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North Laine Brewhouse, Brighton
Brighton
BN1 4AA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The North Laine
Quite simply a huge pub situated on the main A23 route in and out of town and on the edge of the North Laines area. The main attraction is the on site Laines Brewery with the brewing equipment prominent behind the bar, twelve handpumps shared between three banks offered seven Laine beers, one guest plus a cider. Laine Amber Sky, Brighton Brau, Hooker, Crazy 8, Laines Best and India Pale Ale, Brighton Bier West Pier Pale Ale and Thatchers Heritage cider. Jugs used by default. Wines and cocktails on a chalkboard.
The room is vaguely staple shaped if you like, bar along the back wall of the bar area, benches at distressed stained wood tables plus a few barrels for vertical drinking. Décor includes a rather dramatic wooden bird, a kingfisher I think, hanging over the main bar area, a hanging sign from The Crown Hotel (Mansfield Brewery Co), there is an old brass cash register on a shelf, a statuette on a wall of an angel(I think), and a painting of a squadron of gulls wheeling around in flight. Potted ferns on the window cills, lots of exposed brickwork, stacked barrels in a corner, the front foyer area has a large montage of B&W photos celebrating beer!
The atmosphere wasn't bad late afternoon but before the offices kicked out despite the size of the place but I bet it gets very loud and echoing when full. Bluesy/jazzy soundtrack, I didn't notice a TV but there may be one or more here and there.
Food served, main meals and bar snacks (beer bites), many meals matched with beer suggestions and not gastro style, real old fashioned food, corned beef hash, lamb hot pot, pie of the day with mash, veg and "lashings" of gravy. All in the £9-£10 range which doesn't break the bank.
9 pint mini kegs to take away from £15.95, quiz night on a Wednesday. Outdoor terrace if you prefer but facing the A23.
This is not your traditional old two room boozer by any imagination but it is a very good pub serving a large range of beers of different types in clean and spacious surroundings. I enjoyed my stay here very much.
On 30th March 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about The North Laine
A barn of a place with the shiny beer vats taking pride of place behind the bar. Laines Brewery beers now dominate the pumps with Best, ESB, NZPA, IPA, Black Rock and a 3,5% Summer Lovin' that they were selling at a 'VAT free' price of place£2.90. Good food menu with hot sausage rolls and scotch eggs as bar snacks. They are holding an Oktoberfest 4,5 & 6 October to celebrate their first anniversary.
On 20th September 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 697 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The North Laine
Excellent conversion of a former bar/nightclub. Up to 12 real ales and food served. The on site brewery is visible behind the bar.
On 13th November 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The North Laine
It's huge! Maybe that's to be expected, as the building was formerly The Gloucester nightclub and, for a time, a Barfly venue. Now it's a trendy-looking pub, with an on-site brewery in the offing.
A fair amount of outside seating will be handy for smokers and those who like watching the traffic leave town on the A23. Indoors, it's primarily a large room, but divided into 3 parts, I'd say: a small (by it's own standards) area at the front with tables, some chairs and banquette seating; in the centre, there's a large bar which is, unfortunately, L-shaped, leading to the usual "what's on round the corner" game; plenty of standing room in this area; finally, the rear features a large amount of bench seating. The windows at the front will open wide which, traffic noise notwithstanding, will be a nice feature in warmer weather.
Menus were distributed around all the tables when I visited. The food all looks very classy and the prices seemed reasonable, too.
At the bar, there's 12 handpumps, although a full bank of 4 weren't being used when I visited. 1 or 2 offered a cider. Dark Star were among the brews, as well as Pinup - a new one on me. The brewery equipment is installed behind the bar and it appears that the inaugural brew will be available soon. The wine list is pretty extensive, although I didn't check that all listed were available.
Given the size of the place, the Drink In Brighton group are going to need to pull in the crowds. It's early days, but I wish them well: The North Laine is an interesting pub and well worth a visit. I look forward to trying their own ale in due course.
On 27th October 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]