Home » Best of Brighton » 8 Student-Friendly Pubs and Bars in Brighton

8 Student-Friendly Pubs and Bars in Brighton

Brighton is highly popular among students, being home to major universities such as Sussex, Brighton, BIMM, and many others. It’s also one of the most expensive cities in the UK, which isn’t ideal on a student budget. Thankfully, some of Brighton’s much-loved have adapted to the student population. These are the pubs and bars that students in Brighton find the most affordable and love the most.

Top Bars for Students in Brighton: Where to Drink and Socialise

The MesmeristLively and popular bar offering cocktails and impressive student deals every Monday.
ShuffleQuirky cocktail bar with a jukebox and great deals all week long.
HobgoblinIconic pub near London Road with a huge beer garden and midweek student deals.
The World’s EndLaines’ pub with an upstairs games arcade and food.
The Hare & HoundsMuch-loved student pub with great deals and a Thai kitchen.
Mash TunA lively pub in the heart of Brighton with midweek student deals and regular DJ nights.
The Hop PolesAlternative late-night pub near the seafront with a quirky beer garden.
The Argyle ArmsCosy backstreet pub with a friendly atmosphere and student discounts throughout the week.

The Mesmerist

Photo credits: WeLoveBrighton.com

The Mesmerist, situated only moments from the seafront, is an iconic Brighton pub. With four bars over three floors, including a charming rooftop bar, this is a thriving and well-loved pub with lots to offer. They do multiple events every week, including live music and DJ nights, so you’ll have something to enjoy whatever night you visit.

What’s more, The Mesmerist offers a variety of Student and Happy Hour deals so you can enjoy your night on a budget. On Mondays, their designated Student Night, a single rum/vodka & mixer is only £3, and you can get 3 for the price of 2 on tequila and Cazcabel shots, from 5 pm to close. Mondays are also their open decks night on the roof terrace if you fancy showing off your DJ skills, making it one of the most unique and possibly best student nights in the city.

From Monday to Thursday, you can also enjoy their Happy Hour deals (lasting 5-10 pm) that offer deals on select draught beers, ciders, IPA, house wine, and 2 for £15 on selected cocktails. The Mesmerist’s midweek deals are not to be missed, so be sure to check them out.

Address: 1-3 Prince Albert Street, Brighton, BN1 1HE

Website: https://www.mesmerist.pub

Shuffle Bar

Photo credits: WeLoveBrighton.com

This quirky little cocktail bar is well and truly unlike any other. With a huge catalogue of songs to choose from, customers can choose whatever music they want from their phones. However, this isn’t the only reason Shuffle is so well-known in Brighton. They have an enormous cocktail menu, plus impressive deals on them for every day that they’re open.

Monday-Thursday you can get 2 for 1 cocktails open til close, on Friday all of their cocktails are £6.20 all day, and on Saturday this price is available between 5-7 pm. Shuffle Bar offers wonderful cocktails for a great price at almost all times, making it one of the best bars in the city to visit on a student budget.

Address: 27 York Place, Brighton, BN1 4GU

Website: https://www.theshufflebar.co.uk

Hobgoblin

Photo credits: Hobgoblin

Hobgoblin is highly popular with the students of Brighton, and it’s easy to see why. They have great student drinks deals available throughout the week; ‘Hob Mondays’, their designated student night, allows students to get fantastic discounts on selected beers, wines, spirits, and shots, and they also have Happy Hour deals at select times Tuesday-Thursday.

Hobgoblin has a cosy, dimly-lit interior that offers the perfect atmosphere for a winter night or dates, as well as a huge beer garden, equipped with heaters, which makes it a great setting for a pint all year long. They have DJ nights on Friday & Saturday and even an escape room available for bookings, so there’s always something different to enjoy at Hobgoblin.

Address: 31 York Place, Brighton, BN1 4GU

Website: http://www.hobgoblin.pub

The World’s End

Photo credits: The Worlds End

Situated towards the top of London Road, The World’s End is another popular student pub. As a part of the Brighton-based Laines company, they host a number of draught beers that are mainly only found in Brighton and Hove such as Fader and Mangolicious, as well as a tasty food menu.

They also offer student discounts on selected draught beers, ciders, wine, shots, and spirit & mixer combos. What makes The World’s End truly unique, however, is the upstairs arcade. Filled with vintage arcade games and a giant Scalextric track, this truly sets the World’s End apart from the other pubs in Brighton and makes it a fantastic & affordable place for a night out.

Address: 60-61 London Road, Brighton, BN1 4JE

Website: https://www.worldsend.pub

The Hare & Hounds

Photo credits: Hare and Hounds

Another much-loved London Road pub, the Hare & Hounds has it all. Their student nights on Wednesdays mean you can get a Prahva for £3.50, a shot of Tuaca for £2.49, and a number of other drinks for shockingly low prices.

They have a wonderful green beer garden, complete with heaters in every booth for the winter months, a cosy & intimate interior that’s perfect for date nights, and a Thai kitchen that has garnered rave reviews from many a customer.

Hosting frequent events, such as live music and sports screenings, and becoming a hub of activity at weekends, The Hare & Hounds is not one to be missed.

Address: 75 London Road, Brighton, BN1 4JF

Website: http://www.thehareandhounds.pub

Mash Tun

Photo credits: WeLoveBrighton.com

Proclaiming itself to be “Brighton’s best student pub”, Mash Tun is well known for being a lively and atmospheric venue whatever night you choose to visit. By day, its outdoor terrace functions as a sun trap where you can soak up the rays in warmer months and enjoy food from the popular restaurant Social Board. It’s the nighttimes, however, that give Mash its notoriety.

Open until 2 am Sunday-Wednesday and till 3 am Thursday-Saturday, Mash’s frequent DJ nights with varying themes have earned it the reputation of being one of the best pubs in all of Brighton.

Furthermore, their Wednesday student deals, where you can get a pint for as little as £4.50 and 3 for 2 on Tuaca shots, mean you can enjoy the best that Brighton nightlife has to offer without breaking the bank. Mash is possibly one of Brighton’s best pubs with lots to offer, so make sure to visit soon.

Address: 1 Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1UE

Website: https://www.mashtun.pub

The Hop Poles

Photo credits: Hop Poles

This quirky pub only moments from the seafront is very popular among Brighton’s students and upon visiting, it won’t be hard to see why. With a retro-inspired interior, a huge range of draught beers, wines, and spirits available, and a heated beer garden, the Hop Poles feels authentically ‘Brighton’.

Open till 2 am Monday-Saturday, it’s the perfect place for a chill pint, pre-drinks before a big club night, or for your whole night out. Whatever the occasion, you’re sure to love Hop Poles from your very first visit.

Address: 13 Middle Street, Brighton, BN1 1AL

Website: https://hoppoles.pub

The Argyle Arms

Photo credits: Argyle Arms

This wonderful backstreet pub is perfect for anyone on a student budget. With a cosy interior reminiscent of a classic country pub and friendly bar staff, The Argyle Arms is a welcoming environment where you’re sure to enjoy your night.

They offer student deals all week long at any time on cocktails, beers, ciders, wines, shots, and spirits, so no matter what, you can enjoy a drink in this beautiful pub for less.

Address: 32 Argyle Road, Brighton, BN1 4QB

Website: https://theargylepub.co.uk

Mae Davage

Mae joined We Love Brighton in July 2023 as she finished her second year of a Film Studies degree. As she heads into my final year, she is excited for the opportunity to be able to write about the city she's called home for the past three years and gain experience with writing professionally, as this is something she would love to pursue after graduating.