The Pump House Brighton.
You can have too much of a good thing, and if you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Brighton Lanes, The Pump House Brighton is certainly just the place. After the full-on Lanes experience this was just the right place for a restorative drink and a bite to eat.
Table of Contents
Key Info
As usual on these reviews, we were not paid to do it, we paid for our own food and drink out of our own pockets and the staff had no idea we were reviewing! Therefore, I feel our review is exactly as you would experience when visiting the pub.
Part of the L shaped bar – The Pump House Brighton
The Pump House Brighton dates from at least 1776 and probably much earlier after all this is one of the oldest parts of Brighton. The Lanes where the Pump House is situated probably were in existence much earlier to the time when Brighton was a fishing village. The lanes started being developed around the late 16th and early 17th century. The Pump House Brighton is named after a pump house that took water from the sea to the local baths. As with all history, while not quite in the Henry Ford camp, dates can be sketchy due to lack of reliable records.
Inside The Pump House Brighton
A lot of wood panelling you would kind of expect to see in a Gentleman’s Club gave the Pump House an authentically pleasing air. It felt very much a Georgian Style, which given Brighton’s Royal connections, was not surprising. Pleasingly, it felt unique, not like the decor of all those chain pubs. And, if I am honest, a bit ‘lived in’. Which I like. It lends a bit of character.
One of the features I liked was the ability to sit in the pub and watch the world go by. The very large window we were near made this a joy. It’s one of my pleasures in life, toying with a drink and people watching!
Watching the world go by – Pump House Brighton
The food at the Pump House Brighton
As well as the standard menu, keep an eye out for the specials board. Considering this was Brighton, I found the prices to be very good, with my Sausage and Mash at £9.95. Longtime readers will notice a change this year! I am now having Sausage and Mash at all the pubs I can rather than the fish and chips of previous years. I try to keep the meal choice consistent as a benchmark. However, it’s not always possible, especially when I see a favourite or unusual dish!
It was also good to see that 50p from each Ocean Fish and Chips goes to the RNLI. The pump house does a lot of fish and its speciality fish menu can be found here.
Pump House Brighton – Conclusions
I liked the Pump House Brighton for its honesty and the fact it had no pretentions. I mean, It didn’t serve its food on shovels or slate. While there is a place for that, it’s just not here. The food was reasonably priced and I could get a glass of Rioja. Which, like the Swiss Flag, was a big plus for me.
Exterior – Pump House Brighton
With its history and authentic feel, it’s a welcome addition to my list of Historic Pubs of Sussex. Also, it scores a solid 4 out of 5 on TripAdvisor.
A glass of Rioja – Swiss Flag!
OPENING HOURS
Monday 11 am – 11 pm
Tuesday 11 am – 11 pm
Wednesday 11 am – 11 pm
Thursday 11 am – 11 pm
Friday 11 am-Midnight
Saturday 10 am-Midnight
Sunday 10 am – 10.30pm
Call The Pump House on 01273 827421.
Google Maps – Click on the map for Directions
The Pump House Brighton
Address;
The Pump House Brighton
46 Market Street,
Brighton,
East Sussex,
BN1 1HH
Because it is Brighton, there is pretty much zero parking. If you are arriving by car, park in a multi-story but be prepared for sizeable parking charges!
If you are a visitor to Britain and you are looking for a handle on the sometimes rum and uncanny seaside town experience, see my guide here.
The British seaside experience can be a bit weird to the uninitiated!
To reiterate, I don’t do paid reviews and I only include pubs that have something notable about them. However, If you know a pub that you think would make a good addition to this list, for historical or quirky reasons, leave a comment below in the ‘Post a Comment‘ section right at the bottom of the page. If it looks interesting, I will do one of my stealth visits and the review will be posted here. Not every pub makes the cut – perhaps three quarters do for various reasons. And the various reasons for a pub not making the cut are; bad service, bad food, bad experience and just plain boring..!
For the rest of my Historic Pubs of Sussex list, see below
The Duke of Cumberland Arms – Henley
All prices correct at time of writing.
If you are looking for Historic Pubs in Surrey, click here.
All prices correct at the time of writing.
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The Pump House Brighton – Historic Pubs of Sussex