller's pub with an old style interior. Real ale and food served.
On 13th November 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about Basketmakers Arms
Although not on any main streets, the Basketmakers still manages to attract a fair old crowd. We just popped in for one, but had to stand and there were more folk holding pint glasses on the street outside. Food is an obvious attraction here - there was a 30-minute wait at the time we were there.
Some of the previous reviewers have mentioned guest ales - we found none, so all 8 pumps were devoted to Fullers (who knew they had so many available at any one time?).
Definitely worth doing what the locals do and popping in for a pint or two when you're in the area. A bit of planning would be required, though, if planning to sample the well-regarded menu.
On 3rd June 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Basketmakers Arms
A street corner local at the bottom of a hill but only a few minutes stroll from the station. Formerly a Gales pub, it is now operated by Fullers. Seven ales available on my last visit with one off. I tried the Fullers Summer Ale and Gales Seafarers which were both in good shape if on the expensive side. Guests were Wye Valley and Butcombe. Apparently Gales Festival Mild was once a regular here and it was sad not to be able to sample any this time. There was also an impressive range of malts. Pub is set out over two rooms and has a bohemian feel, for example the cigarette boxes attached to the walls in which you are encouraged to put messages. There’s also plenty of other interesting bits and pieces (stamps, pump clips, old beer bottles). The music selection is best described as eclectic. This place is very popular so you’d be well-advised to get there early for a seat, as crowds regularly spill out onto the street at peak times.
I’m a fan of this place and always make a point of dropping in here when in Brighton.
On 31st July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about Basketmakers Arms
Occupying a street corner position on the edge of the North Laine area, is The Basketmakers Arms, a smallish former Gales house, now of course part of the Fullers empire.
A prominent notice on the front door tells us that The Royal Oak has reopened, being run by the same people as The Basketmakers. Windows are covered with CAMRA Good Beer Guide stickers and various framed articles from magazines and guides extolling the pub’s attractions.
A small L shaped bar counter serves 2 adjoining bare boarded, low ceilinged rooms with basic padded benches and stools around the perimeter. The walls are decorated with an impressive collection of tobacco tins, enamel signs, old photos etc. Of particular note is an old photo of the pub in 1912 and a photo of Piddinghoe FC in 1923/24, who were apparently a Lewes League team. Several old looking enamel signs advertise the wares of the former Gales Brewery, whose products are of course now brewed at Chiswick. Also noted were some old Southern Railway signs and a large green triangular YHA sign.
The pub menu tells us that it offers “carefully prepared rustic cooking using locally sourced seasonal ingredients”, which seems to be very de rigeur nowadays.
This pub has something of a local feel – despite the proximity of the bohemian North Laine area, it doesn’t seem to get the masses of tourists and visitors you might expect.
On my recent Friday lunchtime visit, an impressive bank of 8 pumps offered 6 Fullers / Gales beers plus 2 guests – Butcombe Bitter plus Castle Rock Elsie Mo’s. The Butcombe Bitter - £ 3.30p – was in good form. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular.
My recent visit was my first since it became under the Fullers regime. Pleasingly, they’ve left the place alone, presumably on the basis that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Even the griffin logo high up on the outside wall is relatively small and unobtrusive.
You should include this one in any Brighton crawl
On 19th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Basketmakers Arms
The Basketmakers Arms is a Fullers pub that had an almost full range of their ales available from the many hand pumps that line the bar on the right hand side of the pub. The draught products are mainly of the premium type, but I did have a decent pint of Guinness that was served by a very friendly barman. It was busy during my visit close to closing time on Saturday night, but everyone was in good spirits and the younger patrons dancing to a bit of background music mingled quite happily with the older generation who were propping up the bar. The walls are adorned with al sorts of memorabilia including old tobacco tins and old Southern Rail signs along with some old ale clips that are stuck on the ceiling beams. Food is served and the mains seemed to come in around the £9 mark which isn’t cheap, but Fullers pubs never are.
Being originally from West London I do like a good Fullers pub and this one is right up there with the best.
On 27th January 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5268 recommendations about 5236 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Colin Gooch left this review about Basketmakers Arms
Friendly bustling corner pub just far away from the main tourist area. The HSB was worth the walk in itself
On 6th July 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 60 recommendations about 57 pubs]