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Disappointment of the week with Gann
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The Geese (Have Gone Over The Water), Brighton
Brighton
BN2 9UA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about The Geese (Have Gone Over The Water)
A nice pub on the trendy side of traditional halfway up, or down, a long steep hill.The single room wraps around the bar servery on the rear wall. There are three handpumps but all were in the process of being pulled through as I arrived. On keg was a mix of craft and Belgian beers along with some ordinary stuff. I had the Duvell Vedett Extra Ordinary IPA which was great and added interest to the overall day trip. I liked this pub and its general vibe a lot.
On 21st November 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Geese (Have Gone Over The Water)
This is a compact backstreet pub in the student-friendly Hanover neighbourhood, which has very much been set-up to appeal to the student market. As others have mentioned, the pub was closed when we arrived and not due to open for some time, but the affable landlord must've seen our trembling lips and rushed out to let us in early which was a great touch. The room has scuffed floorboards and half panelled walls with uppers covered with wallpaper that has a map image on it. The servery is on the rear wall and has a nice traditional panelled counter contrasting with a fairly plain bar back with large blackboards listing wines and various special offers. Some deep bench seating runs around the front corner with a mix of low stools, chairs and canteen-style benches filling out the rest of the room, many of which have been liberally adorned with scatter cushions. Lots of bottles have been lined up along the top of the wall panels and various brewery posters and other old advertisements can be found doted around the place. Some pillars throughout the room break up an otherwise very basic rectangular room and these have been covered with a decent pump clip collection. A pretty good indie soundtrack played throughout our visit and I noticed a menu which seemed to major on bangers and mash, although no-one was eating whilst we were here.
There were three beers on the bar - Butcombe Bitter, 360 pale and Gun Pale Ale plus a modest craft keg and bottled beer selection. I gave the 360 Pale a try and it was in pretty good condition. We enjoyed some good chat with the barman before the pub filled out a bit more and I got the impression that this was a welcoming place that could appeal to a broad range of customers beyond the obvious student targets.
I enjoyed our visit here and given that I spent quite a bit of time here waiting for the rest of the crawl to catch up, regret not sampling more of the beer range. The friendly welcome, early opening and comfortable surrounds mark this out as one of the better pubs in this part of town and make it an essential addition to any Hanover crawl.
On 24th July 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Geese (Have Gone Over The Water)
The Geese and the Greys opposite compete to be the first pub you climb to when transcending the steep Southover Street into the Hanover district of Brighton. A really friendly pub, especially as the barman opened 30 minutes early for us on this early Friday evening when spotting us loitering with intent to enter outside.
Taken over and done up by the current owners in 2013 it sports a really nice largely bare boarded square interior with the ochre-coloured half panelled walls mentioned below and large plain wooded tables and chairs about the space. One wall is covered with a collection of beermats either side of a large plazma tele and the opposite wall has a large chalk board advertising the range of available Bangers and Mash the pub specialises in.
Three ales as referred to below and the Gun Brewery Pale Ale was indeed a fine drop. A fine back street local and I hope the student hoards from the nearby Grand Parade Campus are appreciative of what they have on their doorstep.
On 5th April 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Geese (Have Gone Over The Water)
Situated on the lower slopes of east Brighton’s hilly Hanover district, this pub was originally called the Golden Cross, the somewhat daft current name adopted when, I know not.
The interior is simple and unpretentious, part ochre-coloured t ‘n’ g panelled, bare boarded with some bench seating. There’s food, which comprises the likes of bangers ‘n’ mash as well as venison, wild boar, chorizo and Polish bigos – all very appealing, at least on paper, or blackboard in this instance.
Ales: Butcombe Bitter, 360° Brewing Company’s Pale and Gun Brewery’s Pale Ale at £2.10 a half and nice.
This is a very pleasant, friendly community local which is a must-visit on a crawl of this area.
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 Geese (Have Gone Over The Water)
This was one of my favourite pubs of the days crawl. I agree with BF as it is situated in a good position and stands out a mile on its corner pedestal.
I also got an added bonus of an extremely good ale, which was Gun Brewery Pale Ale, which ticked all the boxes.
On 30th March 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Geese (Have Gone Over The Water)
A very charming street corner local in battleship grey.Open plan and most friendly,the tables give good views of traffic and pedestrians struggling up Southover Road.My visit was a brief crawl stop and I noted three real ales,Gun Pale Ale,Butcombe Bitter and a very good 360 Degree Pale.
I would spend more time in here next time,worth including on any crawl.
On 25th March 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Geese (Have Gone Over The Water)
The Geese is a superb community pub in the Hanover district, part-way up steep Southover Street. On a mild afternoon, the windows were open to the street, most of the tables were occupied and the buzz of chatter filled the room, along with a soundtrack of Credence Clearwater Revival. The pub is both child and dog friendly (though the former are expected to leave by 7 p.m.).
Food options centre on bangers and mash along with a solid bar menu. Three ales are offered - 2 from Sussex breweries and one from Hop Back (but not that one) when I called in. Among the keg fonts are Blue Moon & Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.
I enjoyed my brief visit and would have been glad to stay longer. I'm scoring it a 8 not for an extensive selection of craft beers, but simply for doing what it does so well. That and a cheery farewell from the barman which always a nice touch.
On 9th May 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Geese Have Gone Over The Water
3 real ales and food served.
On 12th November 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Geese Have Gone Over The Water
I popped into the Geese Have Gone Over That Water (what’s all that about then) late on Tuesday night and found a small L shaped pub populated with a handful of locals. There was some random music playing off the jukebox and the plasma screen was showing muted Sky Sports News. Most of the seating is conventional, but a couple of sofas can be found by the burner to the left of the bar. The bar is stocked with standard draught products and only one of the three hand pumps was being used to draw Harvey’s Best. Food is served on Wednesday through to Saturday evening and roasts are available from midday until 16:00 on Sundays. Much like the Greys pub directly opposite the opening times are 16:00 until midnight Mondays to Thursdays, 15:00 until 00:30 Fridays, noon until 00:30 Saturdays and noon until midnight on Sundays. There is a quiz from 20:00 every Thursday evening and live music every Sunday evening.
It may have just been the time I visited, but I felt like a member of the away team who had taken a wrong turn and ended up in the home team’s dressing room. There are better pubs in the area.
On 19th January 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]