Hove Restaurant Guide

“Now a major fixture on the Hove scene” – this neighbourhood deli-restaurant and wine shop (founded in 2015) makes a “lovely place to drop into and hang out at” and as a result is also a “destination for many” nowadays. Arguably “it’s all about the wine”: “a vast interesting aperitif offering and extensive selection of wine from the shelves”. But the “beautiful and clever” small dishes are “creative” too (and at weekends, a tasting menu is served). “Exactly what you hope eating out will be. You can also buy the wine and take out cheese. Perfect!”.

“A good alternative to The Gingerman” (and featuring some of their staff), this “pricey but stand-out” two-year-old bistro is “simply the best neighbourhood restaurant you could wish for”; in addition to the “interesting” seasonal dishes, the wine list generates particular excitement – “there are longer ones for sure but few pack in so much variety. It's a list written for wine lovers and sommelier Rob will guide you to a great bottle”.

It’s a case of ‘Back to the Future’ at this beautifully situated site on the front, which operated here under the Due South name from 2004-2011, before becoming Riddle & Finns on the Beach. In May 2021, owner Rob Shenton decided to return to its former branding, having moved Riddle & Finns on the Beach to a new location nearby. No reports of the new, er old, regime as yet.

A pub “for lovers of fruits de mer”, washed down with Larrikin craft beers from the on-site brewery. There’s “a short menu which could change a little more, but simple pub grub this ain’t” – and the “excellent seafood is so so delicious”.

Steven Edwards’s cooking is “breathtakingly good” at this converted bank in Hove, near the seafront, where diners can choose to eat five, seven or nine courses. The venue from a MasterChef: The Professionals winner has lived up to its early promise, generating enough trade to justify expansion and redesign, completed in late 2021, which has increased its size, taken on a new monochrome look and created a subterranean bar. There’s also a “great range of exceptional and different wines from across the world”.

“Just fantastic”, say fans of this Hove gastropub-with-rooms (from the local Gingerman group), which generates nothing but enthusiastic feedback. “I’ve been here lots, eaten lots of croquettes and pies, and every time it’s a winner…”, “year after year there’s nowhere better for wonderful seasonal local food”.

2018 Review: A “really well-executed” two-year-old, on the former premises of Graze, and clad in verdant Victorian metro tiles; it combines a “fun atmosphere” and locally sourced small plates.

“Duncan Ray is one of the UK’s best but relatively unsung chefs”, say fans of his “small but perfectly formed” Hove 20-seater. “He continues to put 100% into improving the entire offer, not just the omakase-inspired tasting menu” (fish-centric, and entirely prepared by the aptly named Ray) “which is more sophisticated and delicious than ever, but also refurbished surroundings and a new front-of-house team”.

“Simply fabulous every time we go and never failing to be both brilliant and very relaxed” – Ben & Pamela McKellar's “small, intimate” stalwart (the founding stone in the Ginger empire) continues to please its veritable army of fans.

2019 Review: “Fun Mexican, a notch above nearby chains” – this two-storey Hove newcomer is larger than its six-year-old sibling on Gloucester Road in North Laine, and also takes bookings (at the original it’s just for larger parties). You can also just roll up for drinks here (there’s an extensive mescal list).

Great British Menu winner Michael Bremner’s sibling to 64 Degrees, right under The Arches on the seafront, makes a “great place to eat outside by the promenade and watch the world go by while eating delicious fish!”. Feedback this year did suggest, however, that it's been “slightly off its game very recently”, with a number of reports featuring meals that were “a bit of a mixed bag”.

Close to the British Airways i360 observation tower, Brighton’s brand-new seafront food hall has launched in a restored Victorian building with a line-up of seven self-service eateries led by Sussex chefs, plus craft beer, wine and cocktail bars. Of particular note: Pan, from high-end chicken shop Lost Boys; Worthing golden boy Kenny Tutt's Ox Block for a Robata grill experience; and Brighton favourites VIP Pizza. The outdoor terrace is a real winner, too.

“The restaurant I return to again and again” – “once you’ve had the ridiculously tender pork belly or the hot, sweet and crispy Korean chicken wings you will be addicted” to David Miney’s elongated izakaya; even better, “unless you get seriously stuck into the sake list it's impossible to run up a big bill here”.

“Amazing fish and chips” of the old-school variety make this traditional seafront operation “a bit of an anachronism” in trendy contemporary Brighton – “but all the better for it”. There’s an “outstanding range of fresh fish and seafood”, all at “good-value” prices – no wonder it’s “always busy”.