Tates Bar @ Imperial Hotel, Hove

Tates Bar is no more than a hotel bar for the large Imperial Hotel. There is a veranda out the front with some picnic tables on it and the entrance is located up some more steps. Unfortunately this door was locked so I had to walk through the hotel’s reception. The bar area is a decent sized single room with bland décor. I was the only customer and the staff seemed surprised that someone had walked in off the street just to have a beer. The barman was very friendly and chatty and made what should have been a forgettable visit a little more interesting. The bar is stocked with five draught products and half a Becks Vier set me back £1.80 which is about par for the area. There was no background music and the plasma screen was off during a Champions League game so I imagine there’s no Sky Sports. I don’t plan to revisit and if I was a paying guest I would look for somewhere more interesting to spend my hard earned. I’ve given this place 4/10 instead of 2/10 as the service was excellent.