Brighton is a seaside resort that offers more than the beach, shops, and other attractions. When the sun sets, it becomes the playground of adults in the area. Brighton boasts a diverse culture with a great deal of energy. Locals consider the nightlife to be second to none.
The area offers many options for adults who enjoy the nightlife, including cocktail lounges, rooftop bars, casinos, music venues, pool halls, and more.
Here’s your curated guide to Brighton’s most stylish nightspots for drinks, games, and live entertainment.
Classy Cocktail Bars & Rooftop Lounges
There are several must-hit spots in Brighton, including Bohemia, The Plotting Parlour, and Merkaba.
If you’re looking for a good romantic date spot, Bohemia is the place to go. It also offers pre-party drinks. Bohemia can be found on Meeting House Lane, a location that is also home to an award-winning cocktail bar. It’s also known for serving great fresh food, offering signature cocktails, and featuring skilled bartenders.
Over on Lower Gardner Street, you’ll find The Plotting Parlour. It has a bit of a speakeasy vibe and theatrically themed cocktails in what can only be described as an intimate setting.
Then, over Jubilee Street, Merkaba is inside the My Brighton Hotel. It won the “Best Hotel Bar” award in 2019. It features one of the largest cocktail bars, offering seasonal drinks, live DJs, live jazz, and more, particularly on weekends.
Due to the atmosphere and creative drink options, Merkaba is a great spot for all occasions, be it a girls’ night out or a date.
Gaming Hotspots: From Arcade Bars to Casinos
After dark, you’ll find many options for games of all kinds. There’s Loading Brighton, a retro arcade bar, CRAFT Arcade Bar in North Laine, and more.
At CRAFT Arcade Bar, you’ll find a selection of classic arcade and console games paired with craft beer and cocktails.
As for casino gaming, options are available for both high rollers and novices.
The Rendezvous Casino is a prime spot with slot machines, roulette terminals, live blackjack tables, three-card poker, and a poker room.
Additionally, there’s the Grosvenor Casino with a massive casino floor, bar, and restaurants. These places have been tested by websites like Gambling.com who offer a wide range of reviews and other resources so we feel that its a solid recommendation.
Live Music & Performance Spaces
If you’re looking for live music, Brighton has that, too, with venues such as Concorde 2, Brighton Dome, and Komedia.
Concorde 2 is located on Madeira Drive and is a hotspot for indie music. It holds tight-knit gigs for up-and-coming bands, DJs, and bigger-name acts, and its maximum capacity is about 600.
Up the West Pier is the Brighton Dome, a historic concert hall hosting orchestral concerts, dance performances, and more.
Komedia on Gardner Street offers a comedy and music club—more than 700 shows per year feature comedy, jazz, cabaret, and other genres.
As a tip, there are typically free entry nights or open mics at venues such as The Actors Pub and The Brunswick.
Also, if you’re in town in July, there’s the On the Beach music festival which runs across two separate weekends.
Late-Night Social Venues with Activities
There are many to choose from for late-night bars or other venues with activities. Among them are The Tempest Inn and Hobgoblin.
Tempest Inn features a dozen interconnected rooms that were once part of a former nightclub. It offers great views of the sea, but it also has pool tables and an atmosphere that carries into the early morning hours, offering a perhaps more niche experience.
Gardner Street has Hobgoblin, a pub with a friendly atmosphere that has multiple pool tables, dart boards, arcade games in the basement, and more.
For something like darts, The Cricketers could be the place for you. Bar Salem has games like foosball.
Players Brighton is a bit more rowdy, with pool tables, darts, table tennis, axe throwing, and rage rooms (the rage rooms close at 11 p.m.).
As you can see, Brighton has something for everyone.
Where to Grab a Bite Late at Night
All of these activities could build up an appetite. There are many places for a late-night burger, kebabs, pizzas, and more. The Lanes and North Laine have several spots open past midnight, including Perfect Pizza of Gypsy Bar. After all, nothing beats a slice after three rounds of blackjack, right?
There’s also Burger Brothers and Five Guys for burgers.
During the summer, you may even find food trucks around the area with tacos and more running until 2 am.
Wrap-up: Plan Your Ideal Brighton Night Out
For a whole night of fun, you’ll want to find a place for drinks, games, music, and food.
You could start at Merkaba for some unique seasonal drinks, followed by Players Brighton for a game of darts or throwing some axes. Consider a casino like The Rendezvous Casino if those aren’t your speed. From there, multiple music venues depend on your interest, but Concorde 2 is a great place to see some up-and-coming bands.
To cap things off, you’re probably quite hungry, and Burger Brothers is just the spot for you.
This loop of some pre-party drinks, games, music, and food can make for an unforgettable night out with friends.
When participating in casino games, remember always to play responsibly and adhere to the age restriction 18+.
Also, ensure you have a safe way to get back home or wherever you’re staying.
When it’s all said and done, leave Brighton knowing you soaked up as much of it as possible, from the daytime shops and beaches to the second-to-none nightlife.
