The Prestonville Arms, Brighton

This is a smart, backstreet Fullers pub to the North of Brighton station, which has been opened out and given a bit of a gastro-style makeover. The room has nice dark floorboards and low panelled walls all painted in various gastro-approved shades, with plain uppers. Good quality seating ensures a comfortable stay, including very comfy banquettes with mismatched seat and back upholstery under the front windows, basic chairs in support and a few high stools along a drinking ledge to the right. There’s a nice distressed-effect fireplace to the far left with a large TV screen next to it which was annoyingly blasting out The Hits radio to mixed effect. One partitioning screen retained on the front wall has a nice old etched glass Smoke Room pane, but original features are otherwise a little trickier to pick out. The bar is to the rear and has a peculiarly large footprint thanks to the irregular shape of the room. The panelled counter front is painted in an aquamarine colour whilst the bar back sees a metal frame shelving unit fronting the white tile bar back. Decor includes some smart framed matchbook displays, collage artworks and a couple of quirky one-off items such as a TV studio ‘Applause’ sign. Steps up to the left lead into a small side room with space for four or five more tables and access to a nice patio garden. Five handpulls greet you at the bar, but two were clipped with goofy pairs of googly eyes, leaving a choice of Fullers London Pride, ESB and Red Fox. A friendly old school barmaid served up a decent pint of the Red Fox which I enjoyed from the super comfy banquette whilst watching the few other lunchtime customers come and go. This is quite a basic backstreet boozer that stands out a little from Fullers' usual type of pub, making it a bit of a quirk and worth a look. I liked the comfy furniture, decent beer and laid back feel of the place but could’ve done without the daft radio station and wouldn’t have minded a few more retained features, but there was enough here to make me think this is worth the trek up from the station to check out.

A V-shaped corner Fullers pub. Four ales on over five pumps – Seafarers, Pride (x2), HSB and the ubiquitous (on the day!) Wye Valley guest. It sits at a fork in the road and its pentagonal structure looms impressively in the distance as you approach. Like its sister pub the Sir Charles Napier, this has a traditional feel (and is up a large hill - follow the signs at base camp!) with stripped wood floor, a mix of pew and banquette seating, old prints on the walls and plates above bar. A tidy little venue and popular with the locals, I’d happily pop in again.

The Prestonville Arms was heaving with a middle aged clientele on Saturday evening a couple of weeks ago. This is an L shaped pub and a band was set up to the left of the bar just before some steps that lead up to a raised seating area. The bar also stretches to the right were there is more seating, but this was a little uncomfortable due to the crowds. I was served immediately by a friendly barman and I enjoyed a decent pint of London Pride. Being a Fullers pub the other hand pumps were drawing Discovery, HSB, Seafarers and Hooky Bitter. There is also a standard draught selection and food is served from opening until 21:00 except for Sundays when the kitchen closes at 17:00. The actual pub doesn’t open until 17:00 Monday to Thursday and midday on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There is extended opening until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. There are two quizzes every week that start at 21:00 on Tuesdays and Sundays. I probably would have enjoyed my stay more if it wasn’t so busy, but I can’t mark a pub down for being popular. This place is worth a visit, it’s just a shame that it’s an uphill trek in the wrong direction from Brighton Station.