Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Independent, Brighton
Brighton
BN2 0GH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about The Independent
A split level craft bar with 18 taps showcasing some top level brewers. The were three redundant handpumps on the bar concealed by a mini blackboard advertising Spiced Lentil and Sweet Potato Vegan Soup.My beer choice was Verdant Rustling Substance. The Clientele were mostly thirty somethings and the place was popular.
On 21st November 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1879 recommendations about 1852 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Independent
Another backstreet pub in this part of town, this one seems to have gone down the craft route more than its peers. The pub has a surprisingly cramped interior, bare boarded throughout and with the servery down the right-hand wall upon entering. A curved, dark wood counter with a copper top front a modern bar back dominated by the long row of keg taps and decorated with various keg font inserts. There are limited tables and chairs in this front space, but further back, the room splits in two, creating two distinctive, narrow spaces. One side has high tables and stools and a raised section with basic tables and chairs under plain walls decorated with a few photos of local interest, whilst the other side has nice wall panels, albeit painted in neutral shades, decorated with mirrors and various bits of promotional material. Perhaps most unusually, there was an old Toad-in-the-Hole table back here, although I can’t imagine the trendy crowd who visit this place give it much use. Music played quietly in the background and there were a few other customers, mainly young couples, but not enough to generate any kind of atmosphere.
The sixteen craft keg lines grab your attention on entry, but I did also note three cask ales were available – Attic Origins, Track Sonoma Pale and Three Acre Best Bitter – so not exactly everyday options. I took a pint of the Origins, but can’t say it was in very good nick, despite the super-upbeat barman insisting I’d made a good choice.
I think this place works okay as a fancy craft beer bar, of the sort you can take people who don’t really like pubs to, but that’s about all I can say in favour of the place. For me, it really didn’t work, falling somewhere closer to fancy wine bar in terms of its styling and failing miserably with its beer quality. The only real dud I had on a long day in the field around Brighton and Hove.
On 21st February 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Independent
On my visit, The Independent had the relaxed vibe of a trendy neighbourhood local - I guess that sums up more than a few Brighton suburbs and their pubs. The bar featured 4 cask and 12 keg options all local, except for the Hacker-Pschorr. I opted for a pint of Loud Shirt Hypnosis Pale from the cask range, but this was somewhat so-so. I could have chosen from the likes of Gun, Burning Sky & Good Things.
Not a big crowd in when I was there, but a few were taking a late lunch.
I'd be happy to pop in again.
On 4th November 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 456 recommendations about 428 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Walmer Castle
The Walmer Castle comprises a room with a bar and a split level seating area at the rear. The décor is minimal and as this isn’t the biggest place wall seating is utilised to create more space around the tables. Two of the four hand pumps were unused leaving Badger Best and Pickled Partridge as the ale options in this Hall and Woodhouse pub. The draught available was HB Extra Cold, Kronenburg, Carling and Guinness and food is served with the mains coming in at around the £9 mark. My visit was just before 22:55 on a recent Tuesday night and the governor didn’t look very impressed to see me walk through the door. Whilst the barmaid was serving me he instructed her to ring the bell for last orders and the background music was turned off. I didn’t feel very comfortable drinking my half of Badger, but when I left at 23:05 he seemed to perk up a little and offered me a farewell. It was all a bit ‘slosh it back, time to go this isn’t a bloody hotel’.
The locals all seemed friendly, but I didn’t feel at all comfortable in here and I would be reluctant to return.
On 3rd January 2012
- rating: 4
[User has posted 5276 recommendations about 5244 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
amy d left this review about The Walmer Castle
The Walmer Castle has now been taken over. Has a brilliant new look.
They are open Monday - Friday from 5pm. Open all day Saturday & Sunday from 12.
They Offer an authentic range of Thai food from the Thai @ Night from 6pm - 10pm Monday - Saturday.
They have Saturday Brunch from 12-4.
Last but not least, Sunday's chill out with Dj's & live music and of course Roasts! Definitely one not to be missed!
Great pub, Great food, Great atmosphere, Great Staff! What more could one ask for.
On 12th January 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]