Brickmaker's Alehouse, Bexhill-On-Sea

Just down the road from Bexhill station, this is a decent sized micropub in a typical shop-converted premises. The single room interior is bare boarded with low tongue and groove wall panels and mixed seating including tables and chairs, benches, a few low stools and a row of bar stools along a ledge in the front window. Additional seating can be found in a small outdoor pavement-side space, where three or four tables stand in rather cramped proximity. The bar is to the right on entering and has a tidy tongue and groove panelled counter, modern shelving unit bar back and a glass fronted temperature controlled cabinet to one side, where the casks can all be seen. A blackboard on the opposite wall lists the full beer range and pump clips in the windows allow you to peruse the options without even having to enter the pub. Two fireplaces stand along the right-hand wall, one with casks stacked in front of it, although neither looked like it gets used all that often. The walls have been decorated with a few old brewery mirrors, some pub themed art and a selection of excellent old black and white photos. In one corner, there was a shelf stacked with board games and old copies of the Good Beer Guide, which the pub currently appears in, whilst elsewhere, some pub merchandise was available to buy. A soul music soundtrack played quietly in the background during our stay and a communal jigsaw was on the go, with all punters welcome to add a few pieces, as they see fit. The blackboard listed a strong ale range comprising Pig and Porter Strangely Brown, Fierce & Noble Brizzle Pale, Bristol Beer Factory Fortitude and Daydreaming and Gun Zamzama. Six real ciders were also available along with bottle and can options. The Strangely Brown was an interesting brew, not entirely to my taste, but in good condition nonetheless. We were given a very warm welcome by the lone barmaid on arrival and thought the place had a very friendly and welcoming vibe in general. I really liked this micropub, which had a winning combination of well-kept beer, comfortable furnishings and very friendly service. We enjoyed whiling away some time in here before getting our train back home and would suggest it’s probably the pick of Bexhill’s modest pub scene.

Brickmakers Alehouse is a micro in a great location for passing trade being on the road from Bexhill Station to the seafront. On the path outside are three tables with kegs for stools, all of which were being used when I popped in with the wife on Saturday afternoon last week. Inside there is a beer shelf with stools in the front floor to ceiling window. Thankfully this window has a blind to stop the bar becoming a sweat box with the sun beaming in. On the right wall is a large temperature controlled cabinet that houses a stillage rack with capacity for twelve casks, or less casks and a few boxes of real cider. There were six ales on, Bedlam’s Benchmark Best, Swannay Island Hopping, Howling Hops Blankets, Allsop’s IPA, Brithop Sword of Tyranny and Redemption Fellowship Porter. Six real ciders were also available. There is no keg here. The small serving counter midway up the right wall faces a beer shelf on the left with high stools and some chairs. At the rear are tables and chairs which were all being used, and rightly so because this is a very friendly bar that is certainly worth a visit.

Facebook page of Brickmakers's Alehouse - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Brickmakers's Alehouse - www.facebook.com