Music pubNorth Gardens

Caxton Arms

Darts, board games and free comedy every Wednesday

5.7/10

Local score

No. 79 of 212 pubs & bars on r/brighton, from 43 locals across 54 threads.

98% would send a mate. Still recommended in 2026.

A well-liked pub near the station with its own games room (darts, board games) and a genuinely alternative free comedy night, 'Branding Needs Work,' every Wednesday in the basement. Locals praise the craft beer, decent match-day food, a function room that's hosted 30ths and 40-person parties without big hire fees, and a calmer atmosphere than rowdier football pubs nearby.

Go for
Board games, darts and free comedy nights

What locals say

We had a friend’s 30th in the function room at the Caxton Arms, we brought our own painting/crafts supplies lol, lots of cake and played our own music. The room has its own little bar and the staff were so great, even helped tidy up a little (we did the rest). Can’t remember what the minimum spend on the bar was but we easily reached it. Think the room hire…
u/thosecukes, 20245 upvotes“Best function rooms in Brighton that let you play music and bring a birthday cake?”
…with an ice cream or some chips and fight off the seagulls, play pool/snooker at Castle St or a p laser quest, table tennis at the club in Kemptown or on the public tables at seafront by West Pier, try cocktail-making classes, do yoga, Volks electric railway, play Toads at Caxton Arms/UnBarred, picnic on the beach or the parks like Queen's Park, have some ket at The Level. Literally just wander around and see what you see. Best way to get to know the city.
u/BenisDDD69, 202412 upvotes“Fun date ideas?”
Pubs that show the football in central Brighton that either I or friends have been to: Calmer pubs: The Edinburgh Caxton Arms Normal: New Unity Fiddlers Elbow The Duke of Wellington Rowdier pubs: The black horse The Railway belle The font Avoid: King and queen With any of them worth asking what game they are showing as there is a strong arsenal fanbase in the south so more likely they will be showing that. Also for some…
u/upsidedownies, 20244 upvotes“Nice bars to watch Real Madrid vs Man City”
Worth mentioning - Called the Caxton Arms for a birthday party after seeing the passionate endorsement here. They charge a £100 hire fee plus a deposit of £100. £200 to give \~12 people one drink is unreasonably steep.
u/virgult, 20241 upvotes“Best function rooms in Brighton that let you play music and bring a birthday cake?”

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