Music pubDitchling Road

The Caroline of Brunswick

Brighton's alternative rock and metal local, with comedy nights

9.3/10

Local score · A local favourite

No. 7 of 212 pubs & bars on r/brighton, from 113 locals across 104 threads.

91% would send a mate. Still recommended in 2026.

The go-to pub by the Level for rock, metal and the alt crowd, loved for its jukebox, the Cerberus statue over the bar, and a strong run of comedy nights (including during Fringe). It's a proper scruffy dive-bar look and feel — one person calls it dirty with the worst pool table around — but regulars say that's exactly the charm.

Go for: Metal/rock fans, pool, and comedy nights
Heads up: Dive-bar grubbiness and a famously rough pool table

What locals say

The Caroline of brunswick by the level plays only rock/metal and as a bonus has a massive cerberus above the bar. Oh they also do comedy nights which are really good. Club wise, closest thing is probably Apocalypse at Charles Street tap. It's a bit hit and miss depending on what your musical preferences are but it's…

u/Miss_Zelda, 202122 upvotes“Is there some sort of a community for metal in Brighton?”

Someone already said Caroline of Brunswick, but I'll say it also - big cerebrus sculpture at the entrance, times I've been they've either had a metal/alternative playlist or a jukebox where people are encouraged to play metal/punk/hardcore. The Pipeline in the Lanes might be worth checking out, quite often have punk/hardcore/similar…

u/karmakollapse, 202214 upvotes“Alternative bars and shops in Brighton”

I've just arrived in Brighton from the North (ok, 6 months ago now), so also looking for hidden secrets! Saying that, I have found "Cabaret Lab" at the Caroline of Brunswick to always a good time (plus it's a Free/Pay What You Want show, which is a plus)! I think the next one is on April 7th!

u/SheepBeard, 202412 upvotes“Must do's before leaving Brighton”

Caroline of Brunswick is a bit ropey, but on a football night The Hollingbury is grim. Finally the pub that preceded the Preston Brewery Tap was truly dire and somehow had a late license before being closed by police and taken over by nice folks.

u/quentinnuk, 20212 upvotes“What's the worst pub in Brighton?”

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