The 13 best beer gardens in Brighton (according to readers)

For many, principle among them will be April 12.

Non-essential retail can reopen, hairdressers are back (thank goodness) and outdoor attractions are able to welcome visitors.

Alongside this, hospitality venues are able to serve outdoor customers again. And yes, that includes pubs.

So, with al fresco beverages set to be the order of the day, we asked you which pub in Brighton and Hove had the best beer garden, and why?

Here is what you said:

Ye Olde Black Horse - High Street, Rottingdean

1. Ye Olde Black Horse - High Street, Rottingdean

The runaway winner with a staggering amount of support from customers was Ye Olde Black Horse in Rottingdean.

After asking you for your favourite beer gardens in the city, we were flooded with submissions for this venue, which falls just within the eastern boundary of Brighton and Hove.

Jackie Jolly said a visit to the pub's beer garden was "like a trip to the Caribbean" while Glenda Hughes said the "lovely staff" had gone to great lengths to make the venue Covid-secure during the pandemic.

Josie Jakub said: "It has to be Ye Olde Black Horse in Rottingdean. Their garden has little water fountains, incredible art on the garden walls, more flowers than Chelsea and incredible furnishings..

"It's one of the most historic pubs in Rottingdean and it's (just a few) steps from the beach. It’s the best."

And Rosalind Taylor said she could not wait to get back to the pub when lockdown restrictions were lifted.

"It has the most stunning garden and the best hosts and team who are so friendly and work very hard at giving the best possible service," she said.

2. Block Bar - St James's Street, Brighton

Another name which cropped up over and over again in our hunt for Brighton's best beer garden was Block Bar.

Philip Danvers said the deceptively spacious seating area at the back of the property is "delightful" with an "Ibiza vibe" while another Argus reader described it as a "hidden gem".

Tony Berry said: "It is most definitely Block Bar in St James's Street. Great food, and the coolest beer garden in Brighton."

The Waggon and Horses in Brighton

3. Waggon and Horses - Church Street, Brighton

For those looking for an al fresco tipple in the city centre, look no further than the Waggon and Horses in Church Street.

The seating area out the front of the pub means customers can kick back and relax while staying close to the action, just a few minutes walk from the likes of seafront, North Street and West Street.

Thomas Carron was one of those to nominate the site, saying there was "only one place in Brighton" that sprung to mind when he was asked to choose his favourite beer garden.

Gary Payne said: "In the centre of Brighton, you can’t beat sitting outside the Waggon and Horses and watching the world go by."

4. Hove Place - First Avenue, Hove

After enjoying trips out to the east of Brighton, and then back into the city centre, this is our first entry to venture further west and into Hove.

Mark Packwood said the site had a "great secret garden" and challenged others to track it down.

"You've got to find it first," he said. "It's amazing how many people miss it."

The Italian gardens are described as "the perfect sun trap", but if natural warmth fails it also has outdoor heaters to keep customers comfortable.

5. Blind Busker - Church Road, Brighton

After weeks of lockdown restrictions, Richard Marchant said he "can't bl***y wait" to get back to the outdoor seating area at the Blind Busker.

The peculiarly named pub claims it gained its moniker from local man "Blind Harry Vowles", who used to drink there in the early 1900s.

"He and others were often seen playing accordions and other musical instruments beneath the Angel of Peace statue; these folk were known as the ‘Brighton Characters," the pub's website states.

The Ladies Mile pub in Patcham is one of the Brighton venues continuing the Eat Out to Help Out scheme throughout September

6. The Ladies Mile - Mackie Avenue, Patcham

From east to west, and now north, our virtual crawl around Brighton's best beer gardens next takes us to The Ladies Mile in Patcham.

The community pub offers a range of cask ales, lagers and wines alongside freshly-cooked food courtesy of Tisbury's Kitchen, which is based at the pub.

It offers plenty of outdoor seating at the front of the building, as well as a child-friendly garden with a play area.

The Ladies Mile was Nick Brazier's go-to beer garden in Brighton.

"It has great staff and there is always a good atmosphere," he said.

7. The Open House - Springfield Road, Brighton

This site in Springfield Road, next to London Road Station, was nominated by Leanne Lange.

It boasts "one of the largest and most attractive beer gardens in Brighton" with heated pods, expansive covered areas and tables able to make the most of the summer sun.

8. The Garden Bar - Portland Road, Hove

Lisa Fulbrook and Hayley Jade Slaughter threw their support behind The Garden Bar in Hove.

The large venue has the capacity to host functions for up to 250 guests, and it really comes alive when the sun comes out and it is able to utilise its outdoor areas.

Owners also claim to have "the biggest barbecue on the south coast" in their beer garden, which is sure to draw a crowd each summer.

9. The Railway Inn - Station Road, Portslade

Keifer Meredith said his local, The Railway Inn, "has the best beer garden".

Aptly named due to its proximity to Portslade Railway Station, the pub has an outdoor area which is extremely popular with publicans.

"It has a large sunny beer garden that wraps around the back of the pub, a cosy side garden with booths and a two-level dedicated function room for hire,

"It's got plenty of space for friends, colleagues and the whole family to come and relax or celebrate a special occasion," the pub's website states.

10. The Brunswick - Holland Road, Hove

Described as a "1930s pub with lots of character", the Brunswick is known for its offering of live music and events.

It also offers a huge, decked outdoor space perfect for warmer weather.

This earned nominations from Carlie Tompsett and Karen Boxall in our search for Brighton's best beer garden.

But its reputation appears to have exceeded the city's limits, with one reviewer on TripAdvisor proclaiming it the "best beer garden ever".

"The beer garden is a great size and is perfect in the sunny weather. Great food, all the burgers and they are all divine," she said.

Rockwater Shacks

11. Rockwater Hove - Western Esplanade, Hove

The newly-built seafront site offers enviable views over Hove beach from its rooftop terrace.

Plenty of readers agreed with Richard Whittington when he said that, when the site is allowed to reopen, he believes it will be the best place to enjoy a drink outdoors in the city due to its "amazing sea views and sunsets".

12. Sidewinder - Upper St James's Street, Kemp Town

The beer garden at the back of Sidewinder in Kemp Town was put forward by Lauren Andrew.

The pub is now taking bookings for tables in its attractive beer garden, with owners jokingly celebrating the ditching of the mind-boggling substantial meal rule on its website.

The turfed outdoor courtyard really comes alive at night, with wooden tables laid out underneath multicoloured lights strung from the surrounding walls and a tree growing in its centre.

13. The King and Queen Pub - Marlborough Place, Brighton

The largest pub in Brighton also boast one of the city's biggest beer gardens.

The interior is a football-lover's dream, with screens and projectors galore showing thousands of matches each year.

The pub is rich in history, built as a farmhouse in 1779.

Fittingly, it describes its beer garden as a "paved courtyard" which "flanks the nobleman's hall".

The spacious site is a favourite of Danielle Morrison.