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The Black Lion, Brighton

Pub added by elizabeth mcgraw
14 Black Lion Street
Brighton
BN1 1ND

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Pub SignMan left this review about The Black Lion

Given this pub's narrow, unassuming exterior, this is a surprisingly large and spacious venue. The interior has a bare boarded, single room layout with the servery down the right-hand side and seating to the left, partly hidden behind a series of semi-screened arches that run through the centre of the room. The bar has an unusual frontage made to look like ancient carved wood, with a polished stone top and quarry stone effect bar back with backlit shelving. Long padded banquettes extend down the left-hand wall, with hard benches in support, whilst tables and chairs can be found in the front right and rear right corners, at either end of the bar. Decor is limited to a few mirrors, blackboards and a selection of random pictures, but otherwise it's all a little plain. I noticed a DJ booth to the rear and there was a good Cure-heavy, 80's indie pop soundtrack playing. A few tables out the front are ideal for people watching and there is a garden to the rear which I failed to explore.
Two handpulls on the bar promised some ale, but sadly they were both unclipped. This was somewhat compensated for by a wide craft keg range, mainly focused on brews from the local Laines brewery, although a few of these had been taken off as well. I tried a pint of Laines Source (£6.70), which was a pleasant enough drop, but obviously hugely overpriced.
This seemed like a decent enough pub aiming at a younger, craft beer drinking crowd, but the fact that it was empty on my Saturday, early evening visit, does ring some alarm bells. I could easily imagine stopping here again, but the high prices and bland decor don't lend themselves to an extended session.

Date of visit - 24th September 2023

On 1st January 2024 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Moby Duck left this review about The Black Lion

The interior is elevated above street level, open plan with little character. There are two handpumps on the bar but these were being utilised as cleaning roll holders, so no real ale. There were plenty of keg options available the bulk of which were Laines beers, it looked like cocktails were a thing as well. The pub seems geared up for the under 30s market, which is fine for them but not for me so I'm highly unlikely to return.

On 13th August 2022 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about The Black Lion

Very similar evening experience to the previous reviewer. Quite busy with a young studenty vibe but this time the music was live, coming from young lad with acoustic guitar who was knocking out some decent tunes to an appreciative audience.
I’m probably about 30 years too old for this one and The Cricketers next door was more to my taste.
But the target demographic certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves and for me there was the benefit of two ale pumps alongside the Addlestone Cider pump which were dispensing Brighton Best from WJ King and Long Man Brewery American Pale Ale.
Fast efficient service from the young female barmaids who, for an ageing fogey like me, were sporting some very interesting tattoo artwork, which frankly I will never see the attraction of on young girls. I really wish I could somehow replicate the experience for these lasses of seeing what my Grandad’s accumulated body art after 40 years in the Merchant navy looked like on 80 year old skin…

On 8th July 2013 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve C left this review about The Black Lion

The Black Lion was busy with students last night (Tuesday) and there was a DJ playing some decent music that wasn’t desperately loud. I think that there was music advertised in some form or another for every evening of the week. This pub is a decent size and open plan apart from a couple of large arches in the centre of the pub. There are a couple of plasma screens, but I didn’t spot any sports advertised. Amstel and a standard draught range are available and the three hand pumps were drawing W J King’s Brighton Best, Arundel’s Trident and Old Rosie cider.

I was a little older than the majority of the crowd, but there was a good friendly atmosphere and the service was very polite. I wouldn’t make a special trip to visit again, but I’d have no problem popping back in if passing.

On 30th November 2011 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]