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Pubs in Hove Guide
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Pubs in Hove Guide | The Best in 2023
Hove is a pub-lover’s paradise, offering a diverse range of pubs that cater to every taste. From craft beer destinations to award-winning foodie gastro-pubs and charming beer gardens, the variety of Hove pubs is truly incredible.
This local’s guide showcases the hidden treasures and unique character of Hove, a more refined and calmer sibling to Brighton.
Whether you’re seeking a lively atmosphere, somewhere to take your dog or a cosy hideaway, Hove has it all. Don’t miss our recommendations for pubs in Brighton, our round-up of Hove restaurants, and our favorite cafes in Hove to complete your culinary exploration of this vibrant seaside city.
Pubs in Hove
The first in our Pubs in Hove Guide and a great place to start. The Better Half, offers a sophisticated menu of both food and drinks whilst refusing to grow up fully. Sunday roasts are a big deal at The Better Half, but evening and weekday meals are not to be overlooked, with homemade and seasonal produce at their heart. The décor is a clever mash-up of traditional and modern design, you are in a ‘proper pub’, but not an ‘ordinary pub’, regular entertainment and live music keep things lively and fun.
The name itself may be a reference to ‘The Better Half of Hove’, one of the oldest pubs in Hove, or a friendly jibe at that sibling rivalry that exists with Brighton, most likely both. Close to the sea, with a heated rear garden, The Better Half is also a dog-friendly pub in Hove. In 2023, the Better Half Pub unveiled an exciting new addition to their offerings – a delightful cocktail menu.
As far as pubs in Hove go, Hove Place ticks a lot of boxes. The front terrace and Italian themed beer garden at the rear are heated to enjoy year-round. Just a few minutes from the seafront, Hove Place is a great spot to punctuate a summer’s day. With a modern bistro menu available for lunch and dinner every day and a thoroughly raved about Sunday roast at the weekend, the pub’s food serving is well known for its innovation and quality. The pub itself retains a friendly local feel with a changing menu of cask beers from local breweries as well as popular lead brands, a healthy selection of spirits and, as is to be expected from a Bistro pub, an extensive and well thought out wine list.
If you head into Hove (and keep going) a pub well worth a visit is The Railway Inn in Portslade. It’s a friendly local with a large beer garden that’s popular with locals for its weekday deals, offers and friendly atmosphere. The food here is Asian and Mexican street food, you’ll find tacos bumping shoulders with bao buns as well as a decent line in classic burgers. On Sundays they serve a classic Brighton Sunday roast with five meat options and veggie and vegan options, all served with a healthy amount of trimmings. The Railway Inn is child friendly with a dedicated kids’ menu of guaranteed easy pleasers as well as something a bit more adventurous. Dogs are also welcome with biscuits and water bowls to hand.
The George Payne is a spacious and welcoming community pub with lots going on. There are weekday food offers for affordable eats. Plenty of entertainment including open mic nights, quizzes, live music and seasonal parties. The food is modern pub fare, prepared fresh in-house and of course, there are roasts on Sunday. The George Payne has a dedicated kids menu and is dog friendly. One of our favourite pubs in Hove for neighbourhood atmosphere and entertainment.
BRAVO 2018 “Best Pub Grub” winner, The Urchin is about two things, craft beer and shellfish. Whilst it’s conceivably a brave move to pair back so much, the concept itself is not a new one since both ingredients have long been major components of Sussex’s produce. So, before shellfish became the prerogative of City businessmen and local ale got expensive it was simply the standard fare of those who lived nearby, something standard to pubs in Hove. The secret of The Urchin’s success, other than its indefatigable ability to do a simple thing very well, is perhaps in its cashing in on this collective Sussex memory.
The Gather Inn is a pub restaurant on the outskirts of Hove, overlooking the wonderful lagoon on Brighton seafront. Whilst boasting a bright and spacious interior, during the winter months The Gather Inn is also cosy and welcoming, bringing almost a country pub vibe to Brighton’s seafront. Their menu features pub classics such as a Cajun-spiced buttermilk chicken burger as well as more unique dishes including their Morrocan spiced chickpea and butternut squash tagine. Stop by just for a drink in their sea view bar, enjoying a pint while watching the world go by.
Something you also get more of in pubs in Hove is space, and Libation, tucked just off Second Avenue is a bar that maximises on that to its benefit. Entirely glass-fronted the interior is kept light and modern in wood and leather, whilst outside seating spans the full building length, perfect for sundowners. The menu is sourced locally and seasonally for freshness and flavour. Drinks-wise the focus is more toward wine, with a focus on bubbles, and a good champagne list ranging from affordable by the glass to push the boat out bottles.
Paris Wine Bar on Church Road is an intimate yet spacious bar and restaurant that is perfectly suited for relaxed social gatherings. Everything about Paris Wine Bar is designed around a sense of conviviality, deep comfy seating, dark wood interiors and a large secluded outside space that provides plenty of opportunities for taking time out for congenial socialising. The food menu is modern British small plates, ideal for sharing and the wine menu is extensive but accessible. There are also great options on cocktails, beers, ales and spirits.
The Poets Ale and Smokehouse is a community-based Hove pub with lots going on. It’s a popular destination for local workers during the week. It’s a good place to catch most sporting events without being in a ‘sports pub’. It has a large sheltered garden and street side seating. The menu is full of indulgent favourites with an extensive selection of burgers, loaded nachos and fries and kebabs. These are all made with locally sourced ingredients that are butchered and smoked in-house. The Chop Shop Menu is where Head Chef Mark gets to impress meat lovers with his choice of meat and game that’s smoked and cooked for decadent feasting. The Poets is a dog friendly pub and kid friendly with a special kids’ menu of easy pleasers. There are also food deals for weekday affordable eats.
Set on Hove’s stunning stretch of seafront, Rockwater has an unbeatable offering that is unique and impressive. While the multi-venue restaurant may not, at first glance, seem like a pub, we assure you that there is an area worthy of a ‘pub’ title in the mix. The Bar and Kitchen, which is set on the sea-facing side of the venue, is cosy, comfortable and stylish. The food menu offers some great gastro-classics that’ll satisfy the whole family and of course, as every pub should, they have a great selection of beverages to enjoy beside the seaside.
The Stirling Arms is a community pub, tucked away in urban Hove. It’s a welcoming pub with lots going on, one of those places for ‘people in the know’. The menu is Mediterranean grill inspired, as well as serving a roast on Sundays and having a full kids’ menu. It’s a Cask Marque pub, so you know you’ll find a good drop to drink, as well as premium spirits and wines. The Stirling Arms also has four modern and stylish guest rooms. Its calendar is populated with events including a charity quiz and Sunday Jazz sessions. It has a large rear garden that’s an evening summer suntrap and more street-side seating for watching Hove life amble by.
More Hove pubs
A stylish gastropub with a glowing reputation amongst pubs in Hove, The Ginger Pig, part of the Ginger man Group, has a smart bar serving excellent classic cocktails and Fine Sussex sparkling wines. The restaurant is open 7 days a week serving seasonal quality meals from breakfast to dinner, with roasts on Sundays.
Located just off Palmeira Square, with dark green tiling, a dark wood central bar and tinted windows this is one of the old school pubs in Hove that has had an injection of life into it, often with a lively bustling crowd. Head upstairs of a Friday or Saturday evening for a speakeasy-themed bar, intimate and hush with post-war jazz, flowing liquor and an exclusive feel.
The Old Albion
Extensively remodelled after being run for 36 years by a previous landlord, The (new) Old Albion, is one of the growing number of pubs in Hove to undergo a new burst of life, offering fun and quality. Here you will benefit from a list of 40 gins and an ever changing repertoire of guest ales and beers, consistently good roasts and cheery staff.
The Watchmakers Arms
One of a growing number of micropubs to appear in a new trend for simple venues for real beer lovers, although the first of its kind for pubs in Hove. The Watchmaker’s Arms serves its own in-house keg and cask beers under their Beercraft brand as well as a changing selection of reputable, local and independent brewers.
The Southern Belle
Winner of BRAVO 2018 “Best Sunday Roast” award, top 3 for “Dog-Friendly” and making top 20 for “Best Pub Grub”, the people of Hove (and Brighton for that matter) were keen to speak up about the Southern Belle. With a mini theatre, boutique guest rooms and weekday vegan and vegetarian pop up by Jaldee Jaldee, Indian street food, there’s a lot to make a noise about.
Bottom's Rest
Making an appearance in yet more pubs in Hove Jaldee Jaldee will also be popping up in the Bottom’s Rest from August 2018. A tucked away gem of pub with a wonderful local and friendly atmosphere, keeps it simple and traditional with pub quizzes and local ales.
The Gin Tub
With over 100 gins on their menu, The Gin Tub is Hove’s number one destination for lover’s of the UK’s number one spirit. As a neat twist to go with your gin the Gin Tub has a novel take on table service, simply use the vintage phones on each table to dial in your order.
Head to The Farm Tavern for lashings of traditional pub comforts, oodles of charm and a jolly neighbourhood atmosphere. Serving a delicious European small plates menu and scrumptious Sunday roasts, featuring a vegan and children’s option. You can expect a roaring open fire throughout the colder months and a 2 for £12 Margarita deal every Thursday. Head to our events page to see what’s happening at The Farm Tavern, from sea shanty evenings to DJ nights and summer BBQ’s.
More good pubs
Hanover will always be the best neighbourhood for a pub crawl. This list might help you organise yours.
If it is a walk in the countryside followed by a refreshing pint, we hope these Sussex pubs will be able to help you out.
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According to the 2023 BRAVO awards which is an annual public vote with almost 60,000 votes cast. The Better Half and The Urchin from Hove are voted as some of the best Hove pubs in the ‘Best Local’ category. The Eddy near Brighton station won best pub in Brighton. Here are the Top 20 best pubs in Brighton and Hove.
There are plenty of Hove pubs with outside space.
- Hove Place Bistro and Gardens
- The Poets Ale & Smokehouse
- The George Payne
- Paris Wine Bar
- The Stirling Arms
- The Urchin
- Libation
You may also like our Hove alfresco round-up.
Recommended places for a Sunday roast in a Hove pub or a Hove restaurant include:
Dog friendly Hove pubs include:
Dog friendly Hove Cafes include:
Dog friendly Hove restaurants include:
This is our dog friendly guide to Brighton and Hove.
