Traditional pubTrafalgar Street

Great Eastern

Trafalgar Street institution with cheap cask ale and chaos

9.8/10

Local score · A local favourite

No. 3 of 212 pubs & bars on r/brighton, from 77 locals across 79 threads.

95% would send a mate. Still recommended in 2026.

The Great Eastern on Trafalgar Street comes up again and again as one of Brighton's best-loved pubs - a proper, no-frills boozer with cheap cask ale, live DJs, good lighting and friendly staff, and no kitchen (though you can bring your own food from nearby Sea Breeze or La Choza). It's lovely and quiet in the daytime but gets noticeably lairy in the evenings, and regulars half-jokingly beg people not to tell anyone about it.

Go for: A proper no-frills pint and good music
Heads up: Gets lairy and rowdy in the evenings

What locals say

Both the Independent Taproom (Hannover) and the Rook (just off Western Road) have cask ale pints for £3.50 Monday to Wednesday. The Great Eastern also has "cask club" which I think is £4.20ish a pint 12-4 Monday to Thursday. Mad Dog Taproom 5-7 everyday all pints £5.50 (which isn't much off but their beer tends towards pricey craft stuff).

u/Englishtwerkingclass, 202620 upvotes“Happy Hour Again?”

Was waiting for this to come up. I'm not sure there is one. The Great Eastern seems pretty essential, and people love The Basketmakers, but I think I agree with erocdrahs that The Prince Albert probably fits the…

u/mrhippoj, 202375 upvotes“Saw this on a few other subreddits - what would be Brighton’s signature pub?”

I'd heartily recommend going to the AMAZING Sea Breeze fish and chip shop in Southover St then mooching to the equally excellent Great Eastern pub and enjoy them there as it doesn't have a kitchen and allows you to bring your own food there. Best of both worlds.

u/Leigh_Voff, 202416 upvotes“Good pub fish and chips?”

Yeah, don’t tell anyone but The Great Eastern is five minutes from the station and a great place to spend a few hours. A proper pub, no food, great music, games, good lighting, friendly staff. A burrito from La Choza (nearby) is a good way to round off the evening.

u/magicbullets, 202314 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