The Brighton Coalition

The Brighton Coalition is a bar with a huge terrace on the seafront, The service was waiter service and not one waiter or waitress came over whilst trying to flag them down, So we had to go up to them and ask for a few beers to be ordered, the waitress wasn’t that helpful and they was more interested in talking to there mates or flouncing around, It does have a nice terrace with great views though but they do need to get the customer service right!

The Brighton Coalition is a great gig venue, it’s small and intimate, noisy and hot, what more could you really ask for! The architecture is fantastic — being under the arches right on Brighton seafront it’s all exposed brickwork and tunnels, but it’s far more open than some of the other clubs in this location which have a tendency to feel claustrophobic. The acoustics are good but the drinks are pretty expensive and the choice isn’t huge.
In the summer there is a massive area out the front that is filled with table and chairs where you can enjoy a pint and grab a bit to eat right at the water’s edge (well, next to the pebbles at least!).
I haven’t actually been to Coalition in its nightclub format but most people who visit seem to have a fun night.

I spent many, many nights here dancing away. Music isn’t that great — at least it wasn’t a few years ago — but somehow, it was always a great time. The only negative is freezing on the sea front while queueing, but, in the uni spirit, «just drink a bit more.» Get a solid liquid blanket before you leave your house and you’re good to go!

The burger was tasty, the Pimms was cold and tasty, the live DJ’s were pretty good, and it was a great day out on the coast. I’d love to give it more stars, but the bathrooms were absolutely DISGUSTING.

Coalition is a busy night out for students; especially on Monday, it does seem to be the place to go. Personally, I’m undecided whether I think it’s brilliant like a lot of people do or whether I think it’s just another standard commercialised club with cheap drinks. Cheap drinks definitely give it an advantage, if you can get to the bar that is — it’s almost the slowest, busiest bar out of all the clubs in Brighton that I can think of. Don’t let this put you off, the interior is modern, spacious with quite an impressive layout and a fair amount of sofas to sit on and enjoy a few drinks before the night gets going.
The selection of music is quite varied with something to please the majority of people and they do sometimes have live music playing during the week. The atmosphere is definitely a lively one. Without a doubt it’s probably one of the more energetic clubs from the choice along Brighton seafront and it is always full of people who are looking to have a good time. It can get a little repetitive if you go there, like I did for a while, (the student that I am) every Monday night, but if you want a fun place to go on a week night, check it out.

The great thing about having a better half that tours the country skilfully strumming a guitar or an artsy brother who lives by the sea is that you get to visit Brighton. Ah, Brighton, the trendier beach-​based city. With a thriving gay community and a row of artists’ studios on the waterfront you literally couldn’t get more boho.
Music venues of course are a must in a town like this, and the Coalition is a great example. While the BF insisted that the acoustics weren’t spot on, we mere mortals and Average Joes enjoyed what we heard and saw. The atmospheric lighting and original features lent themselves well to an intimate space where the band is literally only a few feet away, the bar’s always within reach and there are squishy sofas aplenty to appease your behind.
I do have a scruple though, and it’s a big one. After the bands played, we were kicked out. And I do mean harshly for a sweet, sensitive and soulful place like Brighton. Heck, this would have been harsh even in Manchester. No messing around with these bouncers. And why were they kicking us out, pray tell? Oh, they weren’t closing. No, far from it. After the live music they re-​open as a club and boot you out so you have to pay AGAIN to get in.
Coalition, you were so close. I’d definitely see a band there again, but I’d make sure my Bulmers was supped and my coat was well and truly got by the time the closing few bars were played. Shame.

Formerly the beach, Coalition has transformed one of Brighton’s most depressing nightclubs in to the busiest Monday night Brighton has to offer. There is definitely more on offer here than just ‘Trash Mondays’, but there is no question that this is feather in Coalition’s cap.
The venue is definitely impressive; its slick in all the right ways, but there are also some individual touches that make Coalition a good place to be for a night out. You’re always guaranteed to find a big student crowd here, arrive late and you’ll find an immovable mile long queue.
The music ranges, touching on all the genres you might expect. With cheapish drinks and a brilliant sea front location, Coalition is without doubt the place to be on a Monday.
On the weekends you can also find some interesting alternatives to a standard night out; ranging from record label birthday parties (great night) to drag queens and samba music.

Coalition caters to different music genres different nights of the week so it really depends what you’re into. Anything from pop, to dnb randomly and Latin. If you’re big on the house scene, then Coalition is definitely worth a visit come Saturday night with many established dj’s taking to the decks. I know for sure that weekdays are ridiculously cheap, but when the weekend creeps up, as do the prices. Worth putting yourself on event wall lists as the Que is generally huoge and it knocks a couple of quid off your entrance fee. Cloakroom on the other hand is free for bags, so stuff your coats in your bag — job done!
The layout is strange to say the least, with a thin long room at the back that everyone seems to congregate to, either on their way outside to the smoking area, en route to the toilets or just having a browse around to see if Coalition is in fact just that small (it is), yet they still manage to cram hordes of people into this tiny space.
The good thing about Coalition is the after parties they have to offer, so if that’s what you’re into, then you’re in for a long night.
One terrible thing I have to mention (but that should in no way cloud your judgment as at the end of the day, it’s not that big of a deal, unless you’re a bit ocd) is their poor excuse for ladies toilets (can’t say I all that clued up on the Men’s). The lighting in there is abysmal so don’t even bother trying to apply your make it. it’s a lost cause. There is never any toilet role, yet always water (we hope) all over the floor. None of the doors lock and when all you want to do at the end of all this is just wash hands, to top it off the tap goes crazy and makes it look like you’ve wet yourself! Talking from actual experience here ladies, so watch out!
Aside from the crazy horrible toilet situation, Coalition is a brilliant club, full of decent people loving the music and wanting to have a good time.

The layout of the Coalition is odd to say the least-​the dancefloor isn’t really big enough to swing a cat and you usually end up trying to enjoy the music perched on one of three steps that introduce the seating area.
That said, it is a pretty decent club and has leather recliners in dark corners for all sorts of debauchery-I’m not sure if it’s exclusively for that, but I saw it!
Swinging doors and back corridors create a musical labyrinthine of evening-​an over 18’s episode of Knightmare.

This is one of the best places for live music and varied club nights in Brighton — and one of the few still thriving since the opening of superclub Oceana. There’s weekly ‘Latin Fever’ with a club night following salsa lessons. There’re loads of other random nights such as 80s themed Robot Rock featuring dancing robots. Or Carnivalesque — with live samba bands and free cake! I think they do student nights on a Monday too with cheap drink deals. One night I went to, I can’t recall what it was called, played funk/​soul/​pop/​chart and gave out free pick n mix bags and pop corn to everyone. Plus there were tatoo transfers and a fortune teller! Okay very random, but Coalition is definitely the place to consider if you’re looking for a guaranteed good night out.

In the summertime, Brighton Coalition is an ideal place to go for a drink and something to eat. There’s dozens of tables with umbrellas outside and comfy armchairs and sofas inside where you can look out at the beach and the hundreds of people sunbathing.
Unfortunately, both times I ate there I was appalled by the service and the standard of food. The first time I ordered a superfood salad that was limp and lacking most of the good ingredients and the second time I ordered a burger and fries. The latter was delivered cold and wasn’t that tasty either — a double whammy of disappointment. I would have sent them back but the staff were so rushed off their feet both time, it was impossible to get their attention. When I did complain they simply looked at me stoney-​facey and shrugged ‘Sorry about that’ or something to that effect. Suffice to say, I won’t be going back to eat there unless they employ a new team of chefs and some well mannered staff!
I would however, go back to The Coalition in the evening to try one of their gigs or club nights like Club NME. The drinks are reasonable and they have an intreguing roster of guest deejays and bands from Boy George to Bloc Party.

The venue is one of the cleaner bar/​clubs on the seafront and doesn’t attract huge numbers of louts. Its has a really swish design inside with dark woods, sculpted furniture and table booths. The best thing about Coalition is the variety of events thy host, I went to a brilliant Secret Garden Party night where people dressed as spies came up to you and whispered secret messages!
Its a great venue for that sort of evening as it has a dance floor and stage, lots of seating, a second room big enough for another DJ and the front wall opens up right onto the beach.
If your up for live music or dancing in Brighton its worth checking out whats on as they have event most nights of week ranging from club nights like ‘lets kill disco’ to acoustic nights like ‘the fisherman chronicles’,

I’ve been to Coalition a few times, and, unfortunately, although the music has been good, I was a little too drunk to truly appreciate it, and the the number of people inside — it was incredibly crowded — made me feel a little claustophobic. Still, I think it is certainly worth a visit. Every Tuesday there’s a Latin Fever Party, with one room dedicated to reggae, funk, and latin beats, and another set aside for salsa, merengue, and bachata. Entry on Tuedays is £3, but it is free for ladies before midnight — woo sexism-.

The current trend in Brighton is to create all-​day café/​bar/​restaurant combos along the sea front. Where better to do this than the huge nightclubs that lie dormant throughout the day? Coalition is one of these places that utilises its excellent location throughout the day and the night. With food and drinks served throughout the hot (and not-​so-​hot) summer days and the transformation to popular club at night, it works pretty well. They also have salsa classes in the early evening (times/​days vary) to further add to the diversity on the bill. The interior is typically modern — all wood, metal and leather, but overall, it’s not a bad place. The music tends to be on the commercial side, but inoffensive and the clientele are generally just out for a good time, therefore avoiding the aggressiveness of some of the other clubs along the seafront. Far from perfect, but the coalition of day and night activities provide a good enough afternoon of food and drinks, or a night of partying.