Argyle Arms, Brighton

Official site of Argyle Arms - theargylepub.co.uk

Official site of Argyle Arms - theargylepub.co.uk

As the train from the east bends around the viaduct into Brighton Railway Station the Engineer is clearly visible and looks like an inviting backstreet boozer. I managed to get in here for the first time on Tuesday evening and from the signs outside I gleaned that thru the week food is served during lunch periods and, except for Mondays, from 18:00 until 21:00. The kitchen opens at midday at the weekends and closes at 18:00 on Saturdays and 17:00 on Sundays. My visit was on Tuesday evening after the kitchen had closed so I saw no menus or prices. This isn’t the biggest pub and the columns and corridors that split the interior into two bars makes the pub seem even smaller. There are old photos, posters and prints on the walls and there is a plasma screen in each bar. One of the bars houses a dartboard and pool table, although only one can be played at a time as the pool table was partway over the oche. There were a handful of friendly locals watching a Premier League game via Sky Sports during my visit and horse racing is advertised for during the daytime. The bar is stocked with standard draught products and the only ale option was Harvey’s Best as the Gales HSB was off. I found the governor to be nice enough and there was a good atmosphere, but maybe the low background music could have been turned off whilst everyone was watching the TV. I liked this pub and would regularly drink here if I lived locally, but it’s not a place that is worth going out of the way for.