Open House

Great pub but what on earth has happened to the menu !

Open House is one of my favourite neighbourhood pubs in Brighton. They’re menu changes from time to time but you can always find something you like. Service is good and the atmosphere is relaxed and fun. Prices of drinks are reasonable and their back garden is also nice and spacious.

I just have to comment on how lovely my tuna sandwich was here today!
Amazing granary bread, some of the nicest red onion coleslaw I’ve ever had on the side with some good chunky chips — I was quite upset about being so full that I couldn’t finish it all. I will be having that sandwich again!

I like the pub itself. It has a nice atmosphere and a nice mix of customers. But the staff are not very efficient and can be rude.
Avoid the food at all costs as well. A couple of years ago the menu was great and really tasty and original, but it has gone completely down hill! I ordered a fish and chips, pretty hard to get wrong, but my god they did! First of all the chips weren’t even chips! They were soggy french fries. The fish was bog standard, didn’t taste fresh at all. The «mushy peas» were nice but were essentially peas mashed up with some mint thrown in. Finally, it was SO SALTY! For £9.50, I expected a lot better! A lot of other Brighton pubs do this type of food a lot better!
Overall, I’d say fine for a drink but there is better!

This is one of my favourite pubs in Brighton. It has everything a good pub should offer — Friendly and helpful bar staff, a good and varied food menu with daily changing specials, a good selection of beers, and great space but to fantastic use.
The inside is eclectically decorated with various seating areas and nooks and crannies where you can settle in for the evening. The walls are strewn with interesting artwork. They have two massive areas outside for al fresco dining and drinking, and they have a small room upstairs that has numerous functions, my favourite being in conversion in to an intimate theatre during the Brighton Fringe Festival. I was lucky enough to see two plays here this year, both were amazing.
They host various events during the year. I’m particularly looking forward to the cider festival later this month!
I’ve eaten here twice so far — the first time I had home cooked ham with bubble and squeak, the ham so tender it just fell apart. The second time I went for the burger, so ginormous it was almost impossible to eat (this is no bad thing) but absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection.
While more shabby-​chic than stylish and elegant, this pub really ticks all my boxes for a varied and fun night out.

Not a fav but not bad atmosphere and also has the benefit of a massive beer garden, living very close to this bar tho if you ask me there are plenty of better places near the London Road station like the newly renovated signalman on the other side.
The main reason for the not so good review was the food, although it was okay for a Sunday roast if i served that to freind if they came round to visit I would hope they would be honest and tell me that there was no meat on the bones (literally) and also that my gravy was running.
For a bar yes well not a bad place to sit in the sun and shoot the breeze but not good for food.

Excellent pub. Definitely worth a visit for the grub (esp. desert).

If you’re based around the Ditchling Road area this great pub-​restaurant will probably be your local. If you’re closer to town then it’s well worth the trip. Deep in residential territory at the back of London Road train station, The Open House has the laid-​back quality of a country pub, with none of the hectic pace of city bars. Large, spacious and well decorated, the main barroom gives way to a restaurant seating area to the right, sofas behind and a gorgeous covered smoking deck though the left door. Venture further and there’s an even bigger beer garden — probably one of biggest and best around. The gastro-​kitchen serves great food with a seasonal menu; while upstairs a small function room hosts special music performances, including free jazz sessions — definitely worth a listen if you’re tastes are well into the left-​field.

The Open House is a really nice pub around the back of the London Road station, and well worth a stop-​off if you’re in the area. It’s a bit out of the way, and I wouldn’t recommend going specially (unless something’s on, but more on that later). Still, if you happen to be in the area, or on your way back into town or something, stop off here for a quick one, it’s one of the nicer places for a drink in the area, and very conveniently located for the station, being literally next door.
Inside, the Open House oozes character, with a nice modern pub feel and a huge and often vacant beer garden: heaven. The prices are about average for Brighton: a bit much for this area, but it is a step up from the more studenty places around the corner. Students still seem to frequent it, but more as a one-​off, so they’re a bit better behaved, keeping the atmosphere light and fun.
As well as all that, the Open House is quite well known as a music and theatre venue, with the occasional thing happening here. When I say occasional I do mean once or twice a month, but stuff I’ve seen here has always been pleasant and relaxed, thanks to the great atmosphere. I’m not sure if they’re in the process of building up their profile with more stuff on an ongoing basis or want to keep it like this, but I like it either way: it’s generally very chilled.
The main issue here is location: it’s far too far out to bother going all the way to from town or most of the Lewes Road area, which means it’s often quite quiet. Still, if you’re in the area it’s definitely my pub of choice, I just wouldn’t recommend going out of your way: it isn’t brilliant enough to warrant a 20 minute walk, or a train fare.

Hidden behind London Road train station, the Open House is a fantastic example of the Brighton gastropub scene. An impressive locally sourced food menu is at the heart of the pub’s appeal. Having sampled the menu, I would recommend it to anybody.
I plucked for a burger and pecan tart that left me feeling extremely satisfied, if not round. The service was good, with staff always happy to help recommend options.
Beyond this, the tasteful décor and dare I say, ‘ambiance’ makes Open House the type of pub that can easily consume your evening, as one drink becomes four.
I would recommend the Open House to anybody, the addition of the expansive beer garden provides a brilliant alternative to the busier Brighton pubs in the lanes.

The Open House is a really unique large pub with artsy almost Moroccan décor. The walls are donned with artwork that can be purchased and they have a great decking area with a huge brass lantern thing.
Its really popular with student as its right next to London Road Station and the train back from the two campuses. Sunday roast are also popular with everyone, so get there early. Definately worth the trek out of town,

I’ve spent quite a lot of time in the Open House, well sort of… most of it is spent outside in the garden area, which extended even further than I first thought.
I’m not too keen on being inside the actual pub and would agree with Eric and the staff do seem to think they are straight out of an 80’s Brat Pack movie, keeping it real and staying cool.
No-​one I know seems to drink here any other time of year apart from the summer, which is fine by me. Follow your nose, try and get a drink and head outside. The sun and company will always outweigh any pseudo entertainment coming from inside.

Probably the first pub I started frequenting when I first moved to Brighton all those years ago, and it’s still going strong. Unlike many ‘station’ pubs, the Open House is a classy, busy affair (not a ‘grubby pint before the train leaves’ kind of place).
Inside there is a wide bar, and a mixture of big sofas and sensible chairs. For the real ale afficionados, they generally have Harveys on draught. On weekend evenings the place is generally very busy with drinkers, and its location means its walkable from the Fiveways, Level, London Road and Preston Park areas — so drawing a good social mix of studenty types, families and couples.
As well as drinking, the Open House is well known for its food, and the Sunday roasts in particular are good quality and popular (they run out early!). Other dishes tend often to include some locally sourced, fresh ingredients.
One of the biggest draws here though, is the garden. Sheltered and good sized, this is one of the very few proper pub gardens in central Brighton.

When I first visited this pub a few years ago, I wasn’t convinced… it felt a bit characterless. Oh, how the tide has turned! The OH is now one of my favourite locals. What changed? I spent many sunny afternoons/​evenings in the large mosaic tiled beer garden and realized what a lovely space it is! It’s hard to find a good beer garden in Brighton and the Open House are doing it well. I also tried the food and was delighted– they do great chunky chips and a decent falafel burger. Ooooh, also, the king prawn starter is immensely delicious!
It’s often hard to create atmosphere in larger pubs, but the Open House manages it with ease. In the winter, there is often an open fire and candle lit tables, creating a wonderfully cosy ambience. As a smoker, I especially appreciate the decked area outside, which is fitted-​out with heaters and is also home to the biggest and most ostentatious light fitting I’ve ever seen– its truly incredible!

The open House is a proper student boozer and they come in their droves straight from two the out of town campuses, as London Road train station is right next door. One of its main draws its is absolutely mega beer garden, which it has it’s less central location to thank for. The interior is cosy and full of chesterfield sofas and pop art of musical icons.
The venue also plays host to the Brighton Folk and Blues Clubon the first Friday of the month,
. There’s also the odd theatre performance so it worth checking posters round the venue.
The menu consists of the usual pub grub with a couple of continental salads for good measure. all the usual student faves can be found behind the bar inc, Hoegarden and Kopparberg.

It is a brilliant and dangerous idea to have a pub right next to a train station. I love stumbling into the Open House right off of the train when I have been studying hard (ahem.) on Campus at Falmer. I love it and my bank balance hates it. Nevermind because the Open House is not just the first pub I can collapse in to, it is decidedly an excellent pub that is also in an excellent location. The inside of the pub is like a beautiful country house with dark wooden floors, large fireplaces, leather sofas and high ceilings. There are three large rooms, all of them with a slightly different feel– the one to the right as you go in is very comfortable and casual with big tables and sofas– great for groups. The room to the left holds the bar and a lovely fireplace, as well as doors out to the huge beer garden. The last room is narrow with big windows and quieter. The beer garden is walled and has been really nicely kitted out with heaters (bad for the environment but undeniably pleasant), tables, plants. It has a nice feel and on a Friday and Saturday night is filled with chattering groups, laughing and drinking. It’s a pub that is great to sink into on a long day or head out to on a weekend for some noise and fun. It also serves brilliant food– delicious veggie burger with the most amazing chips anyone! Their roasts– though I have never had one– are also highly praised.

Whilst this is a very nice pub aesthetically, I will definitely not be returning here again, after the frankly shocking attitude of the manager on duty last time we visited the pub.
We arrived not long after 15:00 on a Sunday, only to be told there was no chance of being served any food. This was a shame, as we were all hungry, and I had my 16 month old toddler with me.
When out of courtesy, I checked it was okay to pop home and make my 16 month old boy a sandwich and bring back to feed him, I was told this was not allowed, and we would not be permitted to give him any food not purchased there. Even though they had closed the kitchen.
There was about 12 of us spending plenty of money behind the bar, so exactly what harm would have been done in giving our toddler a sandwich I don’t know.
Needless to say we won’t be returning.

It’s not often I will go overboard about a pub or bar. but for this place, I will make an exception. Good selection of Wines and Beers, great food, friendly bar staff, amazing outside seating area with a very large patio further out the back. The interior doubles up as an art gallery as the pub is based in a very well known arty area of Brighton.
I will not write anything else on this. if you want to know how good this place is, jump on a train to London Road Station in Brighton and check it out