A Guide to Brighton's Best Taprooms and Craft Beer Spots

Brighton’s reputation as a city with over 300 pubs and bars is well-earned, but the real shift lately has been toward independent taprooms and microbreweries that focus on small-batch production. If you are heading toward Kemptown, the East Brighton Indie Beer Mile (EBIBM) offers a 1.7-mile route that connects several of these spots. A central fixture on this trail is the Hand in Hand, a historic pub dating back to 1850. It houses the Hand Brew Co, which operates out of a unique four-story Victorian tower brewery using a gravity-fed system. Just a short walk away on Edward Street, the Brighton Bierhaus serves as the flagship for Brighton Bier. This venue is equipped with 13 taps, five cask pumps, and two ceramic towers, alongside a selection of over 100 bottles and cans. For those who prefer a more industrial setting, Loud Shirt Brewing Co. at the Bell Tower Industrial Estate focuses on American-style craft beers and opens its doors on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons.

Moving toward the North Laine area, UnBarred Brewery and Taproom on Elder Place has become a staple since it was established in 2014. The space features a 16-tap wall and dedicated cask lines, often collaborating with local food vendors like Fatto a Mano for those visiting during their daily opening hours. In the city center, The Rook provides a high-volume alternative with 22 craft beer taps and a fridge stocked with more than 150 different cans. For a more traditional atmosphere, The Evening Star remains a significant location in local brewing history as the birthplace of the Dark Star legend. Other central options include The Pond, which serves its own 'Pond Water' beer, and Easy Tiger, which combines craft ales with Asian street food. If you find yourself in the Hanover area, The Haus on The Hill operates as another Brighton Bier venue, while The Roundhill focuses on rotating local beers alongside its vegan menu.

In Hove, the craft beer scene takes on a slightly different character with specialized venues like The Urchin on Belfast Street. This spot features the on-site Larrikin microbrewery and maintains five craft taps and four cask pumps, with a heavy emphasis on seafood pairings such as oysters and mussels. Nearby, The Watchmakers Arms on Goldstone Villas holds the distinction of being East Sussex’s first micropub. It houses the Watchmaker Brewery and follows a specific set of rules that exclude music, televisions, or electronic devices to encourage conversation. Bison Beer also maintains a strong presence in Hove with its dedicated taproom, complementing their other sites like the Bison Beach Bar. Recently, The Old Albion has re-opened under new management as of 2026, adding another option for those exploring the western side of the city. Whether you are following the EBIBM route through Kemptown or visiting the independent microbreweries in Hove, the current landscape offers a mix of historic gravity-fed towers and modern industrial taprooms.