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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Evening Star, Brighton
Brighton
BN1 3PB
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about The Evening Star
My first visit to Brighton in almost six years, and it was a bit of a shock to find beers from Marble, Buxton and RedWillow on the bar here, all northern brewers that I don't expect to see in Sussex! Interestingly there was also Burning Sky Aurora, which I had drunk half an hour earlier at the Hole in the Wall. There it had been served with a tight sparkler, here as nature intended. Both beers were excellent, but tasted very different. This was one of a very small number of pubs I visited twice while in Brighton, and I hope to be back on further occasions.
On 10th February 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3734 recommendations about 3471 pubs]
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Evening Star
Conveniently located close to Brighton railway station, this remains one of Brighton's best pubs, if not the best. No longer owned by Dark Star, the beer range has improved since my last visit in 2017.
With just one single room, it can get quite busy inside. A few had spilled out onto pavement-side tables at the front. Inside, all tables and seats were taken leaving standing room only. We managed to crowd around a pillar, where there were a couple of available high stools.
Real ales on for our Bank Holiday Monday evening visit were Fallen Acorn Expedition IPA, Wiper & True Kaleidoscope, Burning Sky Aurora & Plateau, Larrikin Pig Iron Stout, BRZN The Trees Are Strong, Their Roots Are Deep & Downlands Revival. Ales were turning over, with a couple going whilst we were there. Thornbridge Market Porter quickly replaced the stout and another was being pulled through.
Real ciders also on handpull on the left-hand side of the bar were all from Ascension - Sonic Titan, Unless You Think & It's An Illusion.
Craft beers were Drop Project Shifty, Iron Pier Cast Iron Stout & Moscatel Barrel Aged Barley Wine, BRZN There's Too Much Business In This, I'm Going Back To My Garage, Odyssey Inner City Blues, Vibrant Forest Fluidity & Omnipollo/Newbarns Complicated Dark Beer.
I wouldn't have minded staying here for more of a session. However, time was ticking on and with the pub a bit too busy for my liking, we decided to move onto another pub. If you can bag a table shortly after opening or on a quiet weekday evening, you'll probably struggle to leave!
On 10th May 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The Evening Star
Great little pub run by the Dark Star brewery with an excellent choice of their own beers plus some interesting guests. We tried Dark star APA and Revelation. Both were excellent. Handy for the train station and much better than the pubs closer to it! I would definitely call again.
On 30th September 2019
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Evening Star
Been here a few times over the years and cant say the interior does anything for me.I come for the beer.Good Wilde Child -patriot games.Like the look of the pub from outside.
On 14th April 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Evening Star
Dating back to at least the mid-19th century, this is a rather well turned out backstreet pub, of which there are many in the city and clearly a Mecca for ale drinkers, despite the obvious contradiction. It’s quite an industrial place with a hipster vibe: bare boards, bare brick, bulkhead lamps, exposed metal trunking and solid wood furniture.
It’s the beer that’s the star here – literally – and as expected, my half of Darkstar’s Hophead was very nice indeed. Everyone else must have been enjoying theirs too as there was much cheer about the place.
Unfortunately, I’m more of a horse brasses, Toby jugs and Yard of Ale over the bar sort-of person but am happy to go along with the majority as they made it a great last group pub for the evening.
On 1st April 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Evening Star
A traditional style pub with good atmosphere and a good range of some excellent beers. The pub was open plan and I especially liked the curved bar counter and pine clad booths over on the left hand side. My Dark Star APA was in great shape and if I hadn't a train to catch, I would have liked to have tried the Gun IPA and the Kissingate Black Cherry Mild. Looking forward to another visit.
On 31st March 2018
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Evening Star
Fully justifies its reputation as a beer-drinkers destination pub which people travel miles to visit, and - as quite a compact side-street pub - this means it can get very crowded. The interior is pleasingly traditional, with the curved counter in one corner. Further seating is available out front on wooden benches. Although the brewery has long-since moved to larger premises elsewhere, there are normally four Dark Star beers available (including an excellent American Brown on this visit) plus three guests from smaller Sussex breweries. First class, and much to my surprise it turns out to be my first revisit for nine years, but I'll certainly be back.
On 31st March 2018
- rating: 9
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Evening Star
Always likely to be the first or last pub on a real ale crawl around Brighton,the latter was the case on my visit when the advertised 11.30am Friday opening time did not materialise,...thanks What Pub !
It's quite small with a wooden floor,a mix of seating around the periphery and room for vertical drinking.Noisy when busy.
There is a lot of craft keg options,three real ciders/perry and 7 handpumps drawing on my visit Dark Star Hophead,Hophead Loral,American Brown,American Pale Ale with guests Gun IPA,Wild Child Patriot Games and Kissingate Black Cherry Mild,a most interesting selection.My tastebuds may have been shot at the end of a crawl but my Hophead Loral and APA didn't quite hit the mark,but I really must devote time here next time to get a better overall impression,possibly at a quieter time.
On 25th March 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Evening Star
4 dark star beers,3 guests,2 ciders and 5 "craft keg" on during my visit. All drink available to take away.
On 15th October 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Evening Star
The trouble with this former Courage pub is that it is just too small and busy. I had been here once before getting on for 20 years ago and it was the same then on an early Saturday Evening, completely rammed. I wish pubs like this would not provide bar stools as it just makes life difficult to get served.
On the beer front there were four Dark Star beers (Hophead, American Pale, Winter Meltdown and Coconut Porter). The three guests were Brodie's London Fields Pale and Bethnal Green Bitter plus Arbor Citra. There were a few keykeg options as well.
Having got rather grumpy about the boring brown beers in the previous pub, I couldn't have asked for anything more left field than a Coconut Porter (£3.60) so I tried it. Does it work? I'm not sure, I would have to try it several times before forming a conclusive opinion. As would be expected it was in superb nick.
On 15th December 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]