Argyle Arms, Brighton

The Engineer is now known as the Argyle Arms. The layout of the wooden floored interior is still basically the same with a front bar area where a short counter sits on the left-hand wall adjacent to a console table that makes it a bit cramped for service. Some standard tables run across the front wall and to the right are a couple of sofas that sit around a coffee table. The rear is much more like a dining area now with the pool table and dartboard being removed, as are the televisions and the live sport, although there was some funky background music playing that reminded of a 1970 US cop show. The lager options are premium and craft and the two hand pumps were drawing Crafted Conservation Brewery’s Pale and Wilde Child’s Humble Beginnings. The staff were all polite enough, but don’t get caught telling a joke because there’s a code of conduct that promotes inclusivity by encouraging customers to report those that they may disagree with so that they may be “asked to leave the premises never to return”. Inclusion by exclusion, nah you can shove it up your arse.

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.