Harden's survey result
Summary
“Great seafood” has long made this Lanes institution – one of the UK’s truly venerable restaurants, dating from the 1890s and run by the Leigh-Jones family since 1945 – something of a “Brighton favourite”. “If you can bag a table outside in the sun on the Lanes, with the hustle and bustle of the town around you and your partner opposite, the world will be good”.
Summary
A “usually buzzing venue in the centre of Brighton serving great fish dishes” (including “lovely lobster thermidor”) since 1945 under current owners the Leigh-Jones family – and around since way back in the 1890s. The terrace is perfect for soaking up sunny days amid the appealing bustle of the Lanes.
Summary
One of England’s oldest restaurants: the Leigh-Jones family’s seafood period-piece, in the Lanes – run by the clan since 1945, but established in the 1890s – has a “huge number of things to recommend”, not least its “lovely fresh local oysters and mussels” and an outside terrace for sunny days.
Summary
One of England’s oldest restaurants: the Leigh-Jones family’s seafood period-piece, in the Lanes – run by the clan since 1945, but established in the 1890s – has a “huge number of things to recommend”, not least its “lovely fresh local oysters and mussels” and an outside terrace for sunny days.
For 32 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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Restaurant details
English’s Restaurant Diner Reviews

"Always a pleasure to dine here but the food quality does vary. Safer to stick to the traditional seafood dishes some of the other choices are hit and miss"
Prices
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Wine per bottle | £24.00 |
Filter Coffee | £2.75 |
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Bread | £4.50 |
Service | 12.50% |
29-31 East St, Brighton, BN1 1HL
Opening hours
Monday | 12 pm‑6 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
Tuesday | 12 pm‑6 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
Wednesday | 12 pm‑6 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
Thursday | 12 pm‑6 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
Friday | 12 pm‑6 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
Saturday | 12 pm‑6 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
Sunday | 12 pm‑6 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm |
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