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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Hop Poles, Brighton
Brighton
BN1 1AL
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Hop Poles
Not sure this is owned by Greene King anymore despite the fine signage on the building. Inside it has the look of a traditional pub but the handpumps are gone, there are now four sets of T bars giving a total of twenty four keg taps heavily leaning toward craft beer but also providing more normal options in Lagers Guinness and Cider.Despite
no real ale this is still a decent pub.
On 13th August 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Hop Poles
Compact Greene King pub set back in a side street just back from the seafront. Eclectic mix of furniture and decor, enlivened - like almost the whole of Brighton on Pride weekend - with rainbow flags and as diverse a range of people as one could possibly envisage. However, it wasn't too crowded and I decided to make this a late lunch stop too. Despite the ownership, there was a decent range of beers on handpump in addition to Old Speckled Hen: Landlord, Hophead, Betty Stoggs, Robinson's Dizzy Blonde and a fine St Peter's Ruby Red. The seventh cask offering was Old Rosie cider. Better than expected.
On 13th August 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about The Hop Poles
I'd expected more if this place after fighting through the rain to find it. I expected at least a few interesting bottles to supplement the pumps but there was no sign of any. One pump off, the others OSH , Golden Sheep and Darkstar APA. The £3.90 price tag didn't help.
On 17th September 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Hop Poles
After an interesting few years at The Spotted Dog / Cask / Hop Poles, the pub is now in the hands of enterprising local group Indigo. Each of their pubs seems to have its own theme, and I'd say the concept here is grunge / indie: the back walls seeing a lot of old newspaper & magazine covers and a graffiti wall in the back yard. That area (beer garden, I think we're supposed to call it) is west-facing and a real sun trap, by the way.
At the bar, the choice seems a little more restricted than in recent times. A standard draught selection is supported by 4 hand pumps - labels suggest that Hophead & Abbott are regulars leaving two for guests; Belhaven and Elgoods I seem to remember. The latter was ok, though not great (should have stuck to the Dark Star, I suppose).
Despite the location between The Lanes and the seafront, Middle Street is a quiet lane and The Hop Poles was a relaxing venue for a summer afternoon drink. I'd check it out again.
On 12th August 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Spotted Dog
4 real ales and food served. Live entertainment advertised.
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 Hop Poles
The Spotted Dog has reverted back to its original name after a twelve year stint as the Hop Poles. This is one of the oldest pubs in Brighton and its history can be traced to before the 1790s. It is hard to tell that this is a Greene King tied house as they have adopted a hands-off approach and the only sign I saw was the out of place IPA on the bar. I say out of place as the other cask offerings last night (Tuesday) were three from Dark Star, two from Harveys, Kissingate’s Dark Cherry Mild and Two Trees Perry. There is also an extensive premium draught lager selection including offerings from Brooklyn and Meantime Breweries. The fridges are also packed with enough beer choice to keep the thirstiest of discerning drinkers busy for a couple of days. The new owners of the Spotted Dog also own the freehold of the Snowdrop Inn in Lewes which also prides itself on delivering something more than mass produced fizzy lager. Food is served and people were still ordering at 20:30 last night (Tuesday), but I didn’t notice any prices.
The pub itself is small and rectangular with homely décor making it a comfortable place to enjoy a few jars. There was some low music from the sixties in the background and I didn’t notice any TV screens. There is also a small enclosed seating area out the back that is lined with potted plants.
This pub is a must visit if in Brighton and certainly one to complement the much lauded Evening Star a brisk walk away.
On 30th November 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alex Rayner left this review about The Hop Poles
cool, busy pub in the heart of brighton. very large food menu which i have found both excellent and not so excellent.
On 15th March 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]