Late-night barBlack Lion Street

The Black Lion

Late-night DJs, dancing, and a proper Sunday roast

8.0/10

Local score

No. 32 of 212 pubs & bars on r/brighton, from 39 locals across 40 threads.

82% would send a mate. Still recommended in 2026.

Redditors rate it as one of Brighton's liveliest late-night pubs, open till 2-3am with DJs and dancing after 9pm, plus a well-regarded Sunday roast. It's a solid cheap date spot but gets very busy on weekends, and one drinker was stung for £7 for half a mulled cider.

Go for: Late-night drinks, dancing, and a good roast
Heads up: Can be pricey — e.g. £7 for a mulled cider

What locals say

Stay away from West Street and you'll be golden. I'm a 40 something ex-party head who hails from around here. Wetherspoons etc are definitely not my thing. With that, The Black Lion is always lively: https://goo.gl/maps/bcAT6NG9Bu92 Hope and Ruin on Queens Road: https://goo.gl/maps/kyW1EpCaZ9s Dead Wax Social: https://goo.gl/maps/Dktg6AH3R9x Mash Tun, a personal favourite: https://goo.gl/maps/MekBhMidWf52 The Eagle and the Basket Makers, right next to each other:…

u/MoifMurphy, 201826 upvotes“Recommend me some bars for my friends stag please.....?”

…is The Joker at Preston Circus (this has come from extensive “research” in the field of chicken parts eating). When it comes to fish & chips the least worst option is Bankers in Hove (I’ve not found a decent chip shop anywhere in the south of England). Two bonus meals: The Black Lion does and corking roast and you have to get a curry from Chilli Pickle.

u/Capitanodread, 202312 upvotes“Food”

…Hall usually has live music outside and OhSo right by the pier is good too. I’d recommend heading to the Pier and spending time mucking about on the penny machines and rides. It’s worth having a mooch around the South Lanes area. There are lots of cute pubs around there - Black Lion, Hop Poles, Mesmerist all good, and Bohemia does ridiculous smoking cocktails that are fun. There are also just some cute cobbled streets that are nice to wander round. The North Laine area is also good for a range of quirky independent shops, cafes, pubs (I like the White Rabbit, William IV, The Prince…

u/PerpetualCheer, 20218 upvotes“First visit”

The Cricketers is the only one here with any personality. As mentioned above the Pull and Pump is long gone and the fun pub in its place is a divisive replacement. I have never understood the popularity of the Black Lion. Interesting old building but the interior is hideous.

u/Krizzlin, 20232 upvotes“Saw this on a few other subreddits - what would be Brighton’s signature pub?”

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