If you ask anyone about Brighton, it won’t take long for them to say the word ‘beach’. The city’s famous sprawling shingles is host to many attractions, art stalls, cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops, and that’s without even mentioning the pier! Sometimes too much choice can be overwhelming, where do you start when visiting the famous seafront? How about with a quick drink to get your bearings? Luckily, We Love Brighton have you covered; we’ve compiled some of the best beach bars in the city for you to start your day on the pebbles right!
Brighton Music Hall
If you’ve ever visited Brighton’s seafront before, there’s a good chance that the lively Brighton Music Hall has grabbed your attention. With local live music in summer from 11am – 8pm, DJS from 8pm till late, and its huge outdoor seating area, Brighton Music Hall is almost impossible to miss when taking a stroll along the promenade. Locals and tourists alike flock to this bar to soak in the vibrant atmosphere and the beautiful view of both piers. BMH is a great venue for group events too with bookable beach huts in the summer, and heated igloos from October on.
Drinks range from draught & craft beers and ciders to champagne & cocktails, to local coffee provided by Roasted. Their street food kitchen serves up hearty burgers, loaded fries, classics, and small plates many of which have gluten free and vegetarian options. BMH is a family run venue, and a staple of beachfront entertainment. Along with their seasonal Drag Roast events, Brighton Music Hall is a must visit for first timers!
Website: https://www.brightonmusichall.co.uk/
Address: Kings Road Arches, 127, Brighton BN1 2FN
Fortune of War
The mainstay of seafront pubs, the Fortune of War first opened its doors in 1882 and is the oldest venue on the beach by a long shot. This also explains why the Fortune of War is the only pub nestled between swathes of bars and nightclubs. However, don’t let its age fool you, the Fortune of War still has plenty to offer in terms of live entertainment with regular DJ sessions and a monthly free reggae party with Easy Skankin’ DJs playing reggae, ska, rocksteady, roots, dub, and dancehall.
Like all the places featured in this article, this historical pub has plenty of outside seating to soak in the glory of a short-lived British summer. But, on cloudier days, the Fortune of War is still a great choice for a cosy pint as the unique part of this pub is it’s interior. The whole building has been designed to resemble an upside-down ship! The perfect opportunity to one-up your friends who sent you a selfie from the upside-down house, and plenty of atmosphere to keep fidgety little ones’ attention!
With delicious quality food provided by local establishments Honest Burgers and Pizzaface, this seafront pub serves foods which pair perfectly with a cold beer, or glass of wine.
Website: https://www.fortuneofwar.pub/
Address: 156 Kings Rd, Brighton BN1 1NB
Loading
Fancy a more casual experience which requires no dancing? Just east of Brighton Palace Pier, next to Captains fish and chip shop, you’ll find Loading. A comfortable, laid-back bar that serves great coffee, inventive cocktails complete with video game pun-names, and filling bar food with veggie and vegan options. There is an outside deck with tables right on Brighton beach, where you can enjoy your food in the sunshine (while remaining vigilant for seagulls).
Inside you’ll find zero opportunistic seagulls, but instead a wide array of board games, and video game consoles to play with your group. The best part is, they are all free for customers to use! So, if the weather is looking a little shaky, visit Loading, order yourself an Assassin’s Mead or Skyrum, and have a ‘friendly discussion’ about whether you can play ‘Qi’ on a Scrabble board.
Loading offers its patrons free to play games, the latest consoles, big screen entertainment, and events from small meetups to triple-A game launches.
Website: https://loading.bar/
Address: Unit 11 Lower Promenade, Madiera Drive, Brighton, BN2 1ET
La Plage
Coalition’s beachfront bistro-style bar and restaurant boasts a great al-fresco terrace on the pebbles. This seasonal suntrap is posted right outside of one of Brighton’s best venues, Coalition, making it perfectly convenient to line your stomach before a late-night gig! La Plage is open until 8pm Monday to Thursday, and until 10pm Friday to Saturday.
Serving up small plates, burgers, salads, a separate kid’s menu, and a bottomless brunch every Saturday & Sunday. La Plage’s welcoming kid-friendly and dog-friendly atmosphere makes for a perfect meetup spot for a bite to eat. Wash it all down with a drink from their extensive menu of wines, beers, cocktails, and spirits and you got a winning combination for a classic Brighton evening down on the seafront.
Website: https://www.coalitionbrighton.com/la-plage/
Address: 171-181, Kings Road Arches, Brighton BN1 1NB
Ohso Social
Ohso Social describes itself as “an oasis on Brighton’s beachfront” and it’s hard to argue with. Its aesthetically distinctive terrace shields you from the elements while leaving the view of the iconic Brighton pier running out to sea unobscured.
During the daytime, Ohso Social is an attractive stop for families as a welcoming restaurant/bar. Serving tasty food from fried scampi, to burgers, seafood and veggie platters, and tasty desserts like churros, adults and kids are sure to fancy something on the menu. At night, it transforms into a great venue with DJs and live music, usually attracting anyone walking by with a penchant for drinks and dancing.
Between October and March, Ohso Social is available for private hire events. Even in the colder and darker months, the terrace is heated and well-lit. Making it an excellent spot for a big birthday, wedding receptions, team building days, and product launches.
Website: https://www.ohsobrighton.co.uk/
Address: 250a Kings Rd, Brighton BN1 1NB
Tempest Inn
Photo credits: WeLoveBrighton.com
So, we’ve talked about a pub designed like a ship, how about a bar themed as a cave? Tempest Inn’s lantern-lit basements take the shape of multiple caves. Its shaped, textured walls offer a sense of adventure and mystery while remaining cosy and friendly. These caves can be booked as individual spaces, or you can join them together for larger parties.
Tempest Inn hosts some of Brighton’s best electronic music events and allows you to party till the early hours. The top floor has a more open and light space with exposed brick walls and its own private bar. The large patio extends out from King’s Road Arches and is located right on the seafront.
This venue also offers a bottomless brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, but what sets the Tempest Inn’s menu apart from others is the feature of a classic traditional fondue bowl. So, if you fancy a social event with your friends but also want to dunk baby potatoes, sourdough bread, and pickles into molten cheese look no further!
Website: https://www.tempest.pub/
Address: 159-161 Kings Rd, Brighton, BN1 1NB
Bison Beach Bar
In Spring of 2019, Bison Beer opened a bar and street food popup on the East Brighton coastline. They became instantly popular among small batch and craft beer enthusiasts. Unfortunately, in 2020 the popup had to be closed down during the pandemic. Now, in 2023 Bison Beer is back and better than ever, returning with a new and improved version of Bison Beach Bar!
Located a short walk East of Brighton Pier in the newly renovated section of Sea Lanes, Bison Beach Bar is close enough for a convenient visit, but far enough for those who want a break from the busy crowds of the main seafront. The Sea Lanes bar stocks a huge range of drinks from all over the world, with a particular focus on local beers and the outside decking area provides a great view of the quieter portions of the beach.
Bison Beach Bar also serves up classic brunch menu items from Fika, and an evening menu of steaks, burgers, oysters, and pizzas from Wood x Coal. With resident DJ sets on Friday nights, Bison Beach bar is a great choice any time of day/night.
Website: https://www.bisonbeer.co.uk/beachbar
Address: 300 Madeira Dr, Brighton BN2 1BX
The Brighton Zip Bar and Kitchen
We’re remaining on the East side of the pier for our last entry, a few doors down from Loading bar is The Brighton Zip Bar + Kitchen. The unique thing about this bar is that it has the only panoramic rooftop bar on the seafront, overlooking the pier, the beach, and – of course – the Brighton zipwire. This bar and kitchen provide thrill seekers and spectators alike a range of classic British food, seafood platters, veggie options, alcoholic beverages, coffees, and even hosts its own gelateria with 24 flavours of ice cream.
The Zip Bar is a great choice for anyone looking to soak in a view of the southern coastline and simultaneously witness the zipwire in action. Disclaimer: We Love Brighton recommends you try the zipwire before filling up on burgers, ice cream, beer, and coffee…
Website: https://brightonzip.com/bar-and-kitchen/
Address: Madeira Dr, Brighton BN2 1TB
