The Cricketers

You know you're in for a good time when you spot the cricket bats mounted on dark wood walls and hear the gentle hum of proper pub conversation spilling onto Black Lion Street. This isn't some themed nonsense – The Cricketers has been doing the sports pub thing long before it became a concept, with genuine memorabilia that actually means something and a bar team who know their way around both a pint pull and a decent conversation. The food's better than it needs to be for a boozer this close to the seafront, and they've nailed that sweet spot between welcoming locals and accommodating the endless stream of visitors who stumble in looking for 'authentic Brighton pub vibes'. Weekend evenings get properly buzzy, but even on a quiet Tuesday afternoon, there's something about settling into one of their worn leather seats that makes you want to cancel your evening plans.