Seafront bar1NB
Fortune of War
Ship-shaped seafront pub with free weekend DJs
7.7/10
Local score
No. 42 of 212 pubs & bars on r/brighton, from 69 locals across 65 threads.
94% would send a mate. Still recommended in 2026.
Redditors repeatedly call this Brighton's most iconic pub, loved for its boat-shaped interior, window seats overlooking the beach, and free DJs or bands at weekends drawing a mixed, friendly crowd. It's a favourite for sea views, late-night drinking and dancing, though locals note it gets rammed on sunny days.
- Go for
- Sea views, free live music and dancing
- Heads up
- Gets extremely busy, especially sunny weekends
What locals say
I've always thought Fortune of War, try for a table by the window overlooking the beach. Pub looks like the back of a galleon from the front and a ship shaped bar inside. How can it not be a Brighton icon?
…you head towards the beach) has a load of bars that are popular with students – Popworld, Revolutions, Spoons, Pryzm (although that’s a club so probs not open). If you keep heading down West St to the seafront, you’ll be right in the middle of a bunch of great pubs and bars – Fortune of War and The Tempest are good on a sunny day, Brighton Music 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…
Maybe a dumb question, but best at what? Fortune of war is a great location, Basketmakers is a great traditional pub with good beer, Haus on the Hill is a great little traditional vibe with a great selection but out of the centre (same for the Independent, but that's a cooler vibe with an even bigger selection of craft), The Grays/Geese further down the…
Depends on what sort of vibe you're into but The Fortune of War/Brighton Music Hall in fact anywhere between the piers is rammed during the Summer and not a pleasant experience. Having said that if its live music you're particularly after Brighton Music Hall and The Shelter Hall both have covers bands on stages on the weekend. Bison Beach Bar is a little…
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