The Roundhill Brighton: Why You’ll Love It
The Roundhill has a new chapter, and it is one of the most exciting things to happen to this corner of Brighton in years. Owned and led by award-winning chef Howie, the Brighton pub has been reclaimed as a genuine neighbourhood local, a proper boozer first and a seriously good kitchen second. This is a pub with food, not a restaurant that happens to serve drinks, and that distinction shapes everything about the place. The Roundhill sits on Ditchling Road, just a short walk from Preston Circus, up from the Level and London Road and down from the Fiveways neighbourhood.
For those who know Food by Howie, the name already carries considerable weight. Howie is the Brighton-born chef behind the food at The Greenhouse in Hove, a venue that has become one of the most talked-about in Brighton and Hove. At The Roundhill, he is not just the chef, he is the proprietor, landlord and driving force behind every aspect of the operation. The result is a neighbourhood pub that punches well above its weight in both food and drink, without ever losing sight of what a great local should feel like.
A Proper Brighton Local
Pull up a stool at The Roundhill and it is immediately clear what Howie is going for. Large windows flood the room with natural light, there is genuine warmth in the welcome, and the hum of the place feels lived-in and relaxed. This is somewhere you come to stay a while, whether that means a swift pint after work on a Tuesday evening or a long Sunday afternoon that drifts from lunch into a third round of cocktails.
The Roundhill sits on Ditchling Road in the heart of the Roundhill community, a residential pocket of Brighton that has long supported independent businesses. Howie, who grew up in the city with family connections to both the historic Jolly Brewers and Brighton Open Market, understands this neighbourhood and what it needs. His ambition is to bring back the great British local, and on the evidence of what The Roundhill has become, he is doing exactly that.
Families are genuinely welcome here, not just tolerated. Children eat free on Saturdays runs through the school holidays. Dogs are welcome too, which in Brighton is always a mark of a pub that has its priorities right.
100% Plant-Based, 100% Committed
The Roundhill kitchen is entirely plant-based, and Howie runs it with the same exacting standards he applies everywhere he cooks. The menu reads like confident, modern British pub food because that is exactly what it is, built on great produce, bold seasoning and thirty-plus years of professional kitchen experience. There are no half-measures here and no sense that the plant-based element is a constraint. It is simply how the kitchen cooks, and it cooks very well.
Expect comforting pub classics reimagined with real skill alongside seasonal small plates, sharing snacks and lighter dishes that shift with what is fresh and good. The Sunday roast, available through the winter months, has become one of the most talked-about plant-based roasts in Brighton, and the Roundhill kitchen does not shy away from a proper Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and all the trimmings. Friday and Saturday lunches are already available, with plans well advanced to expand into a six-day-a-week deli service during afternoon hours, giving the neighbourhood something genuinely useful and delicious beyond the main meal times.
Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian or simply someone who wants excellent pub food and does not much mind how it is made, The Roundhill kitchen has something for you.
What to Drink
The bar deserves its own mention. Seven rotating craft taps and two cask lines draw from some of the best independent breweries in the region, including Abyss Brewery, UnBarred Brewery and Beak Brewery, with the selection changing week by week. The wine list, supplied by Seven Cellars, leans into natural, organic and orange wines alongside reliable classics, and the cocktail menu is made properly, with house syrups, seasonal garnishes and genuine care behind the bar. Alcohol-free options, gluten-free beers, speciality coffees and premium soft drinks round out one of the most considered independent drinks selections in this part of Brighton.
Events, Community and the Calendar of a Proper Local
Throughout the week The Roundhill fills its calendar with the kind of events that remind you what neighbourhood pubs are for. Regular Burger Club nights, Pasta and Wine evenings, a weekly quiz, Bring Your Own Vinyl Fridays and live sport on the big screen keep the community coming through the door. This is a pub that earns its place in the neighbourhood.
The Essentails at The Roundhill
- Style: Neighbourhood pub with a 100% plant-based kitchen, owned and led by Food by Howie
- Best for: After-work pints, family meals, Sunday lunch, quiz nights, live sport, casual weekday dining
- Standout dishes: Plant-based Sunday roast, seasonal small plates, Burger Club specials
- Family friendly: Yes, children eat free Saturdays during holidays, highchairs available
- Dog friendly: Yes. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
- Alfresco: Outside seating with heaters and awnings
- Private hire: Available for up to 80 standing, 30 seated
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday 4pm to 10pm, Friday to Saturday 12pm to 11pm, Sunday 12pm to 10pm
- Kitchen hours: Tuesday to Thursday 5pm to 9pm, Friday to Saturday 12pm to 10pm, Sunday 12pm to 7pm
Reviews
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Getting There
We tried the Sunday lunch after they won the BRAVO for best Sunday lunch, we both had the minted seitan ‘lamb’. I’ve not eaten a lamb ever, so I can’t testify to its authenticity, but the flavours, textures and proportion of the roast were amazing and the best vegan Yorkshire pud I’ve had. The BRAVO is a well-earned award for this super friendly and welcoming 100% vegan pub.
I went with a small group of friends for a casual Monday evening meal. Having been a couple of years ago I can say The Roundhill has upped their game considerably. I’d consider this one of the best vegan places to eat in Brighton at the moment.
I ordered “Duck” in Filo and Corn Ribs. My friend had Melon “Salmon” Vheviche and Korean “chicken”. These are advertised as being either a starter, or suitable to order with other small plates to share. Our third member had the Poke Bowl, which is a main.
We were all blown away by the awesome food, the good portion sizes and the value for money.
The corn ribs were wonderfully presented, it’s a shame to describe it here, as it feels like food spoilers. If you like a little drama with your food, this is definitely the way to go. The Filo duck was tasty and so clever. As a vegan who misses meat, to have both the flavour and texture that reminds me so much of real duck, was an absolute winner. It has that melting fat texture and meaty chewiness that’s very, very hard to find. The Melon salmon is equally genius, replicating the texture and flavour so perfectly, that I wish I had ordered it too. The poke bowl was a very generous portion, it’s always good when the bowl is bigger than your face. To top this all off, the standard of presentation rivals that of far more pricey vegan restaurants in Brighton. It’s fantastic to have vegan food that isn’t all centred around mock meats and uses fresh, quality ingredients to produce something truly stunning.
The customer service was excellent and friendly. They were very accommodating to us all, even while faffing about which beers to have. The staff are clearly knowledgeable about all aspects of the menu, and are helpful with it.
All of this is high praise considering the overall quality of vegan food in Brighton.
Absolutely my new favourite vegan in all of Brighton. And it should be yours too.
Outstanding turnaround for this venue and it is creating a real buzz in the vegan community.