The Sussex

It’s my work-​day local and is great for a cheap pub lunch there’s usually a week-​day lunch deal of sausage and mash, jacket potatoes, sandwiches and what-​not for about £4.99. Other than that I’d say it’s a no-​frills ‘pub’ kind of pub. Right in the centre of the Lanes it’s in a good location, but doesn’t exude the same kind of personality that you get in so many other Brighton boozers.
I’d recommend it for a quick bite to eat or a spot of lunch, but not for a night with friends. In summer it’s a little different as there are tables and chairs outside, perfectly located for soaking up some of the Brighton atmosphere, and this area is great for people watching.
Oh, and the pies are really good.

Sehr schöner und traditioneller Pup im Herzen Brightons mit allem was das Herz begehrt. Die Preise bewegen sich im normalen Rahmen, wenngleich der Pup eher zu den etwas teureren Kneipen gehört. Uns hatte es hier sehr gefallen!

The Sussex should be so much better. In a prime location, with oodles of passing trade, you really expect more bang for your buck. Instead, prices are high, choice is limited and nothing stands out. A real shame!
Unlike so many Brighton pubs, nothing helps The Sussex stand out. There is no interesting selection of drinks, nor a really top-​notch menu, nor a buzzing music scene, nor… well, anything really. Instead, you have your bog-​standard cheapo lagers, minimal ale selection, overpriced wine and spirits, and boring food. A massive TV dominates the upper half of the pub, displaying constant news or sports, while a strange high-​table-​and-​chair combo makes casual standing preferable to sitting in the lower.
The outdoor seating area is this pub’s one saving grace, and even then it has little to do with the pub itself; the smoking area is slap-​bang in the middle of the beginning of East Street, a vibrant collection of shops, various seating areas, and always full of milling people. In the summer, live music adds to the magic of the space… Lovely to have a drink in! However, I find it much more preferable to perch in any of the other seating areas, enjoying better food, drink and value-​for-​money, as The Sussex just doesn’t provide in any of those departments.
I really want to like this pub; they are nearly my next-​door neighbours, but there is simply not much there to feel… well, anything about. A bland addition to Brighton’s pub scene: try the Pump House, the Druid’s Head and the Fishbowl, all nearby, for some very different flavours of Brighton pub-​life!

Its a shame when a pub that has the position that most establishments would envy doesn’t push the boat out a bit more. There’s not much of a selection of real ales — mainly just lagers and the foods pretty mediocre. The staff are friendly enough but don’t seem overly happy to be working there. I think they get a lot of passing trade, especially in the summer months as the pub is at the foot of the laines so maybe they don’t need to make that extra bit of effort.
When you have a couple of top class restaurants either side of you, a fantastic outside seating area bang in the middle of the main shopping district, you’d expect a pub to be top quality.
Good for sitting outside with a group of friends and listening to the buskers but there’s a lot better around.

I have been in The Sussex a few times and to be honest, I am not its biggest fan. The bar staff are courteous and the drinks are well-​priced and there’s even a big-​screen which shows plenty of sport, but there is just something missing. For saying this is a pub in the centre of the South Lanes: it should be lively and rammed, but it just doesn’t have the buzz about it that you’d expect.
There is nothing really negative about the place, except this distinct lack of atmosphere. Maybe when I get a bit older I will appreciate the serenity and absence of rowdy drunken youths and loud music, but at the moment, that’s what I class as atmospheric.
Great for a quiet drink, but if you’re going anywhere other than bed afterwards you’re best to avoid The Sussex as you’ll possibly lose that party spirit.

Nice traditional pub in the heart of the lanes. Really cosy in the winter — and equally nice in the summer when there are tables outside. It’s not the swankiest of venues but it is welcoming and serves a good pint ! Great stop off for a pre or post dinner drink due to it’s proximity to so many restaurants.