Black Dove

The Black Dove in Brighton is such a cool spot if you’re into quirky, cozy pubs with character. It’s got this relaxed, bohemian vibe—think vintage decor, dim lighting, and mismatched furniture that makes it feel super homey. Perfect for a laid-back evening. The drinks are awesome, especially the cocktails. They’re creative but not too fancy, and they’ve got a solid selection of craft beers too. The staff are really friendly and know their stuff, so if you can’t decide, just ask for a recommendation. The music is great, and there’s even a little basement where they put on events if you want a boogie. My favourite drinks are: Crimson, Kemptown, and Corpse Reviver II.

An quirky bar suitable for an alternative crowd, definitely worth a visit. Visit here for some unique cocktails, a relaxed youthful atmosphere, gothic/new age vibes and some imaginative decor. The bar men were professional, friendly and fast. They were extremely conscious of guest experiences even while having plenty of fun themselves. It is Brighton so there will always be some trouble which when it happened on the night, outside the pub, they dealt with swiftly and professionally. I was impressed at their abilities with getting the night back on track. They were also very clearly good at judging which customers wanted to chat and entering into a dialogue. They seem genuinely to care that people have a nice night. Our cocktails were brilliant and they were bespoke. My drink was perfectly sweetened and my partner got his old fashioned the way he wanted it to. The only negatives I have for the bar is that I think it could do with a clean. I love alternative pubs but I still think it is nice to feel you are in a clean space. I also didn't really like the music too much.

These are not waiters. These are 'mixologists'. They know how to make REAL cocktails. Impressive. Don't go for the funky continental beers, stick the cocktails. Order from the hidden cocktail menu or choose your traditional tipple. Very good

Great pub by all accounts. Being slightly off the main drag if you get my drift it’s a bit more calm and collected here. Plenty of seats outside, plus nice and cosy inside with candlelights in the evening. Can get busy quite quickly inside as it’s not too big. The range of beers is very good too, although slightly more pricy than counterparts in the area like the Bier Haus collective. That said staff are very friendly and one of the better pubs in the immediate vicinity.

Really a great place to be. Staff is really very friendly and helpful. Enjoyed some delicious cocktails. Try the Crimson -you will never regret it. Choice of beer ist great too, but there is no need to try the German ones. 😉

I absolutely loved it here. It is SO quirky and has a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Popped in for a prosecco twice on my recent trip to Brighton and can't wait to visit again...superb!!!

The Black Dove in Brighton is a mixed bag of delights and areas for improvement. On the positive side, their commitment to customer service shines, especially in catering to a variety of gluten-free options. The menu's versatility, including gluten-free and non-alcoholic choices, deserves commendation for meeting diverse dietary needs. The staff at Black Dove contributes significantly to the positive experience. Their friendly demeanor enhances the overall ambiance, making patrons feel welcome and appreciated. The establishment's decoration is a standout feature, effectively creating an immersive atmosphere that connects the drinker to their libations. However, a critical lens reveals areas where enhancement is plausible. Some aspects of the service efficiency could be refined for a smoother experience, ensuring that the positive ambiance isn't overshadowed by minor operational hiccups. In summary, The Black Dove presents a compelling case with its exceptional customer service, diverse menu options, and inviting decor. Addressing operational nuances could propel it into an even more formidable player in Brighton's dining and drinking scene.

Nice pop in bar. Cocktails lovely if a little pricey, but very well made so worth it.

My local and definitely one of my favourite drinking establishments in Brighton. It's regularly listed in the 'Brighton's Best Bars' lists floating around on the world wide web. It also makes a few craft beer pub lists too as it has a very long list of world and craft beers, mainly in bottles, to chose from. It may surprise a few but it also serves amazing cocktails. A craft beer place AND a good cocktail place under one roof!? Surely not! But yes, it definitely works, they do a mean Amaretto sour and Espresso Martini and some of the more unusual cocktails too. It's not table service though which I actually really like as it remains down to earth and has a local hangout vibe. It gets really busy at the weekends on Friday and Saturday nights and there's often a band on or a cool DJ playing Northern Soul over the weekend too. In the daytime it's really chilled out and the bar staff are always happy to chat to you and talk you through the latest beer/cocktail menu (or about anything really!). There's also seating outside but with the view of the top of St. James Street it definitely is a better view inside with its quirky decor. I lucked out with this place being my closest pub!

Finally went to this place last night after tip off from one of Brightons top Yelpers!! Wish i'd come here before now. Really nice inside,quite a lot of seating,a cosy little room down stairs. Great selection of drink,whatever your taste is. And in my eyes they played some of the best music i've heard in a bar for ages. Last night it was afro-latin music,if i had my way every bar would play this type of music!! Other nights are on as well.....check local press!!

Love love love the cocktails and the hipster vibe. Bar staff take the cocktail making very seriously. Cool, dark decor, pretty small and cosy place, so much so you often see people spilling out onto the pavement. Can't wait to go back.

My favourite place to drink in Kemp Town hands down. And that's really saying something. The area is brimming with lively bars, but this is my pick of the bunch. Like a party everyone is invited to, it attracts a range of people due to its broad appeal. From the DJ effortlessly mixing classic vinyl with contemporary sounds to the team of mixologists shaking up a cocktail storm behind the bar - you'll find something to fit your style. Aspall Suffolk Cyder sits next to Brooklyn Beer on tap, just as naturally as the buzzing crowd vying for seats and bar space. Taking the same approach to the furnishings, the interior is a nod to the cocktail golden age and a mix of characterful clutter. For a more intimate experience you can duck downstairs to a cosy area reminiscent of an eccentric aristocrat's bolt-hole. The gallery style seating with its little nooks and the shell of an old performance stage makes for a more laid-back atmosphere. The enthusiastic staff reel off a knowledge of beers and spirits to intrigue even the most seasoned drinker. And they're a joy to watch. The four lads on duty last night looked like a cocktail boy band, shaking and sliding their way around the bar. The most impressive thing is that it manages to be cool without being pretentious. It's understandably popular though so expect a busy old time at the weekend. It does have over spill seating outside which is welcome during this warmer weather and is also good for watching the Kemp Town nightlife go by in all its forms. People come from all over the city for a tipple here so make sure you come and see what all the fuss is about. Oh and if you're asking, mine's a Chelsea Sidecar please!

Visited the Black Dove this Saturday just gone and made TWO amazing discoveries! 1. The room downstairs is glorious. From the staging to the leather chair in the centre if it (we used it as a throne for our friend's birthday) to the gorgeous decor. We had it privately reserved and I would say it comfortably fits around 30 - 35 people. We had more at one stage and it did get a touch crowded. 2. Pumpkin ale! Ho ho ho and Jingle Bells it is THE drink for this winter. Delicious and festive - you must try it! They also do a reasonable selection of Belgian beers so that is another great PLUS for the Dove. X

Brooklyn Ales... In Brighton! This is my favourite bar, and it is located just up from st.james street in the heart of Kemptown. There is a huge variety of beers, ales and wines as well as liquors, and the decor is lovely! It has real character and I always buzzing with people. It is also off the student track, which is a plus, and the staff are really friendly and knowledgable on all the drinks. Definitely pop in on a visit to Brighton, especially if you are a beer lover or like a place with charm and character.

This bar doesn't boast the cosiest interior but I know some pyromaniac friends who would go nuts for the giant candle and all the wax hanging off it. (See photo below) Outside there is some quite nice space and they have a few good beers, including quality cotswald lagers, to enjoy. Open till late. When is late? Only one way to find out.

Great, cosy and original bar with loads of options on different drinks. Very charming staff. Top notch!

This place is my "local", and I live more than two miles away. Seriously, the Black Dove is a gem. Step inside and you're transported to a cocktail parlour at the turn of the Twentieth Century. Deep colours, wood accents, heavy curtains, chandeliers, and that's before you even descend into the sumptuous basement lounge. On certain nights, the Dove has DJs spinning music, and it's (gasp) actually enjoyable, ranging from speakeasy sounds to new stuff that makes you stop at the booth and ask what's playing. The staff are knowledgeable, friendly, quite charming, and got the muscle for those cocktail shakers, and those boys are some of my favourite bartenders in town. The bar snacks... well, I'm not allowed to have the pork scratchings anymore, so if you see me reaching for the jar, just slap my hand. There's a fantastic selection of stuff to please every palate, from salty to sweet to super spicy, all for cheap. And the drinks... Really, if this place was just a hole-in-the-wall with dusty bar stools and surly servers, the drinks selection alone would keep me coming back. The Dove had me at Absinthe. This the only place I know of that will make me a Sazerac, while I sit and dreamily watch the performance. Beyond that, the bar has a Cocktail Bible that you can peruse, and the boys will make you just about anything listed in its scriptures. Also, the bottled ciders collection is astounding, and, believe it, decently priced. Anyway, I'll stop my rant. It's clear that I have a crush on the Dove. In other words, yes, it's worth a visit.

Great quirky pub nestled between Kemp Town and Brighton. Extremely friendly staff that seem to enjoy working there. Will definitely be back here.

Sorry to say but I would not recommend this bar. I dropped by for a drink, was waiting at busy bar in a que chatting to people in front of me for recommendations on where to visit next. The bartender called over and asked me to not stand so close to the people in front of me. I actually thought he was joking until I got to the bar and he refused to serve me and asked me to leave. I left with fuss but was very embarrassed. It is one of those bars where new customers are treated like unwelcome guest. Unfortunate as it seems like a nice bar

Got to be my favourite place in Brighton at the moment. They have an excellent selection of drinks including the excellent Brooklyn and Anchor Steam beers plus many other craft and Belgium styles. The place has a relaxed atmosphere and is a great place for spending a few hours with friends chatting. Make sure you take a look downstairs, it is a pretty unique pub already but it's made even more so by the brilliant downstairs.

A nice, but quite small pub which isn't gay at all. The bar staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about the various drinks they sell. The pub also plays host to the Eggshell Life Drawing sessions, something which I go to whenever I get the chance. Nothing beats having a couple of ciders in the basement of a pub while drawing a naked young lady.

Friendly staff, fantastic cocktails and a buzzing atmosphere make the Black Dove a compelling place to drink at. I really enjoyed my couple of nights drinking there, the DJ played some fresh tunes and the bar staff put real care into making cocktails and knew their beers. Well worth a visit!

Great, relaxed place where the owner and staff are genuinely friendly and tell you all about the cocktails and speciality beers and organic wines they offer. It's nice to be able to enjoy well made cocktails in a relaxed fun place.

A comfortable and friendly bar with exceptional selection of high quality booze... Best g&t in town!

Great venue, cosy, cool, relaxed, in a great part of town aswell. Brooklyn beer on draught, lovely, but the wait to get served can be tedious, if your gonna make cocktails you gotta be quick, and they ain´t. ALL I want is a beer, a Brooklyn beer,thats why I come here, oh and its a nice place to sit. Best come in the week, when all the London riff raff have buggered off.

If you havn't tried this place, which you probably haven't, I'd really recommend giving it a go. It is a fairly odd mixture of things in that the cocktails and decor of the place make you think it should be some swanky exlusive wine bar full of toffs and the type, yet behind the bar you get tatooed and bearded bar men that look like they're fresh from a biking trip. Add in the great selection of beers, ciders, fresh pork scratchings and local food and you get a really great place where you can sit in comfort, listen to good music and relax! It is new idependent and hip. I've spent many night here and never failed to have a good time.

There is a big problem with pubs in Britain. Almost all are owned by bigger corporations and are forced into buying from a a set menu of beers and other drinks. The ones that aren't, do not have the buying power of the chains and end up paying alot more for the same drinks. They therefore cannot compete with the other pubs and shut down or are bought out. This isn't just the obvious Wether Spoons etc almost every pub in Brighton , and the rest of the country is owned by a larger company. The Black Dove is one of the very very few true independent pubs in Brighton. It gets around the aforementioned problem by not going near the standard drinks, and instead having an eclectic mix of beers and spirits ffrom around the world. The staff are very knowledgeable, and always willling to recommendmend something new and different. They have some great whiskeys and make an awesome old fashioned. the place looks great too. Give it a go it will become your regular in no time!

really do want to like this pub: It's well decorated with ephemera, has nice cosy seats and is quite mellow. It's beer selection is decent if not spectacular. Apparently, it has a nice range of cocktails. So far, so good... My recent visit was cut short by two of the most inept bartenders it's been my displeasure to come across. The bar was busy and myself and two other customers (a girl who was there before me and an elderly gentleman) were waiting to be served, and uh... waiting to be served. Meanwhile, one bartender was fiddling about with god knows what under the counter while the other was seemingly engaged in a novel-length chat with a frankly ordinary pale ale. They both ignored those waiting. The girl left with a roll of her eyes at me. I attempted to remonstrate with the one bartender who barked at me' be right with you buddy,' By this point I'd been at the bar for a full ten minutes. The pale ale conversation continued and 'buddy' bartender started chatting to an admittedly pretty girl at the other end of the bar, flashing me occasional daggers. I left. In the interests of full disclosure, I was a bartender for 8 years in San Francisco then became a bar-owner and this level of 'customer service' just wouldn't wash there and should not wash in trendy Brighton. Avoid.

give this place a wide berth, they sell piss poor over priced beer and that's if you manage to actually get one. the bar staff are friggin useless. my friend and I waited 20 mins for drinks whilst they mixed up cocktails for other folk. tries very hard to be cool but fails 'big time'