The Evening Star, Brighton

There's one major drawback to the Evening Star and that's missing one train after another, so tempting is the range of spot-on beers here. Just a quick one on the way back to the station? Don't even consider it!

I don't get to Brighton anywhere near as often as I'd like, but when I do, this is the "must visit" pub for the ale aficionado. It's really handy for the train station, and features four different ales from the Dark Star brewery, which is heaven in itself. But they also have three guest ales too.

My first visit to this temple of good beer and I wasn't disappointed. Packed out and a wait to be served through the throngs at the bar but that's popularity. Three from Dark Star, Hophead, Summer Solstice (excellent) and Mild for May, plus Lomond Gold, Milestone Black Pearl and HB Clark Heady Daze plus a cider and a rare perry. An impressive range of bottled beers from Belgium, Germany Czech Republic and the USA plus some Belgian stuff on draught. An unusual looking place from the outside, looks like two converted houses, this place serves fine ales to a broad range of discerning drinkers, as well as myself there was a stag party, a large number of ale enthusiasts, a couple of off duty binmen and even a bloke in a Dukla Prague shirt.....not sure if it was the away version! (One for the Half Man Half Biscuit fans). A must visit for any keen ale drinker and one I'll certainly return to.

Never disappoints! Just a single room full of contented drinkers. A choice of 4 beers from the excellent Dark Star brewery, plus another 4 or so from quality micros, as well as Meantime Helles, ciders and a fridge full of interesting offerings from Belgium, Germany and the States. The Evening Star proves that proximity to a railway station need not mean a pub's a grotty dive.