Cliftonville Inn

I came here on a very wet Monday in Brighton. There was the usual Wetherspoons offerings and the usual clientele, including some really territorial I’m not letting you get to the bar at all type interactions. Given that it was a Monday I will let them off some of that but as its a Wetherspoons and a national chian I would’ve expected clearer tables, cleaner toilets and a bar I could actually get to without waiting 15 minutes for the barman to stop chatting to the barflys. We upped and left to head to a much classier pub after our very cheap bottle of red.

The attraction to this place is cheap booze and food care of the Wetherspoons group. There is plenty of seating indoors and a hub for the local elderly men drinking early. It really does infuriate me how these people like a pint first thing in the morning! Food is pretty standard. It’s like McDonald’s, you get the same across the world. We came here for some breakfast only cos we know what we’re having and what we will receive. It’s a consistent service and we like that.

Scruffy and full of down and outs. Often seems to be aggro out the front and people drinking from the morning onwards

Not bad as JD’s go. This Cliftonville area was developed mid-​19^th century by local brewer George Gallard, who gave his name to George Street.
Meals are pretty standard and cheap enough.2 lunches for £6.50!!! Alrught for a quick bite.
There are plenty of places to eat in George Street which is now pedestrianised.
Access pretty good. parking nearby up ther North end.

This place isnt bad, for a couple of drinks (far cheaper than other pubs in town, which they often gleefully point out!), along with various meal + drink offers.
The ‘décor’ could do with some attention (mould INSIDE wall prints?), along with ongoing water pools in the gents.
Usually easy to get a table, though best sit in the corner, away from occasional flare ups that occur, mainly between kids on their first boozy night out without mummy on tow.
I dare so Gordon Ramsay won’t be troubling them, anytime soon.

Oh the Cliftonville Inn. How you inspire me to do something with my life. Yes, I actually see a profound positive when I look into your dreary, dull, depressing interior. I don’t want to end up alone, chain smoking outside what could just as well be a betting shop or any other grubby hole. To be fair that is quite harsh as the prices are good and there’s nothing particularly bad about it. There’s just nothing particularly good about it either. Perhaps its size is a redeeming feature but –unless you watch shows like Shameless and think «wow, what role models” — it won’t make up for the inescapable blandness of the place. As far as pubs go this sits just above the no-​go zone.

Perhaps the only good things about the Cliftonville Inn are the run-​of-​the-​mill prices, the service and the space. Unfortunately all else is negative or to be more precise dull. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re more discerning than the average citizen and therefore would like to be told about places to avoid as much as places to visit. For that reason I’d recommend tracing a different path to the one leading into what feels like a grubby British social club. It’s not like there is anything innately intimidating or patriotic about the place but it’s just so bland it’s depressing. The clientele tend to be those whose desire for cheap booze and fags come before any need for style or quality and the exterior makes looks like some dusty old English betting shop. However, if you’re a lonely old bloke who just wants somewhere warm in which you can sip cheap lager, the Cliftonville Inn will do you fine.

Your standard Wetherspoon’s fare; cheap drinks, slightly below average food.
The difference with this place is that I have never been so sketched by the patrons of a pub/​bar as I was with this place. It wasn’t always that way, but don’t be surprised to encounter some scary individuals.