Brighton Rocks

Slip down this ally from near the top of St James St and you’ll find this gastro-cocktail bar, with a quirky, stripped floorboard interior and some pleasant, heated outdoor seating on the decking outside. The stocked-to-overflowing bar says it all: cocktails are serious fun here and cocktail-making lessons can also be arranged. It’s not all about the spirits, though – there’s a good range of wines, beers and cider too — and the menu is firmly in gastropub territory. Bar snacks include black pudding duck scotch egg with plum sauce or chicken katsu with tonkatsu sauce. Mains are substantial, bistro-style dishes, with plenty of vegetarian options. Sunday roasts are popular and often sell out. There’s also a private bar which can be hired for parties of up to 70 people.