GastropubKensington Gardens
The White Rabbit
North Laine local famous for roasts and refurb rows
6.1/10
Local score
No. 71 of 212 pubs & bars on r/brighton, from 35 locals across 33 threads.
88% would send a mate. Some say it’s gone downhill lately.
Regulars rate the Sunday roast highly and love sitting outside to watch the world go by in the Lanes, with a Monday quiz and Wednesday open mic on offer. Recent Laine's-led refurbishments have split opinion, with several saying each redo made it worse, and multiple people complain staff can be sullen even when the food is genuinely excellent. Guinness prices have also risen sharply since lockdown.
- Go for
- A proper Sunday roast or people-watching outside
- Heads up
- Recent refurb split opinion; service can be sullen
What locals say
…Pub – great vegan roasts and burgers The Longhouse Café – good for brunch Green Kitchen – good for breakfast and sandwiches What the Pitta – vegan kebabs The Pipeline – burgers Filfil – Falafel wraps and baklava Plant Room – amazing vegan cake The Pond – Bao buns The White Rabbit - loads of vegan options like mac and cheese and banana blossom fish and…
…to add context but didn't want to be too wordy. For me I think it's building first, I need some age and or quirk to it, beer selection next and obviously vibe, not sterile chain atmosphere. But I think you're spot on it's hard to do wrong. For reference my current favourite is the White Rabbit.
…- 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 Albert and The Eagle). Dead Wax Social is one of the bars that stays open latest, I think 2am on Saturdays, so I usually head there when the other pubs close. There’s an indoor vintage market thing called Snoopers Paradise that’s fun to explore – loads of random stuff in there.
The White Rabbit has amazing food (their roasts especially), but the staff and the service is so so bad. They all act like they're above everyone and make it seem like working there is worse than being a Delhi sewer diver. You don't have to be beaming 24/7 but maybe just stop frowning so intensely.
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