The Heart & Hand, Brighton

A rather eccentric pub, this one. From the outside, it looks like a traditional local. Inside, it feels slightly more upmarket. It is fairly cosy with carpet and around 8 or 9 tables, all of which were occupied when we arrived. Given it is table service only, we were about to be thrown out when a couple of tables announced that they were just about to leave. There are a couple of handpulls on the end of the bar. One was clipped with Gun Project Babylon, with the other unclipped. However, we soon found out that the pumpclip was just for show. There were in fact no real ales. Gun Scaramanga was the best of the keg selection. I opted for a Weston's Vintage cider. As a group of 5, we were soon served and the bar staff actually seemed quite pleasant. It is just the rules here that seem a little unfortunate. In addition to table service only, cash is not allowed and it soon became apparent when 3 more of our party arrived that there is a limit on the size of groups. We claimed not to know the extra 3 who had joined us. A jukebox at the far end seemed a strange feature for the crowd that were in, including a canoodling couple on the table next to us who really needed to find a hotel room. The music being chosen was fairly decent and other than arriving, exiting or spending a penny, the jukebox was the only allowable reason to stand. It felt like being transported back 4/5 years. All in all, a rather strange appearance. We saw the funny side of the strange rules, but no cask ale and a fairly uncomfortable atmosphere meant that this is unlikely to be a pub we will return to. No sign of the pub cat either.

Love this pub really old school complete with old style juke box. A few tables & chairs outside on pavement, while inside really cosy and comfortable, only issue is they dont except cash but the staff do bring your drink to your table. Look out for the pub cat Bailey, he knows this is his home. Overall a pleasant friendly pub I alway go to when in Brighton.

This pub has a pleasingly well preserved exterior with the striking green tiling and stained glass windows from the United Ales brewery days retained, reminding me also of several Portsmouth pubs where there was a tie-in between the Portsmouth and Brighton breweries. Once inside there is an L-shaped carpeted single room, lower walls wood panelled, all very traditional, nothing much has been altered in here for a long time and all the better for it. The bar gantry still has the United Brewery stained glass feature in place, seating is mostly perimeter banquettes and small stools at round tables but with a single larger version each end and a solitary high table, virtually unusable, apologetically tucked into a corner. There is a fully functional old vinyl jukebox, free at weekends, a Harvey's brewery mirror, a montage of customer photos and naturally, being Brighton, a wall full of concert flyers for venues around and about. The TV high on an end wall was off while the juke box treated us to a few classics from The Jam, Jimi Hendrix and the Stones. Modern twists were limited to ceiling fans and single tulips in a beer bottle on each table. Two handpumps, Harvey's Sussex Best and Doom Bar, the only food I saw advertised were pizzas but there may be more options. Not the most exciting pub in the world and there are better beer ranges available nearby but I do like to discover a real old fashioned pub that hasn't been tarted about. Recommended indeed.