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.

Facebook page of The Prestonville Arms - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Prestonville Arms - www.theprestonville.co.uk

Facebook page of The Prestonville Arms - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Prestonville Arms - www.theprestonville.co.uk

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.