Mesmerist, Brighton

Opened on August 10, 2010 this former Frankie and Benny's (or was it Old Orleans, can’t remember exactly which bland chain it was) restaurant location is now a splendidly different and spacious bar over two floors with frequent live music events and late night general partying in the upstairs room from 10PM to 2.00AM. With a décor more aligned to a 21st Century Gin Palace than a traditional pub, its Bohemian and slightly Burlesque atmosphere won’t be to everyone’s taste , but I like it because of its difference. With impeccable timing my visit on a Tuesday evening last month coincided with a quiet night with nothing on and annoyingly a band had been on the night before. But the bar does have three handpumps which have local Sussex brewery ales on, so I was able to console myself with a very decent pint of Dark Star Summer Solstice. Apparently if you are a party person best visited at the weekend when they hold “Shake Holla and Roll” party nights incorporating lots of 1940s and 50s Old Dixieland jazz and rhythm and blues.