The Great Eastern, Brighton

Just one pumpclip facing ysdty (of 4), pub was busy in a studenty-feel kind of way, but they did at least let us have a taster; wasn't keen, we left. It'll stay on my Brighton list, though, as I quite like the place, especially when quieter and with usually a decent ale selection, just bad timing last night.

Don't be fooled by the rather tatty looking exterior, inside lurks a decent pub. Enter through a pair of curved doors marked Public Bar to a slightly L-shaped boarded room with the bar along one side towards the front. Walls have wood panelling to over half their height, seating is traditional with mismatched chairs, benches and small stools at various sized tables with candles in wax encrusted bottles, ceiling beams are festooned with beer mats indicating a good rotating policy. The back wall features a bookcase and there is an old factory clocking-in machine adjacent, a side door leads to a tiny scruffy courtyard that would only be of use to a die-hard smoker. Four handpumps offered Woodforde's Wherry, Sharp's Cornish Coaster, Doom bar and Brighton Bier No Name Stout. The pub also stocks an impressive list of whiskies, specialising in American varieties. Whisky cocktails also offered. Wines and an extensive bottled beer range are listed by the bar on chalkboards. Food served, there are five varieties of "Brighton Burger" for £8.95, I assume but cannot confirm that there are other options. Live music is advertised and a jazz soundtrack was playing giving a nice relaxed atmosphere, I didn't see a TV. This was the penultimate pub of a good tour around the North Laine area, certainly worthy of a visit.