BrewDog Brighton, Brighton

Awkwardly positioned on the wrong side of the Grand Parade, making it unlikely to be spotted by tourists browsing the Laines area, this is a smart Brewdog bar that keeps limited opening hours. The pub is set across a split-level interior with the bar over to the left in the lower ground floor space and additional seating up on a pleasant mezzanine level. There’s plenty of exposed brickwork, bare floorboards, metal mesh partitioning screens and plush furniture throughout, and as with most Brewdog bars, the eye-catching feature is the huge cinema-style beer board that looms over the bar, listing the full draught range. A few banquette booths opposite the bar are probably the best seats on the lower level, but a raised platform to the rear has more comfy banquettes and armchairs, which can also be found up on the top mezzanine level. The decor is relatively bold by Brewdog standards, with lots of mirrors, neon lights, growlers with dried flowers on each table and Pride flags adding colour in opposition to the industrial stylings. Other notable features include limited pavement seating, fixed water bowls for dogs, a quiet indie soundtrack and a collection of board games. The beer boards listed seventeen Brewdog beers on draught plus eleven guest beers and three real ciders. After the usual mental maths, trying to work out what might be a good value pint/half pint/two thirds of a pint, I opted for the Raven Haven Milk Stout at £5.75 a pint, and pretty enjoyable for a Brewdog Stout. I thought this was quite a nice Brewdog branch and that it was a shame that it only opens a couple of days a week, as it was a good spot to enjoy a quick pint. There are quite a lot of decent craft beer bars around Brighton, so it wouldn’t be all that strange if Brewdog were behind the curve here, but I thought this held up well against the competition and I’d happily return.

It seems, in some respects, somewhat pointless reviewing a Brewdog bar. I mean: you've been to a Brewdog, right? Well, Brewdog Brighton is much like any other Brewdog bar: exposed brickwork, several booths for seating, so-so acoustics (a stag party well into their visit meant getting yourself heard was not easy). As usual though, the staff are great - knowledgeable and enthusiastic. At present, the kitchen's closed, though I understand that's soon to change. But, really, you're here for the beer, so you'll be delighted to hear that there are at least 33 taps available - perhaps there's more, but there were just (!) that many on our visit. Given Brewdog's rather pedestrian range these days, it's best to head for the guests, the highlight of which turned out to be a Collabfest special "Pastry Stout" (whatever that might be) brewed in association with Unbarred just up the road. Brighton's hardly short of pub and bar options so whether you decide to visit this one partly depends on your view of Brewdog and whether you reckon there might be something interesting on the taps.

You know what you are going to get with a Brewdog pub.Industrial chic and good choice of beers The Arundel was beer of the day.Yes evil keg trounce cask.

A large bar away from the tourist throng,with a very high ceiling and an equally large beer list display cinema style above the long bar.The interior is open plan ,with some seating booths and a raised area to one side.The general vibe is trendy but not unfriendly.The barman was the font of all knowledge on the beer options.On my trip there were 12 BrewDog beers and 11 guests across a vast range of styles and strengths.There is even key keg 5AM Saint which qualifies as a CAMRA defined real ale,but I went for an eclectic keg saison Red Cat Sun Valley which was excellent ,neither too cold nor too carbonated. Traditionalists may turn their noses up at this kind of bar,and pricing may ruffle a few feathers,but I would put this on any beer related crawl list as the variety of what's on offer could well lead to a great drinking experience.