The Dover Castle Pub in Brighton and Hove

Pubs in Brighton, as anywhere, have their ups and downs. The Dover Castle is definitely experiencing an up atm. A friendly, welcoming pub with a warm atmosphere. Food is really good, staff very friendly, beer good too. Good to see a busy pub with a mix of customers. Will be revisiting soon 😃

I'd an awful pain in me gulliver so I thought pop by for a chasha of nut brown ale. The nice ded at the bar shouted that I'd not to sit there on occasion of it being reserved so I took myself and my plamful of cutter elsewhere, finding some of my droogs in a nearby alehouse. I can't say much of the Dover on account of my not being there for long. The temperature was fine enough that me glazziez went all moloko soft. I saw there were a bunber of drinks on offer but I did not partake.

The Smorls menu is delicious. All vegan, and very tasty. Good prices. They have the Sussex game Toad, in the main bar area and out in the sunny garden. Lovely, friendly staff 💕

Friendly pub with amazing pub games and good range of drinks. Refreshment after a walk up the hill.

One of the best pubs in brighton!! Staff always friendly , food and drink really good , decoration amazing - so proud to call this my local!!

Lovely pub, lovely cold lager. Steps at the main door on Southover Street but you might get a wheelchair possibly through the beer-garden door(round the corner on Islingword Street)

Lovely pub and great music. Lovely atmosphere.

Nice pub, nice staff, good atmosphere. Only downside is it being a Shepherd Neame pub

Traditional , old school pub , friendly staff and good food , great range of locals beers and ales . Dog and child friendly and small pub garden / yard a bonus .we enjoyed the Italian burger, with mozzarella and pesto, which was great .

Great museum, go out of season, half price and half the crowds.

Probably the best pub in the world!

Best Sunday roast in Hanover area. Easy burgers and tacos to accompany pub drinking time on other days- nothing fancy but good standard. Excellent atmosphere, good for a night out or family time. Comfortable and characterful, with a large garden. Two toads tables. Often live music. Also very gold for a boardgame session as nice sized tables. Fire in the winter and fun seasonal decorations.

Great atmosphere, amazing food and toads tables. Beers not to shabby either.

Always a decent burger or loaded fries in here, and we like sitting in the conservatory.

Excellent pub, fantastic staff and lovely food!

Lovely Sunday roast with lots of veg. Friendly staff in a great pub. As it was Mothers Day we got a complimentary dessert too!

Went for the first time today and we had the roast lamb which was great! Really good sized tasty roast, my only criticism would be we weren’t keen on their twist on the Yorkshire puddings! They were yellow and had a taste we weren’t so keen on. Some things are great as they are and don’t need the twist on them. Otherwise good roast recommended

Didn't eat - had a few glasses of wine. Played some Toad

Great old pub, friendly bar staff, reasonably priced drinks. Worth a visit.

Just went for drinks and to play toad.

Super little pub, well recommended

Went to celebrate a birthday. Drinks were reasonably priced. Entertainment was top - think Teeny Turner, Techno Bingo and some party time techno DJs. Spacious smoking area with heaters. Clean toilets. Bar staff were great, lost a star coz not always on the ball with who's next but on a busy Sat night what do you expect? Food was really filling and tasty!

Fantastic vibe and service toby the owner is so accommodating and Billie goes above and beyond see you again soon

Great Sunday lunch. I had the slow cooked belly pork which was great, Choice on Sunday is Beef, Lamb, Chicken, Pork or vegan Wellington. This was followed by some excellent live jazz music from 5.30pm. Beer was good so all in all a fantastic afternoon and evening.

Great! Lovely homely little pub. They serve good food and have a half price burger day. We went on a Fri evening and there was live music, a guy and an acoustic guitar. Sang a great mix of music and original songs, his friend was with him and joined him for a couple of tracks. A good time was had by all.

Fantastic pub. Friendly staff, relaxing environment, great choice of drinks. Highly recommend if you’re in the area.

A decent pub halfway up Southover Street so it’s a bit of a hefty climb to get here. It wasn’t too busy on a Saturday, but there was a reasonable selection of beers and a few people having a go at toad in the hole which was a nice touch. Price wise it was pretty standard and the barman was quite friendly. The outside space feels in need of a bit of tlc though. It could have great potential on a nice day with a tidy up. All in all not bad for a quick visit. Update following reply: Great to hear the garden is being worked on. Will be a nice spot once done.

We dropped in here after a morning of flat hunting in Brighton. The interior of the bar is beautifully decorated and the bar staff give us a warm welcome. We didn't have much time to spare so settled on paninis. But what paninis! South African Borworst, Pulled Pork & Prawn, and Salt Beef, all beautifully garnished and served on boards (love'em or hate'em). We all agreed they were delicious and not overpriced. Good choice of beers, good music, a lovely secret garden outside. What's not to like? Well, local parking is a challenge around the Hanover district in Brighton and arrival of the food was a little on the slow side, but we were pressed for time. All in all a really good experience in a highly competitive area for pubs.

It's been years since I last visited but as it had been a very hot day, the pub was close by and I remembered that they had a nice little outside courtyard it seemed a good choice for an evening drink. The interior looks a lot nicer than when I last saw it. The barman was welcoming and friendly. The outside area had 2 large circular bench tables and there was also some more relaxed seating under cover. Loved all the quirky artistic and humorous touches that make it interesting and attractive. Food was great though you need a hearty appetite for the tapas, little dishes they were not but delicious they were! Nice relaxed place. Looks like they have quite a few events there too. As the night wore on and the fairy lights sparkled I thought that if I lived in Brighton I'd probably make it my local!

Despite the significant mental investment in this place in the last year, we had failed to give it a go. I find Shepherd Neame ales particularly difficult so have never been a regular here. However the offer of a Pop Up kitchen (Kit-Gum East African Street Food) was tempting enough to get us across the threshold. I was surprised to see a guest ale or two which was a good start. The wine by the glass was ok but the general feel of the place really struck you – warm, cosy and welcoming – albeit the bar staff were not particularly - however Mr Pop Up was a delight. The other drinkers and diners, and there were plenty in evidence on a Wednesday evening, generated a collaborative feel of pleasantness. The food was excellent and I’ll look out for more, I noted there are regular Pop Up kitchens to keep me interested, the previous stock fare didn’t appeal.

Good varied menu. Amazing burgers, great fries, fresh salads. I’ll be back.

The Dover Castle has had mixed fortunes over the years and a number of different Managers. 10 years ago you could barely get a seat as it was probably amongst the most popular of Hanover's many pubs. Great food, music and atmosphere. There was a period a few years ago when it really struggled with it's identity and this was clear as it was struggling to get customers through the door. However it is now much more on form and any reviews before the early part of 2015 should be discounted as they predate the current team. The atmosphere is much changed now and has a warm and cool vibe. The variety of music, food and events are good and it's great to see it busy again. I went in a few weeks ago for a roast and whilst not perfect was very nice indeed. Beautifully cooked pork - very well cooked with lovely crackling - and tasty veg - although the cabbage and cumin seeds didn't work for me. Well worth a visit.

Had a really good lunch today. Had BBC burgers, Cajun Cod burger, fishcakes, kids Sausage and mash, deserts. All really tasty and lovely friendly staff,(lovely Estonian lady with the glasses). Only v.small comment would be not to put black pepper in the kids meals mash.I loved it but small child noticed it straight away!

We ate here a bunch of times because it was so reliable and excellent! Wicked breakfasts!

I absolutely loved it ❤️ Food was amazing, service amazing and the atmosphere was great 🙂 both me and my partner loved it so much we will definitely be going back there again 😀

Lovely little pub. Great staff. Pub food with veggie options. We only called in for afternoon drinks but it was very enjoyable. Lovely atmosphere.

Had a great evening of food followed by a game of toad I'm the hole.

Saturday afternoon, it was quiet but great beer and a lovely interesting lady behind bar.

Great friendly local Hanover pub. Some cheap beers.

A warm welcome from Louise for a lone visitor to Brighton. An ale in good condition, too.

Awesome food, especially on Sundays. Really friendly staff and customers. Nice local pub feel. Lots of tables. Outside area. Big sound system. Log fire. Dog friendly. Gluten free food (the bun in the photo is gluten free).

I never write reviews. The chef at the Dover modifies the menu for me as a follow a ketogenic diet. Today he did pan fried hake on a bed of shredded cabbage with some slivers of tomato served with broccoli and cauliflower. (And probably other stuff) The seasoning was superb I cannot think of any fault or any way he could have made this better. I never give top marks. This was 10/10

Just been taken over the people in the bar are really friendly so helpful and it’s just a nice place to go and chill out and have a nice beer recommend it

It was a sad day but well enjoyed it R.I.P ADAM

We visited this restaurant this Sunday lunchtime. Loads of staff around and very pleasant. We thought it was a family run restaurant - it had that sort of feel - I was surprised to find it part of a chain. All the portions were on the large side - not the usual severe portion control in place. We both had lamb shanks - really good. All in all it was a very nice lunch - we will certainly go back again especially as it seems deals are to be had.

Greeted by welcoming staff Food was good quality,good choice on menu Negative: a little dark around table need more lighting or candle maybe Would visit again

Great food, friendly staff and great beer selection

Amazing service, great vibes, and Swedish meatballs so good they make you want to cry. Strongly recommend.

...The floorspace here is ample and set out open-plan like a big lounge. The dark wood floor, large carpets, bright blue walls, high ceiling and big communal tables in the windows. The reputable burgers by Jason Bear in the kitchen are well worth a trip, they’re great value and offer some excellent vegetarian and vegan options, offering variety to those going meat-free and not just a token option. This is a chilled out Shepherd Neame pub offering lots of space, relaxation, reputable burgers and a great backyard... Full writeup and loads more on my blog site

Good point Guinness, Great Barr staff. Haven't eaten there yet but will be doing shortly . Food looks good

Proper Brighton pub with tons of friendly atmosphere, decent food and a good range of drinks.

Great pub with live music. Good food and range of beers.

Lovely little pub. Great staff. Pub food with veggie options. We only called in for afternoon drinks but it was very enjoyable. Lovely atmosphere.

Excellent service for the week I was in Brighton.

Really great Sunday Roast (recommend with cauliflower cheese and pigs in blankets). Friendly staff, nice vibe and ales from Shepherd Neame. There’s something very special about the Yorkshire Puddings!

Professional run pub, great burgers, nice atmosphere, really enjoyed my visit

Food is always AMAZING and the staff are so lovely! The Dover Castle one of my favourite pubs and I would highly recommend :)

Comfortable dining pub. Nice atmosphere and friendly bar staff

Airy and light, with plenty of room between tables. Super friendly. Good Roast.

Excellent roast. very impressed!

Good food, relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff.

A wonderful meal and a great old fashion pub.

Came for lunch with friends, I had the bear cheese burger , with chips, it was very tasty, lots of choice of ales and beer and great service

Nice relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff and a good selection of drinks. Very roomy with outdoor space which is good for relieving COVID anxiety! Have been going for years and couldn't recommend more.

There are several pubs along Southover Street, Brighton but the Dover Castle has always been my favourite. It has changed hands several times during my intermittent visits over the last 25 years, which has resulted in changes to decor and food but I have enjoyed them all. However after my visit the other Sunday, I'd say that the current landlords are definitely leading the way with the food! The roast dinner was outstanding. I had the beef and my friend had the roast chicken. Loved all the different types of veg, the gravy, the lot! It was a good job that we'd missed breakfast because it was a very generous portion too! Topped off with friendly service, this is still my favourite Southover Street pitstop.

As an ice-cream addict this now my first choice in town 🍦🤤

Best Sunday roast I've ever had, my mind was blown and remains so. The decor is lovely, the staff are kind and accomodating. We were originally given an outdoor table, but as soon as one inside was available it was offered to us. There wasn't a single thing on my plate that didn't make me audibly moan with delight. I am ruined for all future roasts.

Great pub and atmosphere. We attended a builders convention here last friday night😂

Lovely atmosphere with lovely and friendly staff.

Amazing for football and food I love it although they are loosing money by not putting more people serving drinks if your coming here for football double up on your drinks other than that it's great

Great food. Great service. Great pub!!

Like an old friend came to visit. Lovely being out again and sitting in the garden. Lovely people, lively place.

Nice staff and lovely food. I will came back.

Delicious roasts and lovely decor

Lovely dog friendly pub. Visited on Sunday with family. The staff were were very friendly and welcoming. The roast were amazing and up there with one of the best I've had. Thank you for a lovely experience. X

Nice place. Went for Sunday roast and the lamb was very tasty. The pub is big with an external garden. Variety of beer. Children friendly.

Burgers were great! Landlord is a lovely guy as well. Nice they have measures in place so you feel comfortable and outdoor seating so you're not cramped together.

This pub is so great. I love the relaxed atmosphere and the great choice of lagers. The bar staff are always brilliant, friendly and welcoming. I would recommend this pub x

Warm and friendly pub with nice atmosphere.

Nice beer & good food. Perfect place for a Sunday lunchtime

Had a roast dinner here ,good value for money would definitely recommend.

Great roast, cosy pub, worth the walk up the hill. Check out the tiniest bookshop in Brighton while you're there

El servicio fue excelente y creo que el ambiente siempre es muy bueno en el pub. Los asados venían con una gran cantidad de verduras, pudines de Yorkshire en todos y la carne sabía a calidad. La única desventaja fue que todas nuestras comidas eran frías. Vergüenza. Podría posponernos de nuevo.

Great Sunday roasts that are served till late

Amazing decent size pub. Right balance between a real pub and a poncy bar. Nice selection of beers, lovely people and a good back garden.

Lovely, cosy pub with great food.

A really good Sunday roast. Quality food. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Top marks.

Great atmosphere, staff went out of their way to accommodate our drinks choice. Recommended.

Fortunately, we had booked a place for Sunday lunch as this venue was heaving. Despite this, staff were entirely fantastic, charming and beyond helpful. When our food arrived, it was evident why the Dover Castle was as popular as it was, as the food was fresh and everything on the plate tasted positively exquisite. I wish I were more local, as I'm very keen to return. Thank you very much for a lovely meal and for making us feel so welcome despite your popularity.

Came for dinner with new housemate. Had a burger the wild one, it came with blue cheese. Was delicious. Nice ales great staff

A crowd of us were sampling the delights of the Southover street hostelries ie out on a pub crawl and this pub came out as our favourite. Lovely ambience and bubbly barmaid, good selection of drinks. Lovely pub.

Decent local with good beer, solid grub and a nice little outside area. Dog friendly.

Roomer has it theres a Bear going there:)

The burgers are amazing! Even the chickpea one. Yum.

El personal del bar era encantador, pero no compensaba la comida basura. Se habían quedado sin asados los domingos, bastante bien, pero lo que nos sirvieron fue insultante, había ordenado una ensalada que era realmente pobre en guacamole, como se anunciaba, no se agregó, 'hojas' eran lechugas trituradas redondas que por la cantidad de grano claramente no había sido lavado. El queso de coliflor como guarnición estaba frío.Mi compañero tenía hamburguesa, bueno, pero las patatas fritas apenas estaban cocidas. No hay ensalada según lo ordenado o guarnición de ningún tipo.Muy decepcionante.Volviendo a los gansos por el camino.

Best roast I've had in a long time. Big portions and there were six different variety of vegetables alongside my chicken. Lovely creamy swede and parsnip amongst them.

A very friendly local pub with great food.

We had a great roast thìs afternoon

Nice pub, tasty generous sunday roast for a reasonable price.

A delicious lunch in my case lamb