The best bars and cafés Southeast

Faced with the sea, this bar held by a Frenchman created a completely English atmosphere: black and pink decoration, neon… We come here to enjoy a beer and especially to meet other French often expatriates.

This historic pub is an absolute must. Although it's tucked away in a dark alleyway (St Helen's Passage), it was the setting for many episodes of the Inspector Morse series. And with good reason: it has played host to such illustrious figures as Oscar Wilde, Richard Burton, Margaret Thatcher, Ben Kingsley and many others. This gives the place an almost mythical dimension. The burgers served are excellent, and the beer selection is very good. The atmosphere is friendly, offering the opportunity to meet the locals.

Local beers, wooden tables and unexplained lights create a typical atmosphere in this pub, which organizes concerts every Saturday night.

Certainly not the best club in Brighton but one of the most popular. The music is mainly jazz and funk with a little disco and salsa. Concerts and live music every day.

This pub is quintessentially English, with its low ceiling, wood panelling, warm atmosphere and 8 beers on tap, many from the Fuller's brewery, to which the establishment is attached. On the edge of North Laine, you'll have to look a little harder for it, but it's clearly worth the detour and is still mainly frequented by locals, which is very welcome. The food isn't bad either, based on local ingredients from local producers. At the bar: more than eight beers on tap and around a hundred spirits.

This bar is in fact also a microbrewery, brewing its own beers on site, so it has plenty of original choices. With 24 taps, 4 keg pumps and over 80 craft cans and bottles, it's a beer lover's paradise. Quite trendy and popular, the prices reflect this, but the products are of high quality and the atmosphere is friendly. There's a terrace overlooking the street, large kegs behind the counter and a decoration based on photos, statues, pennants and numerous bottles transformed into candleholders.

This delightful Victorian pub is one of our favorite places in the Lanes to come for a drink and some good music. It's one of the city's oldest establishments, and its dark, cosy interiors are very pleasant. Real ales and ciders are available, of course, and the food is pretty good too. The red sofas are particularly comfortable. If you're lucky enough to find them unoccupied, you'd be happy to stay all day. A classic, efficient pub with a festive atmosphere where you can mingle with the locals.

On the North Laine side, The Prince Albert is an institution, housed within a large house that single-handedly sums up Brighton's vibe: good beers and street art and live music. Its front was redone in 2017, while retaining the frescoes on its outside wall, featuring John Lennon, Amy Winehouse, Bob Marley and Michael Jackson alongside a famous Banksy depiction of two policemen kissing. Unfortunately, this is now a copy, the original painted here in 2004 having been sent to the USA to be sold.

Just a stone's throw from the station, but off the busy Queens Road, The Evening Star is one of Brighton's most popular pubs for fans of real ales. The birthplace of the Dark Star Brewing Co, the bar features several of its products, as well as a variety of beers from the rest of the country and even the world. There isn't much room, which contributes to the warm atmosphere in this all-wood decor. The Evening Star is a must for a pint in Brighton after a day of sightseeing.

Located next door to John's College, the pub's profits are used in part to help students finance their studies. So you can drink your beers with a clear conscience, knowing that you're contributing to the education of local students. It has all the makings of a good local, where conversation and socializing take precedence over music and entertainment. The decor is traditional, within ^17th-century walls, and the beers change regularly, always from the south-west of England. The atmosphere is warm and inviting.

If you're looking to get out and about in Brighton, this corner building with its brightly-colored walls is home to one of the best pubs in the London Road area. Popular with students, its huge, award-winning beer garden is a delight to behold, and the outdoor heaters mean you can enjoy it even in winter. Inside, a number of tables with arcade games add to the Brighton atmosphere. Among others, Hobgoblin offers the "Bewilder Box" escape game, an interactive game based on solving puzzles and mysteries (for 2 people minimum).

A cosy pub on the north side of North Laine, The White Rabbit is a city institution, a great place to relax and chat over a beer during the day, or meet up with friends for an evening out. The terrace on Kensington Gardens, in the heart of the district, is popular in fine weather, and there are also a few armchairs and sofas indoors. There are always two or three real ales, in addition to the presses. We love their motto, clearly displayed on their website,"Booze. Food. More booze". Cheers!

A typical small place frequented by regulars and local residents, the Hop Poles is worth a visit for its atmosphere of a real neighbourhood pub. It is the very image of the English pub that you have in mind when planning your trip. The room with its panelled walls and green tapestry is complemented by a beer garden to get some fresh air. The food is quite famous, there are some real ales at the counter and live bands often perform live. In short, everything you need to have a good evening in Brighton.

Opened in 1568 (!), it's Brighton's oldest working bar! The East Street Tap now draws its inspiration from New York and has made craft beers its specialty in Brighton. With its extensive opening hours, it attracts an enthusiastic clientele in search of good beers and variety, from the UK and the USA. At night, the place is lit only by small red neon lights, giving it the air of an American Prohibition-era speakeasy. DJ evenings and concerts are often organized.

The Craft Beer Co is a Brighton beer mecca, this beige and brown corner house housing a pub that has nothing left to prove in the city. The vast choice of real ales, draughts and ciders is always changing, and fans will always be delighted. The predominantly wood interior is cosy, and the location of this Hove establishment is only a few steps from the Brighton Beer Dispensary, which makes for an excellent little pub crawl, as the two addresses are very complementary.

This is one of Oxford's oldest pubs. After all, it's been a public house since the ^16th century! Local legend has it that Shakespeare was a regular visitor to the university town. The establishment has changed name and been reconfigured several times over the centuries, but has a palpable soul. It's extremely pleasant to walk through the arch and narrow alleyway to this former farmhouse and sit at one of its outdoor tables or barrels.

One of the city's finest cocktail bars, established in 1979, located on lively Walton Street. Discothèque, Giggle Juice, Moonlight - all names that will awaken your taste buds and give you a furious desire to dance. It's an institution, so don't miss the chance to have a drink in this psychedelic bar. Masterclasses are also organized if you want to leave Oxford with the best cocktail recipes in your pocket!

Here, you'll enjoy your hot drink surrounded by hundreds of books tucked away in every corner of the room. This sublime café in the heart of Hastings' historic town center, with a second, more spacious address on Robertson Street, is an ideal place for a break in your day's sightseeing. The pastries are delicious, and if you fancy something savoury, there are sandwiches and salads on offer. You can't help looking for a good book among all those on the shelves. Like a book? Leave a donation in the box and take it away!

A wonderful café combining a gourmet break with board games! With over 850 games on offer, this original venue invites you to come and enjoy a good time with friends or family. To accompany your games, the menu offers a wide choice of pizzas, nachos, fajitas, bruschettas, French fries, pancakes, waffles... as well as milkshakes, coffee (roasted on site) and over a dozen cocktails. The games are so varied that you're bound to find one you know... And, of course, you could spend hours playing!

Fortune of War enjoys a truly enviable location, on the waterfront and right on the beach. The interior of the bar is laid out like a ship that's run aground, with the prow extending to the back of the bar. At the stern, windows illuminate the tables. On rainy days, you can take shelter with a drink in hand to admire the furiously choppy sea. The Fortune of War has been open since 1882. You'll also appreciate its open-air terrace, directly on the pebbles of Brighton beach. A wide selection of beers completes the picture.