The Pond in Brighton and Hove

I really appreciated the wicked vegan options

Great pub, seems like a lot of people reserve tables ahead of time. Wanted to try the Bao buns but it was pretty busy and there was no where to sit.

Un miembro del personal del bar dio su opinión desinformada sobre la seguridad de los alimentos en su menú. Se trataba específicamente de patatas fritas cargadas y de la cuestión de si las patatas fritas y los ingredientes contenían trigo. “Debería estar bien” no fue lo menos tranquilizador y por eso se solicitó el consejo del chef. La actualización de la cocina fue que las papas fritas estaban recubiertas solo con harina de maíz. Como tal, se hizo el pedido. Había pedido que se quitara la cobertura de Teryaki, ya que normalmente contiene trigo (contrariamente a la creencia del miembro del personal del bar). Las papas fritas llegaron asfixiadas en salsa de soja. ¡La salsa de soja contiene trigo! Había tenido una larga conversación con el miembro del personal del bar y se consultó a la cocina y, sin embargo, la comida todavía llegó insegura para mí a ella. Se hizo evidente que el ‘chef’ no está entrenado. ¿No hemos aprendido nada del incidente de Pret?

hofmeister on tap! One of the few laces this excellent beer is available in Brighton. Lovely little pub near the station Most tables are reserved for food

Food was unreal, place is small and cosy but it was soooo busy and noisy couldn't move or hear anyone talk which is lovely for a drink but we were eating and right next the bar and the door.... maybe would add extra stars if we went on a quieter day or were seated upstairs. I would definitely go again just for the food the bao buns are 10/10 for vegetarians and meat eaters

My four word review: It tastes of LIES For full review including photos, see potato_world_and_beyond on Instagram!

The food was excellent 👌 very tasty bao buns

Good selection of beers and IPA’s, awesome food especially the Bao buns!

Fuimos caminando por Brighton buscando un lugar para cenar a mitad de semana. Sucedió al otro lado del charco que nos ha interesado ir por un tiempo. Logré atrapar una mesa. Tuvimos algo de comida encantadora, todo sazonado bien y muy sabroso. Una increíble selección de cervezas en el grifo también.

Bonito pub acogedor, buena selección de bebidas. La comida era encantadora, simplemente me pareció un poco demasiado aceitoso, pero podría haber sido debido a las elecciones que hice - el salmón teriyaki bao era sin duda el mejor!

Great place to chill and enjoy a beer

Great beer and the pork bao bun was a taste of heaven!

Great selection of drinks, kind and prompt staff, food was absolutely delicious - excellent visit. Beers will be on the expensive side but that's to be expected with local brews, but will absolutely return even just for the bao!

Hannah and Bridie are the best. Friendly, attentive and welcoming. Music was fab.

Great little pub, with the most outrageous bao buns. 10/10 pub

Waited at the bar for like 10 minutes while the girl makes two cocktails for someone else. Finally get served. Few rounds later a different bar girl drops a pint all over us. Sort of apologised, no free drinks or anything, bear in mind my mate is soaked. Accidents happen but I'm never coming here again. It sucked

We had our Xmas lunch and drinks there. Food is excellent and great service. Lovely staff, very warm, friendly and helpful

The best Bao Buns in Brighton. Can highly recommend the Pond chips too. Really fast service too on a busy Saturday evening. Yummmmmm!

Amazing food, the guys working with lovely and although it's a small venue downstairs it was lovely and homely!

¡WOW! Sin palabras. La comida era increíble, tan bueno tan sabroso! Saludos al chef y a todo el personal. Me sentí bienvenido todo el personal era genial y bien informado. Gracias. . . . definitivamente volviendo de nuevo. Muy recomendable.

Fantastic selection of reasonably priced craft beers, great range, most of them local. Delicious food - bao and sides all tasted fresh and flavourful. Excellent service, would recommend!

Amamzing pub, great atmosphere, yummy food and delicious drinks. Reasonably priced. Outstanding service - shout out to Lia!

Absolutely fabulous food! Such a destination place for bao buns and delicious sides. Service went above and beyond, and love how they serve local beers.

Cute little pub, has additional seating upstairs. The food is good, a little pricy for the size of portions but very tasty so worth the money. Has a nice selection of beer on tap including a good amount of craft beers

I squeezed a couple of days fat out of the tasteless prawn toast. My mate was excited to take me there and hasn't stopped apologising and telling me how good it used to be. We left the food and our beers. There won't be a next time. Too many decent places in Brighton to settle for dross.

Disgusting toilets. No urinaks working. One toilet with urine swilling over the floor. Really gross.

Couldn't order a burger (special order only) in a pub which is ludicrous even for a pub in brighton trying to trendy and hipster friendly. There was nothing wrong with the service although the guy with a top knot looked a little unclean/dirty. The atmosphere was abysmal, I felt like I aged 35 years whilst in there. Finally the salt and pepper was served in little tubs. Far too much for one person which left me wondering if the leftovers were just poured back into one big tub after being fingered by 150 different people. P.s. take out a loan if you want to buy drinks. (Expensive even for brighton city centre)

Very good selection of beer and lovely atmosphere. The foods a bit "meh" though, £7 for a bun I was hoping for more but it didn't really impress. Of the 3 we had the salmon one tasted awful and the pork and fried chicken ones were fine, not popping with flavour, just fine.

The Pond used to be our go to place for food and drinks on work lunches - the bao buns and Pond fries were legendary. So I booked to go with a friend last week and it's gone massively downhill. Toppings for the fries totally changed, the chips themselves greasy, everything else deep fried - including the fillings for the buns - I only managed a couple of bites of each dish before the amount of oil made my stomach hurt and I felt unwell for the rest of the evening. Staff and drinks still lovely but I would not recommend to eat here

Friendly and helpful staff. Top drawer food and beer. Lovely place.

On Thursday night I was greeted with a beautifully made margarita which I thoroughly enjoyed. The bao buns are tasty, chunky morsels, of which I could eat two or three. I ate one, but also shared chips and this was satisfying, though next time I will order two bao buns. I don't always like to share! Service was impeccable, staff are friendly, kind and considerate.

Acogedor pub con deliciosa comida picante asiática. OMG esas papas fritas cargadas son sensacionales, los bollos de bao de gran sabor y una buena selección de bebidas. Estaba un poco decepcionado con la tostada de langostinos como demasiado aceitoso, lo que lo hizo no comestible, pero todo lo demás estaba delicioso.

Great food staff music and decor

Been here few times and always found it very cool. Nice buzzing atmosphere, good and quick service and good selection of craft beers. Popped in for a quick pint before i start my walk around. The smell of food from my next table was mouthwatering so next i’ll be there for food 😋

Came for some lunch and got the tofu bao and the daikon bao. Both were absolutely delicious and drinks were great too. Definitely on the more expensive side though, would’ve been nice to get some sides for the baos considering the price. Staff very friendly and helpful.

First of all really enjoyed the music, I think I heard Q-Tip and some Wu Tang. Top stuff. Good helpful staff. But the food, wow. Fried Chicken Bao with a lovely garnish and the Prawn Toast, absolutely amazing. When I come back to Brighton I'll be coming back here for sure. Oh and the chips, crispy and crunchy.

Nice pub, that does tasty food and a good beer selection.

Really nice place with a great vibe..!

Classic pub with a large selection of beers. Try the house beer: Pondwater IPA is super delicious.

Great food, great drink selection and great atmosphere

Pretty and a little hidden (far from ambient noise), the pond is a great place for those who are hungry.

Fun pub, games upstairs. Lots of lovely beers.

I've explored countless bao spots across both London and Brighton, from the trendy spots to the hidden gems. But nothing compares to the incredible experience I had here in Brighton. Even some of the most talked-about places in London, like Flesh & Buns, can't hold a candle to this spot. The bao buns here are next-level—bursting with flavor, perfectly crafted, and incredibly affordable. Brighton may have a thriving food scene, but this place stands out by a mile. If you're searching for the best bao in town, look no further. This is the real deal, and it puts the overpriced London options to shame.

Great pub just off the laines with a nice draught beer selection (usually with gluten free options) and a small terrace too.

beer choice was good, but a bit of a let down as I thought they would have more choices for a microbrewery. Bao bun was so good but tiny bit overprice for my taste. Over all very good place and I would recommand

The fried chicken Bao Buns and the chips were amazing. Great place and the staff were super friendly, I'll be back. :-)

Wow what an experience! Ellis was so helpful in picking out a beer to our taste, what delightful staff! Would recommend to anyone coming to Brighton. Food is also amazing! Defo worth a visit !

Very early in here today but the Beer was lovely, and the bao bun was amazing

Pleasant enough place, enjoyed a beer and G&T outside. Service ok and range of beers good.

Great atmosphere, friendly staff and most importantly amazing food - the best we've had in a while!

My sister and I shared the vegan chicken skewers and they were so tasty. We also both got the tempura tofu bao and it was incredible! The price was reasonable (£7 per bun £7 for two skewers). I would recommend, especially if you're vegan/vegetarian.

Always love this place for beers and bao

After having a fabulous meal at a local venue my friends and I decided to visit the Pond for a nightcap. On entering the premises I tripped down a badly lit step (which I have photographic evidence)and was then subsequently refused a drink by the bar staff as i was deemed too intoxicated. I can assure you I was not, in fact far from it. She then complained to the venue bouncer that I had shouted and used profanities..At no time did this happen I had simply asked why I was refused and commented that I was not drunk. I will not be returning to this place and I would advise anyone who would visit at night to be very wary of the darkened step, you may also trip and be accused of being 'too drunk'

Nice food but staff not very friendly. Maybe they were a bit too busy but they were very stressed and unfortunately a bit rude. The manager with the moustache might benefit from for further training.

Great selection of drinks, with fantastic food to compliment it. Staff are friendly and welcoming also!

Worst pub in Brighton. No gin in gin tonic and awful barman..awful awful. Never ever again. DISGUSTING we will report you to trading standards you are TheWorstPubInBrighton and beyond Yuk

Very nice pub with an outside area and a great array of craft beers, including a couple of excellent IPAs. Seating upstairs and downstairs. Friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Such a nice atmosphere! The staff are so friendly. Lovely food but wish there were as many vegan options as there was on the previous menu. We had vegan chicken skewers, crispy mushrooms, fries and spring onion + miso mayo.

Incredible pub, lovely beer, lovely staff, the pork bao bun was the best bao bun I’ve ever eaten

Food is great, good selection of beer that is rotated often - staff very happy to share their knowledge

Don’t bother! Most unfriendly pub in Brighton! Not welcome if wearing Brighton colours in your own city! Jog on mate! U luv Man U fans!

Pub in an unassuming location close to the railway station, boasting an excellent selection of local beers and a friendly bar crew. Perfect for a relaxed pint. Few tourists.

we came in a couple weeks ago and had the best time, the staff were super friendly and great- especially our server Daisy, she was really kind, we aren't local so asked her for recommendations and she gave us lots of fun things to do! Food was great and a brilliant selection of beers

Nice little pub. Bit cramped and very little seating but they have a decent selection of beers on tap. Good little stop off if there's space

In the past, this place tried and succeeded to be a locals bar. The vibe was great and the staff were fab. Now, it has picked a direction, and makes everyone else feel uncomfortable. I walked in at 2pm, on a Tuesday (March 2024). There were 3 staff behind the bar. A pub which used to welcome you with a smile, now you feel like an inconvenience. If the staff can’t recognise someone who they have served more than 7 times over 2 months… you’re not the bar I want to drink in

Amazing Bao Buns and great atmosphere. Would definitely go back!

Delicious bao buns and corn with a hazy ipa. Perfect for a Thursday lunch 😋

Sooooo delicious!! The in-house pale ale is a great pairing with the food and easy to drink for someone who doesn’t usually like beer.

The food was incredible, good variety of dishes and they were full of flavour. The street corn is a must try!

Been visiting the Pond for years and it's always a fantastic experience. The beer selection is ever changing and always has plenty of options for every type of beer drinker. The food is absolutely exceptional. Their signature bao buns never disappoint and I've never tried a side I didn't thoroughly enjoy. Service is great too with very professional, friendly, and efficient staff. We will continue returning again and again

Good bao buns but flavourless expensive vegetable sides and the chip portions are stingy

Love this place but the food quality has dropped as has portion size. Great little pub, location and friendly staff, but food isn't as good as it was

Great quality food at a decent price. One bao bun and side is around £14, so a meal. Welcoming staff and nice atmosphere. Dogs are also welcome.

Great food but quite a small, two level, pub so book if you're keen as it's very popular.

Would give a zero if possible. Went in wanting to watch football was told they don’t have it on which is fair enough however we then wanted to get one drink before going somewhere else was then refused service “because they are full” however we saw multiple go in after us and get served!! Will not be returning.

A brilliant little pub with great food! Staff were all lovely too! Can get very busy here, so get in quick and enjoy the atmosphere!!!

Always vibey and usually full. Good lively selection of craft beers -- not much in the way of traditional ales or bitters. Great bao buns, although maybe a bit oversalted, on the day we tried them. Can be hard to get a table. Possible to reserve a table via email, but the turnaround on emails is quite slow.

What can I say, except....world class Bao Buns. Simple as that. The best I've tasted anywhere and they happen to be in a slightly out of the way pub in Brighton. The beer is also worth visiting, a great selection. The Bao buns? Worth a long long detour. Happily, and will be back.

Had one of the best street food inspired meals ever , mat knows his stuff, rare to find something so special. The team were amazing, lovely attitude, attention to detail and just enthusiasm, which in this, my industry is rarely seen now... bao buns, omg, soft, delicate and delicious, corn to die for, all cooked fresh, hot and served quickly, £30 for two, bargain...smashed it out the park!!

A great find for craft beer. Was very busy when we arrived and you could see why. Staff very friendly, the food looked outstanding (we didn’t eat)

Popped in for some craft beer and wasn’t disappointed. Great selection, friendly staff and the food looked great (we didn’t eat)

Great little Brighton boozer. Ticks so many boxes. Food is excellent. Great value. Tasty. Staff are super friendly and cannot do enought for you. Super dog friendly which is always nice.

We went for dinner and the place is amazing and the food was delicious.The service was excellent and the staff are very nice

My local pub in brighton where staff are super friendly and nice, beer selection is amazing, great cocktails and the best baos

Arrived in an off mood. Misunderstanding over a reservation left me potentially more upset than was necessary. The manager, after an initial disagreement, offered an apology of genuine humility which floored me. A gem of a human being. And worth her weight to any employer. The pond has always been my favourite. I will be back. Laura

Incredible food - we will be back!

Great bao buns, beer and service, some of the best I've had . I need to fill up the minimum characters needed xxx

I have been a few times and always found a nice buzzing atmosphere here. Good selection of craft beers (no cask on this visit) only popped in for a half and was not disappointed.

Nice and tucked away pub with a ever changing selection of guest beers on tap. Recently they had Lost Piers Fruit Machine on tap which is a favourite of mine. Staff always seem happy and friendly.

Delicious buns, buzzy atmosphere. We loved it.

Second time visiting this place and it still knocks it out of the park. Mouth watering bao buns, fried chicken and loaded fries are washed down with local pale ales alike to give another satisfied customer a reason to go stop by. We also had the minced pork spring rolls with a nutty sauce to boot! Special on the day had karage chicken (on the bone thigh) with a Sichuan hot honey sauce and dill pickles. Plenty of bao buns which were incredible and I've had the loaded fries in the past - also exceptional. Local beers are selected from the specials pale ale board, which is updated daily. There should be a beer for your liking. I look forward to it every time I go down to Brighton.

Wowsers! The best thing I've ever eaten said my boyfriend of the pork belly bao bun! I've got to agree, it was incredibly nice. And not very expensive at all for brighton. What an absolute gem!

I was in the nether for a quick tasty pub lunch and The Pond absolutely smashed it out of the park. Had their special (pork curry & chips with pickled chilli peppers and fried onions, and a pint of beer whose name escapes me. It was just perfect. Staff were friendly and the food was served quickly. On top of that the food was absolutely delicious.

Delicious food and great drinks. Service was great too.

Best bao buns in the world & great beer

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. We returned here after being away for a year. Always excellent food, a great drinks selection, and great service. A must if you’re ever in Brighton.

Great spot with great food, drinks and a friendly atmosphere. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Brighton and looking for a place for lunch or dinner!

I don’t remember passing by the Pond and I didn’t have the desire to get in. Always has amazing neighborhood vibes and everyone seems having fun. We kept as our last stop and I’m so glad that we didn’t eat before. The Bao was amazing all we had is vegan and there were more to try, hopefully for the next time 😉

Very tasty food. I can recommend the Pond pale ale.

Small but perfectly formed pub with Baby Bao in the kitchen. We had Prawn toast and spring rolls the first time and it was more than enough to send us back there again to try the wonderful Bao Buns...again superb. Give it a go if you have the time, places like this deserve your custom, your support and they care.