Traditional pubDitchling Road
The Bat and Ball
Infamous dive pub - cheap, rough, weirdly loved by locals
9.2/10
Local score
No. 10 of 212 pubs & bars on r/brighton, from 92 locals across 114 threads.
73% would send a mate. Locals say it’s got better recently.
This Ditchling Road pub gets nominated repeatedly as Brighton's 'worst' or 'roughest', and one commenter warns it's a rough old man's pub that previously hosted far-right (BNP) meetings, so recommendations should be taken with a pinch of salt. Despite that it has a genuine cult following: cheap, lets you bring your own Greggs in, gives free chips if you shout the pub's catchphrase, and gets called a 'fab crowd' for a casual pint.
- Go for
- A cheap, rough-edged pint with a cult following
- Heads up
- Rough reputation; previously hosted far-right (BNP) meetings, per one review
What locals say
A few drinks with the fab crowd at The Bat and Ball followed by a slow walk through the Level you never know what you'll come…
Mate you want to get yourself down The Bat and Ball for the daytime for a drink and a laugh, then head over for a spot of karaoke and some Jaggerbombs at The Bulldog.
Because it never happened. The Northern star up road was like that but it's long closed. Bat and ball is very cheap and run by a lesbian.
…in focus with a female identifying skew. Charles Street is amongst the most lesbian friendly of the big mainstream bars on the 'gay village' seafront, meanwhile. I’m not au fait with Arcobaleno or Bottoms Rest but they sound like possible options. PS Take the Bat & Ball recommendation with a pinch of salt. That’s a rough old man’s pub which has previously openly hosted far-right (BNP etc) meetings. It’s possibly the last pub/bar in Brighton where a lesbian couple would feel comfortable!
Ranked from 21,200 r/brighton comments. Summaries are written by AI from what locals said; quotes are word for word. Not affiliated with Reddit. Back to the guide