Well, Hove

Previously Higgins off license, this white painted building now houses the Well, although I had to check the Pubs Galore photo to make sure it was the correct place because there is no moniker on the exterior when the awnings are retracted, as they were during my recent sunny Saturday afternoon visit. The small L-shaped bare board floored interior is very understated with seating along the front windows and a high table with sofa in the right rear corner adjacent to the serving counter on the right-hand wall. On a small section of green tiled back bar are six unmarked keg fonts, an A4 sheet with the available beers sat on a clipboard on the counter. I went for half a Gibson APA which was the lowest ABV at 4.8%, I wasn’t really a fan so wouldn’t have it again. At the rear of the counter are tall fridges full of canned beer and bottles of wine, the people of Hove love a drop of vino. The service was very polite, but the music was a bit niche and I found the surroundings very basic so I don’t plan on returning.

Decor-wise, this new bar just off Palmeira Square has an unfinished or perhaps even, an unstarted look, with plenty of exposed brickwork and bare plaster. Heating is at a bit of a premium as well. There's a few sofas, but most of the seating is on plastic chairs or wooden stools. The Well seems popular for its wine, while the beer is all keg and predominantly from Missing Link, with their ape-themed range. As they're a good quality brewer, and the prices here are reasonable, combined with friendly service, this is worth a visit, though you'd do well to pick a warmer day than on my visit.

We passed this bar earlier in the day, but opening is not until 4pm Monday-Thursday, 2pm Friday-Sunday. In truth, it looked as if it had closed down. With no signage to even suggest what it was called, things didn't look promising. However, I returned much later in the evening to find an absolutely packed single-room bar. Windows were fully condensated, but there was a young crowd in including what looked like a large group of Spanish students celebrating a birthday. Apart from a solitary lager, all beers from the Missing Link brewery - Bonobo, Mandrill, Macaque, Snow Monkey & Vervet. All beers are keg. I tried the Vervet, a mocha porter which was quite enjoyable and consumed from an empty seat on a table I shared with a self-declared alcoholic. This is certainly not a traditional pub. Neither is it is a micropub. It won't please the purists without any cask ale. But I quite enjoyed my visit here. It's certainly worth stopping by.