The Brunswick

Head down Holland Road towards the seafront and you'll find The Brunswick doing what it does best: packing out the bar with locals, tourists and musicians who actually know how to play. The live music schedule is genuinely decent—expect everything from indie bands to blues acts most evenings—and the crowd's the type that actually listens rather than just using the stage as background noise. It's all a bit ramshackle in the best way: sticky floors, sticky tables, proper beer selection, and enough character to remind you why neighbourhood pubs still matter. Order a pint, grab a spot near the stage if you can squeeze in, and settle in for the kind of night that either ends brilliantly or messily (usually both).