7 Great Cheap Pubs in Brighton
“Sorry, how much?”
We’ve all said it. We’ve all lived that crushing moment when you realise a tenner isn’t going to get you through the evening anymore.
Sipping your precious £5+ pint as slowly as possible to delay the next round, you may have asked yourself, much like the Talking Heads, ‘how did we get here?’. There are good reasons why pints are becoming more expensive and there’s no blame to be spread around here, only love (of course, it’s Brighton) but sometimes your pockets don’t lie and you’re starting to need a pint. Next time your mates suggest a fancy cocktail bar of an evening, try chiming in with: “Hey guys, why don’t we try one of We Love Brighton’s Top 7 Cheap Pubs in Brighton?” and let the good, sensible times roll.
The below pubs all have pints under £4.00 (one treasure even dipping below £3.00!) and are spread across Brighton and Hove. Some well known, others known only to a lucky local few. This article is just a recky into the world of good value pubs, so if you find yourself screaming at your screen in frustration at the list, let us know of more or better value pubs and we can add them!
Prince Albert
House ale £3.60 | ale offers £3 | cheapest lager (Amstel) £4.00
Tucked under the tunnel by the station, the Prince Albert is a popular local great (it can be hard to find a seat) with regular live music events upstairs, a famous Banksy (with a fascinating story) and an atmosphere and aesthetic summing up what Brighton pubs are all about. They also know their real ales and are constantly trying out new brews. Often you’ll find offers on certain beers which can go as low as £3 so it’s always good to ask. Lager is more expensive with the cheapest pint Amstel at £4.
Address: 48 Trafalgar St, Brighton BN1 4ED
Great Eastern
Cheapest ale (Pleasure Principle) £2.95 | ale average £3.80 | lager average £4.10
Ah, the Great Eastern. It’s almost a gateway to Brighton. The rickety old building is a great example of an old pub doing it right in the modern world. With book lined walls, a great whiskey selection, obscure board games, low ceilings and what feels to me like something of a pirate’s seaside haunt vibe, this pub’s already off to a flying start but what really counts here is that a pint of Pleasure Principle is only £2.95 – a clear winner. Prices do vary steeply though, so its good to inquire but ales average at about £3.80.
Address: 103 Trafalgar St, Brighton, Brighton BN1 4ER
Sidewinder
Standard ale £3.85 | cheapest lager (Fosters) £4.00
Any amble through Kemptown ought to end at Sidewinder regardless, but £3.85 for a standard ale is the icing on an already delicious cake. Good beer, DJ sets, great food and even a hair salon and two (yes two) beer gardens make Sidewinder the pub other pubs want to be. Once voted ‘Brighton’s Best Pub‘ by Argus readers, its large size, rather than detracting from its heady atmosphere, just gives them more room to play.
Address: 65 Upper St James’s St, Brighton BN2 1PJ
Marlborough Pub and Theatre
Standard ale £3.95
Housed in a beautiful 18th century building with a history disreputable enough to warrant its own wiki page, the Marlborough Pub and Theatre is a Brighton favourite of theatre, dance and drinking, tucked away in a side street near Old Steine. Home to Pink Fringe, a group specialising in Queer & LGBT cultural events, the Marlborough, in their own words, ‘specialises in the unusual’. At this sort of venue you’d usually expect hefty prices on alcohol but a standard ale will only set you back £3.95, so you’ll have enough change to enjoy some of their delicious Thai menu or catch a performance in the 50-60 capacity theatre.
Address: 4 Prince’s St, Brighton BN2 1RD
The Victory
Ale £3.35 (CMARA members) | standard ale £4.10 | cheapest lager (Fosters) £4.20
At the corner of Ship Street you’ll find The Victory. This green tiled and beautiful old building is always a bustling, popular haunt. Though not the cheapest pub for regular civilians, if you are a member of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) you’ll get a decent discount (25% off for ales for members, £20 for a years membership).
Address: 6 Duke St, Brighton BN1 1AH
Three Graces
Standard ale £3.30 | cheapest lager (Fosters) £3.20
Buried deep in Hove, the Three Graces is named after the famous Italian painting by master Raphael and has decor to match. A local favourite with pool table and regular live music, this pub is perfect for a quiet (cheap) pint, Italian inspired meal or lively knees up with regular live music.
Address: 168 Portland Rd, Hove BN3 5QN
The Reservoir
Standard ale £3.40 | cheapest lager (Carling) £3.19
Having had a recent price drop you can now pick up local Sussex ales from the extremely reasonable £3.40 and, despite being a staunchly real ale pub, The Reservoir finds itself king of the cheap lagers with Carling at £3.19! Part of the wonderful Hanover (making up here for the lack of mention in our recent guide to the area), this spacious pub is friend to passing student and regular local alike.
Address: 1 Howard Rd, Brighton BN2 9TP
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