Barley Mow, Brighton

I'm not sure I really formed an opinion about the Barley Mow on my brief New Year's Day visit. I went in eight pubs on the day, and this was one of three that charged me £2.20 for a half (black mark). There are five hand pumps, with a cider and three ales available: Rother Valley Exit, Gun Milk Stout, and another whose pump clip was too difficult to read in the light of the candles which stood on every table. The tables were sticky (no beer mats) and placed too close together, so that I had to move to let someone sit at the table behind me. On the positive side, there was some interesting music playing on the sound system, and the beer was good. I'm not sure I would revisit in expectation of an overall positive experience - perhaps I need to revisit in order to form an opinion. Date of visit: 1st January 2017

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Very much in the alehouse style, this pub has a fairly cramped interior filled with heavy rustic furniture. The decor in the two-part bar is restrained but more modern. A covered area of about equal size cam also be found out back. Four real ales - including Wadworth Horizon (£4.10) - and a cider from the five handpumps.

A nice little traditional boozer with a brightly painted eye catch ing frontage.Five handpumps offered a choce of Arundle Sussex IPA,Longman APA a couple of other beers from micros along with a Thatchers Cider on the fifth handle.A long walk or slow bus ride from the train station to get here but well worth it.

Every now and again this pub crawling lark throws up a few unexpected gems and the Barley Mow is one of them. The interior has a cosy lived in feel and the bar on the right hand wall supports at least seven hand pumps. These were all drawing local brews which were made up of Level Best, Chocolate Porter and Blues from Rother Valley Brewery, Autumn Old Ale and Stronghold from Arundel Brewery alongside Harvey’s Best and Heritage cider. There is also a standard draught range and pub food is served with the mains ranging between £6 and £13. There is no TV that I saw and I do not recall any background music. There is a surprisingly large covered and heated beer garden out the back that feels like an extension to the pub. There is also a hamper full of blankets for people to wrap themselves in on very cold days. I think that I would stay in the pub rather than have second dibs on a blanket like some vagrant. The staff were friendly and I would gladly visit here again. It’s just a shame that the location is such a trek from the train station.