Saint James, Brighton

Next port of call was this corner pub in Kemptown. Take the point about the music, insanely loud for a late afternoon not busy venue. A party was being set up in the end of the pub away away from the corner door so maybe the people doing the set up wanted to seamlessly flick into party mood. The bar is along the wall in the mid part of the pub with a long line of pink and red velvet stools lined up along the length of the bar. Ready of seating pretty conventional apart from some church pews replacing chairs at some of the bigger tables. A wall mosaic of presumably St John great you as you enter the pub! Also quite bizarre was a large birdcage in the corner by the door with its occupant a large, colourful and very noisy parrot being paraded around the pub. A screen on the wall to the left of the bar provided some silent Olympic coverage. Hanover flags from recent Euro’s still adorned the ceiling. Three hand pills offering Sharp’s Solar Wave, Doom Bar and Harvey’s Sussex Best. Keg choices were Cruz, Aspall, Sharp’s Atlantic, Lunar Hazy IPa from Beavertown, Inch’s cider, Blue Moon, Moretti, Pravha, Neck Oil, Guinness, Staro and Madri. My cask Sharp’s beer was perfectly quaffable. All told this had the makings of a decent pub and I would have rated it a 6 if it were not for the insanely loud music that forced me to drink my pint rapidly rather than linger and enjoy it. Disappointing in that respect.

A single roomed corner pub with overly loud music banging out. Beers were Sharps Doom Bar and Solar Wave as well as Harveys Sussex Best. One area of amusement was the free to roam resident Macaw, another was some colourful characters stopping by on their way to a nearby Trans-Pride event. I guess this might be an ok pub but on the day wasn't quite that.

This was my favourite of five pubs visited in the Kemptown area. It's a nice old fashioned boozer, a bit rough around the edges - which is how I like them. There's a lovely bar back with etched mirrors, and there are hooks under the bar rail. There's a large selection of bottled "craft" beers for those who like them, but more importantly four hand pumps, with Brains Reverend James, Gun Extra Pale, Otter Ale and Franklins Mama Knows Best available. I went for the latter (I'll normally go for a best bitter if available) and it did not disappoint (and was the cheapest of the night at £1.90 a half). I'd be happy to return here another time. Date of visit: 1st January 2017